Footing a Fashion Trend

People are buzzing about the clothes Michelle Obama has been wearing while visiting abroad, but I've been paying particular attention to the shoes. Not only has the first lady continued shunning the current style of ultra-high heels, but she's all but worn flats in some. At this point, I shouldn't be surprised but I can't help it.  As one of my friends pointed out, "it's disarming because usually we see women in heels."

And not only has Obama been doing but Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the model/pop star wife of the French prime minister, was photographed wearing similarly low shoes when she met with the Obamas. Now, this may seem like a small thing to most folks. But for any woman who has ever felt as if high heels were almost her only option knows, it's a refreshing change. For  too long, it has mostly been all about the super-high heel. The higher the better. It's almost been as if, you weren't considered dressed up unless you were wearing heels. Of course, flats come in and out of style but they can be hard to wear, depending on the outfit. But that's been pretty much the choices we've had.  Sue Golden of Stiletto Shoes on Rittenhouse Square agreed we me saying, "They are either showing flats or a  really high heel. There haven't been (many) in between."

As for Obama's footwear choice, the first lady gets away with it because of her stature. Because she's nearly 6-feet-tall, she doesn't necessarily need the extra elevation that heels provide.   "Michelle Obama is kind of conservative," pointed out Sherri Guggenheim, owner of Vivi G. Shoes in Glen Mills. "That's the direction she's going in. It's kind of plain and preppy. It seems like she wants to look cute and comfortable...She wants to kind of play it down."

Guggenheim added. "I would love to see with a little more pizazz on her feet." Meanwhile, now that it's clear that Obama, who designers are counting on to revitalize the ailing fashion industry, favors lower - almost what you'd call sensible heels.  What does that mean for women's shoes? More styles with lower heels? Shoes you can actually walk in without having to tote along a comfy spare to change in? If Obama can help make that happen, American women will owe her for bringing practicality back into fashion - more change we can believe in.