It’s 2021. We’ve made it, together. As a fashion community, I know that we have only grown stronger. We are wiser and more resilient than ever. Collaborating with each other has allowed us to attain new goals. We have so much to be hopeful for in this new year. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to be grateful for those whom we are so fortunate enough to still have in our lives, those new partnerships that we have been able to form and what things we can do without.
In 2020, our needs greatly pivoted, since many of us worked from home over the past nine months and favored sweatpants, pajamas and slippers over our fancy ensembles. In Brooklyn (where I am based), there hasn’t been much of an opportunity for people-watching outside of being on our roofs and balconies or scrolling through our social media feeds. Our coveted designer heels have waited patiently alongside our favorite couture or vintage pieces, begging to be worn. For those of you who have put heels on just to take your dog for a walk around the block, I applaud you. It’s nice to feel somewhat glamorous just for a moment, right?
Just because we are all working from home doesn’t mean we shouldn’t feel fabulous — or at least try to here and there. There are some women who have put on a fancy dress to create engaging Instagram and TikTok posts, jumping from one outfit to another with the snap of their fingers, showcasing an endless assortment of heels (which has been quite entertaining). As a luxury footwear designer, I truly missed getting dressed up for a night on the town with my husband or my girlfriends. Over the past year, I found myself endlessly wearing pajamas too. There finally came a point where I said to myself, “I’m still here; I’m still me, and I am happy to be alive,” so I put on my favorite heels, turned up the music and just danced around my apartment. Why not?
Over that last few years, fast fashion has had an all-consuming effect on our economy, and the time has come to assess our true needs. Is it a necessity to have five (or even 10) little black dresses in your closet? Wouldn’t it be better to have two that were so well-made that you could pass them down for several generations? Who needs 10 pairs of denim — or twenty?
I know that my closet is bursting at the seams, with many of my garments piled on my dresser because there is no space — or hangers — left for them. I, too, have overindulged in pieces that I thought were must-haves in the moment. Some have been vintage finds and others second-hand designer pieces, but many fall into the fast fashion category, and this year, I’m turning a new leaf.
So, what is a woman to do with a closet full of four-inch show-stoppers and nowhere to wear them? Her new focus should be on house slippers that boost her mood every time she looks down at her feet — or “elevated casuals,” as I prefer to call them. Just because you’re in your house, apartment, Airbnb or hotel room doesn’t mean that you should only be wearing cozy, run-of-the-mill slippers that offer no support or, worse yet, grandpa socks.
There are a plethora of options out there that will give you that instant joie de vivre. Whether they are embroidered silk, adorned with Swarovski crystals, classic leather uppers with a touch of simple hardware or a unique statement piece, there is something for every woman at both the luxury and contemporary price points. I will say it again: it’s 2021. You should invest in you, because your feet are oh so worthy of shoes that aren’t offered by the fast fashion category. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to stop spending our hard-earned money on fleeting fashion that is in one minute and out the next, contributing to endless pollution and our global warming crisis, as well as inhibiting up-and-coming designers from becoming a staple on rotation in your wardrobe.
Investing in well-crafted pieces that provide comfort, stability and joy will not only be reflected on your credit card bill but will allow you to appreciate each and every item in your closet. These are shoes that you can dress up or dress down and are perfect for all occasions, whether you’re wearing them in the comfort of your own home or traveling on a plane. Some are fur-lined; some are leather-lined; others are shearling-lined and, of course, for those that prefer not to part take in any fashion that utilizes animals, there are many vegan options too.
I have to admit, it is much easier to empty your pockets on quantity over quality. You see it; you want it; you buy it. A tale as old as time. But wouldn’t it be better to invest your money on pieces that allow you to stand out from the crowd? Ones that are so well-made that they hold up for years to come? I’m no guru, but I do know that what you choose to wear is an extension of yourself. Those shoes on your feet and that handbag on your shoulder shout out to the world, “This is me!” You were born to be you, so why not allow yourself to express your personal style while also helping Mother Earth?
Open that closet, and toss or donate any items that are no longer justifiable. What are you waiting for? Your new fashion mantra is, “Quality over quantity.”
Christina Jean Durante
Femmes Sans Peur
christina@fspatelier.com
