What are you playing at ASOS?

FireFlyBugaloo
Excerpt from your post which I found particularly interesting:

I feel like we took two steps away from this idea around the 60s-80s, when every other male popstar was wearing makeup and women were rocking dungarees, and have since taken a step back toward the idea that there's something "wrong" with people who have a preference for more masculine or feminine ways of dressing.

High heels for men were fairly common in the early 17th century, as were brightly colored clothes, wigs, tight-fitting breeches (leggings), makeup and other adornments. For a multitude of reasons, including enlightenment ideals and the need in France for people to disassociate themselves from the royals for fear of being attacked by Jacobins during the revolution, men's clothing became far more muted and boring in the 18th century. Included in the transformation of male fashion was the strong undertone that men were practical and utilitarian while women, who kept their colours, adornments, wigs and makeup, were frivolous and emotional. Look up "The Great Male Renunciation" (GMR).

There was even a movement - the Men's Dress Reform Party formed after WWI. One of its founders, John Flugel, a psychologist, opined that the GMR was when men "abandoned their claim to be considered beautiful" and "henceforth aimed at being only useful".

Poor men, I had not heard of that before but it rings true. On the whole poorer men could never have quite reached the decorative heights of Louis XIV types but they did look more beautiful in those clothes. Nevertheless, men still dressed differently from women except am I right in thinking Chinese trousers and jackets worn by Chinese peasants were the same, and almost like a uniform?

Is it now sacrilege to think stereotypes might generally serve a perfectly useful purpose by and large? Maybe there is a reason why by and large, within the various cultures, men and women seem to go in for dressing differently?

Sexual attraction can be increased by a sense of difference and that is probably why.

Sometimes dressing a woman dressing like a man has the precise purpose of highlighting femininity by contrast. Maybe it sometimes works the other way round ( I can see it more in the to me slightly more feminine decorated Renaissance style men, or male ballet dancers).

Generally men’s clothes are more comfortable, safer for certain activities, and better made than women’s. Less so the other way round.

I think the idea that there should be no social difference between men and women, that any separation of roles is false, does not exactly translate into it being true that any outward expression of their differences is somehow false too.

But I get the idea, wear what you want.

Great post and very interesting. @FireFlyBoogaloo Thank you.

Yes, I have no problem with this at all. It's not sexualised, or a caricature of women, it's just a bloke in a skirt.

There would be a problem if the description implied that these boots were for transwomen or non-binary etc but as far as I can see its a man (with rather nice legs) in some heeled boots.

I agree that more blokes should wear heels like this, it would keep women a little bit safer!

First thought. Outfit flows quite nicely.
Second thought. Damn those shoes look uncomfortable.
Third thought. That's an unfortunate upskirting angle.
Final thought. Great if men want to wear heels as long as they don't think they can change sex . Personally I think they are crazy as they are so uncomfortable and post lockdown have been ditched by most women.

I like that the model has hairy legs and isn't wearing a suggestive skirt or a "feminine" top.

Good for them. Men and women can wear what they like.

Most of those shoes I'd consider to have been originally men's styles anyway.

Since when is a 6 a 'big' size? It's pretty average I would have thought.

Seems to be quite a lot in the larger sizes and modelled by men.

Hopefully the Harry styles effect!

Men can wear whatever they like OP! The fact that you haven't been back to defend your post makes me think you have posted in bad faith to try and get screen shots for twitter?

I'm a size 9. Sadly I won't benefit from places selling larger sizes as they always make them wider when they make them longer and my feet are really narrow

I agree, all blokes should wear those types of heels. We can hear them behind us and it'll give us better odds if we have to run from them.

I think the idea of "cross dressing" reinforces gender stereotypes. Clothes are just clothes, and the expectation that some clothes are only for men or only for women is only a mere step or two from the idea that there are certain clothes that women and men should wear by dint of being their sex.

I feel like we took two steps away from this idea around the 60s-80s, when every other male popstar was wearing makeup and women were rocking dungarees, and have since taken a step back toward the idea that there's something "wrong" with people who have a preference for more masculine or feminine ways of dressing.

High heels for men were fairly common in the early 17th century, as were brightly colored clothes, wigs, tight-fitting breeches (leggings), makeup and other adornments. For a multitude of reasons, including enlightenment ideals and the need in France for people to disassociate themselves from the royals for fear of being attacked by Jacobins during the revolution, men's clothing became far more muted and boring in the 18th century. Included in the transformation of male fashion was the strong undertone that men were practical and utilitarian while women, who kept their colours, adornments, wigs and makeup, were frivolous and emotional. Look up "The Great Male Renunciation" (GMR).

There was even a movement - the Men's Dress Reform Party formed after WWI. One of its founders, John Flugel, a psychologist, opined that the GMR was when men "abandoned their claim to be considered beautiful" and "henceforth aimed at being only useful".

I think men who are interested in fashion, who want to wear heels and makeup and sparkly spangly adornments and bright coloured skirts should be absolutely free to do so without any negative assumptions being made about them. Just like I'm free to wear a navy pants suit to be a bridesmaid (true story) and forego all those things because they just don't interest me.

Maybe if they were, there'd be less children and teenagers thinking they must be the opposite gender because they like (or don't like) the pink sparkles.

Can't get worked up about this.. if men want to wear heels (which some do) then fine

I completely agree.

Now if he can run for a bus in them I’d be really impressed.

I really don’t care who is wearing the shoes as long as nobody tries to tell me stereotyped clothing changes your sex.

If you want to see fellas rocking high heeled boots just Google Poison 80s Motley Crue 80s (although some of the Tommy Lee pics aren’t that’s SFW) or Prince 80s.

www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-wide-fit-dizzy-lace-up-trainers-in-warm-beige/prd/202583616?clr=warm-beige&colourWayId=202583619&cid=27869 oh look, a female model wearing a perfectly unremarkable pair of trainers and not showing her face. She must be embarrassed too!

It's the Metallica shirt isn't it?
You're right. They've been shit since ride the lightning. I'm more of a Slayer woman myself.
I wouldn't wear those heels in a moshpit mind you.

ASOS rarely show faces on shoe models. You obviously care and judge what people wear or you wouldn’t be sniggering at people. I hope I never pass you on the street sniggering at what myself and others choose to wear, you don’t sound very pleasant.

Why no face shown on the model? Is it embarrassment, as I never see a faceless female model.

I don't care what anyone wears, but I'd snigger at an obviously male person wearing these. Or trying to wear them.

ASOS is playing at blokes being able to have uncomfortable, impractical, expensive footwear previously mostly sized and aimed at women.

If the blokes are happy with that, there's no problem. Nowt to do with feminism really.

The difference only exists in US sizes.

I have 2 pairs of trainers, same style, just in different colours. Both Nike size 40. One bought in the men's section. The fit is identical.

I don't see a problem with it. Think back to glam rock or the new romantics, Kurt Cobain frequently wearing dresses. Men in the late 60s/early 70s wearing very tight low trousers and tops in the same print as women.

I think clothes being worn by both sexes can be different to issues around trans rights (I know I've worded that poorly)

Right....and?

If you don't like them don't buy them.