The Secret Shoes Beneath Every Woman’s Desk
We have no idea what “having it all” means exactly, but we’re pretty sure it includes having two wardrobes, one for work and one for the rest of life, and we, as women of the workplace, are well on our way to that ideal. There are three cardigans hanging from the backs of our chairs, a complete medicine cabinet in our drawers, and, of course, the pile of shoes hidden away beneath our desks.
Oh, the shoe pile. How did it get there? One day it was just a particularly uncomfortable pair of heels we abandoned at the end of the day and a set of rain boots (just in case). But oh how they’ve mysteriously multiplied: flats, sandals, open-toes, and wedges—there is a shoe for every possibility. Whether they be pairs neatly lined up in row, shoved into a filing cabinet, or spilling from a box that once held reams of copy paper, this is the shoe pile, and chances are you have one.
Here are the secret office shoe stashes of 21 working women.
Molly, marketing associate "On my first day about a year ago, I noticed these size 9 black slingbacks in my desk cubby and just assumed they...
Molly, marketing associate "On my first day about a year ago, I noticed these size 9 black slingbacks in my desk cubby and just assumed they belonged to my friend, whose has referred me to the job and whose old desk I was sitting at. When she came back to visit a year later, I tried to give 'her' shoes back to her but she said they had been at the desk even before she started three years earlier. I have decided they are 'good luck shoes' and keep them tucked in the same cubby they have probably been in for at least five years. Above them are my wedges, size 7, which I keep on-hand for surprise after-work happy hours!"
Sarah, works at Google “Sadly because I work at Google I've become a total tech slob and I don't keep fancy shoes at my desk anymore... I'm flats...
Sarah, works at Google “Sadly because I work at Google I've become a total tech slob and I don't keep fancy shoes at my desk anymore... I'm flats all day every day, just like Liz Lemon.”
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Laura, works in finance “I don't even wear these shoes anymore. They lie under my desk completely forgotten until i drop a pen or something and h...
Laura, works in finance “I don't even wear these shoes anymore. They lie under my desk completely forgotten until i drop a pen or something and have to crawl down there to retrieve it and then sometimes I remember I used to care about this job and 'looking my best' in the workplace and now I just wear flats and hope my skirt doesn't have a hole in it."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Samantha, works at NBC Universal “My J. Crew wedges are my favorite -- I'm obsessed! They're so comfortable!”
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Naomie, works in nonprofits “I feel like as long as they are in a box, I’m organized."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Elizabeth, researcher Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Christina, administrative assistant “I used to trade my street flip flops for heels every morning. I was wobblier on Monday&...
Christina, administrative assistant “I used to trade my street flip flops for heels every morning. I was wobblier on Monday than Friday -- I relearned how to walk in heels every week. The reasons were pure ego: image, sex appeal. And so I decided two weeks ago that I didn't want to wear heels anymore, something having to do with my body and its natural alignment, self-respect. I recently purchased my first and only pair of flats, also pictured here, and my heels have been on level with my toes since.” Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Paige, corporate attorney "I used to have a huge assortment at my last job but my long train commute makes this harder to accomplish. I’m li...
Paige, corporate attorney "I used to have a huge assortment at my last job but my long train commute makes this harder to accomplish. I’m like a pack mule most days!" Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Maribeth, research assistant "It took me one or two outings in heels after moving to the city to make me realize that only fools (or people ...
Maribeth, research assistant "It took me one or two outings in heels after moving to the city to make me realize that only fools (or people with exceptional balance) wear high heels to walk around."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Liana, works in public relations "The shoe rack was the suggestion of my office manager. I kept complaining that the office cleaner&nbs...
Liana, works in public relations "The shoe rack was the suggestion of my office manager. I kept complaining that the office cleaner would not sweep under my desk. He said having all my shoes on a rack might help. My desk still has dust and crumbs under it but now my shoes are organized. I prefer the chunky Columbia snow boots to Louboutin pumps any day, but I’ve got to be prepared to wear both and everything in between."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Michelle, works in marketing “At any time I have between ten and twelve pairs of shoes under my desk. Every once in a while I get 'inspired' and ...
Michelle, works in marketing “At any time I have between ten and twelve pairs of shoes under my desk. Every once in a while I get 'inspired' and try to organize them (a.k.a put them somewhere where others can't see them), but that never lasts long. I was moving offices a couple months ago and used that time to "clean out" my office shoes. Two ended up in the trash and I gave one pair to my assistant. I was still left with ten pairs."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Leah, writer Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Macallan, administrative assistant “Ha! Does it count if it is a drawer full of Crocs?” Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Liz, administrative assistant “It baffles me why women would wear heels during their commute. My goal is to get to the office as comfortably as p...
Liz, administrative assistant “It baffles me why women would wear heels during their commute. My goal is to get to the office as comfortably as possible and only then do I worry about looking cute. Hence, my office desk is also my shoe closet.”
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Colleen, editor "This is a constantly rotating collection, and inevitably, when I'm at work, the shoes I desperately need are at home and vi...
Colleen, editor "This is a constantly rotating collection, and inevitably, when I'm at work, the shoes I desperately need are at home and vice versa."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Arielle, literary agent "I have two conflicting problems: I get stress fractures from walking the hard NYC pavement, and I'm also a very com...
Arielle, literary agent "I have two conflicting problems: I get stress fractures from walking the hard NYC pavement, and I'm also a very compact 5 feet tall. My solution is to commute in my comfortable and supportive shoes, and keep my incredibly unsupportive but stylish wedges and heels under my desk. I do a quick switch at the start and end of my day to keep both my feet and my fashion sense happy."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Kathryn, financial analyst “I used to have a lot more shoes under here, but when I was pregnant my potato feet couldn't handle heels and when I h...
Kathryn, financial analyst “I used to have a lot more shoes under here, but when I was pregnant my potato feet couldn't handle heels and when I had the baby I kind of stopped caring as much. I never would have worn flats at the office before.”
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Eileen, associate director of brand marketing and content for MILLY "I have always had a serious love for high heels, but I gave up on doing...
Eileen, associate director of brand marketing and content for MILLY "I have always had a serious love for high heels, but I gave up on doing the street-switch (where you pull over on the street and change shoes before heading into your office) years ago. One pair is low enough to run around in, and another I can barely hobble across the office in but they look great through the clear conference room table! Depending on my schedule, sometimes I change them more than once a day. The only downfall: on more than one occasion I've found myself without heels on a Saturday night..."
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Sarah, accountant “These are all the shoes I came in with and left without.”
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Ruth, assistant vice president, investor relations "You truly never know what pair of shoes you're going to need so having a selection here ...
Ruth, assistant vice president, investor relations "You truly never know what pair of shoes you're going to need so having a selection here is just more convenient." Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
Amanda, intellectual property coordinator “Why they are there? Always ready for a rainstorm, an 'Oh no I wore flip flops to work and my heels are...
Amanda, intellectual property coordinator “Why they are there? Always ready for a rainstorm, an 'Oh no I wore flip flops to work and my heels are in a tote in my apartment' day, a pickup basketball game, a 'these shoes looked better in different lighting' day, city walking, the gym, or a day to night wardrobe transformation.”
Photo: Courtesy of Leah Carroll
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