What are we waiting for?

As I'm having coffee with a lovely friend who is not yet 40 - not l'age moyen but one looks forward to welcoming her in - we agreed that we should seize the day so to speak when it comes to wearing the fabulous things we have tucked away in the closet.

Let's face it, when one finds oneself firmly in l'age moyen, one also finds a closet full of shoes. There are also a few exquisite black coats not to mention some suits, and more than a few blouses that count as real blouses not shirts. You love them, you buy them and then, you save them for special occasions. Ridiculous. This must change.

Take shoes as one example. Yes, you ogle the gorgeous shoes and you might even think they're classic and you can wear them forever. Well, you can't. Not only does the foot change over time what with all the wear and tear, but the shoes never come back the same way. Like all fashion, reference even homage is made to the past but it is tweaked for the 'now'. The only people who can really get away with vintage are the young. On those of us in the l'age, we just look like we need a wardrobe intervention. So what's the message here, put on the stilettos and make spaghetti sauce. Don't hold back. They won't last and you'll want to be part of the next great shoe movement. You know you will.

For years I saved this beautiful green tweed suit waiting for the big shoulders and double-breasted deatils to come back in style. Never has. 20 years later and those shoulders have just never returned - not in the same way. So, the suit is gone and perhaps I'll see it on the street one day worn with chic irreverance by some trendy young woman. That would be fun.

As part of my wardrobe's new lease on life, I've been wearing a cashmere sweater for the last 2 days that I've been 'saving' for 2 years. And I'll be cooking Thanksgiving dinner in my fabulous suede shoes with my gorgeous blouse and a skirt. I'll feel so French.

And, yes, to counter the affects of extended periods of time in heels, I'll be on my head the moment the guests leave.

Shoes, shoes, shoes

I love the fall. Time to pull out the fall shoes and, more importantly, to invest in new ones. The best shoe store in North America is to be found in Winnipeg. Yes, it is true - winterpeg has the most awe-inspiring shoe collection and it remains a shoe destination point for women living in New York and Paris.

Ronald's Shoes is still run buy Ronald. He chooses the shoes, orders them straight from Donald Pliner's Italian elves (among others including plenty from Stuart Weitzman), and fills his little shop on Osborne with the most beautiful shoes. Strappy, sensual, sexual shoes. You may choose Manolo - I'll take Ronald.

Another fabulous thing about Ronald is that he goes narrow all the way. 4A - need I say more you slim shod women? It is rare and wonderful. Even if you don't have narrow feet, after you've been suitably advised by Ronald's shoe counselors, your feet will slip into something beautiful and assume an elegant, even aristocratic bearing.

Let's be clear - these are definitely shoes for l'age moyen. No platforms, no 6" spikes, these shoes are made for women of a certain age and they make all the desirable bows to fashion without being a slave to it. We have to keep up in the accessories department of course, without looking as though we're aspiring to be 28 again. Nothing worse.

If for no other reason (and there may be none) when in winterpeg, take the longest stop-over possible, hop in a taxi and head straight for Ronald's.