I have a passion...

I have a love of shoes. It rivals my love of luggage! There’s nothing like slipping into a beautifully made shoe, one that accents, in my opinion, one of the best features a woman possesses, her confidence. You thought I was going to say legs or buttocks or feet didn’t you? A beautiful shoe, in many women, brings out a certain attitude, it’s as effective an adornment as jewelry. But it goes deeper than that. I know what a sexy shoe does for me. There’s the obvious effect it has on posture and the feminine form. Honestly, nothing accentuates a woman’s legs and behind like heels. But, the effect it has on posture, making a woman stand straighter, hopefully pushing her shoulders back (slouching is one of the most unattractive things), lifting her head up to face the world and in turn showing off her neck (a most heavenly part of the woman’s body)… Basically, there’s an actual correlation between the body and someone’s state of mind. Don’t get me wrong… I’m not talking about form, weight, size… It’s the way one carries oneself. I’ve sat in many an airport, on countless “terrasses” and on quite a few barstools indulging in one of my favourite pastimes.. No, not drinking! Sheesh! Well.. that too.. but what I was referring to is people watching. And all this people watching combined with my natural tendency to analyze people have led me to a conclusion: The power of a person’s walk, their “démarche” (or strut as you might wish to call it), is a powerful thing. I mean, as much as how “attractive” some people might be based on their physical attributes, there are some men and women who capture your attention by projecting total confidence, self-awareness and an irresistible form of sex appeal just by the way they carry themselves. Being attractive from within… There have been countless times when I’ve noticed the following (hopefully you can all remember a time when it happened to you): If you smile and tell yourself you are beautiful or handsome, if you feel good about yourself and willingly make eye contact with passers-by… you’ll get a positive response. And it sets off a chain reaction that needs to be cultivated. A few weeks ago, I was reminded of that very thing as I was pushing a cart through the local market and being the domestic goddess that I truly am (stop snickering…). I was in a good mood, I was wearing lovely pair of black leather slides and my favourite jeans, and I found myself smiling back at a man I crossed in the pasta aisle, as we both tried to maneuver around someone’s cart. I crossed this gentleman about 4 times through the aisles, and every time I did, I smiled back at him (I may have initiated a smile or two...). I don’t really know why, but I couldn’t help myself. He was attractive and had a bit of grey at his temples and a fantastic head of hair. Ok.. I know why, he had a great strut! As I was finishing up carrying on the traditional womanly gathering of “nuts and berries” à la 21st century, he was done hunting for sustenance and had bagged his frozen pizzas and steaks. We both headed towards the alters to thank the gods and remit our offerings in exchange for the bounty we had harvested and as I stopped to collect one last desired item, he walked up to me and complimented me on my smile. Had I wished it, I would have had a date too… But I must say, the compliment was just what I needed that day. So folks, put your best foot forward (I’ll be wearing lovely shoes as I do) and remember your worth as you step outside today, as I was reminded so thoughtfully myself and smile. Now, you don’t need a great shoe to do get that little boost of self-confidence, but it sure is a good excuse to go shopping for them! A while back, I promised my Hotties and Hoochies a slideshow... Without further ado... Hark! Did I hear some THUMPS? Love you all more than my luggage (and shoes and boots!)! Hugs, smooches and gropes!