The Shoe Hunt - Part I

Oh the crazy places this 30 Before 30 List is taking me. One minute I'm researching on running shoes, the next on hiking shoes, and now exotic dancing heels? My teacher today, Brynlyn, had commented that one of the reasons I was having problems with a particular spin could be my shoes. I had been thinking of getting exotic dancing shoes in any case because I didn't want to ruin my beloved patent leather heels with constantly dragging it on the floor and scraping it against the pole. So this is how I found myself browsing this type of heels and doubling over fits of laughter at the myriad ways Lucite can get jazzed up. 

This first one has to be my favorite. How did they come up with a shoe that is absolutely made for me when I just got into pole dancing three weeks ago? Presenting ... *drumroll please* ... the exotic dancing shoe/bottle opener!

Isn't that just perfectly, tremendously trashy?! I kind of love it. I would totally order it just for kicks if I wasn't scared the bottle opener would cut up my leg. Then there's just the confounding variety of things that can be put into a Lucite platform.

There's a shoe designed to tickle the fancy of a high roller ...

... a disco fiend ...

... an incurable romantic ...

... one with a keen interest in marine biology ...

... or someone who just plain likes rubber duckies!

Why romance with roses when you can show your devotion with blossoms within her Lucite heels?

There are also a few different ways to hint at your audience to show their appreciation. You can go with discreet ...

... take the sweet and innocent route ...

... be a little more obvious ...

... or just be flat out shameless.

If Taylor Momsen has no qualms asking for tips, why should you?

Since I don't think anyone has figured out how exactly to get tips out of the platform, I am leaning towards something more basic. Clear and streamlined all the way, something I could trick fashionistas into thinking were actually from Dsquared2's Spring 2010 collection. 

As for my first beginner Climb & Spin class at New York Pole Dancing today, I ended up getting a much better deal than I signed up for. It being a holiday and practically 100 degrees out, I guess there weren't many ladies keen on climbing and spinning around poles, so my very first class ended up being one on one! I was shaking in my stilettos but Brynlyn was very nice and encouraging. During the stretches I guess she noticed my alignment and incessant need to point my feet, and asked if I took yoga and whether I had a dance background. I told her I had done Bikram and used to dance ballet, so during the lesson she explained some things by relating it to yoga and also used ballet terminology for the steps, which I really appreciated. She was great about breaking down the techniques, whether it was a knuckle turn, the firefly spin, or the technique to climbing that darn pole. And boy, was she relentless on making me climb! I had psyched myself out when it came to climbing because I did so poorly at it in my aerial silks classes, but she taught me to rely on my abdominal strength rather than jumping into it, which really helped a lot. By the end of the class, I was climbing quite well so I was pretty stoked—though my now rapidly bruising up shins and thighs don't share my enthusiasm.

Needless to say, I am pretty wiped out and cringe at the thought of all the aches and pains bound to hit tomorrow, so I will hit the sack. It seems the road to being sex on legs is paved with plenty of banged up knees and bruised egos.

Images via Ellie Shoes, For Play and New York Magazine