When I got an email asking me if I’d like to participate in an online book tour reviewing a new book by Birmingham’s own, Phyllis Norton Hoffman, and the subject is shoes, I was all over it! I mean, I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a lifelong shoe addiction. Guilty as charged. I actually did a post back in January titled Can you have too many shoes?? And I’ve concluded that no, no, you really can’t.
Here’s a little about Phyllis, from her online bio:
A leading figure in the publishing industry, Phyllis Norton Hoffman is majority owner and president of Hoffman Media, LLC.
A native of Hoover, Alabama and a graduate of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, she began her career as a Certified Public Accountant with a nationally known firm before founding a special-interest publication company in 1983 that is now known as Hoffman Media, LLC.
Hoffman is recognized industry-wide as a savvy businesswoman and talented entrepreneur. She serves as the creative engine of the company, producing an ever-widening range of beautiful magazines including TeaTime, Southern Lady, Just CrossStitch, Sew Beautiful, and Taste of the South magazines. She is also a sought-after speaker across the country, a devoted wife and mother and a church and community leader.
Did you catch the magazines that her publishing company is responsible for: Southern Lady and also Cooking with Paula, which is not listed on that. I actually got to meet Phyllis last year at a women’s event our church was sponsoring and she was the speaker. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her and she even brought magazines for all of us, so I really loved her then. Magazines are my love language.
(In Style Home, Spring 2006, Mariah Carey’s closet…don’t we wish?!)
The tag line of the book is “Celebrating the footsteps of the Contemporary Woman”, and it really is true that as we grow and mature, so do our shoes. Phyllis tells many humorous and witty stories all throughout the book about her life growing up and how shoes played a major part in it. All done with wit, wisdom and a whole lotta fun thrown in. I sure do remember my first pair of grown up heels that I finally got to choose one Easter when I was around 12 or 13. Oh my, the excitement of looking for the perfect pair of 1” heels! You’d have thought we were shopping for gold. I think they were black patent with ribbon ties that came across the top of my foot and the heel was tiny, but oh yeah, it was a heel. Finally, I had arrived.
From Cinderella’s glass slipper, to Dorothy’s fancy red ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz, to fashion mavens Jackie O and Princess Di, Phyllis covers the gamut of shoes and finery and what a role all of that plays in each of our lives. Most of us as women feel good in a pair of good-looking shoes, no doubt about that. They can make you feel sexy. Or sassy. Or dowdy. They can certainly make or break an outfit, as well as even be cruel at times. My days of wearing a lot of high heels are probably past me for the most part, I just don’t do a lot of dressing up anymore, but I can remember feeling really cute and sassy in certain shoes that I’ve had over the years.
My closet is still full of them, even if the heel is back down to that 1” I started with when I was around 12. Phyllis shares many of her life struggles and how she got through them and even the shoes that walked her through those struggles. A witty and fun book to read (especially if you’re Southern and even if you’re not). She laments wearing white shoes before Memorial Day or after Labor Day (a cardinal sin, just listen to your mother), which is what most of us in the South have heard all our lives. The rules have relaxed a bit over the years, thankfully. I don’t even own a white pair of shoes anymore. I do remember very vividly the white go-go boots that were all the rage when I was in Jr. High School and that Phyllis fondly remembers in the book. I don’t remember having a pair, but I think my sister did. She was older and got to do things before I did, darn it.
Phyllis Norton Hoffman takes you on a journey examining these defining moments, sharing what she has learned when she was required to wear different shoes – from a mother and wife to entrepreneur and businesswoman to publishing powerhouse to doting grandmother – and provides advice for women on putting their best foot forward, no matter their role, circumstance, or stage of life.
So, if you get a chance to read this fun and fascinating book about women and our devotion to all things shoes, I’d definitely say do it! You’ll thoroughly enjoy tip-toeing through the pages with Phyllis, in whatever shoes you might choose for the day!
I love what cooking queen, Paula Deen, says on the cover, “Phyllis and I have taken many steps together. I take mine in flats!”
Amen, Paula! Flip-flops for me.
And for the really fun part! I am getting 3 copies of this book to give away to my readers, so all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me your favorite memory of shoes and what your favorites are. You know I love some shoes! Contest closes Friday evening at 6:00 PM Central time. I’ll pick a winner and announce it Saturday a.m.
My grandfather owned a shoe store so I can remember how much I coveted my shoes at a very early age. It is a toss up between my favorites: black and white saddle oxfords or my red mary jane buster browns….ah, found memories!
Oh, shoes. We do love them, don't we? I'll never forget when I was 17 years old and found the most beautiful pair of black pumps. They were Van Eli shoes–Italian leather, as soft as gloves. And they were over $100 (in 1981!). But I found them on clearance for $25 and bought them. I wore them for years, and I felt like a million bucks every single time I put them on.
They were wise to ask you to comment on this book. You know whereof you speak!
As a teenager, I loved my go-go boots. But now, I seem to live in flip-flops. I think I have a pair in every color too.
Love Victoria magazine and I heard about Phyllis' new book. Sounds great!
Rhoda–I love shoes, too. My most memorable pair were some bright orange patent MaryJanes that had a big bow on top. My mother bought my best friend and I matching pairs when we were in 6th grade (mid 1960's). They sort of looked like tap shoes but in that great orange color. We proudly wore them with white dresses to the grand opening of a new hospital in town. We were so proud!
Now, at age 55, I love my FitFlops! I must have 8 pairs and even use them in place of slippers.
Thanks for the opportunity to share about Shoes!
Blessings, Suzanne
Every a.m. I have the fascination of wondering what Rhoda is talking about today! Shoes, what girl isn't nuts about them. Whether they are her fave athletic shoe or
the zebra print or sparkles across the bands of sandals.
My memory is of black patent boots
with large silver lace up holes (what are they called); so Ali McGraw'ish! I felt like I was living outloud.
Shoes defintely make the girl.
Hugs, patti
I love the magazines and books that come from Hoffman; very high quality. My favorite shoe story is that when I was a pre-teen, I just 'had to have' a pair of blue suede tie-dyed saddle oxfords – thought I would just 'die' without them! Looking back now I can just visualize how horrible they must have looked! My poor mom, having to pay good money for those hideous shoes! To this day she doesn't let me forget them.
When I was a junior in high school, my sister made me a peach dress that was my absolute favorite – I wore it to the spring Frolics dance and for so many other occasions – it was comfortable, but looked great – I got lots of compliments on it. But the favorite thing about the dress was finding matching, peach colored leather shoes with just a little heel! I remember wearing cream colored lace hose too – the color peach and lace hose – screaming the 80's!!!
When I was in the second grade my parents were really poor. my cheap tennis shoes were falling apart so I went to the principal at the school and asked if I could go through the lost and found and I got myself a pair of shoes. I was so proud. the next day I told my sister to go and ask. then for the rest of the year our teachers would give us a pair. so long ago now I have plenty of shoes. I love shoes.
Shoes…what an obsession! I love all types of shoes except the painful ones.
My fondest memory of shoes are of my little cousin who had a pair of the dress up high heels that made a lot of noise when she walked on tile or wood floors. She called them her "click clacks" which always evoked a laugh from the rest of us.
I enjoy your blog.
My favorite shoes where a pair of white cowboy boots I had back in the late 80's. I used to wear them with long skirts and thought I was IT! (Not! LOL)
Ooops – forgot to post my favorite shoes to go with my earlier comment. Flip flop'ish – but semi-dressy as well; has the small heel to lift you up from walking
flat down. But. . .a girl should
neva – that is neva – forget to scrub her heels down daily & moisturize-moisturize-moisturize.
Ugly feet make cute shoes very uncute quickly. 🙂 hugs, patti
I guess my favorite type shoe is the sandal. I have some very comfortable ones and here in SC we can wear them for a long time! My favorite shoe memory is my first pair of white "heels" when I was 12. They were only about an inch high, but I wore them proudly to church on Easter Sunday – like you. Ahhh- memories!
The year I won (age 12) a jelly bean guessing contest 'how many in the jar' … I was 5'8" already (still am) & the tennis shows\\es I won were green (that was great) with 2" soles (that was terrible!) … when I outgrew them Mother cut the toes out to get another year of wear & I was now a teenager & so embarrassed that everyone knew we couldn't afford new shoes. Since then I have always made it a mission to have good shoes for every occasion … & if they become damaged or worn down I immediately get rid of them.
TTFN ~Marydon
Two pair of shoes come to mind both from my teenage days. One was the ugly black and white track shoes that everyone had in 7th grade. I just had to have them and they made my feet look really, really long. The other pair was the clogs with the fake fur. Those always made me feel so hip when I wore them. Thanks for the memories.
What a neat idea for a book! I'll bet if I really thought about the shoes I've worn over the years, I would see how I've changed (or not!).
My summer favorites are flip-flops, but I have to say that my most vivid and best memory was a pair of white, almost knee high boots with a little heel (that seemed high to me). They were my "go-go" boots, and I was about 9 or 10! I loved those boots and wanted to wear them everywhere!
How true!! When you think about it, there are certain shoes that stand out in your mind as ones you'll never forget! I have many memories, but 3 in particular…
red heels that I danced in with my highschool sweetheart, red and white saddle oxfords – the first highschool shoes I wore as a member of the cheering squad, and my highschool drill team boots – oh how I loved those boots. I worked so hard for them!!! 🙂
Thanks for offering the book – it sounds fabulous!!!
My favorite pair of shoes has to be a pair I wore when I was in college. I had almost no money but had to have a pair of leather shoe boots. They had a a pointed toe and looked so great peaking out from under my blue jeans. I thought I looked "casual" good!
Rhoda – I love your blog! It's a "must go to" every morning. Wish you were my neighbor. You're so fun and this book sounds like a must have. I too grew up in Marietta, GA 🙂 and now live in FL. When not @ work, it's all about flip flops now, but I still remember the white patentleather strappy high skinny heel shoes (with a slight wooden (lt. brown) platform base and heel) that I wore when I graduated in a white cap and gown back in 1978! Loved those shoes as well as a pair of beige canvas wedgies with jute rope heel and jute ropes ties that you tied up around your legs to mid calf. Too funny! Thanks for all you do!
I love shoes, my first job was at a shoe store in the 70's. When I went to work at a bank I always wore high heels, never again! I'm like you Rhoda, flip flops are my favorite!
I always wanted a pair of go go boots and saddle oxfords when I was a kid but never got them. I've actually thought about trying to find some black and white oxfords today to wear with my jeans…who knows, maybe they'll come back in style.
I love your blog. My first pair of shoes that I remember loving were some red patene shoes that I received when I was 4 years old. I had a beautiful robins egg colored dress and my mom wanted to buy white patene shoes; however, at 4 I wanted a pop of color and it turned out beautiful.
The second best shoe memory was a pair of 70's leather yo-yo sandals…these were my first high heels.
My favorite shoes are Jimmy choos:) I don't own a pair but will one day.
What I love about shoe shopping is that you are always the same size and there is nothing more empowering than a great pair of shoes:)