cardinal shoe

Ah, how I adore those iconic ruby slippers, in all their 1930s Technicolor glory. They are, perhaps, the most enchanting thing for me in all of Oz. But does that mean I have a Dorothy-complex? Do I fantasize of a "somewhere, over the rainbow"? Do I yearn to dance down a yellow brick road with a motley crew of buddies? Do I crave the power to be transported when I click my heels together three times, chanting, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home...."?

And then there is The Red Shoes. Another classic, based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the same name, the film follows a ballerina as her vermillion slippers dance her to her tragic demise. Like The Wizard of Oz, The Red Shoes indulges in moments of wistfulness and fantasy, punctuated by the passionate image of the ballerina's twirling, crimson-clad feet.

Red is a ferociously intense color; it speaks of love, rage, obsession, fear, rebellion, life. Truly then, red shoes make for a powerful statement. They also brighten up my outfits like no other color's business. Maybe that's why I have several pairs of red shoes. Somehow they bring a concentrated dose of whimsy, defiance and vibrance to my otherwise modest or simple outfits. A way to channel a bit of the Oz magic, if you will. A staple of mine, red shoes are my cardinal rule--or should I say cardinal shoe? ;)

Clockwise from top left: Jeffrey Campbell canvas wedge sneaker, Dolce Vita flats, Reebok Freestyle high-tops from ebay, Naturalizer flats.

(1) F21 gold sweater, French Coat tan jacket, H&M gold sweater vest, Anthropologie brown leather belt, H&M brown skirt, F21 brown beaded necklace as headband, Jeffrey Campbell red canvas wedge sneakers. (2) F21 cream mesh blouse, H&M tan wool cardigan, J Brand ink skinny jeans, Reebok Freestyle high-tops. (3) UO tan blouse, Proenza Schouler for Target blue cotton skirt, H&M belt, Dolce Vita flats. (4) Please excuse my hideous posture: F21 blue top w/ white polka dots, black/white plaid shorts from Target, F21 brown beaded necklace.

Film stills courtesy of: warnerbros.com, Matthew Dessem at criterioncollection.blogspot.com, dvdbeaver.com (respectively)