The Shoes with Threatening Auras group was created in February 2023. And while the community hasn’t amassed a huge number of members yet, they’ve already shared some fabulous (or frightening) photos of hilarious shoes. To learn more about the group and how it got started, we got in touch with the creator, Vixen Cole, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda.
“For starters, I'm autistic and have ADHD, both of which come with sensory and anxiety issues. However, I also like to find humor in things that make me uncomfortable; it helps me cope with my anxieties,” Vixen shared. “So, I started with a group about unappetizing food, and then a group with memes and posts about uncomfortable subjects and anxiety.”
“Shoes with Threatening Auras came about because I found so many images of shoes that are awful yet fascinating at the same time. But I didn't want to flood my own newsfeed with them, and they weren't quite right for my other groups,” Vixen continued.
We were also curious about what this shoe-loving community is like. “The group has a whopping 30 members, and I'm basically the only one posting, but I keep it going for my own neurodivergent enjoyment. The 3 group members who regularly like my posts are an added bonus,” the creator added with a laugh.
Where does she find these chaotic images? “The shoe pictures come from many different places, including random Facebook and browser ads, posts in other groups, Pinterest, online shopping (Amazon, Temu, etc), celebrity pictures, and even ones I see in the real world,” Vixen says. “Some of my favorite shoes to post are the ridiculously priced silly looking ones, like what some celebrities make go viral.”
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We were also dying to know if Vixen would ever actually consider wearing a pair of these threatening shoes. “I would definitely wear the silliest looking shoes. Those that look like animals or food best match my personality and somewhat quirky wardrobe.”
Finally, Vixen added that she currently runs 13 groups, 7 of which are about weird, or "threatening" things, anxiety, and even an actual phobia she has. “The other 6 are basically tag groups,” she noted. “I also have a page (Carefully Curated Crap) where I share all the memes I've made and the memes I don't think people in my friends list would appreciate on my regular page. I only wish my actual life was as organized as my Facebook life,” she said with a laugh.
We were also lucky enough to get in touch with Susannah Davda, aka The Shoe Consultant, to learn a bit more about footwear from an expert. First, we wanted to know what Susannah loves most about shoes.
"Interesting shoes are great conversation starters. I love the power they have to bring introverts into conversations they might otherwise struggle to be included in," she told Bored Panda. "Be brave enough to wear bold shoes, and people will start conversations with you."
As for her personal favorite pairs, Susannah says she only wears barefoot style shoes now, which she finds great for balance and comfort. "Be Lenka and Vivobarefoot are the two brands I wear, but I wish they offered more interesting styles and colors," she noted.
