I partnered with KIWI for this post, however all opinions are my own.

It’s no secret that I love to wear heels.  I think my mom bought me my first pair of heels when I was about 12 years old.  In fact, I distinctly remember what they looked like:  a white pair of faux leather kitten pumps.  I LOVED those heels. The rest is history, and the heel height never got shorter!

As I’ve gotten older, heels have become somewhat of a confidence booster.  My genetic fate proved to not favor my height, thus I remained vertically challenged. Not a problem, however, when you can wear 4 or 5 inch platform heels!  And boy was I good at walking in them!  Occasionally I would wear a pair that made me sound like a clydesdale when walking (aka not graceful), but for the most part, I like to think that I have always been most graceful when walking in heels.

As I have come up in the ranks of academia, I found that I was resorting to heels to help give me confidence I needed when at scientific meetings, when talking to peers, and simply for making me feel like I was “dressing the part”.  There is a stark difference between how I feel when I wear flats and how I feel when I wear heels.  I actually feel SUPER short and self-conscious when I’m wearing flats.  Not to mention, being short and female in a male-dominated field makes it even a greater challenge.  People literally look down at me to speak to me, and something about that body language really gets to me.  Wearing heels, on the other hand, even if they are 2-3″ heels, give me that extra little boost, and they really seem to make all the difference.  It enables me to walk with confidence and pride.

As a result, I have become quite the heel-wearer and thus, heel-buyer.  I have SO many pairs of heels.  They aren’t all expensive pairs, but, because I don’t wear them often, they tend to last longer.  I also know when to be practical and NOT wear heels.  Especially when I know I will have to walk long distances.  So, on those occasions, I like to wear comfy sneakers.  Have you noticed that sneakers also give a little bit of added height??

All photography by Ron Pride Photography

Between my numerous pairs of shoes, and the 1-2 pairs of sneakers I own, I make sure to take great care of my shoes so that they will last and not easily damage.  My husband swears by KIWI shoe polish, and I have since become a fan of this KIWI Protect-All.  In fact, I carry it in my purse.  Do you remember me getting stuck in the building at work last year because I was wearing a pair of suede heels and I didn’t want the water to damage them?!  Well, I have since become savvy and taken action.  I’m in love with this KIWI Protect-All.  It sprays on lightly, doesn’t have a super strong scent, and in all, works-great to protect outer surfaces, shoes included.

Have you tried it before??  Let me know if you have!  If you haven’t, make sure to check out the KIWI website for more information. For those who haven’t used the spray before, simply remember to 1) shake the can well before use; 2) hold can upright approximately 15 to 20 cm from surface; 3) spray the entire surface evenly and thoroughly; 4) if using on leather or suede, let the leather or suede dry at room temperature. Actually, I bet it would also work well on handbags now that I think of it…  Hmm, sounds like another blog post idea for the future! I’ll keep you posted!

Until next time!  Stay ‘Chic’!