THE JOURNEY OF LOCKDOWN AS TOLD THROUGH MY SHOE PURCHASES

It was recently my birthday and as I am wont to do around this time, I began to reflect on the last year, which has largely been overshadowed by the pandemonium that has been this past six months. Much like simultaneously running a marathon and a sprint - both through thick mud - Covid 19 has made life strange and the concept of 'normal' a rather fluid one. 

It has been marked by many an episode of overwhelming anxiety, uncertainty and a desperate need to re-evaluate life BP (before pandemic). However, and on a lighter note, whilst reflecting, I realised that my footwear proclivities and footwear expenditures  over this time, closely correlated with the specific phases of lockdown. And so, as a light reprieve from the doom and gloom of now, I decided to write about it.

0 - 2 Months
At the very beginning of lockdown, purchases were *almost solely essential (*does chocolate count as essential?). So much was unknown  that it seemed irresponsible to indulge in materialism. However, from month 2, the novelty of WFH had dissipated, the comfort and connection that Zoom quizzes had afforded had now become weekly reminders of my utter lack of general knowledge and though socialising was all but suspended, social anxiety was heightened. 

Therefore, I decided to ease my spending ban. Indulgence seemed a way to incentivise the 'keep trudging on' mentality that had faltered and that I was desperate to re-foster. However, purchases still felt like they needed to be sensible. Therefore, I decided  that my first footwear expenditure would be a pair of black trainers that I had been fancying and reasoned would help facilitate my efforts of daily exercise. They also felt like walking on clouds which greatly eased the heaviness of life at the time.

2 - 4 months
In hindsight this was a transitional period. Routines developed and life happened mainly indoors. My slippers became worn through and I realised that one can be too comfortable. The concept of loungewear had become redundant, having instead morphed into a life uniform, worn for socialising (via Zoom), to work (remotely) and then for its intended purpose of actually lounging. I chose to swap out athleisure for comfortable workwear pieces - oversized shirts, black trousers with a necessary amount of stretch and boxy t-shirts and boyfriend jeans on Fridays (casual Fridays can still be a thing, right?)

Though predominantly seen from the waist up, I decided that upgrading my slippers was integral, not only to the overall look, but also to the ambience of 'being in work', that I was trying to cultivate. Which is how I found myself eeny, meeny, miny, moe-ing over which Birkenstocks would befit my WFH overhaul. I decided upon the Arizona Eva style which is the shoe embodiment of your most comfortable pair of slippers, with the aesthetic appeal of cool girl nonchalance. The perfect remedy to the WFH boredom that had begun to set in.

4 - 6 months
At this time, life seemed to be easing into 'normality', as lockdown was loosened and socialising was reintroduced (responsibly and generally at a distance), with families reunited and friends meting IRL for catch-ups filled with gossip and love. The rendezvous and shin-digs that had previously been postponed, were now being rescheduled en masse. There were now places to go and people to see. The giddiness of which went straight to my head and manifested itself upon my feet.

Though up until this point, purchases had centred around practicality, socialising of any sort deserved footwear befitting the excitement of the occasion. I thus happened upon two pairs of shoes that perfectly embodied this zeitgeist - a two tone pair of heeled mules in black and yellow and a neon green pair of strappy heeled sandals. Both specific and unlikely to be given daily wear. However, they offered the much needed pep in my step that had all but disappeared over the months of strict lockdown.

Present
The over-excitement that I experienced over leaving the house and the accompanying shoe purchases that this commanded, may have been short-lived, as restrictions are set to be re-imposed in Wales, leaving how future socialising is to be managed, uncertain. While new purchases are unlikely, as I dust off my Birkenstocks and brace myself for what is to come, I did receive a pair of shoes as a birthday present - the Adidas Stan Smiths. 

Despite these shoes having plagued the Normcore era and oversaturated the fashion industry in sameness thusly, I have long coveted them as the wear anywhere, go with anything, foundational shoe that I had been without. Though I may not be presently wearing them as much as I had envisaged, it's of no consequence to these timeless trainers. 

And lastly, because my birthday made me do it, I received a discount code for H&M which I promptly used on a pair of black strappy heeled sandals. Though the possibility of money off, is what actually made me commit to the purchase, a black sandal is essentially the Stan Smith of heels, in that it goes with anything and can be worn anywhere. Which I promise to do, as soon as life allows and socialising resumes once more.

Therein lies my round up of lockdown as told through the purchases of my footwear. Though this year has very much highlighted what I consider to be truly important to me (all of which cannot be bought), I have realised that treating oneself in whatever way best soothes and encourages one, is also of importance. Be it an overpriced coffee, another ornament of no use, an artfully placed plant that’s aesthetic appeal outweighs the more than likely death it will suffer, or, as in this case, a pair of shoes. A little pick-me-up, because who doesn’t need picking up every now and again.

(Images via: Pinterest, footwearnews.com, Glamour.com, @meganellaby & unknown)