postcardsfromb:

These shoes deserve a post.

These are my first Dr. Marten’s boots.

In the hey days of the early 90’s, when  Nirvana was waxing poetic about teen spirit, Dave Grohl was just drummer,  Michael Jordan and Socttie Pippen ruled the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan wanted to heal the world, the fashion world switched gears from the colourful shock and pop of the 80’s to more subdued palette of grunge. My sister, the eldest of course, asked my parents for a specific pair of shoes that was so in vogue back then that everyone had a pair. They were ink black 8- eye boots with gummy soles, yellow stitching and a tag that I thought was misspelled because it said Airwair.

Air- what?

Airwair.

And what in the world were Bouncing Soles?

My sister asked for a pair of Dr. Marten’s 1460 boots.

I was seven when my sister got her Docs. Like everything else in fashion, it started to fall out of favour and she outgrew the shoes. The boots were passed down to my other sister ( there’s a hierarchy, see? I’m number 3) and when she didn’t want them anymore, I got them.

The Docs were handed down to me when I was thirteen. Britney Spears was just coming out, Hanson was Mmm bop-ing their way and boy bands like the Backstreet Boys tried their best to make the “grab the camera” dance step work. Needless to say, the boots fell out of favour as the “it” shoe and was replaced by these tall platform wedges the Spice Girls told everyone they wanted (really really want.)

It didn’t matter.

I loved those boots. They were a size too big but they were so comfy it was magic.

The world around me moved on. The girls I grew up with wore those crazy foamy wedges then those Puma Maestros and kitten heels then Louboutins and Jimmy Choos. But I wore those 1460’s. I’ve worn them to concerts, live shows, clubs and bars. These shoes have seen beaches. I’ve worn them with little dresses, long dresses, shorts, flared jeans, boot cut jeans and skinny jeans. I’ve worn them through every kind of weather— pouring rain, snow storms, sleet, hail, and waded through floods. I was a Starbucks barista for 3 years and these were the shoes I wore whether I had a 9 hours shift or if it was just a short 4 hour stint. Then I’d wipe the whipped cream, frap mix, coffee, syrup and what not, off my shoes with a rag and went to school. (Part time job, full time student) After 9-11, I didn’t even care that I had to take my shoes off to put them through the xray machine. Other people can wear flip flops. I wore my Docs then took the time to tie it all up after security. These boots have crossed as many borders as my passport. I’ve gone through three pairs of Chucks yet these magic boots were still alive. Did I mention that my dad hates these boots on me and I still had them on anyway?

Up to a few months ago.

May 2011.

I realised that the leather that folds somewhere near the heel/ ankle was about to tear a hole. So was the part where my toe would flex. It would have been fine if the wear and tear didn’t show but they did. And while I didn’t wear them everyday, (I do have other shoes like Chucks) no amount of leather conditioner, dubbin and balsam can reverse the fact that the Docs had gone through so much abuse.

So I decided that maybe it’s time to replace them. Great timing too because I was going to London in the end of June anyway. It’ll last a month. But when i went to the Dr. Marten’s shop in Covent Garden, there was a big crazy person with bloodshot eyes pacing the door talking to himself about how the police was out to get him, how he needed a disguise to get away. I’m a 5 foot 6 inch girl going around London alone— as much as I want new shoes, I am not going near that guy.

The 1460’s got a sort of time extension. These shoes went with me to a rare European family vacation/ road trip. The pair got to see a lot of lakes, walk through hills, be one with the crowd in Milan’s FNO, go through several new towns, enter Michelin rated restaurants and have lots more fun.

We ended the trip in Paris. I knew there’s a store in Paris. My not- so- little  little sister came with me to the store to buy a new pair.

I have a new 10-eye pair of Docs now and I’m actually wearing boots that fit. But these 1460’s are still on the shoe rack, all worn and lived in, waiting for me to decide what exactly I want to do with them. 

( Did I mention I’m 27 now? Yeah, my younger brother is only a year older than these boots. )

The story of someone’s docs shouldn’t be so beautiful. But I love this.