It got warmer now, but for a few weeks leading up to this one it was bitterly cold in NYC, with temperatures falling into single digits and wind pushing the chill effect below zero. And I don't really know if my fellow bundled-up New Yorkers noticed them, but I saw them all the time - the girls wearing flats on their bare feet.
Let's say you are walking to your office in Financial District. The iPhone displays 13 degrees air temperature and the ground, covered in snow, would likely register 5. More snow is falling from the sky. You keep your head down watching out for slippery spots and inadvertently see people's footwear.
There are plenty of toe-warming UGGs (actually a California brand, early on manufactured in Australia, now almost entirely in China), a variety of snow and rain boots (not as warm, but at least waterproof), leather boots, frozen high-tops. And once in a while you spot them - they are running to work too (no, they didn't just popped out for a second!) and all they have on their feet are tiny flats (it could be just my shocked perception, but it seems that it is always a pair of silver Tory Burches). They usually wear black leggings thus exposing their ankles and essentially most of their feet to the bitter, Siberian cold. Three times in the last 4 weeks I rode in the elevator with one of those girls.
I cannot say that I fervently keep up with the latest fashion trends, but I can guarantee that these girls are not making fashion statements - nobody is that painfully style-forward. The likely scenario is that protecting their feet from possible frostbites simply doesn't fit into their budgets. When they came from their hometowns to New York City (annual average temperature 55 degrees), they didn't expect (most people didn't) that it could be so cold here for 3-4 weeks in a row. And there is no way they can splurge on items that will be used for such a short time.
How could they? After their $1,300 portion of rent and utilities for the two-bedroom shared with another two roommates, cell phone bill, barely any food at all (even the cheapest of foodstuffs are expensive here), Metrocard, some H&M clothes to appear decent in the office, household supplies, and the minimum payment due on the Visa card used to buy the cheapest puffer coat on sale, their $3,250 a month after payroll deductions (from $60K annual salary) are gone pretty much as soon as they hit the bank account.
Meanwhile, the shortest and simplest pair of UGGs costs $155 and if you spent some time searching (or get lucky) you can find a pair of snow boots for $90. Well, if you buy something classic that never goes out of style this is a pretty good investment, since they may be useful next year and the year after. However, if you simply don't have that extra $100 or even $12 to cover the increase of the minimum payment on the credit card, you forgo the warmth and comfort. After all, it's only a few weeks a year.
I am looking at the almost naked feet and think that those flats are probably the only shoes she's got that are suitable for the fancy office (business attired only!) of a big company that hired her because of her hard-earned degree in marketing with 4.0 GPA. And so, she will run in them in severely cold conditions from her home to the subway and then to the office building... What for? I have no fucking clue.