Perception is built from the ground up.

In more ways than one, our assumptions about people begin at their feet. White, unscuffed trainers signify avoidance of imperfections. Well-worn boots showcase wisdom through journeys the wearer has collected in them. A pair of 120 mm Christian Louboutin pumps could signify the wearer has rediscovered the lost art of driving a car with a 3rd pedal.

I took this as a challenge.

While unmistakably unorthodox and incredibly impractical, I somehow kept finding myself determined to find the redline in my red bottoms. In what should have resulted in an insurance adjustment, I somehow found my heels to be better proven in the driver’s seat than in the streets.

What started as a tease quickly became a motif of mine, as friends would place bets on what shoes I was driving manual in next. I felt elated knowing my reputation was built on delusions of driving in archival designer.

With time, I learned not all heels are created equal behind the wheel. That realization sparked my scientific curiosity and led me to experimentation — on camera, because embarrassment only works if it’s documented.

Read Mia’s story in the the spring issue of Speedwell Magazine