(This picture was found through an online search of "celebrity shoe closets" at fashionrootie.com with the follow attribution:
Zuzia-Rogalska_v_30jul14_pr_b_592x888)
I am blessed. I realize this.
I may have only one pair of shoes, but that puts me ahead of the majority of the world's population. (Besides, generations of small, furry family members are partially to blame for my lack of footwear.)
This picture was taken on our front porch. We used my share of the proceeds from the sale of my mother's house in Utah (she passed in March 2011) to pay 'cash' for my husband's paternal grandmother's home in Kentucky (after she passed in 2013). That's right. We own our home with no mortgage. That puts us 'ahead' of the majority of our 7-billion planet co-dwellers.
Then yesterday, I saw a feature on Yahoo about 'celebrity shoe closets', many of which looked like the one featured in the first picture up there. To tell the truth, I've been struggling with my mood of late. Well, that was the straw that broke this camel's back.
I understand that female celebrities are judge differently than their male counterparts. Witness the photo with Selena Gomez, Adam Sandler and Kevin James. She is wearing a red satin dress with a thigh-high slit and high heel shoes. The men are dressed in sweats, gym shorts, tee shirts and tennis shoes.
Why can men get away with dressing casually, when women are criticized for wearing anything that is not from a famous designer and God forbid they wear things more than once!
And can we talk about the excess?
There is more food in that celebrity closet than at a charitable food bank. And cost of one column of the shoes on the shelves in 'picture A' could support village in an developing nation for quite some time.
When do we start valuing human life more than having more stuff than 'the Jones'? When does it matter more to us that a single child in our country (and here I mean the USA, specifically) goes to bed with enough food in his or her belly to make it through the next day, than it does that the 20+ people who think they have what it takes to become the President of the United States raise yet another BILLION dollars to spend on their campaigns, all but one of which are guaranteed to l.o.s.e.?
It's enough to make me cry. No lie. I was disconsolate last night.
Stay tuned. Tomorrow or Friday (when my fires have been sufficiently revived) I will post the 2nd half of this rant, or why "I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore". Don't worry, though. I don't want my '15 minutes of fame'. I'm going to make a plan as to how I can make a needed change. I don't delude myself that I can solve any of the world's problems. But I can sure as hell make my little corner of it better.
Maybe if enough people feel that way (and I know there are those out there already laboring in the field, so to speak, and God bless each and every one of them) ... well, every drop goes to fill the bucket.
I can't imagine having that many shoes. I'm not a shoe person. I have enough styles for comfort and to get through work events. I know women who are into shoes and it's quite expensive. High heels also ruin their feet.
ReplyDeleteI wore a 4" platform heel once...back in 1979. I went to work, to several errands and to grand opening party at a department store. NEVER again.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the 'usability' factor of shoes (and clothing in general) Medeia! Thanks so much for your visit and comment!
I'm not a shoe person...or a purse person. But I have to admit, my first thought when I saw that picture of the celebrity shoe closet, was "WOW! That would make a fantastic reading room. I could have LOTS more books!"
ReplyDelete*ROFL* Oh, Kim, I SO needed that laugh! You 'n me both, sister! ;) Never have gotten the hang of purses, though. :p
DeleteWhat would anyone do with that many shoes?
ReplyDeleteOwning your own house. You are one of the few.
The money wasted on campaigns is sickening. Almost as much as the campaigns themselves.
If I had that many shoes, first of all my podiatrist would be a lot richer, because my ankles are shot. :p On the home ownership, I never thought I'd be able to call myself by that name, Alex, but except for the way it happened, I'm humbled to own the name.
DeleteAnd thank goodness I'm not the only one that is nauseated by US politics!
My first reaction was to the size of the space - and just for shoes! My entire apartment home would fit in that 1 room!
ReplyDeleteThen think about the # of hrs spent shopping to acquire that inventory!? What a waste of daylight !! [and this, coming from a shoe luver] :) I could not spend that amount of time browsing and buying even shoes!
How about the cleaning and maintenance of the shoes, shelves and room? ahhhh, for shame...
Fab post my dear friend. WELL Said ! and a few more times won't hurt us to hear it!
Let's go and give the owner of that closet a piece of our minds, Sharon! (J/K). And with that big a closet, you can bet the owner is not cleaning the shoes all by her lonesome. *sigh*
DeleteWow, what a closet! I'm not big on buying alot of shoes and certainly not that many. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Yvonne! I wrote with more passion than I have in a while...and even let my snarkiness out to play! :p
DeleteI know shoe stores that are lower in stock! What a waste of time and money. But I realize, when you would have a look at my 'toy supplies' for my kid, the rant could go on. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth! (Truth be told, I could rant about my own house on certain things.)
DeleteMy shoes mysterious look like books..lol I have one pair of black boots, a few pumps, snow boots and flip-flops which are my personal fav. I don't understand the shoe thing..but we all have our passions/addictions and I guess a shoe lover might look at all my books and think I am a tad crazy. I agree though that too much emphasis is put on what we own, wear etc
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the book thing, Kimba. My husband has been politely *suggesting* that I find a place other than the living room window sill for some of mine. (But all the other places are taken!)
DeleteSo many shoes!!! That's such a waste of resources!! Wish people would use their money sensibly!
ReplyDelete