I absolutely agree that what's on your feet sets the mood. I think women have known for a long time that shoes are a very potent way to send a message to oneself. I remember my mother, sixty years ago, announcing rather ominously at a particular point in the early evening, "I'm putting on my slippers." And she did. She went upstairs and changed from shoes into bedroom slippers, came back down and sat in her armchair, and picked up the newspaper. This meant that any children who wanted a drink of water, help with a task, a sibling disciplined, had to find their own way of dealing with the situation.

Then, think of club meetings, in the old days when women joined clubs and sororities to get them out of the house. I've seen large groups of women in tennis shoes and sneakers, and often wearing aprons, briskly hauling tables and chairs into position and cantering around placing plates, glasses, cutlery and decorations. Then, when the hall was set, they retired to the cloakroom. In a few minutes they were back, perfect ladies, hair tidied, pearls adjusted, very proper and self-aware in high heels. Even the conversation became stilted: polite queries about the grandchildren instead of "Sling that over here, Marge, I'll do this side."

Also, if you're going to mingle with the men to discuss a problem with the drain or the storm windows, you'll feel better if you put on your boots before going outside. You'll stride instead of tittuping, equal to anything.

In general, it seems to me, quite a few of Ms. Rubin's tips and suggestions could be gleaned from one's own grandmother -- and are therefore all the more valuable.