Here comes Christine Rigamer in her four-inch high heels ready to take on the world. A communications manager at Gambel Communications, Christine is ready to do whatever it takes to leave a positive impression – and she does. The 5-foot, 1-inch tall dynamo from Houston hit the ground running in the fall of 2006 when she first arrived at Loyola University to begin work on her bachelor’s degree in English literature and mass communications, with a concentration in public relations. Then, wearing fresh high heels, she moved right into the Gambel Communications office, where now, almost five years later, she is fully entrenched in the culture of New Orleans.
“I love wearing high heels because they instantly elevate me,” she says, standing tall to project what she means. “Since I am short, my go-to pumps with four-inch heels are a true staple in my wardrobe.”
When asked how many pairs of high heels reside in her closet, Christine quickly answers: “Simply put, not enough, I think there is always room for another pair.” Then she shares the secrets of her shoe choices: “My shoe collection covers the essentials – your go-to black pumps and a pair of nude heels that complement everything from a fuchsia pencil skirt to a cocktail dress. I also have some fun with sparkly pairs of shoes for special formal events. One of my favorite fun pair is Vince Camuto heels in a pale gold,
almost a shimmery champagne hue, with tasteful jeweled detailing that I first wore with a teal gown at the Young Leadership Council Gala. Of course, I’ve worn them several times since then.”
Active in the community, Christine is president-elect of the New Orleans Chapter of the Public
Relations Association of Louisiana and the current vice-president of programming for the organization, as well as a Junior League of New Orleans provisional member. She is also proud to give a quick list of
the current accounts she works on, including Hotel Monteleone, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Volunteers of America and the New Orleans Ballet Association. “The variety of projects and great people we work with on a daily basis are part of my favorite things about the agency,” she says. “Plus, I have gotten a taste of many industries – from business and banking to non profits and performing arts organizations.”
“She is quick and curious and playful and strong.” Christine says she likes to think that this Kate Spade quote applies to both her personality, as well as her wardrobe, which consists of a mix of contemporary and classic pieces.
“I am always looking for quality when I purchase clothes or high heels.” She notes her favorite stores are Macy’s, Nordstrom’s and Dillard’s.
“It is hard to pinpoint one individual who influenced me to wear high heels,” she says. “I went to Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart High School in Houston and we certainly didn’t wear high heels with our plaid green uniform skits. However, I do remember wearing heels to my middle school graduation, and I remember that I couldn’t get them off by the end of the night.”
Now a seasoned high-heel shoe wearer, she loves to find a
unique pair when she travels with her husband. “David, my husband who works in the community relations department at the Louisiana Supreme Court, jokes that I purposely forget to pack the right
shoes when we go on vacation so that I will have the excuse of purchasing a new pair (or two) while we are traveling,” she says. “We went to London for our honeymoon and one
of the first stops we made was a H&M (and this was well before we had an H&M in New Orleans) so I could find just the right pair of shoes to wear as we explored the city. I repeated this pattern when we were in Paris celebrating our two-year wedding anniversary this past fall. Plus, almost every time we visit my family in Houston, I manage to work in a shopping excursion with my sister, Laura Whittaker, to the Galleria because they have a Nordstrom’s with a rather large shoe collection. Needless to say, my husband knows my shopping habits, and me, pretty well.”
Christine doesn’t blink an eye when asked about her favorite pair of high heels. “My absolute favorite pair of heels is the sapphire blue peep toes I wore as my touch of blue for my wedding. I personalized them a bit by adding crystal letters on the bottom that read ‘I Do!’”
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