Our Shoes Ourselves in partnership with Girls inc
Model & Actress: Bridget Moynahan: As seen in Blue Bloods, Sex and the City
Author & Journalist: Amanda Benchley: Author of Artists Living with Art
Photographer: Melanie Dunea: Regularly published in Town & Country, Vanity Fair
Shoutout to Brandy Durst for helping make this event happen!
Every woman takes herself on a journey each time she steps out with a pair of shoes. This is the basis of the book Our Shoes Ourselves. This book is: “Beautifully illustrated with a portrait of each woman and her chosen shoes, the stories explore what most women already know: that what we wear can have power and significance beyond merely clothing our bodies. Our Shoes, Our Selves reveals these remarkable journeys, and the steps these inspiring women have taken to get there, with the hopes of encouraging all women to forge their own paths” -Bridget Moynahan & Amanda Benchley
Altogether step by step in our shoes, we make a huge impact as women in the world! This book by @bridgetmoynahan, @amandabenchley, and @melaniedunea explore women’s stories, and each step that they have taken in their shoes. Each of the artists that helped co-create this book bring on a different perspective to the pages. Bridget- the actress, Amanda- the journalist, Melanie- the photographer all spoke about this collaboration in May at an event put on in partnership with Girls Inc. and Shop repurpose. This book features 40 women. Featured women include Katie Couric and Bobbi Brown. When the creators spoke of the interviews, it was interesting to hear that so many women second guessed the importance of their stories and journeys. One woman pulled out handfuls of shoes in front of them and said that she did not have anything to say. This was the hardest part of curating the content for the book. It took some time to get women to not only dig deep into their thoughts, but also empower them to confidently share their thoughts.
It was an honor to meet the creators of this book and the founder Rachel Harris Johnson of Girls Inc.! Girls Inc. is a non-profit dedicated to the growth of girls turning into women. The President and CEO of Girls Inc. is Stephanie J. Hull. She has created a program that provides “hands-on, research-based programs that provide girls with the skills and knowledge to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve academic performance.” I loved hearing a Girls Inc. alum speak to how Girls Inc. helped her in so many ways. The alum not only learned valuable life skills through this program, but she also created a passionate fire inside of her. The fire fueled herself to want to become her own boss.
For every $1.00 donated almost 90% goes into this program. 87 cents goes into Girls Inc.
Shop repurpose is an organization that has stylists curate an assortment of used designer pieces through their contacts and donations. Not every designer item is passed down from generation to generation. With the growing popularity of designer resale apps and websites such as The Real Real, Re-Bag, Poshmark, Mercari, Buffalo Exchange, and vintage shops still holding these item at high tickets, not every woman has access to nice pieces. Shop repurpose sells these designer items at attainable prices. There are gucci heels for $175.00, and even Louboutins for $345.00! (Bridget Moynahan donated an amazing collection of shoes that you must see). Net proceeds from the clothing and accessory sales and events go directly to women and family-first nonprofits like Girls, Inc., Bent On Learning and Every Mother Counts. *Everything online may not actually be available to shop, contact them to double check.
