“Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world!!”
This iconic quote from Marilyn Monroe is part of my email signature line. I wholeheartedly believe it. But what are the “right shoes?” There are so many different style shoes available, but there are just as many different types of feet! Finding your “right” shoe can be a challenge. Pretty much everyone has something about their feet that they think is “weird.” Whether it is flat feet, high arches, bunions, heel pain, narrow ankles, wide feet or any other host of issues – women everywhere are in constant search of our own personal glass slipper!
Imagine my glee when I saw a “like” and comment from Dr. Glass Slipper on one of our Instagram posts! I wasted no time reaching out to this New York City podiatrist to thank her and to see how we might be able to collaborate together! Dr. Casey Ann Pidich was quick to respond and even shared the story of one of her patients to whom she recommended Walking Cradles shoes.
“This afternoon I treated a patient who was complaining about her ‘wide size 5 feet’. She explained her frustration to me that size 5 shoes are usually made so narrow that she often has difficulty finding shoes to fit. During her appointment we looked at your site [walkingcradles.com] together - and she found EXACTLY what she was looking for - size 5 in wide. She was so excited - she even gave me permission to share this little story.”
Since that initial conversation in April 2019, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Dr. Casey through phone conversations and email. We also follow her closely on her blog and Instagram page. Collaborating with Dr. Casey is great for many reasons. Not only does she style our shoes beautifully for her posts, but she also provides feedback on fit and comfort features and what types of shoes work well for the various foot issues women ask about. I personally love that she is working to educate women early in life on the importance of foot care, so they can hopefully avoid problems that require orthopedic shoes later in life.
When we started this series, I knew Dr. Casey would be a great person to feature, and was thrilled when she was excited to be included. So, for our sixth installment of “Shoes for All Walks of Life,” I’m pleased to introduce Dr. Casey Ann Pidich!
Dr. Casey (aka, Dr. Glass Slipper) wearing the Keegan wedge platform sandal.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A PODIATRIST?
I love medicine because I love to help people! Specifically, podiatry –If you've ever experienced pain in your feet, then you know that it can be very detrimental and really affect your daily lifestyle. Podiatrists treat everything foot or ankle related. Any type of foot or ankle related injury, sports injury, pain when walking, orthotics, arthritis, bunions, diabetic foot care, pediatric related foot conditions, dermatological issues, bunion and hammertoe surgery, tendon dysfunctions, etc. If it's foot or ankle related, I treat it. I am also fully integrated with other health professionals such as physical therapists, orthopedists, and primary care doctors. We work as a team to help my patients feel better.
Practicing medicine is incredibly rewarding. Everyday someone thanks me for helping them; it's such a warm feeling. The medical profession is perfect for someone who loves science but also considers themself a natural caretaker and problem solver. Becoming a physician takes years of education, patience, and a lifetime commitment to the profession.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
In the beginning of my career, I didn’t have much flexibility in terms of when and where I wanted to work. I hustled for 6 days a week in different podiatry jobs including hospitals, city health clinics, and in nursing homes. I am now fortunate enough to work in a beautiful Manhattan private practice where I treat patients 3 days a week on long evening shifts. This allows me the flexibility to devote time to my shoe blog. It’s my dream job and I’m so very grateful.
The homepage of the Dr. Glass Slipper shoe blog.
HOW DOES YOUR CHOICE OF FOOTWEAR IMPACT YOUR LIFE?
I launched Doctor Glass Slipper two years ago because I had a difficult time finding shoes in the real world. When I was a resident doctor, I wore clogs every day. It was easy, I would just get up out of bed, and slip into scrubs and comfortable hospital shoes. However, once I graduated, I started to dress more professionally. In other words–no more scrubs. Once I started working in the real world, I came to realize that I couldn’t find shoes that looked great AND were comfortable. This led me to research different comfortable stylish shoe brands which sparked my interest in shoe blogging. My Instagram name became Dr. Glass Slipper, given to me by a friend. My goals are to introduce women to more comfortable brands and give more options so women don’t have to sacrifice comfort for fashion.
HOW EARLY SHOULD GIRLS/WOMEN CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM AFFECTS OF THE SHOES THEY WEAR?
Women should always consider long-term effects of shoes they wear. A crazy thing starts to happen to our feet in our 20’s – we start to lose fat on the bottoms of our feet. This fat pad starts to naturally break down in our 30’s and 40’s. Overtime from losing this fat we once had on our feet, we might experience difficulty wearing shoes we once wore in our 20’s like stilettos or trendy shoes. Limiting the wear of stilettos and poorly fitted shoes in our 20’s helps maintain our feet as we age.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE US FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR FEET?
Whether you have pain in your feet or not, see a podiatrist. Our feet manifest signs of our overall health. As a Podiatrist, I’m trained to spot signs of health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, neurological problems, osteoporosis and arthritis. Have them examine your feet and take x-rays to review your bone health. They can also recommend shoes based on your lifestyle and health.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO AS HOBBIES/ACTIVITIES
Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis, traveling, trying new restaurants in New York City where I live, and of course blogging. I minored in Fine Arts and Art History in college, so for me, having an artistic outlet brings me joy. Currently, I’m studying lighting for product photography and food photography.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE WALKING CRADLES SHOES YOU ARE WEARING IN THESE PHOTOS?
The Foster's: Twice last week I wore these to the office. They are comfy enough for everyday wear, plus the gold metallic detail elevates any outfit. The Fosters are made from woven leather which makes the toe box on them very soft – ideal if you suffer from hammertoes or bunions.
Dr. Casey wearing the Foster in Gold.
The Destin’s: Not only are these really comfy, but they are also much cuter than the average casual sneaker. The rose gold accents match well with neutrals too.
Dr. Casey wearing the Destin Metro+ sneaker in Petal Perfed Nubuck.
WHAT IS A MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE
Find time to pursue a hobby or do something outside of work. I’ll never regret spending hours learning to take photos of shoes and learning to create a website. Though my blog isn’t my primary source of income, being creative with it brings a lot of joy to my life.
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We are very grateful to Dr. Casey for being part of “Shoes for All Walks of Life.” You can follow Dr. Casey on Instagram here: Dr. Glass Slipper Instagram, and you can check out her very informative blog here: Dr. Glass Slipper Shoe Blog
Thank you for joining us to learn more about the women who wear Walking Cradles and their multi-faceted lives. We will feature a different fabulous female each month and we hope you look forward to reading their stories as much as we enjoy working with them. Although, is it really work when you love what you do so much and get to spend time with such amazing people?!
Until next time...
XO,
Lisa
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