Last year, while I was recovering from the overuse injury to my right foot, I did a lot of reading on Barefoot Running.  As a result, I was exposed to the related topic of minimalist shoes.  I may at some point do a post on Barefoot Running and my foray into it.  However, this post is all about the shoes.

I spend a lot of time barefoot.  My feet prefer to be barefoot.  The only time I wear shoes is when they are required, either by law, convention or practicality (e.g. rocky hiking trails).  On those occasions when I do have to wear shoes, I prefer that they make a statement.  I love my shoes, and have a large and varied collection.  Still, I kick them off at the first opportunity.  My feet are so much happier without shoes.  At work, every time I get up from my desk I have to put my shoes back on.

I have for months resisted the idea of getting a pair of the Vibram Five Fingers minimalist shoe.  Basically, I thought they looked completely dorky.  Lately though, they are kind of growing on me.  Perhaps it’s the insidious, subliminal message of seeing Mark Sisson rocking them in the photo montage in the header at Mark’s Daily Apple Apparently resistance IS futile, and I am about to be assimilated.

Whatever the reason is, I have started lusting after this pair:

The color is perfect to blend with my basic wardrobe colors.  The style, not so much.  My current style is classic, with an occasional, funky twist or accessory.  My shoes are often the focal point of my attire.  If I were to throw on a pair of those mauve VFFs, the shoe would definitely be a focal point.

And what about these pink Mary Janes?  Aren’t they FABULOUS?

There are minimal shoes that I could purchase that would pass for conventional shoes.  They would be almost as comfortable as being barefoot.  The thing is, most of those options look like ugly conventional shoes.  If I wore them, it would just look like I had unfortunate taste in shoes.

I think I am attracted to the VFFs because they are funky and playful, which is a quality I strive to hit with my shoes.  It would be a very tongue in cheek statement, my own little joke.  It’s the same sort of statement I used to make as a teen at camp with my socks.

I suspect if I started wearing the VFFs every day my co-workers would believe that I had finally gone over the cliff into total insanity (I’m sure they already think that I am on the precipice some days).  But what if I rocked them only once a week?  What if I established Five Fingers Friday?  Would it be fun and funky, or a fashion faux pas?