Cynthia:  I often think fashion designers make fun of us mere mortals. As if they are the Cool Clique of 7th Grade wielding their Mean Girl Powers over us acne prone nerds. Case in point:  Shoes with cat faces on the toe box.

Charlotte Olympia Cat Shoe

Marcy:  Those are ghastly.

Cynthia: And expensive! Those Charlotte Olympia cat shoes are $595! And everyone is getting into the (meow) mix!

Seychelles

Marc Jacobs

Pacsun

Cynthia:  Not to mention – Delia’s, DSQUARED, Kate Spade – and on and on. High end. Low end. It’s a seemingly endless parade of cat shoes. But, I don’t see anyone wearing them. Do you?

Marcy:  No.

Cynthia: To me, they look matronly or childlike. Okay if you’re five. Okay if you’re 85. Maybe a twenty-something hipster trying to be ironic could pull it off. But on me? I think I would get those somewhat scared and sympathetic nods and half smiles people give you when they are certain you have fallen off the abyss into Cat Ladydom.

Marcy:  You get those looks anyway.

Cynthia:  Yes, but at least I’m not in 7th grade anymore and I don’t feel the need to jump on the Mean Girls Bandwagon. So no cat shoes for me. Now, if you’ve got a great cat shirt, cat necklace, cat tote bag, or cat headband, I’m in!

Marcy:  You mean you’re out. Or, according to 7th grade logic, you are still the gangly girl playing viola in the orchestra, wearing the uncool shoes, and wishing she was Laura Ingalls.

Cynthia (happily): Yes!

Marcy:  And this is a step forward?

Cynthia (proudly):  Yes!

Marcy:  Oh brother.