My shoes

By Jae-Ha Kim
jaehakim.com
February 12, 2013

Back before MTV aired shows about pregnant teenagers, it had a program on called “House of Style.” I used to love that fashion show, which was hosted by Cindy Crawford. I remember seeing an episode where models Shalom Harlow and Amber Valetta (I think it was them, anyhow) showed viewers what was in their closets. The thing that stuck out was their boxes and boxes of shoes, which were stacked neatly with Polaroid photos of the contents taped to each box. I thought this idea was brilliant. So I did the same.

This past weekend, I was cleaning out my closet and found this Polaroid. It’s a pair of my favorite Jacques Raphael sandals. I liked the shoes, but I like this photo even more, because I remember taking it on my condo deck. I bought this place when I was in my late 20s. My first mortgage listed me as a “spinster.” When I refinanced, the bank referred to me as “as single woman never married.” Archaic, much?

But back to my shoes. Not too long ago, we had a family gathering. While my husband and I were grilling, my mother showed a visiting relative around the house. The tour ended with a peek inside my closet. Around that same time, I had popped up to say that dinner was ready.

My mom thinks that everything I do is the best and that I only buy the best of things. So she proudly showed off my shoe collection. My young relative soaked it all in before saying, “But, these aren’t expensive shoes, are they?”

She didn’t mean it in a snooty way. She had grown up in an environment where labels and price were of more value than the actual product. And nothing in my closet was made by Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik. Not even close. The most I had paid for a pair of shoes was $200. And I hyperventilated about spending that kind of money even as a one-time treat (though I still have them today).

My mother was a bit taken aback and began to defend the worth of my footwear. I felt a little embarrassed.

But, looking at this picture, I can’t help but smile. This cheap shoe-wearing (former) old maid paid off that mortgage in five years. All by myself.

© 2013 JAE-HA KIM | All Rights Reserved