Regardless of colour, do you think women's clothes are designed to make women look ridiculous?

I think the issue is, for me at least, I'd like just to wear trainers/DMs/Birkies/comfy shoes all the time, but the accepted view is that they are not appropriate for women for all occasions. Whereas men can look appropriate/smart/sexy even in their ordinary every day flat lace up shoes. I wish I didn't feel somehow 'less' in comfy shoes, but I do, and I think that is the result of how today's society sees women. If you don't wear heels/pointy shoes for corporate events, for weddings and parties, you are viewed as having given up/not caring/odd.
i was in Berlin last year, and noticed that women dress very differently there - mostly smart, but much more practical - flat shoes, trousers, less makeup. It was quite an eye-opener - even amongst young women, very few were in high heels, compared with the norm in London.

I wore ballet flats all one summer and gave myself plantar fasciastis. Bloody agony.
I found this summer's clothes really ugly, on the whole.

I hate ballet flats. Need a bit of heel - it's more comfortable.

I think it was this article. Really interesting reading. And does anyone else think she looks bloody gorgeous in it?

There was a wonderful article by a woman in a magazine a few months ago where she wore a trouser suit to work with a shirt and tie. It was cut to fit a woman but in all other respects, equivalent to a man's work wear. She said it was so comfortable. She never worried if she was revealing anything. She didn't have to juggle handbag and other stuff or remember to pick up her phone etc as there were roomy pockets everywhere. She felt empowered. there were photos of her and she looked absolutely bloody birlliant in it, imo. But at work loads of eyebrows were raised - especially by other women, as she was so against the grain of heels and skirts and tights. If I can find it, I'll link it. It made me long for a woman's man's suit iykwim.

On the issue of ballet flats, they are not comfortable to wear all day for me, and they don't stay on when walking. They were fine when I was young, but now, not so much! And they are not good for your feet.

Why can't you be formal in ballet flats

And who says you can't? Or is this another example of feminist over exaggeration about how terrible it is to be a woman?

My work clothes are very formal/ super smart and tailored. I rarely wear a heel higher than a couple of centimetres. Not Birkenstocks (obviously I wouldn't be seen dead in them) It is perfectly possible to get smart, dressed up, flat shoes.

I do think the answer to most foot problems is Doctor Marten

The most uncomfortable footwear I have owned by a considerable margin was a pair of Doc Marten boots. Awful and a huge waste of money.

I really can't take comments like "Women's shoes are generally awful" seriously. No they are not.

You don't like some of them - fair enough but this over- egging of "can't walk/ crippling" etc is so over done.

I don't wear particularly high heels, my shoes tend to be patent leather pumps or low heeled courts. They suit me, in every sense of the word.

Mxyzptlk and the sheer quantity of it!

Once upon a time it was foundation, eyeshadow, lipstick, mascara and blusher.

Now it's a full moisurising routine, primer, concealers, foundation, contouring, eyeshadow, eyeliner, eyebrows (that's a whole 'regime in itself), blusher, wax lip liner to prevent 'feathering', multiple lip colours for different effects, bronzing and finish.

The sheer expense of a 'basic' make up look and the sheer amount of time girls and women are expected to put in is appalling.

The pressure to get it right is disgusting.

WrappedUp you are right, I've lived in Birkenstocks for the last several summers, and have just found some lovely soft suede DMs. But they are not smart, you couldn't wear them in a corporate environment ( not that I do, any more, but it's an issue for us all).

Women's shoes are generally awful. Hate them. I refuse point blank to wear any sort of heels, both because I'm not fond of foot torture and because I'm uncomfortable with their sexualised associations in a professional or social setting.

It's not an issue for me at work, thankfully, but weddings are more difficult. It seems to be seen as socially odd or unacceptable to wear flats with a dress to a wedding

I feel the same about women in makeup, especially young women who are gorgeous anyway.

Remember the "daring" makeup-free pictures a little while ago? I thought most of the people (women) looked much better without the makeup.

Stead & Simpson?

Timpson do shoe repairs, key cutting, door signs and watch straps.

"Feet are a feminist issue, where can I find a good rad-fem chiropodist??????????"

Absolutely, I couldn't agree more!
I spend so much time trying to find flat shoes with decent soles and of an adequate width, but which are also reasonably presentable. And trying to find any that work with a dress is nigh impossible.
I've had massive arguments with people about this, my POV is that it is the pressure from society to look "sexy" which pushes women into wearing high/pointy/.thin shoes. I don't think women would want to wear uncomfortable shoes were it not for the expectation that they are somehow "less" if they don't conform to the stereotype of a successful, sexy woman. If you watch a programme like " The Apprentice" you'll see that it is assumed that business dress includes high court shoes, which are just so impractical.
There was a recent case where a woman fought a company's diktat that she should wear heels and tights as part of business attire - can't recall the detail, but it was the first time I have seen this debated.

I'm with SomeDyke. Although I'm not a lesbian.

Wide, fat, flat, little feet and an increasing shopping list of things wrong with them, I live in trainers.

Socks which keep falling down, clothes without pockets, thinner, less practical coats with hoods that don't stay on in the wind, tops with gaping necklines that require nude coloured underwear and useless, stupid handbags.

I say we vote SomeDyke to be head of M&S Clothing division!

I go to Shuropody, btw.