* The title of this post is meant to be a play on The Emperor’s New Clothes but I realised in retrospect it may be a bit obscure. Or just not make sense. Whatevs.

I started a new job a couple of weeks ago. And despite declaring a number of times I wasn’t going to go back into a full-on type government job again, I have indeed done so.

I am however, working in regional Queensland so don’t have the public transport / busy commute to deal with. Nor do I have to worry quite as much about what I wear.

Well, maybe. I spent a couple of days in my first week in Brisbane. I’ve never been a particularly corporate kind of dresser. Any suit coats I owned were pretty funky. Mostly I wore black things that I hoped were a bit edgy and looked like I meant business. (In a not-very-serious edgy way).

Since my seachange I’ve adopted colour. I recall a former colleague visiting me a year or two into my time here. Her first words were, “You’re wearing pink!” She’d only ever seen me in black, with some white thrown in as well as the occasional grey.

My wardrobe now is pretty colourful and most of my outfits have been suitable for any work I’ve done here since. And I think they’ll be fine for my new work environment – here in regional Queensland (which will include travel to other regional centres).

But having to be back in head office in the city again meant I needed to look vaguely professional. And of course I wanted to make a good impression and reflect the responsibilities that come with my new role.

I figured I had enough clothes to cover me for two days in the city but bought some new shoes. With heels. Low heels but heels nevertheless. And while buying them I got a casual pair of summer sandals as I’d ditched my previous ones in West Australia earlier this year.

I was packing light for Brisbane so donned my flat sandals for the trip and packed my new heels which I’d been walking around the house in to ensure I was confident and did not fall over in the city streets.

 

What I didn’t count on were the blisters that I got from the shoes. I usually try to get shoes with as little leather / material as possible as I blister easily.

After hobbling to my hotel at the end of my first day in my heels I decided I’d wear my slightly-too-casual sandals on day two lest I aggravate the oncoming blisters further and render myself unable to walk.

And… unfortunately I only added to the pain. My sandals (on sale) are a smidge small (I blame European sizing and me always getting sucked into buying 41s as Australia size 10 instead of 42s!)

So, though there’s barely any leather on my sandals the bit between my big toe and second toe rubbed all day. To the extent they were bleeding when I got back home and the top of my foot was red and angry. (Not infected I hoped, just glowing in sympathy.)

Since arriving home I’ve donned my old velvet ballet flats everyday. They’re soft, look kinda cool and appropriate for small-town corporate wear.

However… I’m heading back to Brisbane this week and am again faced by the shoe dilemma. I’m thinking I might need to go shopping while I’m there.

I realise it’s a #firstworldproblem but balancing comfort, with dressiness and my preferred slightly offbeat style will be a challenge for summer shoe shopping. Any hints?