When you go out in public, what do you suppose other people notice about you? Sure, they see your clothing, hair, mannerisms, and certainly your smile. But we tend to underestimate the attention strangers give to one of the most functional aspect of our ensemble—our shoes.
Many people know this, and select footwear accordingly. Others honestly love shoes and have closets full of options. Yet even avid shoe collectors fail to appreciate the consequences of a bad choice. And first impressions are hard to change.
When it comes to footwear there is a balance (sometimes quite literally in the case of women´s heels) of function and fashion. Lest we think such choices go unnoticed, however, research confirms that quite the opposite is true.
Well Grounded: Shoes are Made For Walking
We have all seen women in expensive tailored suits dashing across town wearing running shoes, designer heels stashed in their briefcase until they reach the office. We have seen men who are similarly impeccably dressed—except for their three year old (but certainly comfortable) scuffed loafers. Upon viewing either one of these working professional prototypes, sometimes the shoes become the focal point—often to the exclusion of the rest of the ensemble.
