Fashion extends well beyond the shirt, pants or hat a person wears. It even extends beyond hairstyle, accessories and belts.
The shoes or footwear aspect of one’s wardrobe are usually the last piece of the puzzle one puts on and the first to be taken off.
In the case of an interview the shoes one wears are important, said Mary Feduccia, career services director.
“The shoes are very important,” Feduccia said. “They are a big part of the first impression a student gives the employer.”
Feduccia said for male students going on an interview the footwear selection should be shoes that tie, are polished and are in good shape.
For the females they should wear closed-toe heels with backs that are polished with panty hose, Feduccia said.
According to many students, fashionable footwear extends beyond the workplace and can make or break one’s attire in social situations.
Monica Morgan, a biological sciences freshman, said the style of shoes one wears depends on the personality of the person. Morgan said her personality is more laid-back.
“I usually just wear Saucony’s or tennis shoes,” Morgan said. “I am really not a boot wearer, and I also like cute sandals.”
While the style depends on a personality, according to Morgan, the shoes also have to be fashionable and in-style.
“The trend right now is cute sandals and stilettos,” Morgan said. “I like the trend, and I am going to go with it.”
Jason Shepard, a general studies senior, said it is comfort, not style, that is the key element to fashionable footwear.
“When I am trying [the shoes] on, I go for style, but I definitely try them to see how they feel,” Shepard said. “I cannot wear Nike’s because they are too skinny for me, which is not a problem for me because they are also the most expensive shoes.”
However, Shepard said the actual shoe purchase must use more criteria than just comfort. Style must also play a role.
He said the shoes must match clothing items that he has in his closet, but he does not give in to peer pressure or trends when it comes to shoe purchases.
“I do not watch the basketball commercial and see LeBron [James’] new shoe and say ‘oh I need LeBron’s new shoe,'” Shepard said.
For Lynda Naquin, a studio art freshman, the choice of what footwear to put on each morning is not that difficult.
“I just wear sandals all the time,” Naquin said. “I just really dig sandals.”
Some students just do not worry about the footwear fashion.
Steve Smith, a biological sciences freshman, said comfort is the only aspect of importance when it comes to shoes.
“To me I just like to be comfortable, and my shoes are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn,” Smith said.
Smith currently owns a pair of blue New Balance, which he has had for several years and does not plan to give up any time soon.
“When I can’t wear these shoes anymore then I will buy new shoes,” he said.