As long as my shoes are pretty

As soon as I turned 28 a year and a half ago, I realized I had to leave the constant trend-following to 22-year-olds whose main conception of a social life was getting VIP passes to the local clubs. I had to make the not-so-painful decision to rid my clothes closet of tight jeans, printed tops, bodycon dresses and tank tops that had even the smallest rhinestone details on them. And I also cut my hair.

I began stocking up on white boyfriend shorts and comfortable footless tights — I always looked like I was about to board a plane for a long trans-continental flight. I bought playsuits that hung off my frame comfortably, and, just like a Williamsburg native, I bought T-shirts that already had loose necklines and looser sleeves. Some people thought I was complementing my short hair with a more sophisticated, grown-up wardrobe. But really, I had just gotten tired of sucking in my gut and looking like every other street-styler that frequents high-street shops.

So I just channeled all my fashion frustrations into my shoes. It was easier to work with footwear. I may have lost the nerve to wriggle into butt-clenching corsets that squeezed the cellulite off my thighs but I still liked the idea of stepping into a pair of high, nicely-made stilettos. Like, every woman, I chose my shoes carefully — if they looked as though they could be displayed beautifully inside a glass case, I bought them.

I would often find myself in Adora, where they display shoes as though they’re on exhibit. And they also have labels that fall under cult brand status rather than the mainstream. With Adora’s shoe collection, I could still be fashionable without being prey to the in/out club. I had my choice among comfortable, everyday flats to please-look-at-me heels (I wanted to be comfortable, not anonymous).

One of Adora’s brands, Stella Luna, is one of the most popular. Here is where I get my trend fix. Owned by Stella International Holdings Limited, a company that develops private label footwear for brands such as Christian Lacroix, Emilio Pucci, Givenchy, Kenzo, Loewe, and Sigerson Morrison, Stella Luna is highly design-driven but still wearable. Each shoe looks as if it was finely chiseled before being wrapped in Italian leather — their pairs are visible architectural and geometric in shape. And, whether it takes you by surprise or not, it’s actually a Chinese brand with a Chinese creative director named Stephen Chi. Chi and company are very on-point with the trend. This season they have over-the-knee boots, sequin-studded boots and studded cage sandals, most of which have ultra-high, super-sexy, skinny heels that challenge female endurance. These go fast, especially since each pair comes in a box fashioned like a Bible and emblazoned with witty shoe sayings that tug at a woman’s shoe-loving heart strings. One of Stella Luna’s more popular pairs, however, remains those sculpted, narrow flats embellished by a huge stone. Fashion editors and the style set love them particularly because they can look dressy even without the vantage of height.

Another well-known brand sold in Adora is Pedro Garcia. The Spanish label has been around for more than 80 years, which means they really know what they are doing. Pedro Garcia shoes are high-end both in look and in price; purchasing a pair is actually like purchasing a piece of sculpture, an experimental and luxurious one. In their latest collection, for example, they have captivating fabric flats with a rhinestone-studded bow. They have also embellished closed-toe flats and peep-toe sandals with bright feathers and, to add a bit more charm, pearl pins secure bows on the shoes’ toe boxes. I like checking out Pedro Garcia when I want more than just classic black pumps; makes me realize that there is a whole lot more to shoemaking than a sculpted heel and a finely-stitched vamp.

For stylish stepping every day, Adora has Pretty Ballerinas, ultra-comfy, ultra-soft ballerina-style slippers created by Menorcan shoe label Mascaro. Although the Mascaro family started their business making ballet shoes in 1918, they only came out with the Pretty Ballerinas label in 2005. The label has the traditional ballerina shoe with the ever-present tied ribbon, but this time it is dressed up in different fabric, from tweed to animal-print to quilted. Other styles have let go of the ribbon bow and have put in rosettes or little-girl bows instead. These are, essentially, basic pairs with personality.

Sometimes I am still lured by the call of the trendy and I just want to exchange my sculpted black T-shirts for one of those lacy numbers that the entire Gossip Girl posse is wearing. But I remember that Blair and Serena are supposed to be nearly half my age and I begin to rethink my fashion priorities. I’m a shoe woman now and I’ll just let labels like Stella Luna, Pretty Ballerinas and Pedro Garcia do the talking for me.

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Pedro Garcia and Pretty Ballerinas are available at Adora, Greenbelt 5; Stella Luna boutiques are located at Glorietta and Power Plant Mall in Rockwell Center.