Foot Heaven

        Women spend more time shopping for, talking about, obsessing over, looking at, and lusting after, footwear than any other article of clothing. This is in no way a bad thing. Just an observation. And I’m all for it.
        For most women I know, shoes take up a larger percentage of a their clothing budget than dresses, pants, blouses, and skirts combined. In fact, even though it goes on her body, just like everything else she wears, things that go on a woman’s feet get their own category: footwear. And footwear gets broken down into its own subcategories: boots, pumps, sandals, wedges, heels, flats,....the list goes on.
        Why the fascination with footwear? Ladies, I’m asking you. I’ll offer my own half-baked theories, anecdotes, musings, insights, and candor here, but I’d love to hear what you have to say. And gentlemen please, if you have anything to offer, speak up.
        Let’s start with the fact that, according to Wikipedia, “Foot fetishism, foot partialism, foot worship, or podophilia...is the most common form of sexual preference for otherwise non-sexual objects or body parts.” Before I get going, let me say I have a problem with the definition. Who’s to say what “body parts” are “otherwise...non sexual”? As far as I’m concerned, the entire body is one big erogenous zone. In the appropriate context, every square inch is sexual. Dividing the body up into “sexual” and “non sexual” areas is not only a complete waste of time, but dangerous. It can lead those of us with fetishes to believe there’s something wrong with us for being into an arbitrarily determined “non sexual” something. Don’t buy it. It’s bullshit.
        Improper definition not withstanding, we see that there’s an affinity for feet and footwear that not only crosses genders, but is somewhat universal. Both men and women, from all walks of life, have a thing for it.
        This is, as far as I’m concerned, great news. Because despite the obvious fact that men and women usually have vastly different ideas regarding clothing, plenty of both agree that women’s footwear is damn interesting and exciting. Women love to have it. Men love to look at it.
        So both sexes are enamored with women’s feet and what goes on them. That’s common ground; another area where the two sexes can connect. As common inhabitants of this planet who often struggle with understanding one another, men and women can never have too many metaphysical places where their hearts and minds meet.
        Think of other obsessions that men have. Take breasts for example. I don’t know any straight women who gets as excited about her own breasts as virtually any straight man does. But shoes and feet? Women are into that as much as men are. That’s fantastic, because we can both share the obsession. Or at least the interest. Even guys who aren’t that into it would probably say that they like the way a nice pair of shoes makes a woman look.
        The sheer variety of choice in footwear is positively staggering, which means that women never get tired of looking for shoes, and men never get tired of looking at them. There’s just so much to see.
        If there’s any truth to the cliche “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, then I offer that “A way to a woman’s heart is through her feet”. How many men pay enough attention to the woman they’re with to know her foot size and her sense of style regarding footwear? Not enough. I happen to be one guy who does, and I can tell you from experience; when a man, all on his own, buys a woman a pair of shoes that she digs, that actually fit her, it is a rare and special event that will be long savored and forever remembered. Flowers are nice. Jewelry is commonplace. Shoes are money.
        Then there’s the pedicure, which most women spend as much time on in summer as men do on football in the fall. Here’s a golden opportunity that most men miss completely. You know how good it feels, gentlemen, when a woman gets into football with you and wants to learn the game? I love that. You get to explain football to her, in all it’s luscious subterfuge and analytical complexity. You get to watch it with her, in all it’s blood and guts glory. You get to guide her through the labyrinth of strategy, the richness of the game’s history, the subtlety of it’s nuances, and the passion of it’s physical mayhem. It feels great to take your woman by the hand and say to her “Come with me, honey. Let me show you the way. Let me enlighten you on the greatest game on earth.”
        There’s a similar opportunity with the pedicure, or with women’s feet in general. This is the man’s chance to become part of a very important element of a woman’s world that he most likely doesn’t have a clue about. Her pedicure, her footwear, her feet; these are a woman’s “Football”. Let her take you by the hand.
        Learn to give a pedicure, or at least how to paint her toes. Notice which toenail polish colors she likes, say something to her about it, and then go buy her some in those favorite colors. Compliment her on how good her feet look after a pedicure. Know her shoe size, her boot size (usually a half size larger), and the kind of footwear she likes, and buy her some. Look at shoes with her in magazines and when you window shop. In other words, pay attention to her feet, however you can, because, and here’s the point, they are important to her. If you make them important to you, even just a little bit, it means something. It means you care. About her and what’s important to her. Think football.
        As I’ve mentioned, lots of guys already have foot fetishes, so there’s plenty of interest. But too many men just don’t take it to the next level. Sure, they may kiss her feet in the bedroom, but that’s only the beginning. To a woman, feet and footwear represent an entire WORLD, full of many facets. Explore it with her. Shoes. Boots. Toenail polish. Pedicures. Lotions. Creams. Et cetera. Become more a part of this world with her, as she becomes more a part of yours. Everybody wins.


©2009 Clint Piatelli. All Rights (and a woman’s shoe closet full of Wrongs) Reserved.

Comments

[Shari]

Your a rare one Clint, a genius !! I'm sure any women will be happy with you.

[Clint Piatelli]

Thank you Shari! I do what I can to make this world a more loving, intimate, connected place....