style vs. function, revisited

Last week, I finally went to a podiatrist. I probably should have done that about 15 years ago, but I didn't. I lived in denial about the sorry state of my feet, because I feared getting the bad news that my kindly doctor delivered to me:

plantar fasciitis.

In case you don't know about this condition, let me enumerate its many frustrations.

1. pain
2. formation of bone spurs
3. hammer toes (ew!)
4. fallen arches, making my feet even wider than they were originally (and sadly, he thinks my feet could become even worse in this department)
5. possible need for surgery down the road

And here is what I have to do about it:

1. no going barefoot
2. no flip-flops or sandals
3. no prolonged standing
4. wear orthotics
5. take a prescription anti-inflammatory
6. do foot stretches and hot/cold soaks
7. possible need for cortisone shots

#1, #2, and #4 were devastating news for me. I love going barefoot! I live in flip-flops and sandals during the warmer months! And orthotics? I thought finding shoes to fit me was hard before -- sheesh! Oh, and the podiatrist recommended I just wear my exercise shoes around. All the time! Right....

I confess I went into a little period of mourning. Fortunately, my mom understood my plight. She explained that even when you don't look the way you want to look and your clothes don't fit the way you'd like them to, at least you've always got cute shoes to make you feel somewhat cute. Not that option was snatched away from me too!


I decided to sort through all of my shoes. That was a painful night. I ended up with 3 bags of shoes to get rid of, and some of them were pretty hard to say goodbye to. It was a lucky day for my neighbors' five daughters, though.

Jill and I looked at shoes on my birthday, and it was a fruitless search. I only found one pair that might work (and that I didn't find hideously ugly), and even then, they were going to have to punch more holes in the strap just to get it across my foot! Not ideal. (And, to add insult to injury, I was going to have to pay $120 for the privilege of wearing these clodhoppers.)

Life has been too busy since then to continue my search in earnest -- until yesterday. Yesterday I went to Nordstrom and took a desultory little tour around the shoe department. It just confirmed that I couldn't wear any of the cute shoes. But then an employee offered her services. I still can't believe it, but she managed to find 3 pairs that I thought were pretty cute, and they actually fit! I was so pleased, I bought them all, even though it far exceeded my new shoe budget.


They may not be the shoes I would have chosen if I had no foot concerns, and they were certainly more expensive than my usual Target or T.J. Maxx finds, but... I am thrilled that function doesn't completely have to exclude style.

{In case you're wondering about the sandals, the doc said I might be able to find a pair that I could wear without pain. I figured Danskos were my best bet, and since I bought them at Nordstrom, I can wear them around and find out. yippee! I love sandals.}