From Flip Flops to High Heels

"It's a hell of a lot easier to talk with flip-flops than high heels.”
-- Overheard at a cocktail party

If I were to live in my version of a perfect world, I’d walk around the earth barefoot. Just imagine the sheer bliss of the touch of wet grass, fine sand, cool stone or polished wood against your feet. But since it’s not just practical in this time and place, I settled for the longest time on the next best thing -- flip flops.

Known as slippas in Hawaii, thongs in Australia, ojotas in Argentina, flip flops come in a lot of names, shapes, material and sizes. I couldn’t be more grateful when, about five years ago, the launching of ridiculously priced slippers finally made it acceptable and fashionable to be worn where it never dared to tread before. Havaiannas, Ipanema, Crocs. Even surf brands like Quiksilver and Billabong are marketing these with their usual wacky flair. Now you can mall shop in flip flops and no one would bat an eyelash.

For years I was comfortable. As much as possible, I avoided events, places and jobs with footwear restrictions. I didn’t go far, true, but at least I could run.

That is, until my world began to shift -- friends starting to get married, me getting pulled into the corporate world, clients launching cocktail parties. One time, someone bluntly told me I could not step through the doors of the career I wanted until I managed to be 3 inches taller than my normal 5’1” frame.

So time came when I finally stopped running, opened wide my closet doors and seriously evaluated my footwear selection of flip flops, sneakers, flats, and more flip flops. A dear friend pointed out I needed to infuse a sense of adventure into my limited collection by considering other strange yet fascinating footwear such as platforms, wedges, stacked heels and, finally, fab spikes or stilettos.

I’ve always had high respect for women who manage to wear heels to work, wear heels to events, and even wear heels to shop for more heels. Though probably not as bad as the Chinese Wrap Shoes of olden days, for me, walking on high heels is definitely risky business. The good thing about it though is that there will always be another lady willing to teach you how.

Let me share with you some tips I learned from other women: start with a low or thick heel; conquer it one inch at a time; practice walking on carpeted floors; walk with your legs straight, chin up and shoulders back; take smaller strides to help maintain balance and minimize the risk of damage to the feet. More importantly, just keep on practising till you get it right.

As for me, the first time I was brave enough to try them on in public, I landed on my butt while strutting down the tiled steps of SM Baguio. Taking my cue from Miriam Quiambao, I just stood up, laughed and learned to strut again… far away from the embarrassing spot, of course.

Up to this day, I’m still getting the hang of high heels. Most of the time, I still favor my flip flops. But as you flow from one life to another, one event to the next -- it’s always nice to know that a girl has options.


-- SunStar Weekend, 3/21/2009