Street Fashion Advice

I literally received fashion advice from the street yesterday while on my way to work. This lady, who I have no term for because she neither fits the description of a beggar nor a homeless person, asked me if I ever wear heels.

She was sitting on one of those low metal fences that border trees planted along pedestrian paths and holding out a paper cup when she called out to me. I’d walked past her several times before. She always sat in the same position, clean-cut, seemingly able-bodied and with a pleasant look on her face. I gathered after the second time that she wasn’t just taking a rest early in the morning with a cup of soda.

After briefly trying in vain to understand the picture presented before me I replied politely, “No.”

The lady then told me I should try 2 and 3/4 inch heels. She emphasized that they should be precisely that height. I tried to quickly accept the advice and move on but she wouldn’t let me. So I started explaining to her that I can’t walk in heels, to which she said that I should wear them out when I go clubbing and get used to them with some alcohol in my system and then I would be able to wear them to work. It didn’t sound like a great idea to me but I said my thanks and went on my way as she shouted after me, “Remember, 2 and 3/4 inches!”

This morning I saw her again. This time she was running late and had only just got to her “office” with her bags (only three of them, which looked just like they could be a work bag, a work-out bag and a handbag). She pulled out one half of a pair of gold pumps to show me what I should be going for and said, “I haven’t worn these out yet but see 2 and 3/4s”

I said, “Ok cool,” as if I was really going to go out and get a pair and then told her to have a nice day, wondering how much she made everyday in her paper cup and picturing her partying in those gold shoes.

I don’t know if I’m afraid to bump into her again wearing my flats or if I’m so intrigued by her story that I’m going to have a proper chat with her next.