A few days ago, I restacked this edition of The Cereal Aisle by
about dressing for the spring/summer transition, which she calls the “5th season”. Leandra wrote about red shoes, and now I can’t stop thinking about how nice a pair of crimson Birkie’s would be. Or some retro, clog-red Scholl sandals.There’s just something about red shoes, isn’t there?
When I think about childhood shoes, I picture red ones (you, too?). Specifically, Clarke’s leather T-bar sandals with a laser-cut pattern on the upper and—crucially—in a SUUUPER-wide, SUUUPER-sensible fitting.
I remember the shop assistant guiding my heel into the back of the metal measuring gauge, and gently pulling the tape across the widest part of my foot, before declaring the inevitable: still SUUUPER-wide. Thus ruling out the just-slightly-cooler styles I’d been hopefully scanning on the displays, desperate for something with a semblance of a heel. My friends and I determined who had the highest by counting and comparing the number of lines etched onto the rubber heels of our school shoes, usually during morning assemblies.
My mother once went rogue and got me a pair of strappy red WEDGES (absolutely not Clarke’s), which I clipped around in with endless pride. Years later, on holiday in Italy, I impulse-bought a pair of super-high, super-not-sensible bright red cork ones and wore them until they fell apart.
Colour codes
I’ve definitely found myself craving pops of colour in general lately, and I know it’s not just because it’s summer (and it was actually gorgeously warm and sunny here in the UK this Bank Holiday weekend).
After what’s been quite a tough time with all the health worries about my mother and father, a pop of colour can be such a mood booster.
A defiant, vibrant vote for hope.
Maybe you can relate, and have been drawn to planting colourful bulbs or blooms, picking out bright clothes or painting your nails sunshine yellow (yes, you should totally do it — I’ll post a photo when I get around to using the Essie sherbet lemon colour I grabbed in Boots when I went in for throat lozenges).
“Colour pulls joy to the surface"
—Ingrid Fettell Lee
Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness
Similarly, I went into TK Maxx (I know, we say TK, not TJ here) a couple of weeks ago for liquid soap,and came out with an aggressively bright cushion with the word “RELAX” embroidered on it, in neon letters, and edged with pom poms to match.
Will wasn’t convinced, but he went with it.
Last week, in this wonderful essay, Decorate for well-being, author, photographer and educator
writes:Colors, lighting, textures, and natural elements in our decor can have a profound impact on our emotional well-being. You only need to buy a book or google “Color Psychology” to learn the impact color has on the mind and that it’s quite significant.
I saw this play out when visiting my dad in hospital a few weeks back, when I took him a few flowers from a bouquet at home, along with snacks, a notepad and photos.
One by one, everything disappeared (my dad hates clutter), but the blooms remained in the blue plastic beaker, until there was a single, bright yellow gerbera left.
“I won’t let them take my flower,” he told me.
What colours “pull joy to the surface” for you?
I’d love to hear — let me know by hitting the (new!) blue comment button below!
Oh yes, another thank you! This time to
, for recommending Life Stories. It means so much when someone supports what I’m (we’re!) doing here in this way (because this is so very much about your stories, too, and the sharing). I hadn’t come across Kelly’s writing before, and am so happy to have subscribed to her lovely Substack home,.Because cheering each other on in our creative endeavours and encouraging one another, in any which way, 100% pulls joy to the surface.
Love the color red for shoes and pants. A couple of summers ago, I bought a pair of red sandaly cork-heeled shoes. Loved them, but still have not worn them. Maybe this summer. Yes, color does brighten a room and bring joy into the family. Loved your post, Jenni. So you, so airy, so full of light.
Even though I gravitate to black for SO many of my clothes, I say YES to a random pop of colour! I'm lacking in red shoes right now but I have a ridiculously bright red pair of suede ankle boots, which always make me feel "present"! As for colours that bring me joy, I definitely go for pink... it literally makes me smile. Lots of white and pink in my home office. A pale pink KitchenAid mixer on my kitchen counter. Pink fresh flowers currently sitting in my living room. And now that I'm analyzing it, my brand colors are black and pink. Ha! There we go! I'm delightfully predictable... 😎