Starting at the Bottom

I always had big feet. I was estimated to be 175–180 cm. But… I hit puberty early and never grew into my feet. And this is how the saga begins.

It was so frustrating to find shoes as a little girl in the 90s. None of the pink shoes came in my size. I was a size 9.5 by second grade and my current 10–10.5 by third. I could barely find old-lady heels. So all I was left with was a limited variety of the small men’s wear. Cause all the cool styles came in the larger sizes.

For many years I just thought, even though I love high heels so much, I’ll never get to wear them.

But then one day a miracle happened. As I was walking on the street, by the trash, I saw one Brazilian wooden stiletto platform sandal. I was walking with my then life partner (RIP) and just said “Artie look! Made in Brazil! I have to try this on!” Artie was so excited. And the heel fit beautifully like Cinderella!

“OMG! Artie! A heel for me! And it’s so beautiful!”

It was. I started to cry. But there was only one heel. I didn’t care. I walked around in that one heel crying and laughing and Artie said “We will find the second heel for you.”

A few months later we were walking in the rain. And there she was, in a pile of rubbish, looking perfect.

“OMG ARTIE! THE HEEL!”

I wore those heels in Salvador. And Fortaleza. To favela parties, to beach parties. I wore those shoes in the USA, in Tel-Aviv. Even in Berlin. One day the strap broke. And it broke my heart.

But my Brazil shoes opened the door to an obsession and a love. My feet were never the problem. I was just buying from the wrong rack.