These Boots are Made for Walking

Well, it wasn’t exactly boots I was after, but footwear for sure. You’ll have to indulge me. What’s the benefit of having your own blog if once in a blue moon you can’t rant? Apparently, after the world shut down, nobody gets dressed for work anymore. I mean actually dressed in business attire. Suit, tie, blouse, skirt, jacket, dress shoes; you remember.

Heels. All I needed was heels. I have some from back in the day (it wasn’t that long ago) but knowing I was going to an event specifically to be on my feet all day, I was hoping to find something a little more comfortable.

Comfortable, I could find; 94 kinds of boots, slippers, slip-on, fuzzy, cozy shoes that couldn’t be more inappropriate to wear with my skirt and jacket if I went barefoot. I went to several reputable stores that have historically carried dress shoes (I won’t shoe-shame them here, you know who you are). Seriously, it was either these sweatpant-slogging mules for the “business-on-top” look or sparkly stilettos for the occasional in-person wedding or girls’ night out.

I was attending a globally successful business event for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry; Event Professionals, Hoteliers, Convention Centers and Venues, City and Country Representatives, and Service and Technology Providers together in the most hospitable place on earth, Las Vegas. It requires, not only by dress code, but by respect, business attire. That’s what was expected from me and everyone else attending. All this girl needed was new shoes.

Come to find out while chatting with my colleagues, I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t find these basic business necessities. Sadly, across the country, we have relegated ourselves to professional profiles and personas but we can’t pull together an outfit, shoes included, to meet in person!

Despite my disappointment with having to wear my 3-year old shoes, I found professionals dressed and behaving in a professional manner. Just like the good ole days, albeit masked and vaccinated. As a Certified Meeting Professional, it was life-giving to experience people again. Lots of people. In this case, like-minded professionals from all around the world, some having broken free from border restrictions mere moments before boarding a plane. Everyone sharing experiences learned from the demise and resurrection of hospitality. Of course, walking through the casinos in our sole-worn shoes of old, grateful to be together once again. 

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