There are two things I've learned about clogs in my passionate pursuit of them over the years. One is when you come across a pair you like and it's actually available in your size, buy it! Don't hesitate. Don't ponder your decision. Go with your gut and give that deserving pair of shoes a good home. These are not the ravings of someone in the grip of the vice of lust. It is simply the voice of experience talking. As any well-seasoned shopper can tell you, if something catches your eye right now, don't expect it to be there later. Once upon a time I happened upon a very appealing pair of chunky heel clogs. The leather upper was tooled with a western design and adorned with a simple metal button. There a sizable platform to give the shoe some lift. And the chunkiness of the heel balanced the thickness of the platform nicely. But for some reason when I found the pair on Amazon, I hemmed and hawed. I'd just spent my footwear budget for the month and didn't want to add even more red ink to my credit card. After enough longing glances cast in the direction of that shoe's web page, I finally threw indecision to the wind and clicked on the Add to Shopping Cart button...only to discover that my size was now SOLD OUT!
(expletives deleted)
Frantically I typed the style and brand names into my search engine, but no one else seemed to be carrying the shoe any longer. The design had run its course. It had been discontinued. And even an occasional visit to Overstock.com failed to turn up any unsold remainders.
So the lesson learned in this cautionary tale is simple: if you like it, BUY IT! Seize the day! You may never get the opportunity again. Otherwise you'll end up in the state I found myself in: sad and listless, pining for a style that I would never truly be able to call my own. At least until some new footwear worthy of my possessive passion caught my eye. But the truth is, if you think you're going to love wearing a pair, put down your plastic and take 'em home. (You can always return the pair later if you change your mind.)
The second thing I've learned about clogs is that as much as I love the style, I can't always be sure what's going to capture my imagination. Sturdy platforms and significant heels have always been hardy perennials in my footwear garden. But then out of the blue some unique combination of leather and wood comes along and I find myself captivated by a brand new direction. These Canyon River Blues clogs are a good case in point. The style is simplicity itself: a two piece leather upper that surrounds nearly all of the foot secured to a subtly rounded solid wood sole. I first noticed the design when a similar style by Mia went on auction years ago. But it took months of searching eBay regularly to first determine the brand (it's a line carried by Sears), and then even more months to finally find an auction for a pair in my size.
Patience is a virtue. And once my winning item arrived, I felt virtuous indeed. And that's a story suited to be told on a Sunday.
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