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Do you know what I mean by “Decorated Shoes”? I don’t mean simply those models that have little bows, beads or sequins glued onto their toes; I mean shoes that are now sporting actual artwork. You can find them here and there, but I’ve a feeling that they will become more prevalent as time goes by.

Throughout my life, I have wondered about why shoes were rather unadorned with color, and figured that it was because 99% of folks wanted their shoes to go with various outfits, or remain in the background to allow their clothes to get the attention. There were occasions when I’d be dying a pair of shoes and be so tempted to add a little design or a bit of asymmetry, but decided it would be way too odd for the times. It’s rather nice to see that shoes are now not afraid to be a bit more artistic.

At this moment I’m looking at shoes called “Suzie” by Not Rated that are definitely eye-catching. The are white canvas, with high yellow heels and trimmed in yellow, imprinted with red, yellow and turquoise hearts, and boasting a plastic pink cutout heart on a turquoise bow on the outer sides of the toe. (Can’t you just imagine them with a white sundress?) The same manufacturer also offers “Honey Bee”, a Mary-jane type of shoe with a wedgie/stacked heel, in three versions of flowers, buds and stems. I’ve seen several others which appear to have had an artist hand-paint their designs right on them, which always seems just a bit more fanciful than the best leather or fanciest extras. (However, it does seem rather sad to allow great art to get dirty and dusty, doesn’t it?) It will be interesting to see just how far this particular fad will go…

That leads me to anther slight change in shoe venues-the multi-colored tennis shoe or sneaker (or trainer, for those of you in England). Puma is selling a high-top model with fake snakeskin detail in white, orange and purple for around $80. Asics has a style in yellow, purple and pink for $65. Adidas offers a jogger in turquoise, baby blue, hot pink and neon yellow on top of white, and the Puma Rainbow has a white body with various colors of stripes for $50. Punkrose has basic black splotched with periwinkle blue, lavender and lime green for $54, and I understand Nike will be hitting the stores with new colors as well, if not already.

Have you ever worn shoes that have more than two colors? I can’t say that I have, unless I count a pair of black flats that had different colors of sequins and beads. Heck, it’s only been in the last year that I’ve branched out and worn leopard skin flats (they are my daughter’s, at her insistence that I try something “new”). I haven’t gone so far as to wear her skull shoes, but the black and white canvas ones with red hearts are rather fun. I think what I’ve learned about shoes is that younger women do tend to have more fun with footwear. I may have never tried such shoes on, much less worn them in public, if I wasn’t in the state of mind that shoes should be a little fun. You somehow lose that as you get older. I’ve even received compliments on my choices-but, inevitably, they are from other women who, although not considered chronologically “young”, have unbelievably youthful outlooks and personas.

It’s funny how shoes can send an image as well as generate a particular mindset. When I wear athletic shoes, I do feel a bit physical. When I wear fancy heels, I feel more feminine. Likewise, it should follow that if I wear bulky, practical shoes, I’d feel more safe, conventional, and yes-older. I’ve not yet progressed to those shoes just yet, but I feel myself drawn to the fashions geared to those more of a boutique than department store nature. Perhaps it’s having a teenaged daughter or perhaps it’s because shoes, for younger people, really generate a more vivacious and carefree attitude. It’s good to know that I may not still be young, but my feet will never know it!