Comfort over constriction: The shift in footwear and fashion

For many years, I have struggled with foot and knee problems. Bad knees, hammer toes, and bunions have been my nemesis, preventing me from wearing the stylish shoes I once enjoyed.

Over the years, I’ve had to discard my favorite pairs of Spectators, wingtips, heels, sandals, and boots. I hope someone at Goodwill enjoyed my discards.

Now I’m relegated to wearing tennis shoes. I now have one pair of tennis shoes that I wear daily. I keep rotating the insoles because they’re no longer manufactured. Why do shoe companies do this? It’s so annoying.

Thankfully, I live in Florida, where casual attire is the norm. However, I still feel a bit envious when I see my female friends wearing beautiful high heels or fancy sandals. But that pain? Not for me.

Finally, wearing tennis shoes has become the latest trend.

Look at the newscasters. If you catch a glimpse of their feet, almost all of them are wearing tennis shoes. Watching the U.S. Open, even the female commentators are wearing tennis shoes with their dresses.

Many of the sports announcers are wearing comfortable shoes too, often accompanying their expensive suits! I even saw a woman wearing tennis shoes at a wedding the other day.

I like to think that I started this trend, but I didn’t. I’m sure people just got tired of wearing uncomfortable shoes. It’s kind of like bras and neck ties. Everyone feels like they are being strangled in that type of constrictive attire. And who knows what type of circulation problems result from wearing those types of clothes?

Does wearing tight shoes contribute to the development of neuropathy? Will neckties eventually cause choking problems? And perhaps tight bras contribute to breast cancer?

The same applies to other types of tight-fitting clothing. I can’t think of the last time I wore a pair of jeans. To feel that inseam going up my crack is a real pain in the ass. It’s like having a wedgie all day long.

And waistbands, zippers, and buttons? Not unless I have to wear that stuff will I do so. I now prefer pants with elastic waistbands, allowing me to enjoy my favorite meals without restraint.

Women are known for taking their heels and bras off after they get home from work. Finally, men are also revolting, refusing to wear hard leather shoes in favor of stylish and more comfortable footwear.

Maybe we’ll eventually graduate into wearing gunnysacks one of these days. It sure would make shopping on Amazon easier.