Shoes Are Not An Accessory

I love social parties. I love getting the invitation (in the mail or online), finding the perfect outfit, and finding the perfect pair of shoes to complete it. However, nothing will kill my party "buzz" quicker than walking through the front door and being required to take off my shoes! I want so badly to refuse, to walk right up to the Host/Hostess and say "Do you know how much time, money, and stress went into my outfit for this night? Don't you see how amazing my shoes look with my outfit? Who is going to notice my amazing shoes when they are at the front door clumped together with dozens of others?!"

Making guests uncomfortable for your own agenda, such as protecting your precious floors, is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. I understand that some people put a lot of money and work into making their homes beautiful, and they do not want to see their beautiful floors scuffed or scratched by someones shoes. Please allow me to bluntly remind you that floors are made for walking on! They have no other purpose in life other than providing a foundation for your feet and furniture. Whether they are hardwood, tile, carpet, marble, or concrete...they are still just floors. Making guests, that you invited to attend your party, remove their shoes at the front door is rude, selfish, and ridiculous. Most women spend many hours and lots of money on their shoes, and they are just as much a part of their outfit as the clothes they have on. Shoes are NOT an accessory. Think about the signs posted on store windows, "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service." This further demonstrates my point: shoes are an integral part of an outfit.

Let me talk about this from a more practical point of view. Most people do not expect to have to remove their shoes when attending a party and most likely have not prepared for such a thing. What if your guest is wearing mismatched socks? What if someone has terrible corns, or bunions, or discolored toe nails and isn't wearing any socks at all? What if some of your guests have a fear, dislike, or even a fetish for feet? Or what if someone simply isn't comfortable taking off their shoes? Having your guests remove their shoes will not only make them feel uncomfortable, it may also cause quite a bit of embarrassment as well. As a Host/Hostess it is your duty to make your guests feel as welcomed and comfortable as possible. By requiring your guests to remove their shoes at the door, your "welcome" is now as cold as the floor under your guests bare feet.

How do you remedy this problem? Personally, I think giving your guests slippers or socks to wear is just tacky and still rude. My suggestion is you either put down rugs to protect your floors, or you research ways to remove the scuffs and scrapes that may occur. Either way, your guests will be more comfortable and enjoy themselves more with their shoes ON.