Carrie Bradshaw purrs “Hello Lover” seductively as she lingers in front a window display, fantasizing about pink marabou trimmed Manolos.  Audrey Hepburn fishes for her black pumps in the branches of her house plant, as she meets her handsome new neighbor. Ms. Marie Antoinette has hundreds of custom made shoes to match every gown and every mood. Even the very poor Cinderella rests her entire fate on the sole of a glass stiletto. The entire world, as we know it, is obsessed with beautiful shoes.

If you want to know the true meaning of beauty, look no further than the shoe department at Nordstrom. I dare you to pick up a pair of candy apple red Stuart Weitzman patent heels. Try them on. See if you don’t feel like the sexiest woman alive. In 4 inch heels you can not only stomp the world into submission, but you can look slimmer, taller, more polished…and who are we kidding…you can make some serious heads turn.

My beauty obsession is the same obsession 75% percent of women around the globe have. Sky high platforms, peep toe Mary janes, D’orsay pumps, round toe ankle boots, and even the occasional ballerina flat make me go weak at the knees .In my mind if Willy Wonka had been born Wilma, her glorious factory would be producing rows and rows of candy pink high heels. And those creepy little Oompa Lumpas, would look more like taller Smurfettes. I mean, there was a reason all the other smurfs where obsessed with her. She knew how to rock those white pumps.

I wish I could write this entire article on how beauty is skin deep, but we have all hear that a million times. And the joy you feel when you bring home a new pair of saucy strappy sandals, can’t be replaced. Not by the big O. Or Ice cream. Or chocolate. Or even a Sex and the city marathon. I couldn’t imagine writing this about anything else besides this. Looking back on history, the world of fashion started with a great pair shoes. The Spartans wore funky leather sandals, which are now gracing the pages of the latest Vogue. The T-Strap heels of the 20’s are all the rage this fall. And the hippy chic look of the wooden platforms of the 70’s are being worn on the red carpet by Victoria Beckham and Lindsay Lohan. Shoes will be women’s obsession for decades to come.

I don’t discriminate against them. I buy any brand, at any price, and anywhere that I can find them. My only prerequisite to be added to my shoe collection? The taller the better. I happen to be 5’4, and when I get to be 5’8, the world looks so much better. I think the air is clearer up there. Really. I can breath so much better. I feel so much more confident, as well. You would be surprised how powerful you feel, when you can look down at the world. There is nothing I can’t reach while wearing my favorite silver wedges. Not even that pesky peanut butter jar that hides in the back of the tallest shelf of my pantry. Who needs rain boots, when you can be five inches from the ground? I will never accidentally step in a puddle again! Can’t get to a gym? No problem. I step into my tallest shoes, and walk around the house. And my calves are always rock hard. Sure, beauty is pain at times, but the benefits are so much greater!

Not only are they a fashion statement, but I have never met a person that didn’t need shoes to survive.  Can you imagine walking in New York City bare foot? Ewww. The world is just such a better place because of gorgeous footwear. There is a reason why so many movies introduce a woman character by shooting her shoes first. Because the entire female audience decides if they are going to like such character by what her feet are wearing. Little girls every day buy sequined red slippers and click their heels three times too look as gorgeous as Dorothy. You never see 4 year olds playing dress up in some ratty old Nike sneakers; they always go after mommy’s most extravagant pair.  Would we have known if Julia was a prostitute if she wasn’t wearing tacky thigh high pleather boots? Ok, maybe the trampy outfit and fishnets gave it away a little, but the boots sure helped.

In the future, I hope heels can be purchased from vending machines (For when you need a fashion fix at 3 a.m.) and that Mr. Louboutin and Mr. Blahnik drop their price tag.  I dream of a world where no one knows your real height and where fantasies do come true by having the plexy glass slipper fit. Shoes make me happy, so I will continue to obsess over them till I die. Like Ms. Bradshaw once said, if all else fails, “I will literally be the woman who lives in a shoe”. At least it will be a very stylish way to live.