Every women, at some point in her life, must own (and proudly wear) a pair of red shoes. I don’t care if they are stilettos or sneakers, ballet flats or strappy sandals. Why? Because “Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life.” – Author Unknown
“Every woman” encompasses every age and stage. Whether she is a girl on the brink of becoming a woman, or a woman on the edge of becoming a grandmother. Whether she is falling in love, or saying farewell to an old one. Whether she is facing a new opportunity or living in mediocrity. Married or single, young or old – it’s important to feel like a woman. It’s important that she allow herself to be expressive and bold because she is worth it.
For years, I secretly coveted a pair of red high heels, but the dull side of me couldn’t justify such a purchase. Every time I passed a pair in a store window, I felt a twinge of guilt for even looking at such an impractical item. And one day I got tired of feeling guilty. My dreams are small and many will be unrealized…what was the big deal about wearing a pair of shoes in a sassy shade? Who decided I was to spend my lifetime in boring, basic black or blah brown? Only me…I bought a pair of shiny red heels. It was one of the first times I felt (dare I say it) sexy. I felt less like a country bumpkin in the big city; I felt “invincible”. I wear them often!
I was shopping with my Mom yesterday, looking at red shoes and she casually commented that she wondered about getting a pair of red shoes too, but then what would she wear them with…and I immediately answered “everything”. I pair them with sundresses and jeans. I’ve inspired other women to step outside the box they’ve put themselves in to try some fabulous footwear. Ladies, no more excuses…
It’s time to Colour Our World. That little pop of colour can brighten any woman’s day…and make the world a little sunnier for those around her. “Color your world because the world is too simple in black and white.” – Daniel Long
It’s time to Challenge Our World. “A shoe is not only a design, but it’s a part of your body language, the way you walk. The way you’re going to move is quite dictated by your shoes.” – Christian Louboutin When a woman feels glamorous, she is more likely to realize and to appreciate, what a beauty she is…inside and out. She will realize that it is okay to look and feel beautiful. It’s okay to stand out in a crowd. She will cease to be defined only by her job or her marital status, by the “hats” she wears in the world, and to reclaim her place as a woman in the world. She will re-discover her femininity and embrace it. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, she will find her way “home”.
It’s time to Conquer Our World. When a woman feels like she looks good, she feels good! She feels confident. She stands taller. She will stand up and speak out for others. She will stand up and speak out for herself. She is more likely to overcome her inhibitions because she realizes that just by wearing ritzy red shoes and shining in the crowd, she already has. She isn’t defined by the “box” she has put herself in, or allowed herself to be put in by others. In the words of Marilyn Monroe, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”
What shade of red? “Bright reds – scarlet, pillar-box red, crimson or cherry – are very cheerful and youthful. There is certainly a red for everyone.” – Christian Dior
Did the addition of my red heels mean that I’m more willing to take risks, more willing to stand out in the crowd? Am I embracing a sassier side? Absolutely! A day is coming when I will trade in my red heels for something more comfortable and safe (since heels aren’t good for you). But that day is not today…and you can “bet your bottom dollar” that this Cinderella will wear red forever!
Wearing a Favourite: “To wear dreams on one’s feet is to begin to give reality to one’s dreams.” – Roger Vivier
To see more Weekly Writing Challenge Manifestos, click here.
jennsmidlifecrisis 
Great manifesto!! I agree with you. I too am a lover of a pop of colour in shoes, jackets, anything really and it’s amazing how much better I feel. Well said 🙂
Thank you!! It’s always wonderful to meet someone else who loves colour…and a good cup of tea! 😉
Well that sums me up pretty well! Enjoying a cuppa as we speak 🙂
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It just takes a pop. I met a woman once in traffic who’d painted her nails bright orange. They gave me a peek into her soul, and gave me a glimpse of her smile and conversation that lasted until the light changed to green.
You’d really like my orange sneakers then! lol I wrote this piece last minute with no time to think it through – which is not the way I like to do things, and yet it has created several comments. I guess we all need a “pop” now and then to help us make connections. 🙂
Yes – I think this practice is good for you as a writer, plus, it frees up a little time for us, doesn’t it?
I agree! I think of red shoes matching everything just like black or brown. 🙂
Absolutely!! 🙂
The best answer, simply: but then what would she wear them with…and I immediately answered “everything”.
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You must have written this post before I “knew” you, Jenn. Even though I will never wear Louboutins or any other high heels again, doesn’t mean I can’t play “Cinderella” in other ways. Red rules!
Look what a pair of shoes did for Cinderella! No one said she was wearing high heels! 🙂
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