One late night last year as I whirled, twirled and shimmied on the dance floor at Columbia University's Senior Ball, I noticed that my fellow ladies were dropping like flies around me. While they had all chosen to wear strappy sandals, open-toed platforms, stiletto heels and other orthopedic torture devices, I had opted for my dependable, solid boots.

I used to wear feminine shoes too. But after sitting out on one too many dances with sore feet, I decided my big old boots were fancy enough, and my feet have been thanking me ever since.

--emily