The princess and the glass slipper

All women have a shoe gene, of that, I am convinced. Mine is a bit over developed or perhaps like muscle the more you use it the stronger it gets. I'm surprised my baby wasn't born "shod"!

Every now and again there are a pair of shuuuuz that have to be had, even if you will never have occasion to wear them, (or ability to walk in them!!).

Every year such a purchase finds its way into my wardrobe, from the impossibly high heeled, to the don't ask how much they cost, to the incredibly intricately embroidered/beaded/ or just impractical. They form a collection. Only once did a pair hit Oxfam, they were stunningly sexy, turquoise suede , high, tie round the ankle, sandals. And after nearly breaking my neck in them, I decided that some one else might look seriously sexy in them, I just looked silly in a crumpled heap on the pavement, and quite frankly, was lucky not to have broken anything!!!

The 2009 contestants were these babies....

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHH how I fell in love with these sparkly confections. They are even flat!

I tried one size - too tight, and decided to indulge in the larger (but too big, sadly) pair. Feeling like Cinderella's ugly sister, but in this story I'm not prepared to chop off me tutsies, and my Prince Charming is moaning "How many b***dy pairs of shoes does a woman need?" (Don't go there boys! seriously, dangerous territory- Do you really want your wife to ask" How many "Gadgets" do men need????" Some questions are not meant to be asked or answered)

These, they are just THE shoes, no? (I'm still swooning)....

I put them on and pranced about a bit. Baby cooed "wowwowwow!" and tried to touch them. (spot the tiny hand in the corner of the photo!) Good start, I'm feeling almost magical....

My darling hubby took one look and said "oh my god you were in touch with your inner 5 year old!!!"

"Well yes, but I also thought I as in touch with my inner goddess and style guru???"(apparently not)

"Those are not shoes for anyone over 21 to wear" He added sagely. Though who died and made him sartorial editor of Vogue's footwear section I don't know, and I totally disagree.

"With panache and shutzpah any woman, any age, can wear these!" My inner 5 year old in the dressing up box strops.

"Are they from N******K like the other cheap shiny ones you love so much?" Asked hubby, proudly thinking he was being ever so cool and Avant Garde, remembering the name of a ladies clothing emporium, and remembering something I wear at the same time. (I'm secretly impressed but don't let on).

"Er not quite, they were about 5 times as expensive as those ones." (Though clearly they didn't look it to him, or maybe he was just choking???).

Woe is me, if they look like they only cost a tenner, I might as well return them ......especially if they don't quite fit? Perhaps he is right, they do have a lot in common with a pair in Monsoon Kids (which I secretly wished they did in my size). The shoes were returned, partly as they were too big, and partly because although I am deliriously happy that my inner child can still reach me, perhaps she should not be left in charge of my wallet or my wardrobe????

But I have, at least, the photo to remind me, of the infatuation that nearly was........

Maybe this is actually the answer? Shopaholics, I have the solution, don't buy! Just try on .... and snap a quick shot for the album of "Purchases that nearly were".

(For the record, lovely hubby did say I could keep them, ahhh!- but they really were a poor fit)