Peanut Butter & Jelly Shoes

Children of the 80's: . . . . . more specifically, GIRLS of the 80's: Do you remember jelly shoes? Of course you do. I had two pairs between the ages of 7 and 9 I think. I had a light pink pair and a clear pair. My favorite place to wear them was on any hard surface upon which they would click and slap and make that wonderfully grown-up woman sound resembling a heel. So I would walk around in the kitchen in them, just to hear the sound of them on the linoleum. And then I would wear them to play hopscotch in the driveway with my friends. I felt so cool and confident as I hopped along expertly in my jellies. Until - OUCH, damnit, a rock got in there! That seemed to happen a lot with those didn't it?

So being a girl who grew into a woman who adores shoes, imagine my delight when I saw that jelly shoes are back - in adult form. Melissa is making shoes made out of jelly material in all kinds of versions including flats, heels, pumps, slingbacks, sandals, gladiators, and more. And they are designed by noteworthy fashion icons such as Vivienne Westwood. Of course, this is probably so they can jack up the price, but hey, it's the fashion world.

I first laid eyes on the Melissa shoes while visiting Las Vegas this month and shopping the incredible stores at The Wynn and Encore hotels. They were like shiny, rubbery, girly beacons of candy and rainbows glittering at me from across the store. As Garth in Wayne's World would say, I was pulled in by their tractor beam. They had huge plastic cherries on the toe! I couldn't stand it. I touched, I pulled back, I picked up, I put down, I picked up again. And I grinned. And was that something yummy I smelled? Why yes, the cheerful sales gal said - all the Melissa's are scented like bubblegum. Well, now isn't that just taking me right back to the hopscotch line?! Instead of being turned off by the blatant girliness, I was pulled even further in, and after an encouraging nod from my shopping partner Angela, (thank you Ange for not saying they were hideous, or things might have gone differently) I asked to try them on.
It was jel at first sight.
They had me at jello.

So, my silly new shoes came home with me from Vegas and might have started an obsession.

An obsession which my internet browser is not helping by grabbing my cookies and having banner ads pop up with coupons to Zappos, showing pics of the other Melissa styles. Damn you Firefox! Stop stalking me! Oooo - are those burgundy ones?

Note: The shoebox said this style was named 'Lady Drag' and when Angela I saw that we had to laugh. Great, I thought, they are associating these shoes with drag queens. But later when I searched the plethora of Melissa shoes online I saw that the name had been cut off and they are called Lady Dragon. ;)

Shoes are to Women . . .

. . . as Cars are to Men.

I. Love. Shoes. There - I said it. Hello, my name is Katie and I'm a shoeaholic. And hello my sister friends surrounding me at the Nordstrom shoe department like a flock of friendly birds, all entranced by the same shiny objects. I know, I know - almost all women love shoes. This is nothing new. But what most men, and some women, don't realize is - WHY. Well guys I'm gonna tell you: Shoes Always Fit. Unlike our dress size, our shoe size never changes. And as any woman will tell you, there are so many wardrobe issues that have to do with our weight, or perceived weight, that make having an option that never fails an absolute thrill. So there you have it guys. Mystery solved. When you see your girl come out in an outfit that you think looks great on her and the first thing she says is "Look! Look at my new shoes!" try not to shake your head and say, "What is the big deal with women and shoes?!"

Besides, men have their 'shoes' as well. Only they are cars. Just as slipping on a pair of lovely leather slingback heels can transform you from serious-girl-at-work by day, to fun-loving-vixen by night, a car can make a man feel more like the guy he wants to be, or maybe just enforces who he is. The cliche is that shoes and cars say something about personalities, but I do believe that. And when a man gets behind the wheel, he is inside the car, and therefore gets to take on the perceived characteristics of the vehicle; just as women do with shoes. And I'll admit that a guy's car sometimes makes him more attractive then he actually is. It's like beer goggles or something. I've had Mercedes goggles before. You see the guy in the SLK convertible at the stoplight and you are thinkin', 'He is hot!' But had he just been in line at Home Depot = 'meh'.

And so I give you my list of shoe types and their equivalent in cars and what I think they mean.

Ballerina Flats ========> VW Jetta ========> I am down to earth and low maintenance, but still enjoy being hip.

Platform Pumps ========> Chevy Camaro ========> I am classic and traditional, but have a naughty side.

Peep Toe Heels ========> Any Hybrid Car ========> I want the best of both worlds. (part pump, part sandal; part gas, part electric)

Knee-High Boots ========> Mercedes SUV ========> I am not afraid to stand out. I appreciate style, but still want some function and practicality.

Gladiator Sandals w/Ankle Straps ========> Mazda RX8 ========> I am unconventional and adventurous.

Stilettos ========> Lexus SC ========> I like to be noticed, am confident and fun-loving.

Tennis Shoes ========> Toyota Tacoma ========> I am sporty, practical and outdoorsy.

Sandals with rubber, fabric, or plastic ========> Toyota Prius ========> I am earthy and environmentally conscious. I also probably live in Boulder.