I Wore the “Wrong” Shoes to a Wedding and Got More Compliments Than the Bride

(Okay, not more than the bride. But close.)

Here’s the thing about being an adult woman with taste: you’re supposed to know what shoes work. You’re supposed to have that one elegant pair that goes with everything, looks effortless, and whispers “I have my life together” even when your inbox is crying and your laundry situation is… let’s not talk about it.

I thought I had those shoes.

Spoiler: I did not have those shoes.

The Night I Realized I’d Been Faking It 😅

Picture this — my best friend’s rehearsal dinner, outdoor venue in Austin, that golden-hour lighting everyone pretends happens naturally in their Instagram photos. I’m wearing a silk dress I spent way too much on, feeling myself, and then I look down.

My shoes? Cute, sure. But also: pinching my toes like a grudge-holding ex. The kind of uncomfortable that makes you walk like a newborn giraffe. And the worst part? They looked… fine. Just fine. Like I grabbed them at Target during a Sunday panic run. (I did.)

Standing there, half-wobbling, half-smiling through the pain, I had this weird moment of clarity: Why do I keep buying shoes that make me feel like I’m apologizing for existing?

You know that feeling when you’re wearing something that doesn’t quite fit who you are — or who you’re becoming? Not just physically, but like… spiritually? That was me. In those shoes. At that wedding.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re barely keeping it together while everyone assumes you’ve got it figured out — yeah, this is for you.

The Shoe Existential Crisis Was Real

I’m not saying shoes are that deep. But also… maybe they are? Because here’s what I realized: I was choosing footwear the same way I was choosing a lot of things in my life. Practical. Safe. What everyone else seemed to be wearing. Never quite special enough to make me feel like the main character in my own story.

Fast forward three weeks. I’m doom-scrolling (as one does) and I stumble across these sculptural heels that look like actual art. Carved wooden heels. Soft suede that looks like it was dipped in sunset colors. The kind of shoes that make you stop mid-scroll and whisper “wait, what?”

Turns out, they’re from Huma Blanco — a woman-owned footwear brand out of Lima, Peru, and honestly? I wasn’t ready for the rabbit hole I was about to fall into.

When Shoes Feel Like a Love Letter 💛

Here’s where it gets good. Each pair is handmade by third-generation shoemakers in Peru using Peruvian leather and textiles, many crafted with natural dyes or left in their raw, gorgeous form. The designer, Adriana Crocco, comes from a lineage of Italian and Peruvian shoemaking, and you can feel that heritage in every stitch.

But here’s the part that got me: these aren’t just beautiful shoes. The brand donates a portion of sales to a nonprofit supporting community development in Peru, and most of their shoemakers have been with them since the beginning. They’re not churning out fast fashion. They’re creating slow, intentional luxury — the kind that feels like it has a story stitched into the leather.

I ordered the Milla mules. Honey-toned suede. That sculptural heel that looks like it was whittled by someone who actually cares. And when they arrived? I may have gasped. Out loud. Alone in my apartment.

They fit like they were made for my actual foot (not some theoretical foot that exists only in shoe models’ dreams). Comfortable enough to wear all day. Elegant enough to make me stand a little straighter. And — this is the kicker — they made me feel like I’d finally found my shoe soulmate.

The Small Shift That Changed Everything ✨

I wore them to brunch the next weekend. Then to a work event. Then honestly just… around my apartment because they made me happy. And something weird happened: I started carrying myself differently. More confident. More me.

It’s funny how something as simple as the right pair of shoes can shift your whole energy. Suddenly I wasn’t the girl who settled for “fine.” I was the girl with the sculptural heels and the good story about where they came from.

People noticed. Not in a shallow way, but in that “wait, tell me about those” kind of way. The kind of compliments that turn into conversations. The kind of shoes that make strangers in coffee shop lines ask where you got them.

If You’re Ready to Feel Like the Main Character…

Look — I’m not saying a pair of handmade Peruvian shoes will solve all your problems. But I am saying they might solve the problem of feeling like you’re just going through the motions in footwear that doesn’t reflect who you actually are.

Huma Blanco creates elevated staples that bring simple luxury to any outfit — and honestly, “simple luxury” is exactly how it feels. Not showy. Not trying too hard. Just… right.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to invest in something beautiful and meaningful, something that makes you feel like you’re worth the good stuff? This is it. Your feet (and your confidence) will thank you.

Shop Huma Blanco here and find your sculptural soulmates. 🌿

Full disclosure with a wink: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you fall in love with these shoes like I did, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend things that genuinely make me do a happy dance — and these? They’re dance-worthy. ✨