Do you wear high heels for work?

[grumpyoldmareneedstea]

Partly inspired by the school uniform thread and partly by my binge watching of The Apprentice over the last week.

The female Apprentice candidates all still seem to wear high heels for each challenge (in my straw poll of the last three series). I’m not sure why. It I was quite surprised as I though business wear for women had moved on from this. I’m an HCP so trainers are the show of choice at my work, obviously!

So I’m curious: How many of you still wear heels to work, and those that do, is it a choice or expectation?

(this is not a judgemental thread at all, BTW)

Yep. Love them, wear them and they make my legs look fabulous! And fwiw, they get a lot of compliments (from men and women). So while this thread might suggest I look ridiculous and old fashioned, not everyone seems to agree. Not that o give two hoots anyway- i wear them because i like them.

If by heels you mean stilettos rather than high wedge or block heels, almost never unless it’s some kind of function.

Blocks and wedges regularly.

No never, even on days where I’m client facing. Flats always, trainers when I’m just holed up in the office because I always go for a walk at lunchtime and it’s more practical. I still own quite a few pairs of heels which i sort of pointless because I don’t even wear them socially anymore.

Yes we do, it’s business casual at a minimum, formal business for some roles/occasions and there’s a long list of items that are not allowed.

No and I haven't for years. I do wear chunky rather than low profile Adidas trainers to look taller sometimes as I'm short-ish (5'4") even though I know low profile are more fashionable. And there's a chunky heel on my boots. Otherwise I wear ballet flats or Birkenstocks. I'm early-mid fifties.

Never have I ever worn high heels.
👠

And of course that’s fine! I was just curious about if there’s an expectation in the business world after seeming all the young Apprentice candidates in them.

It’s a tv reality show and nothing to do with the world of business, any more than America’s Next Top Midel was to do with training actual models. I’m sure that can ‘dictate’ whatever they want.

I wear biker boots or Docs to work.

Nope! I have a pair of low heels for meetings but otherwise boots or sketchers.

Nope. Flats, boots or trainers here

Nope never. Adidas Sambas day to day and a pair of loafers under my desk to chuck on if I have a meeting.

I haven’t worn heels for work since the pandemic. Before that I wore heels every day.

I think Apprentice contestants and news readers are the only people who wear them for work now.

Mind you the men in the Apprentice are also suited and booted and in my experience not many men wear ties to work any more.

i have a couple of pairs of shoes and boots that are not flat but wouldn't consider them high heels in the traditional sense. I am short and I have some jeans than need non flat shoe/boot so they don't trail on the floor.

We ditched work wear when Covid happend - we a a firm of accountants and nearly everyone is wearing jeans, jumper and trainers today.

Completely agree @grumpyoldmareneedstea it seems really out of order for the TV programme to dictate that women wear heels, but its the only reason I could think of. None of the younger women in my work wear heels. In general heels are seen as a bit 'form over function' or window dressing, like men who wear 'personality ties' or bright suits. Ie they are all about looking the part rather than performing well. In my experience the high performers are the people who focus on things other than their dress.

No, I've lived in barefoot trainers for years now and my feet have changed to a more natural shape so unfortunately I can't wear high heels any more. I've got rid of them all. If I need to look smart I wear trousers and leather barefoot boots (with rounded toes).

When I was a trainee solicitor, we were all suits and heels. My City law firm now is full of people in jeans and trainers unless seeing clients (and even then, not all clients). I wore heels recently for an interview and couldn't walk in them, I am so out of practice!

Not really. Stopped the very high heels during the pandemic and never went back. Have a couple of pairs of Kitten Heels for certain outfits, and heeled boots. But usually in flats. KH seem to be making a comeback though.

I’ve just Googled it. There’s a DM interview with Karren Brady from a couple of years ago that says that they are not told what to wear but she’s noticed the heels getting higher and skirts getting shorter 😳

I used to toddle about in high heels in the office back in the 90s but once I had kids it was loafers, or if quite casual, Sketchers slip ons.

Nope, haven’t worn a stiletto since covid when I knackered my achilles. Even going back to a very corporate environment I wore smart flats.
Occasionally now wear a western boot with a slight heel but not if I’ve got lots of walking to do. Workplace is smart casual with lots of arty/creative types so not corporate feeling.
However I was at an event the other week hosted by a recruitment firm and all the women from the firm were super glam, nails, hair, sky high heels - it was a very 2013 vibe tbh. They all looked like Apprentice candidates. Maybe it’s an industry thing?

No, never. I don’t think any women where I work wear heels anymore. Such a dated look.

No, I am senior CS and no one in our department wears heels, even to meetings with Ministers, overseas visits etc. I also work beside lots of corporate offices and no one wears heels. I have seen two women wear heels in the 6 months I have been back in a city centre location, and both were in their 50’s (as am I), so I assumed they just hadn’t updated their style. It was remarkable because I never see women in heels.

I wore heels all the time in my last big corporate role in the mid- 2000’s but would never do that again - I might be tempted by kitten heels. I am very petite.

I was always more of a trouser suit fan than dress fan, so the modern business casual with trainers has felt natural to me. I have a pair of loafers for very important government meetings, but even then, they are not mandatory.

Nope. 65. Not even in a City bank in the 80s. Smart shoes but never heels. An inch at most, but I was 5'7" in my 20s, 30s, 40s. Have lost an inch now.

I did in the 80s. We all did. Trainers with everything now or chunky heel ankle boots

I do! Dress and jacket with stilettos is my daily outfit. CEO of a tourist and heritage attraction. Feels and looks smart, but not totally ideal for walking to meetings!