A Week in My Shoes: What I Wear and Why

People say you can tell a lot about someone by their shoes. I don’t know if that’s always true, but you can definitely tell what kind of day I’m having. My closet is a rotation of different selves, and the shoe I pull out in the morning is the first clue.

Here’s what a week in my shoes actually looks like.

Day 1: The Work Uniform

I’m a trainer and fitness coach. Some days I work from home, others I’m out at clients' places. My shoes here are about utility and a clean look. I’m almost always in sneakers, either my white canvas Keds Champions or a pair of plain, functional Brooks running shoes for actual training sessions.

The white Keds are a reflex. If I don’t need to think, I’m putting them on. They’re so well-worn-in and comfy at this point that they don’t make me feel any specific way; they’re just another part of me. They’re my daytime shoes. They mean business, but my kind of business.

Day 2: The Community Night

This is for a kink community meetup, a small music festival, a queer event, anywhere I know the vibe and can plan for it. This is where I wear everything else.

The shoes here are strappy heels, cute cork wedges, ankle boots, thigh-high boots. Anything where I can go a bit over the top. Putting these on always comes with a specific feeling: a little uncomfortable at first, like I’m being excessive. That feeling clears away once I settle in, but I still love the excitement and slight embarrassment of stepping into something distinctly, super feminine. The heels are for the nighttime. They’re a passport to a different space.

Day 3: The Errand Day

Weekend markets, random thrifting, a park hang, anything where I don’t have a solid plan but could end up doing anything. This is Keds territory again, but it’s where the fun pairs come out.

I’ll wear my Rifle Paper Co. florals or another patterned pair that feels a little too distracting for work. The rule is comfort and readiness: I need to be able to be active if I have to. So unless I’m sure I’ll just be standing around, the glitter Kate Spade Keds usually stay on the shelf. This is the casual, creative version of my daytime self.

Day 4: The Planned Adventure

This is the big one: an anime convention, a Renaissance Faire, a Lord of the Rings 25th Anniversary movie screening. The kind of thing where I need to know where I’m going and dress for the theme.

If I’m cosplaying, the costume determines the shoes. Full-stop. I’ll wear whatever heels or boots the character demands. If I’m not in costume, I default to comfort for walking all day, my white Keds or a pair of ballet flats. The shoes here are either a total transformation or a practical foundation for enjoying the world I’m stepping into.

Day 5: The Recovery Day

This is the lazy day. The goal is maximum comfort. At home, that means fuzzy Ugg slippers or fuzzy boots if it’s cold. If I have to go out, I’ll just go with whatever I’m already wearing, often blending this day with the errand day vibe. The shoes here have one job: to feel like nothing at all.

What It All Adds Up To

If you looked at my shoe collection as a whole, you’d see bright colors, pinks and purples, floral patterns, and a lot of glitter. It looks like someone is trying really hard to convince you this closet belongs to a girl. And maybe that’s part of it. The common thread is a pull toward the overtly feminine, whether that’s a simple silhouette or an over-the-top sparkle.

Shifting between these shoes feels like shifting between different rooms of my life. The people I work with would probably be shocked to see the thigh-high boots. That’s okay. The Keds are for one world, the heels are for another.

I’ve learned it’s okay to have your die-hard favorites, I’ll love my Keds forever, and it’s also okay to stray from them. You don’t have to wear everything all at once. You don’t have to be beholden to one or two precious items. Everything will get its time to shine. There’s enough time to wear it all.

In the end, my shoes are less about what they say to others and more about what they let me feel: capable, connected, creative, or comforted. I just pick the pair that matches the day.