by Karen J Bassett

Created on: April 08, 2007   Last Updated: August 07, 2009

When attending her prom, the most important aspect of a young lady's shoes is that they be comfortable. She'll spend most of her night on her feet posing for pictures, dancing and mixing with friends. Of course, it's important that her shoes coordinate with her dress, but, gone are the days of high-heeled, fancy dress shoes for every girl.
Take the case of one high school senior named, Emilie. Emilie was a girl athlete. One rarely, if ever, saw her in a dress or dressed-up. Most of the time she wore jeans, shorts, t-shirts or warm-up outfits and, of course, sneakers or flip-flops. Going to her prom was more than a major event. Beautifying Emilie was a monumental task.

Emilie was a very pretty girl: trim, well-defined lines, blond hair, average height, winning smile. But to her, sports were more important than make-up. Biting her nails when nervous was more important than polish. Loose, comfortable clothing that allowed athletic movement was more important than designer clothes.
In preparing for the prom, Emilie allowed friends and family to help her pick a gorgeous pink gown, some enhancing make-up, coordinating ribbons for her hair. When the time came, she even had her aunt give her a beautiful, curly hairdo. Yet, while shopping for shoes, Emilie bulked with every high-heeled, fancy style. She became the unwitting entertainment for the customers in the stores every time she tried to walk in heels. Emilie looked and felt like a little girl trying to wear her mommy's shoes. She wobbled like a toddler, twisted her ankles, stumbled like a klutz, and even fell a couple of times. Finally, exasperated and frustrated, Emilie declared she was not going to wear dress shoes and she'd do her own shopping for shoes.
Two days before the prom, Emilie excitedly returned from a shopping excursion she'd done on her own. She had her prom shoes: a neon bright pair of pink sneakers! She'd bought them for five dollars at a thrift store. Emilie was so proud of herself that she went straight to her room to try the shoes with her dress.
Friends and family were alarmed that Emilie was going to wear sneakers to the prom. Strangely, she quickly became a celebrity of sorts at her prom. She posed for numerous pictures by the curious and her friends. When the night was over, she was the only girl still wearing her shoes. And, yes, the shoes went well with her dress and her personality.
Emilie's story occurred two years ago. Frankly, she was ahead of her time. As stated earlier, it's important that prom shoes be comfortable for an entire evening of fun and activity.
Today, there are dozens of low-heeled, soft-soled, inexpensive shoes on the market that are perfect for the prom. Manufacturers have dressed them up with glitter, suede, canvas and other materials; some are nothing more than disguised flip-flops. The bottom line is: put the money on the dress and save money on the shoes. Go to your prom in both style and comfort.

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