I lived in Washington, D.C. from 1993 to 2000. I’ve traveled back there countless times since joining Sustainable Northwest’s staff and I must confess that on this last trip the thing that amazed and awed me the most was the shoes I saw women wear on Capitol Hill.

During this last trip I saw countless women—all ages, sizes, heights, and styles—wearing the most amazing high heels. And not just your average bankers modest 2-inch heal, but a full-on stiletto.

I saw them in red, black, patent leather, suede, baby blue, tweed, green, and taupe. I saw stilettos adorned with flowers, feathers, bows, and rhinestones. They were sling backs, round and peep toed. I saw women wearing them barelegged and with hose. I saw these tiny heels walking up and down the marble steps inside Senate office buildings, the Department of Agriculture, on concrete sidewalks, in line going through security, by women ordering cheeseburgers and those settling for a salad. These shoes were everywhere. I looked down at my practical easy spirits (a compromised up-grade from the Dansko’s I wear daily at home in Portland) and realized that my shoes were boring. A part of me longed to slip my foot into one of these marvelously exciting power pumps. But, I knew that even for my size six feet, this would be a disaster.

I thought about trying to photograph these shoes to document what I was seeing, but using my iPhone as a secret way to photograph women’s shoes felted wildly inappropriate. And, to be honest I can’t decide if these pumps are works of art or torture chambers that will contribute to low back problems and toe joints that are out of whack. I know I could not, even when I was in my late teens and early twenties—wear shoes like that. A simple walk from the door to car would be all I need to yelp in pain and perhaps topple over from lack of balance. I wonder, did I miss a special memo sent to women with the secret trick to being able to wear heals all day—or even for 10 minutes?  If someone has it, please send it along. For now I will just continue to admire from a far the legions of Hill and agency staffers who manage to wear these toe-pinchers while doing the nation’s work.

Maia Enzer is the Director of the Policy Program at Sustainable Northwest where she may long for high heels on marble floors but feel equally as comfortable wearing a parka in the rain.

Learn more about Maia and the rest of the team here.