Loom Footwear

“Show me your shoes, and I’ll tell you who you are.” There are a great many similar proverbs that all seem to agree on one thing: there are hundreds of ways to gauge a person’s personality without even talking to them. While you might think it shallow, you’re guilty of doing it all the time! Our brains are hardwired to form first impressions within the first 100 milliseconds, for which we need visual clues. Of course, the strongest visual cue is a person’s face. But there might be another cue at the polar opposite end, which might be useful as well: shoes. Think about it: if shoes can make statements in our fashion culture, what else do they have to say? From generic, comfortable knit sneakers to expensive, limited edition shoes, here is what your choice of footwear says about your personality. Do Shoes Really Reveal Your Personality? When you think about it, it’s not really that surprising. We use shoes as a standard to assess people’s personality traits. Today, shoes have become an integral part of culture. But beyond their cultural significance, some people suggest that shoes convey ideas about the wearer\'s national identity, politics, class, race, and social standing. Psychologist Nicola Squicciarino expresses that shoes are “extensions on the corporeal ego.” Similarly, Social History and Culture Professor Giorgio Riello notes that shoes are a tool to maneuver through the world, whether it’s to catch the bus to work or go backpacking with your friends. Thus, shoes extend (or inhibit) our social, emotional, and physical capacities. In other words, your choice in footwear is one of the many ways you present yourself to the world and say: this is who I am! Of course, this isn’t a conscious habit, but it’s one we have all internalized. While you might raise your brow at Buzzfeed’s “what your shoes say about you” quizzes, we have science to back us up.