These Shoes Were Made for Sitting

05 Jun These Shoes Were Made for Sitting

Last year I attended the 2014 Tony Awards but I didn’t blog about it. By today’s standards, does that mean it never really happened? Yeah? Well, I have pics, so, it did happen. Indulge me?

***

I really abide by the quote, the right pair of shoes can (and will) change your life.

My very first pair of Christian Louboutins, my ex gave me. They were the ones in my logo. I’ve redesigned since then, wearing a pair that I bought, what what! Now, the first pair hangs on my wall.They aren’t the comfiest but I like to break them out for special occasions.

It’s important to note that I knew upfront these were cab to curb shoes.

But I was going to The Tonys. So I thought, ‘why not?’

Nexxus invited me to the show. My hair would be styled by the brand’s creative director Kevin Mancuso. I would have a professional to make my face look decent. And best of all, car service was provided. So, a big ole heck yes to the shoes was my thinking.

All I would have to do is make it through dinner and the after-party, I could sit during the show. I didn’t even bother to bring flats to leave in the car. I was that confident. I would be just fine I told myself.

After hair and makeup, I saved my feet until the very last moment when I slid my feet into those heeled booties and headed downstairs to meet my date for dinner. By date, I mean, Arianna.

We toasted to a good night ahead with Moët Rosè and sat through out dinner. You know, to save our feet.

The car ride to the show was almost surreal. I touched up my lipstick while Arianna and I spouted off the reasons we hadn’t seen anything nominated, vowing to do better.

I slip my shoes back on and head into the building. This is definitely a pinch-me moment. I’ve never been to Radio City and my first time was for The Tonys.

Here’s the thing about live award shows, if you get up and you’re seated relatively close to the stage, a seat filler must come take your place, so if the camera pans the audience, it looks full. Realizing this, Arianna and I make the trek to the bathroom.

My shoes start to pinch. But I’ve had like 4 glasses of champagne so I don’t care.

I immediately slip them off when we get back to our seats. I am not ashamed to say that under all that tulle on my Rent the Runway ML Monique Lhillier strapless gown my shoes were off. During standing ovations. During Idina Menzel’s performance. Aladdin’s too. I stood there, barefoot and confused, watching Hugh Jackman, T.I. and LL Cool J rap “The Music Man.”

Um, I also accidentally kicked one of my shoes into the row in front of me and had to subtly scoop it up during yet another standing ovation.

When Jackman suggested that he would like to close the show with class photo with all the winners, I slipped my Louboutins back on and marched out to the cars–or where they should have been. My phone died (remember my phone struggle? It used to die literally all the time) so I couldn’t call the driver. I had no idea where he was and had already walked two long blocks away from the theater. Going back now was not an option.

Luckily, another girl in our group is able to located her driver. Arianna and I hitch a ride to the Plaza with her and her boyfriend for the after-party. “Oh, just rolling up to The Plaza in my Escalade for the Tonys after-party,” she joked as she hopped out of the truck and toward the hotel’s red carpet.

Multiple things needed to happen: I needed to sit down and rest. I needed to charge my phone. I needed to get my shoes off. And I needed to go to the bathroom. Badly.

Then something magical happened. Arianna went off to see if by chance any of the gift shops were open and we could buy, what would undoubtedly be, an expensive pair of slippers. She comes back, slippers in hand. She made a friend at the front desk!

While she was making friends at the front desk, I was making friends in the Plaza’s Food Hall, where the real food was served. “Can I bring you something to eat?” an older gentleman offered. “I can tell your feet hurt.”

They did, but not anymore thanks to my new slippers. Again, I am not ashamed. I gathered a handful of tulle so I wouldn’t trip and headed to the bathroom. On the way, we got all sorts of stares.

This pair of  particular shoes definitely would have changed their lives, too. No, seriously, they would have. The gentleman that would bring us food? His wife asked us to find her a pair of slippers.

See?

Now, life was good.