My honey Chris and I spent a long weekend in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA this summer with his parents. And there are many things to love about Carmel (Most obviously, the name. Sounds so much nicer than where we live: Highlands-by-the-Football-Stadium or my parents: Aurora-in-the-Ghetto) there was one thing that shocked me to very core. So much so I had to lie down and regroup with a smelling salts and champers.
There is a law in Carmel (an actual law, which I gather means it’s written down on paper and kept in a Very Important Place) that states you cannot, under any circumstances, wear heels in the city of Carmel-W-T-F. You will be fined. And possibly sent to prison where you will be forced to wear either shower flip-flops or very ugly high-tops but certainly not, high heels.
Now as someone who chose to backpack around Europe for several months only in heels, I find this highly offensive. (I kid you not. I had running shoes with me, but I believe you will find they are meant to be used for running. Heels are a much more practical option for walking several miles a day saddled with an 50-pound backpack, said the 21-year old Kara).
So, in defense of tightened Achilles and bad arches everywhere, I ask, “Who are you, Carmel-Are-You -Going-to-Monitor-My-Pants-Now-Too, to tell me I can’t wear this pair of va-va-vooms?
Or it’s sister pair (which just a thought, would be fantastic with colored tights)?
And are you really going to fine me for wearing these practically practical, very in-season little numbers? Maybe fine me for stopping traffic! (See what I did there? Bam!)
And because I can’t get enough of these fabulous shoes that you can actually walk in (or climb mountains in, if you are a spry young thing), I have to ask – what would my punishment be for wearing these? And no, “you wearing them is punishment enough” is not the correct answer, Dad.
So, while I do love you, Carmel-by-the-lovely-lovely-Sea – because people actually stop for crosswalks and people losing their harmonicas is considered significant enough news to be covered by the paper -![]()
the next time I visit, I’m packing my Irregularchoicestore.co.uk heels. So sue me.






















One Comment
Oooh, how fabulous to vacation somewhere hyphenated!
heart, Pen
Denver-by-the-mountains-yet-also-near-the-plains.