"Sneakers to work? What's so terrible about that?" Please, allow me to explain.
More so than any other place I've visited, checking passerby's out is the normal thing to do here. It's expected. Live here long enough and walk enough places (like you'd have another choice) and I promise that you will be caught off guard (and partially insulted) when someone you observe does not
return the glance. Rush hour on the subway; in line for coffee; three people in an apartment big enough for two; eight deep at the bar; packed six wide walking down the street, we live on top of one another. Look your best regardless of whether you're walking to the gym or to a nine o'clock dinner reservation. That's just the way it is, and we're okay with it.I blame Mother Nature for my conversion. After all it was only a few days ago that March started off with a bang...of snow plows and bags of salt. Not wanting to slush-skate my way to work in wingtips, I rocked a gray suit with boots that would make even Jessica jealous. My shoes now live under my desk, much like my female office counterparts who keep desk drawers full of foot options and schlep to work everyday in (shudder) Uggs. My only hesitation to becoming a permanent shoe swapper is the fact that the most most important person in my organization (this side of the Atlantic) takes the same elevator as me. Rumor has it he has a thing against backpacks; I don't want to know his opinion on Chucks.
But you know what? I kind of enjoy it. I walk faster to work. I don't get as mad when a half-asleep investment banker steps on my foot on the crowded 6. Not to mention the money I'll save between cobbler visits.
For the record - my cubicle is not that bland nor my shoes that white. The image is filtered gray scale with only brown exposed.
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I'm glad to see you're embracing common sense over fashion sense. Seriously, who wants to spend $200-300 on shoes and then have them ruined by salt and slush?
ReplyDeleteNow, I understand that when I was schelping to work in sneaks, I didn't have to worry about randomly running into the RA and explaining myself. However, my theory on that would be that you could play the class warfare card and say, "I take the subway to work, not a car service". You might risk termination but it would be a pretty awesome way to go out.
On the other hand, if those are John Varvatos's Chucks maybe you need to get your shoe shopping priorites in line. Just sayin...
If I recall CJN, you were doing the same exact thing, wearing the pricey shoes to work that is, until "someone" suggested you use some common sense like the women! Also BK, there is a great cobbler on 13th st by ave B, inexpensive as well!
ReplyDeleteI found out yesterday that the cobbler in my building raised prices by 20 bucks b/c business is so good.
ReplyDeletethank god i will never have to be "that guy" because i can wear sneakers to work.
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