A Flawless Foundation

I stepped up to the mirrored riser in the promenade shoe boutique, holding my swatch of gold lamé against the midday light. A pair of miniature gilded platform heels sat slightly askew on the acrylic shelf, their crystal ankle straps trailing untied. Leaving fine footwear off-balance simply wouldn’t do. Setting my patterned bag aside, I used the tips of my fingers to align each platform flush with the beveled edge, squaring the heels exactly two finger-widths apart. With a gentle pinch, I fastened the tiny rhinestone buckles into place. Caught in the overhead halogen glow, the shoes stood in immaculate, statuesque symmetry—a flawless foundation for the afternoon's new design.