Why Every Girl Should Wear Heels In Winter

Every young woman could use a boost of confidence from a pair of heels, but what are us UMaine ladies supposed to do with our favorite pumps when it’s snowy and cold five of the eight months in the school year?  Here are some of the reasons why I suggest every lady brave the cold to feel a little more edgy a few days a month.
 

If you’ve ever seen me on campus you might know that the weather rarely affects what I decide to wear for the day.  This might be because I get dressed before opening my curtains, but mostly because I don’t mind suffering a bit to feel more confident and content in my attire.
 
Since many of us students have lived in colder climates for quite some time, we understand how frigid and down right horrible the winter months can be on our self-esteem and motivation.  How many of us have weighed the options between getting out of a warm bed, or sitting in a less than exciting class for 50+ minutes? I think I can guess which wins.  And while you’re lying in bed not worrying, because your teacher posts the slides anyways, remember how it feels to put on an outfit that makes you feel proud to be the feminine, beautiful woman that you are. One where your friends ask “what’s the special occasion?” and you catch the eye of admiring guy and envious girls.  Wouldn’t it be great to feel this way not only in September and April?  Well I say “Why not?!”
 
We all know the quickest way for any lady to gain confidence is to throw on a great pair of heels.  High heels make us stand up straighter, hold our heads higher and strut our stuff with a little bit more attitude.  When you slip into those shoes, all of a sudden you are a better version of yourself; more motivated to get work done and less likely to take crap from anyone.  Imagine if we all felt this way every day; I think all the men in our lives would be dumbfounded.
 

So isn’t it time we stand up against this bad weather.  It’s not going away so let’s all band together and say “screw you snow!” Never again will you discourage us from wearing whatever we want! Never again will we throw our heels in the back of our closets to hide until the ground thaws! The time is now to take a stand against these below freezing temperatures, gusting winds, ice, mountains of snow, slush and more slush. We will not let you win!
 
I look forward to seeing you all stab some stilettos in that snow!
 
Here are a few pointers for all you daring divas to get started:
 
Selection:  Let’s be serious. You WILL get crazy looks if you try wearing open toed or strappy heels. Just don’t do it. Go for something close toed or something in a boot…maybe ankle or knee high (hot trend).
 

Prep:  If you’re worried about getting your best shoes wet or stained from salt, waterproof them!  I love Penguin waterproofing products.  They are inexpensive and you can find them at Lamey Wellehan (http://www.lwshoes.com/lameywell/) in Bangor.  I have one for leather and another for suede.
 
Size Matters:  If you are nervous, go for a larger heel or a shorter one. Over time I worked my way up from a low heel, to a larger cone heel and finally to a stiletto.
 
Keep it Tight:  Make sure the shoes are snug on your foot. Try wearing bigger socks or lacing them tighter so your foot won’t move around. You’ll need to be extra stable incase you hit a patch of black ice.
 
Plan Your Route:  Allow a few extra minutes so you aren’t rushing to class and stay on plowed paths!  The UMaine campus does a great job with snow removal and making sure walkways are safe for students, so use this to your advantage.  Be aware of brick, especially around the MLK plaza, the commons and the library…it always seems to be a bit more slick than pavement pathways.  And remember to find a carpet to scuff your feet on once you enter a building. Extra caution to students who live on campus, since you typically walk much farther to and from class than the rest of us!