LadyGypsy.net – the blog of Kimberly Dowd of New Jersey

Mom (who’s out of all ankle appliances, finished PT and now focusing on getting balance and endurance back) and I did a spot of shopping on Black Friday. Due to a bunch of reasons, we took it much easier than in times past. We only went to Target, arriving there around 11:30 am. Since the store opened at midnight, we didn’t feel any urge to kill ourselves getting there early.*

I bought a handful of silly things, and this gorgeous hat.

You know how I love my hats.

I brought that lovely home and tried it on in the mirror and yes, there was preening. Then as I was about to rip off the tag, I saw it:

30% rabbit fur. Ugh.

I don’t wear fur. I don’t buy leather. I will *wear* leather if it’s bought for me as a gift (I have Uggs and various leather trims on purses) but I won’t buy it myself. Plus, it was made in China, so the fur could be dog or cat or dissident hair. And if I’m squicky about wearing cat hair, what makes wearing rabbit fur any different? I don’t judge YOU for wearing leather or fur, either.

But I still eat meat. It’s a strange code of conduct but it’s mine.

So back to Target I go at lunch today to sadly the delightful hat.

*I LOVED Black Friday back when the stores opened at 6am and they gave away little trinkets like snowglobes, free shopping bags and $10 coupons. I HATE current Black Friday, where the stores open at midnight or 3am and offer cheap TVs and cheap laptops, but only stock 2 of each. I hate how competitive we’ve become as a society, where lining up days in advance of a sale and pushing people aside to get a cheap-quality electronic earns you a badge of honor. It’s ruined all the fun.

This weekend I was at DSW looking for a pair of sensible black flats. Which depresses me to no end, because I love me some awesome, kicky, high-heeled shoes. Through my entire life, I’ve only liked two styles of shoes…”slipper” and “hooker.”

However, my ability to wear hooker lovely high-heeled shoes without my arthritic toe* yelling at me for the next two days is slipping away with the rest of my 30s. So black flats it is for my day-to-day existence.

Which brings me to the beginning of my story. I was looking for boring-ass shoes when this glorious sight caught my eye. They were the tallest pair in the store, and when I saw them there, bathed by the spotlight, the beginning bars of “Welcome to the Jungle” twanged in my head.**

Whoa.

Oh my goodness. Aren’t they the most amazing, killer boots ever? Seeing these boots, knowing that they would NEVER work for me or my lifestyle was heartbreaking. It was like watching someone order breakfast at the Four Seasons while you’re stuck drinking a Boost.

So you ladies in your 20s…listen to your older blog sister Kim. You need to get these boots and wear them for me confidently. Be fierce while your body still allows you to be fierce.

Anyway, here’s what I ended up with:

(sigh)

If I can’t rock great shoes on a daily basis anymore, I can still pair black flats with colorful tights.

* I’m 99% sure Arthritic Toe came to be as a result of wearing hooker shoes all through my 20s and early 30s.

** Din-din-din-dindindin. Din-din-din-dindindin. Din din din dindindin din-din-din-din……

Or two. Actually, three.

This weekend I went to Target to get a pair of boots because boots are in and I’m a mild slave to fashion. And I miss the 80s*. I know full well that a pair of $39.99 boots at Target will last me only one season, but since this is the summer YEAR of cheap, this is what I’m going with. (The $50 gift card I received for the birthday didn’t hurt, either)

Das boot.

Someday I’ll be able to feel comfortable again with more expensive boots. It’s not that I can’t afford it. I just can’t justify it. Even though the last layoffs were over a year ago and the last furlough was first quarter I still feel wary that the house of cards could collapse any day now. Plus, these cheap boots have elastic through the shaft, perfect for my calves.

While I was there, these cuties caught my eye – on sale for $13.98…

Bow before these shoes.

Oh sweet merciful crap – how could I resist? Especially since my winter color palette is mostly blacks & grays with a smattering of white & pink. These are going to look fabulous with chunky black tights. The heels look menacing, but keep in mind that I spend most of my days sitting down.

Finally, we hit the mall and I stopped by Payless. I have a pair of black sensible (really sensible) shoes that I’ve been wearing for 2 or 3 years. I wear them to work with nice pants and skirts, I wear them with jeans when I walk the dogs. I wear them from September to May. They are really ugly but total workhorses. Unfortunately, the last time I wore them in the rain I began to take on water. I was concerned I’d never find another pair of sensibles to replace them. But guess what?

I told you they were ugly. But they're only $16.99!

Apparently I’m not the only one who loved these ugly black shoes! They were still in stock and I happily snatched them up.

*While we were in Payless, a girl who had to be about 14 or 15 told her mother she wanted to be an 80s girl for Halloween. (record scratch) Wait. I *was* an 80s girl! I’m not a costume! Stupid kids.