No pain, no gain - High-heels.

Eve_Dublin

Marilyn Monroe famously had half an inch chopped off one of hers to enhance the wiggle in her walk, while supermodel Veronica Webb claims they "put your ass on a pedestal, where it belongs". I'm talking, of course, about high heels. Those towers of female footwear that combine a plethora of complex contradictions: empowerment, vulnerability, sexual allure, femininity, subversion, fetishism.

Whatever they mean to you, it seems one thing is consistent: British women can't get enough of them. A study has revealed that we teeter around in the highest heels of all our European counterparts, on average elevating our feet by 8.25cm. In fact, a quarter of British women regularly brave stilettos that perch precariously between 10 and 15cm, inspired by the likes of Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole, Elle Macpherson and Kelly Brook, all of whom are devotees of such skyscraping styles.

The Duchess of Cambridge, whose dedication to her LK Bennett "Sledge" 11cm heels has been much commented on, has done wonders for the popularity of the leg-lengthening powers of the "nude" platformed stiletto. The £195 style, from the brand's Signature Collection, has sold out numerous times, and the company is currently stocking the flattering, classic court in a revenue-generating 12 colours to meet consumer demand for a new take on Kate Middleton's style.

So what exactly is the appeal of the high heel? Is it an empowering accessory, a weapon in the arsenal of post-feminist women's sartorial power? Or is it a subversive relic from a male-dominated world, designed to cripple vulnerable women in their quest to meet a fashionable and social ideal?

Former Clothes Show presenter Vanessa Scott runs a successful video production company within the fashion and luxury goods industry and – even at a statuesque 5ft 10in – knows all too well the power of a heel. "I'm very much part of the Sex and the City generation and, for me, high heels will always be synonymous with Carrie Bradshaw. Her obsession with shoes was symbolic of a woman's sexual and financial freedom today. What woman doesn't adore high heels? They provide the illusion of instant liposuction and are Viagra for the soul. Quite simply, you look sexier and feel sexier – what man could resist?"

A study earlier this year in the Journal of Applied Physiology revealed that women who habitually wear high heels are at a heightened risk of permanent damage to their knees, hips, back and tendons, because the shoe shape forces the wearer to place all of her body weight on the ball of the foot, compromising stability. This, in turn, makes her compensate for the instability by pushing her knees and hips forward and arching her back.

Despite the discomfort and the potential damage associated with heels, the psychologist Bernard Rudofsky, author of The Unfashionable Human Body, says: "Physical distress is accepted by women if it is a constitutional part of the pleasure of courtship and mating. Women will furiously defend their high heels because any distress to their feet is in itself a form of attraction for men, many of whom feel it is a sacrifice made for them."

Full article here; http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2012/jul/21/high-heels-stilettos-fashion

Article publiced in today's Guardian defending the wearing of high-heels. Personally I did this :rolleyes: for the duratuon of the time I spent reading it. I only wear heels to weddings as don't want to be uncomfortable all night or day just to get attention, look good or to be supposedly "empowered"...or whatever the reason. However, I do admit women look great wearing them and I sometimes wish I could wear them without the pain.

Another point, many women I see can't walk in them and look incredibly uncomfortable. How can you possibly be having fun if your feet are killing you? Maybe it's the kind of person I am that I favour comfort over how I look. I like to look nice going out but there's no way in hell I'll put myself in any pain to achieve it.

Can I ask women in here who wear heels on a regular basis why they do it if they're so uncomfortable? Not to suggest anyone is vain for wearing them (and I don't have any problem with anyone wanting to look good) but does the fact that they could actually do you some serious damage not put you off in your quest to look good?

Now I know you can buy smaller, more comfortable heels but I'm talking about your average high-heel here, not kitten heels or anything like them.

I suppose I see my boyfriend get ready to go out and he dresses quickly and dresses for comfort and I see how much actual pain some women put themselves through to look good (waxing, uncomfortable tight clothes, high heels, extreme dieting and sacrifice etc.) and think, why do we do it to ourselves?

Is there something I'm missing here?

Also I think there's a perception that not wearing heels going out is less than feminine. Where does this stem from? Does sacrifice come with femininity in 2012?

And the feminist debate in all this which is mentioned in the article. I personally don't take that very seriously but what do you think?

What are your opinons on the point made in the article?

sambuka41

Most womens shoes, high heels or not, are items of torture!!!

Genuinely though they are not designed to be comfortable, or wearable in a lot of cases. I'd probably lean more towards them being part of a male dominated fashion world, where the happiness and health of women mean nothing, because it makes them no money.

These are the same people that dictate supply, I went on holiday recently and spent a long time trying to find shoes that would comfortable and fashionable, the task was impossible!! I settled for runners for most of the trip and wedge shoes for the evenings but even these shoes had a not so nice effect on my toes


The idea that high heels represent a woman's sexual and financial freedom seems a bit ridiculous to me. As far as I can see it real financial freedom has nothing to do with items, its has to do with self sufficiency, purely that a woman can be self sufficient, not by things but by actions.

The pairing of high heels and sexual freedom really just buys into the dismantling of women's bodies in advertising. The amount of ad's that use women's legs with a stiletto heel (just their legs) is stupidly high. They have become almost fetishistic items, not really freeing at all.


The first designer to make a pair of womens shoes that are fashionable and comfortable will make himself/herself a millionaire over night!! :P

FouxDaFaFa

When I first started going out (17/18) I wore heels all the time and would have been embarrassed to be seen without them. I like the look of them and how they make the leg look but was never very graceful in them. I can't remember the last time I wore them now. I just prefer to be comfortable and able to run if necessary (which probably sounds daft but I never liked how much more slowly I moved in heels).

Some women feel comfortable in heels, I guess practise makes perfect. I'm just not one of them.

jaja321

I didn't get into wearing high heels until I was in my twenties, but now I love wearing them. At work I wear flats because I walk to work, but weekends and nights out I usually wear heels. I'm pretty short, so wearing them gives me extra height and generally makes an outfit look better. Can sometimes be a killer though after dancing in them all night!

daenerysstormborn3

I wear high heels in work and I wear them when I go out. I find the more I wear them the more comfortable they are. It's like my foot gets used to being in that position. And to be fair, it's not like I wouldn't consider myself overtly feminine, I wear motorbike boots the rest of the time :P

Funnily enough I have read articles that state high heels (not sky scrapers) are better for your feet than some flats on sale (the ones that have thin soles with no heel at all) because of shock absorption.

QuiteInterestin

"So what exactly is the appeal of the high heel? Is it an empowering accessory, a weapon in the arsenal of post-feminist women's sartorial power? Or is it a subversive relic from a male-dominated world, designed to cripple vulnerable women in their quest to meet a fashionable and social ideal?"

I'm not sure about the above, all I know is that high heels look good. They can instantly dress up an outfit, and most outfits look better with heels then flats. I really wish this wasn't the case though as I can't wear heels (I have flat feet as well as osteoarthritis in my feet) so the heels only come out for special occasions. As someone who has spent alot of time looking for suitable footwear (I wear orthotics in my shoes so have to wear flat, lace up shoes which have removable insoles so that I can put in mine - alot harder to find then you'd think) footwear in general for women seems to solely designed for fashion, very little consideration seems to given to the comfort and support of the shoe, even though this is the main reason for wearing them. Pumps usually have paper thin soles and no support whatsoever while heels force you to put all your weight on the ball of your foot. This is rarely an issue with mens' shoes. It seems it is our own decision to prioritise fashion over comfort that has led to the popularity of heels and other types of shoes, rather then an attempt by the male dominated world to cripple us.

Mars Bar

I'm not a fan at all and wear them only a couple of times a year.


I do not own the copyright to this photo!

That just does not look normal to me.

It's not comfortable and it doesn't look comfortable and it isn't supposed to be comfortable!

sambuka41

QuiteInterestin wrote: »

It seems it is our own decision to prioritise fashion over comfort that has led to the popularity of heels and other types of shoes, rather then an attempt by the male dominated world to cripple us.

But we can only buy what is available for us to buy.

Its kind of a chicken and egg thing, are impractical fashion shoes available because we as women wanted them, or are made to think we want them because they are all that's available?

Its the same with the size zero fad,did that come from something we wanted or something that we were told we wanted (because it fit an elitist agenda, a way to make money, strive for the impossible and you'll keep striving, spending lots of money as you do so on diet pills, fad diet books, make up, clothes.....)

If designers/fashion industry were making stuff that we wanted then it wouldn't take constant effort and campaigns like endangered bodies, to try and get them to stop excessive photoshopping, or feature/use models of women larger than size zero, to feature more than Caucasian women, women over the age of 40 :eek:

SusieBlue

I wear high heels about twice or three times a week. None of my heels are smaller than 6 inches, my motto is go hard or go home, if I'm going to be in pain it may as well be worth it!

On nights out I can tell when I'm sobering up by how much my shoes hurt. I'm usually fine at the start of the night, but after a couple hours of dancing, it does get painful. I always have a pair of flats in my bag in case they hurt too much but I've never had to use them yet.

I like wearing heels, I like being taller and the pain is worth it imo.

lolz81

I'd love to be able to wear high heels all the time and to look graceful while doing so, but I just don't.

Lia_lia

No, I never wear heels. Maybe once or twice a year...but that's it. Never did when I was younger either. I can walk fine in them but they are just SO uncomfortable! Can't enjoy myself if my feet are in pain. I don't see the point.

I'm tall enough (just under 5'10") so maybe that helps. I do think heels look nice...but not nice enough to be uncomfortable!

Some girls are so silly - "Just got these new heels they are so high but are comfortable because of the platform!!"....three hours later they are walking around the town barefoot with the heels in their hands.

And what's with girls wearing heels and bringing flats in their handbags? If you need to bring flats you shouldn't be wearing the heels in the first place.

I could rant all day about this!

Princess Peach

Back in my party girl days I always wore heels, and usually nothing under 6 inches. And that was 2/3 times a weeks so my legs were very used to them, and I was usually drunk enough that my feet were numb to any pain.

Always brought a little pair of flats with me too, cause I wanted to look hot in the club but it was a long uphill walk there, and a long walk home after hours of dancing

Then my party girl days ended and I stopped, and now it hurts to wear them cause my legs aren't used to it.

I think it depends on your friends! Every single one of my friends wore killer heels. The girls I hang out with now never do, so it doesn't bother me at all. But damn they are pretty, and they made my legs look FAB.

Soon when I'm a fancy business lady I'll get back into them

Posy

I'm clumsy and unbalanced at the best of times so generally wear flats or kitten heels.
I'd love to be able to stride confidently over the cobbles of Temple Bar in stiletto heels but I would inevitably break a leg!
Like Foux said, I also don't like the way they slow me down- I can't run for a bus/across the road/away from potential danger if needs must in heels.

I wear runners every day (including all day at work) so my feet get a terrible shock if I wear heels! :eek:
Pixie, I think you're right about some heels being better than flats- I have exposed nerve endings on the end of one of my feet and was advised by my chiropodist to wear cushioned shoes rather than flat pumps or flip flops.

Heels can look very sexy but a lot of girls I see wearing them at the end of a night out are falling down, toppling over and can hardly walk in them- or are walking barefoot with their heels in their hand.
I think heels as part of office attire are quite sexy though!

OakeyDokey

I wear a mixture of high shoes (not always stilettos) on nights out. I'm all for comfort and have been known to switching heels for converse towards the end of the night so I'm no way embarrassed to be seen without heels. I wear heels because I love the look of them, they make me look taller (I'm only 5"3) and they make me feel sexy.

I'm pretty good with wearing high heels, I find comfort varies from the different ones. I have a pair of heels that are six years old I got for 28 quid in a high street shop and I could wear them every day without fail definitely my most comfortable high shoes. I also had a gorgeous pair of Loubotins that I got after really good month pay in work and could only walk in them for about 20mins before they killed me Sold them in the end!

I don't feel like I need to wear them, I also don't wear them to feel empowered or anything about this dominance over men blabber that's been going around. I just really really like them!

Ellsbells

I am very small so I like heels to be a bit taller. I don't like the crazy high ones that are in vogue at the moment and prefer classic styles.. I seldom wear flats but do love flats / ballet shoes as well. Now that I think of it, I just don't feel dressed in flats...

MrCreosote

High heels in 2012= Foot binding in 19th century China.

Still someone's got to keep foot surgeons in a job. Those sports cars and golf memberships aren't going to pay for themselves.

Ellsbells

MrCreosote wrote: »

High heels in 2012= Foot binding in 19th century China.

Still someone's got to keep foot surgeons in a job. Those sports cars and golf memberships aren't going to pay for themselves.

Ott :rolleyes:

MrCreosote

MrCreosote wrote: »

High heels in 2012= Foot binding in 19th century China.

Still someone's got to keep foot surgeons in a job. Those sports cars and golf memberships aren't going to pay for themselves.

Your post is sensationalist and bordering on inflammatory. Please bear in mind which forum you are posting in. As it is your first post in this forum I ask that you read the charter before posting again.

Thank you.

Ellsbells wrote: »

Ott :rolleyes:

If you have an issue with a post, please use the report function .

I can walk in them and I have a few pairs but I usually prefer cute flats. rarely wear the heels out. I got a pair to wear all day at a wedding and I had no problem with them at all, genuinely, until I wore them again recently. Maybe my feet got bigger

As for buying what's available to us, there's millions of ballet shoes and things that go with dresses, you're not exactly forced into heels

boomkatalog

I love heels, and I love how I look in heels. My legs are long already but heels make them that little bit longer, and my calves look amazing. They also make feet look smaller as they're at an angle.

Besides that, I feel so sexy in comfortable heels (they do exist, just hard to find :pac:). Even the noise of heels sounds sexy imo. At 5'8, I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing heels every day and I'm required to wear flat shoes for work but occasionally I'll put on heels or high boots for a trip into town, dinner out or if I've been away for a few days I wear them back to see my boyfriend.

Personally, I don't feel particularly empowered wearing them, and they're no more uncomfortable than dolly shoes, but they make me feel confident and sexy and I'm sure that shows in my attitude when I'm wearing them.

Sea Filly

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

When I first started going out (17/18) I wore heels all the time and would have been embarrassed to be seen without them. I like the look of them and how they make the leg look but was never very graceful in them. I can't remember the last time I wore them now. I just prefer to be comfortable and able to run if necessary (which probably sounds daft but I never liked how much more slowly I moved in heels).

Some women feel comfortable in heels, I guess practise makes perfect. I'm just not one of them.

You are me!

MrCreosote

Ellsbells wrote: »

Ott :rolleyes:

A bit inflammatory maybe, but isn't that the point the article linked to is making?

Fair enough- one is more brutal than the other, but you can't ignore the parallels.

Both are societal conventions forced (either overtly or otherwise) onto women. Both are damaging in the short and long-term to the foot, permanently in each case. Both are done at least partly for men's gratification.

As for foot surgeons- ask the next one you see how many men they have coming in for their bunions etc. 75% of their work is directly related to high heel wearing.

Sea Filly

sambuka41 wrote: »

BIts the same with the size zero fad,did that come from something we wanted or something that we were told we wanted (because it fit an elitist agenda, a way to make money, strive for the impossible and you'll keep striving, spending lots of money as you do so on diet pills, fad diet books, make up, clothes.....)

I don't know anyone who actually wanted to be "size zero"*. That was a media obsession that never managed to spread beyond the walls of tabloid offices.

*Aaarrrrgggh! Hated them trying to sensational it further by going by US sizing. It's not size zero, it's size four.

hdowney

I canni walk in them at all (although some of the pairs I have I last considerably longer in than others). If I know I am going to be on my feet all night - due to lack of seating in the venue I am going to - I won't bother anymore, cos me with my uncomfy shuffling and pain face is hardly what people want to see. If there is going to be somewhere to sit though, I'll suffer through them (with flats in the handbag for the walk home).

Why do I wear them. Firstly they are so pretty! I am obsessed with Irregular Choice, Iron Fist and the like and whilst they do make flats, they don't make many, they are mainly sky high heels.
Secondly all the girls in the group I go out with wear heels (and for most of the night) and I feel odd one out if I am wearing flats.
I also do feel less feminine (but that is a personal feeling as opposed to someone judging me as such). I find I struggle to look 'girly' enough, and am always worrying that I don't look 'right' in my outfit. So many insecurities here! And I find heels make the outfit 'pop' more.

Faith

I have short legs and very muscular calves, so I look dowdy in flats most of the time . I do like heels, but they kill my feet. Also, I live a 10 minute walk from the beginning of the city centre - too short for a taxi, but too long to comfortably walk in high heels. My OH is 6'3 so he walks very fast naturally. I wear heels if I'm not going to be on my feet that much, but otherwise, I wear wedges.

sambuka41

bluewolf wrote: »

As for buying what's available to us, there's millions of ballet shoes and things that go with dresses, you're not exactly forced into heels

I was saying it about most women's shoes that are considered fashionable, they generally are not made for comfort,or even with comfort in mind. Even the ballet shoes are terrible for your knees. I have bought 100's of shoes over the last few years and maybe 2 pairs are actually comfortable to wear, they are all boots.

Sea Filly wrote: »

I don't know anyone who actually wanted to be "size zero"*. That was a media obsession that never managed to spread beyond the walls of tabloid offices.

*Aaarrrrgggh! Hated them trying to sensational it further by going by US sizing. It's not size zero, it's size four.

Well that's how it is referred to, as a fad. I knew a few people who really bought into that ideal, and would beat themselves up when they weren't losing the weight.

Links234

I've got 2 pairs of heels, both of them Dr. Martens. my favourite being this style, really nice and comfy:



I really don't wear them often at all though, because I'm really tall to begin with, otherwise I'm wearing docs boots something like 90% of the time. I don't think there's really been any other heels that have caught my eye, and I don't think there's really much call for them if I'm not gonna wear them loads.

Eve_Dublin

Interesting how one or two people feel less feminine without them and I wonder why we feel that way. I suppose it's a bit like how I feel without my mascara. Funny how we associate femininity with man made items invented to "enhance" us someway. Is au natural not considered as feminine? If not, why?

I think it's a good point though that you tend to wear them if your friends are. None of my friends would generally. One or two might occasionally but they'd be more wedges.

I went to a Hen Party in Belfast a few years ago with a group of girls from up there. I had a feeling they'd all be wearing heels that night, so I invested in a pair. My god it was a night of misery by about midnight. I had to walk around the bar in my tights. Here's me all miserable trying to remove them:




I simply can't get my head round why you'd be happy being in pain simply to look good. I appreciate many posters here can wear them without much discomfort but some do. Don't want to insult anyone but that seems a form of lunacy to me :-/ Sorry!

Princess Peach

Sea Filly wrote: »

I don't know anyone who actually wanted to be "size zero"*. That was a media obsession that never managed to spread beyond the walls of tabloid offices.

*Aaarrrrgggh! Hated them trying to sensational it further by going by US sizing. It's not size zero, it's size four.

Come to my eating disorder support group and you will know many girls who aim for a size 0. Me included!

I guess the reason I started to wear heels was to fit in my friends, but I do love them myself. Like I said after a while they were almost all comfortable on me, and I felt I looked better.

Even now when I always wear flats I go up on my tippy toes in the mirror to see how nice my calves would look :pac:

There are some social occasions where women I suppose are "expected" to wear heels, like attending a wedding. But again its just up to yourself to not care and wear what you want!

kylith

I have a couple of pairs that I bought because they're pretty, but I would wear heels less than once a year. They make the balls of my feet burn and are impossible to walk in.

analucija

I have short legs and everything looks better in high heels. I wear them a lot and almost always for work. I wear fairly high heels but no killer heels. I can walk in them but I don't find them comfortable enough to bother. I have some rules about shoes. I don't buy cheap plastic rubbish, only leather. That usually means more expensive, better made and more comfortable shoes. Same goes for flats. In the same way as some find high heels uncomfortable, I find plastic shoes completely unwearable and my feet tend to swell in them. So I could ask how can people wear plastic?

Jimmy Iovine

I tried on a pair once. Walked home in them. It was one of the sorest things I've done.

No idea how girls wear them. Fair play and all that but it can't be good for your feet in the long run.

Morgase

I can't walk in them so I rarely wear them. I'd wear those ballet shoes instead which still look quite dressy. But I wouldn't be a fan of ballet shoes either, there's no support and I can feel everything underneath my poor feet (princess and the pea syndrome maybe!).

I don't really understand why a woman would wear them for the sake of height though. I'm not tall either btw!

starlit

Heels are nice to look at but I find I cannot walk in very high heels. A kitten heel or a heel not more than 2 or 3 inches max. I be crippled even in heels 2-4 inches.

I have a low arch so high heels is a bit of a no no for me anyway, I prefer flats, easier to drive in them and walk in them. They are more comfortable but I don't mind a bit of a heel or sole up a bit or wedged up off the ground a little bit and not dead flat.

If too flat I find them sore to walk in so one once its at the correct point off the ground is fine. I wear trainers or pumps even if they off the ground a little its probably better for the feet. Dead flat is ok sometimes depending on the occasion and weather though find I need a bit of height for myself as I am quiet short. I don't really wear flip flops its sandals or pump type trainers I wear.

Its harder for me to find suitable footwear due to my small size feet and narrow feet, often might have to get it in the smallest size in adults or go to kids sections in shops to get footwear. Though with trainers I be careful where I get them. There is a great trainer out the shape up's great to tone the foot and keep them level though they a bit high off the ground. I am not great balanced on my feet as can trip myself quiet easily. So heels is off the cards for me and never wore them much. Even the kitten heel is a bit of a drag for me even though I wear them occasionally. I'd wear flats/pumps/sandals or trainers casually most days.

Madam_X

In the early 90s there was a revival of 70s disco fashion and I wore super high platforms often from that point - up to the late 90s. As a result, my feet, while they look grand, are pretty fooked. Arches have fallen, they get sore, and i Have to attend Chiropodist quite often. So no high heels for me - agony. Medium height/wedge types are grand though, and give me enough height, leg slenderness. I'm lucky to have fairly good legs.
Some gorgeous heels out there though, but pointless me buying!

whitey90

I would never wear those really really high heels-i don't see the point considering you can't walk in them and you'll end up taking them off in about half an hour!I don't understand why people wear big heels out and bring flats with them to change into-if you're going to take them off why are you wearing them in the first place??!

Saying that i rarely go out without heels...but they have to be comfortable-i've enough to be worrying about without adding sore and crippled feet to the list!

Sea Filly

Princess Peach wrote: »

Come to my eating disorder support group and you will know many girls who aim for a size 0. Me included!

There's always going to be a small sub-section of society susceptible to stuff like this, but the tabloid take was that it was a widespread fad - it wasn't.

Dolbert

Links234 wrote: »

I've got 2 pairs of heels, both of them Dr. Martens. my favourite being this style, really nice and comfy:

I adore these If I'm going to wear a heel at all, 90% of the time I'll break out my failsafe Mary Janes. If anyone sees a bridal-appropriate pair do let me know!

Though I love how heels look, if I know I'm going dancing I just wear flats all night nowadays. Sore feet put me in too much of a bad mood and tbh I don't think anyone ever notices who's wearing heels and who isn't. I would wear them to a formal occasion, though I'd have flats stashed in my bag for later!

Madam_X

I LOVE those shoes! Want!

Malari

I don't really go out often where I know I'll be standing for hours in heels. If it happens a few times a year I can deal with it!

Otherwise I'll be in pubs early enough to get a seat or just be going to a restaurant. I'll only ever have to walk 10-15 mins into town from where I live and I know I can do that comfortably in all my heels.

I wear flats generally to work, as I cycle to work and go for a walk at lunch. I might wear wedges or low heels into town shopping at the weekend. It never really gets to the stage where I'm sore from heels and I do love them!!

I love wearing heels. Love love love it. I feel much sexier in heels and (most of the time) only wear them if they're comfortable. Usually with a platform sole. I recently tore the ligaments in my ankle (was wearing flats) and it'll be a while before I can wear them again

I wear them for no one else but myself.

PandaX9

Absolutely love wearing high heels, but preferably block heels (for support and they make my non-existant ankles look faaab). Can't wear heels unless they have a platform either, too used to them. wear them infrequently, depends on the day or occasion but I can take going out without them, and also love wearing them during the day if my outfit calls for it. However, I would never compromise my comfort (and safety) for shoes that are "pretty". I got my first pair of 4 inch heels when I was.. 8? Wore them only once or twice a year etc but it was great leaning how to walk in hundreds of different types of shoes from a young age - practically grew up surrounded by shoes

So I know firsthand that comfort is a must. A woman only looks good in heels when you can tell she feels good in them. And my god, some women are just breathtaking with the right shoes on, be it flats or skyscraper heels.. it's all about how you carry yourself, and your balance. And of course, just how your body is shaped. But that's over thinking it, bottom line is not everyone can wear high heels comfortably and unfortunately, not all high heels or "pretty" shoes on sale are comfortable. General rule: the cheaper the textile of the shoe - the less comfortable it is. Always buy natural textiles - leather, lace, silk, suede, no buck, genuine patent leather. One pair of higher quality thus probably more expensive shoes beats 20 pairs of penney's type shoes any day !

I do think there is nothing more unattractive than girls stumbling around town in their skinny stilettos. My mother owns a shoe shop, I work in it and I often have to recommend customers take the high heels off because if they can't walk in them comfortably, and don't have the confidence to do so, they do have a big chance of seriously injuring themselves on one of their oh so sexy stumblings around town. I don't understand why girls bring flats and sometimes slippers on nights out. If you're really so uncomfortable in your shoes that you can't endure them, then pick another style/shape that is comfortable to wear and then choose the colour etc. comfort should always be the priority.

My scare tactics in the shop include, "think of it this way - your shoes are on your feet which are attached to your legs that are joined to your hips and your spine and your central nervous system.." pick shoes you can wear! It sucks because the saleswoman in me shouts that I should suck it up but I do not want to sell a customer something that she cannot walk in comfortably. Having said that, luckily most of our customers pick appropriate shoes for their shape so it's all good

Stheno

I used wear min. 4 inch and up to 7 inch heels every day in work, and got around fine.

Then I started in a job where I am on my feet pretty much all the time, and had to ditch them they were just not practical

I still wear them occasionally and love them

For those of you saying they are bad for you, research has shown that a small (up to two inch) heel is better than flats!

Madam_X

I think they're referring to the really high ones though, not all shoes with a heightened heel. Yes, just as very high heels are bad for your arches, so are very flat ones. My feet would be fooked if I wore ballet shoe pump thingies also.

Eve_Dublin

Stheno wrote: »

I used wear min. 4 inch and up to 7 inch heels every day in work, and got around fine.

Then I started in a job where I am on my feet pretty much all the time, and had to ditch them they were just not practical

I still wear them occasionally and love them

For those of you saying they are bad for you, research has shown that a small (up to two inch) heel is better than flats!

Nah I said in the OP that I mean the high ones.

Scarinae

I used to be a lot better at walking in heels, when I was in school I used to wear big chunky shoes and I was used to having my feet at that angle (I had a half hour walk home from the station) I had absolutely no problem wearing giant heels on a night out. Now I'm not in the habit of wearing heels anymore, so I'm more likely to find that they start hurting the balls of my feet after a while. I'm one of the people who brings a pair of flats in my bag, and I don't see a problem with doing this - better than having to walk barefoot, and there has been more than one occasion where I haven't needed them and I've ended up lending the flats to one of my friends.

Eve_Dublin

I'm going to be honest here and say I usually wear very flat shoes. I live in Spain and obviously wear sandels/flip-flop type shoes round this time of the year. The ones I wear daily are just a piece of thin leather with straps that I got in Italy last year. I didn't even think wearing very flat shoes would be bad for your feet but it makes perfect sense. No shock absorption. And I go for very long walks wearing them. Looks like I have to invest in a better pair.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

confusticated

I wear birkenstocks pretty much whenever I can, including going out in summertime unless it's clubbing (which is pretty rare!) They're savage, so supportive, I really notice the difference in my feet and legs as opposed to wearing crappy flipflops or ballet pumps. I only wear heels when going out to a fancy dinner or when really dressing up, but I don't own that many and they're generally comfortable enough to wear for the whole night out.

I don't know how people could wear them all day to work - but I'd never go to an interview in flats, I think a small heel looks way more professional and I hold myself better in them.

Sea Filly

Stheno wrote: »

For those of you saying they are bad for you, research has shown that a small (up to two inch) heel is better than flats!

This is well known but the thread seems to be mostly about very high heels.

baby and crumble

I never wear heels, because tbh I'd look like a drag queen in them! But my GF wears them, and she looks gooooooooood in them. She loves them, and can walk really well in them, and finds them comfortable.

I often look at women wearing heels, and the problem with so many is that they look great when they're standing still, or sitting down. But once they start to move its like watching Bambi learn how to walk, i'm always terrified that they're going to splat on their face! That awkward clomping walk that women who are not comfortable walking in heels do, it instantly kills any sexiness that the shoes might give you.