When it comes to shopping for shoes, there's a huge generation gap between the elders (senior citizens, baby boomers) and our kids and grandkids. In fact, shoe shopping often involves a rare generation gap. Think about. Men of senior citizen and baby boomers status, with some exceptions, generally are not persnickety about our shoe-shopping. We want our dress shoes to look good and we know how to do a spit-shine, but shoes are not a big issue.
I*t's the women, among senior citizens and baby boomers, who are really into shoes.* Women in their golden years may make shoe connections with Nancy Reagan, among others. The First Lady of the 1980s was into fashion, down to her shoes, and she didn't shy away behind pastel shades, opting first for vivid red. We also may consider Imelda Marcos of the Philippines, who like Nancy Reagan is still with us at this writing, with ownership of her estimated 2,500 pairs of shoes. That's a different pair every day for seven years!
But now, seniors and boomers, let's consider our offspring and their offspring. Starting somewhere during the late 1980s, it seems that the males have become far more interested in their footwear. This has roots in sneakers, especially Michael Jordan's signature Air Jordans, and the interest in shoes among younger men has extended into dress shoes.
Our lesson? If women are so interested in shoes, we can only logically surmise that women also are interested in the footwear of their male partners, perhaps more than the men realize. This is where senior citizens and baby boomers of the male persuasion may learn from their children and grandchildren. Pay attention to your footwear! The lady in your life is doing so, regardless of age.
Platform Shoes from the Disco Era
Celebrate the disco era of the late 1970s, when platform shoes were the "in" thing? The Mint Museum of Art of Charlotte, N.C., is hosting "The Heights of Fashion: Platform Shoes Then and Now," all the way through April 1, 2010. If you're a shoe lover who lives in the region or is visiting, check it out!
SOURCES
http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Aging/2007/7-04-12-PainFree.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imelda_Marcos
http://www.charlottecultureguide.com/event.php?id=6231
