“The fact is, sometimes it’s hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then. To make the walk a little more fun.” ~ the one and only Carrie Bradshaw. Shoe posts are fun. This one’s sponsored by Børn Shoes.
I wore a lot of heels in my twenties, even teaching in my classroom–pointy little toe-crampers ramped up on tall skinny stilts, the higher the better. My mom always laughed, pointing out that my craziness wouldn’t last forever and that someday I too would care about comfort as much as looks. I laughed right back, scoffing at her shoe-shopping standards. Arch support? Cushioned footbed? Ha ha ha. Give me height! Blisters! Heel spurs! I’ll take them!
Good shoes–along with college basketball, well-made dolls, homemade cherry pie, fabric stores and Gaither Band music–have been one of my mom’s obsessions since we were younger. “We’re going to run in real quick to this shoe store” sounded to us when we were kids a lot like “Here’s a fun Friday. How ’bout you roll around on the floor, bored, begging me to leave while I compare leather suppleness and examine insoles?”
I should have known though that along with “You won’t always be able to burn the midnight oil like this” and “Just wait ’til you have kids, you’ll understand it all,” my mom knew what she was talking about with the shoe thing. Let’s just make the overall statement like “I See Dead People” that Moms Know Things. Slap it on a t-shirt, put it on a plaque.
Oh, I still have the sky high heels–a few pairs that, given a good occasion–or not–I’ll slip on and proudly wear out maybe just to compensate for the other days when my soles are planted as close to the ground where I need them to be. But for the most part, my closet is full of flats, mid-heel compromises and investments in comfort and quality. “That’s my girl,” I can hear my mom saying.
For the record, how cute my shoes are is still the final deciding factor in shoe purchases though. My sister and I have also appointed ourselves as cute approvers for my mom’s shoes. She’ll send us pictures of on-the-fence purchases–the arch support, leather quality, stitching and fine details already passed through her rigorous approval standards, of course–and we’ll text back the final say which sometimes looks like: “God, no. Mom! Please! You’re still young!”
We’ve got a lot on our plate as moms and sacrifice a lot of things to make room for something else (clean house for hands-on kid-rearing, sporty car for functional minivan…), we can certainly put our foot down (har har) when it comes to shoes–give me “and“! Comfortable and stylish.
Børn gives moms both, providing all day comfort with on-trend styles, premium leathers, fine details and a unique hand-sewn technique that–are you listening, Mom? You’ll like this–allows for a more flexible sole providing a natural feel and ultra cushioning.
Heels that don’t teeter, toes that aren’t cramped.
And when you Clark Kent into the phone booth to transform from Park Mom to Drinks with Friends Mom, you can save a step and keep your shoes on because Børn has you covered on both fronts.
Push a stroller, pick up take-out, kick your heels, save the world. All in a day’s work, mom.
The Gaither Band’s not my thing and I haven’t seen a single college basketball game this season, but I’m proud to follow in my mother’s cushioned-insole, hand-stitched, supple-leather’d shoe steps. And I make a damn good version of her cherry pie.
A huge thank you to the folks at Born who contacted me earlier this year, wanting to get behind our Down syndrome awareness efforts. When they heard about our Ruby’s Rainbow 3-21 campaign, they wrote, “How can we help? Can we give away shoes?” They donated free shoes to five people who donated $50 or more, and we’re so grateful for their support.
Alright. I love the last pair. If I buy do you get “credit” of some sort!?
I adore that last pair, the gorgeous tan ones. My mom was also clucking her tongue at me for years over impractical, uncomfortable shoe choices. I still don’t like the term”practical shoes,” because they should be fun and cute! But I require comfort now as well. Higher standards, lower heels as we get older I suppose.
Shoe posts are fun! Also where did you get that dress you are wearing with that last pair?! I love it!!! Way to go Born for supporting our beautiful kids! I may have to buy a pair for that reason alone!
I really LOVE the kamilla boot- too bad they are quite a bit out of my price range at the moment- it is such a struggle finding comfortable and stylish shoes that are affordable �� They are super cute on you though!
I just purchased the black Kamilla boot. Just curious, do you just go sockless? I love them, but wonder about sweaty feet? 🙂
I love that dress too, where did you get it? Please tell us!
Your mom sounds divine. 😊 I have to remind my mom all the time not to wear old lady shoes. Every time I tell her not to, she says ‘but I am old.’ Some days it makes me cry.
I too am so in to “sensible” shoes, as my Grandma used to call them! xo to!
Bug & Ruby’s Gram
Cute shoes!
LOVE love everything you write! You even make comfy shoes exciting! XO
I’ve always snatched up the a Born sandals when I find them at TJMax. Great value for the money and forever comfortable!
I would seriously look awful in all three pairs. We of the not long and lean legs crowd must stay away from such ankle attacking styles and show AMFSAP (as much foot skin as possible). It lengthens the line, Dahling.
Hey girl! It’s been quite a while since I commented but I’ve never stopped following the Hampton clan 🙂 I totally understand if you’re too busy and have too much going on, but I was wondering if you’d be interested at all in doing a bonnet giveaway anytime in the upcoming weeks? I took a good almost 2 years off to be a more “in the moment,” mama, and am trying to bring my business back to life–so I thought, why not go back to where it all really started for me—which was here, on your blog 🙂 I have a handful of new boy designs I’m about to post, and would love to send you a couple for Dash, and I’d be happy to send you one for sweet Nella as well if you think she’d wear it—I know she may be a bit beyond bonnet stage though–so it’s your call. The same goes with Lainey–would be thrilled to make her one if she’s into it, bu wouldn’t be surprised if she turned her nose up at a “baby hat.” Well, let me know if you’re interested and/or able—-all I need to know is what sizes the kiddo’s are in now. It’s been so very lovely to follow your amazing and inspirig family over these last 6 years now!!! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Best,
Nicole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaSolBebe?ref=hdr_shop_menu
@Jordan and @Rachel Patrick —
Dress is from Cabi.
@Ky Two Pretzels,
Nope, I don’t get credit. :o)
@Lisa,
I’ve been wearing them w/out socks and haven’t had a problem, but come August in Florida when everything sweats at all times, I might wear a super short thin sock with them.
Just in case Born is wondering, the sponsored ad worked. Just purchased a pair of shoes from their site. 🙂
love your shoes! also please please can you tell me where you got Dash’s romper?
Let Born know that I went from your post to the Interwebs and bought two pair – the Kamilla (in brown) and the Meri, also deep blue. Love them!
Comfy and cute is the name of the game! Why not have the best of both?