The Christmas party season is upon us. The time of year where you see your work colleagues in a whole new light and some of it is less flattering than you’d like. It is also the time of year that caterpillars turn into butterflies as we shed our every day clothes for something with a bit more sparkle or style.
But how can you spot the type of butterfly people are? Well I find that taking a look at their party shoe choice can help. And as it is the season of goodwill I have a compiled a quick field guide to help you navigate the party season.
The Lesser-Spotted Swallowtail
You know that girl who in the office seems kind of quiet? Her hair is smoothly pulled back and she is demure and respectful. Everything she wears is subdued, and she blends into the background. That is until the Christmas Party comes round. Then the Lesser-Spotted Swallowtail shrugs off the cocoon that they camouflage themselves in. Slipping into these Hispanitas leopard print shoe boots, a slight platform to jack up her height so she can strut confidently onto the dance floor and dazzle. She is sometimes spotted in the arms of the Tentative Peacock
The Flame Red Monarch
The male equivalent of the Lesser-Spotted Swallowtail is the Flame Red Monarch. He is the mysterious bloke from accounting who quietly gets on with his own life, never joining you for drinks because he has this ‘thing’ on. And it isn’t till he slinks into the Christmas party do you understand what he is up to. From the skin-tight black trousers to the form fitting back shirt you think he looks a bit familiar. And when he sits down and crosses his legs you get a glimpse of the heels of his Jeffery West Backfire boots. Flames literally licking his heels, as he shyly mentions that he is the lead singer in an up and coming indie rock band called Feckless Rogues. In the New Year he is notably absent having resigned and you start following his stratospheric rise to rock stardom via social media.
The Tentative Peacock
He is the loud man in the office, quick with a wink and a slightly off colour joke. He talks of weekends with the lads but blushes when asked if he has a girlfriend. You expect him to turn up to the party, loud, brash and ready to flirt. Instead he comes in the room tentatively, his hand hovering at the back of a pretty girl, usually a Lesser-Spotted Swallowtail. It turns out that they’ve been quietly dating since the summer picnic and hadn’t wanted to tell you all. As he spins her in circles on the dance floor trying not to step on her shoes he flashes a pair of Barker Wilson’s. And you know that this time next year they’ll be engaged.
The Painted Lady
She was the first person to take you under her wing when you arrived. Her mind is like a steel trap wrapped in black velvet. She lulls you in with her softness to find that beyond a certain point she will never give. You are in awe at her confidence and there is not much of a cocoon for her to shrug off when it comes to a party. So she strides in and surveys the room like it is her domain, which it is. Her dress is bright and eye catching but this is a woman who wants to move. Her Peter Kaiser Hera shoe takes her to the dance floor where she holds court for the rest of the night.
The Skipper
The Skipper has been around awhile. He is strong and silent at the office and secure in his seniority. He is the safe pair of hands that steer the company ship. In his past he might have been a Tentative Peacock and is not worried that he has watched many a Flame Red Monarch fly away. He loves the Christmas party, he can watch as everyone flutters round the room flushed with free drink and happiness. As he steps towards the bar to ensure there is enough money on the float you notice his Golden Boot 1971 Vilches. Later in the night he will join the throngs on the dance floor.
