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)

My office is clearly an outlier, then. I work in the City and am one of the oldest (early 50s) and am
probably one of the few women who doesn't wear heels (and big Princess of Wales style heels at that!). It's quite a traditional dress type place, though, and all of the younger women wear heels (although trainers to commute). I can't any more but used to love them (probably why I can't wear them any more!) and rarely wore trainers when younger (unless for sport).

Comfort all the way here - flat shoes all the time. I think nowadays flat shoes give you more credibility in a professional role.

Fuck no.

No way am I buggering up my feet for an outdated, misogynistic notion

Yes. My heels are about 3inches. I love them and feel smart in them. I’m in a client facing role. I have tried ballet shoes and don’t feel smart but also the thin sole hurts my knees. Tried many pairs of loafers - the hurt my heels. I always go back to the heels - I genuinely find them more comfortable

I love heels and have a bit of a collection. I no longer wear them for work though as I feel, like the majority on here it seems, they look dated and out of place (I work in the City in London). I wear smart trainers and keep a pair of low block heels at work for client meetings.

I still wear heels at home though, just for my own pleasure!

I’ve got kitten heels and fit flop ballet pumps (patent). No way am I fanning around in heels anymore, been there done that got that T-shirt!

I haven’t worn heels to work since about 2001.

I have some gorgeous heels but no longer wear them. Court shoes with heels feel very dated now, even in my conservative profession (law). I do have some boots with block heels to wear with trousers though, as I have short legs and the trouser legs drag on the ground otherwise. And I have black tie dos a couple of times a year which I break out proper heels for. And my feet pay for it for a few days afterwards.

No, I can’t remember the last time I saw anyone wearing heels at work.

Trainers or loafers or flat pumps. I hate heels they are so old fashioned.

Only wore them regularly in my first job c. 2005. Until I had my first child in 2015 I wore them occasionally at work and more often socially. Then a decade of only flat shoes. But I’m thinking of starting again. I’m tall enough at 5’9’’ that I can be taller than many male colleagues in a proper heel and, alas, there is a strange power in this. Was wearing chunky trainers the other day at a meeting with three short arse men, and was conspicuously taller than two of them when we walked into the room. It felt, sadly, so good that I’m thinking of rooting around in the upstairs cupboard to see what I have and whether any pairs still fit.

I just saw that programme, but it seemed they had ballet shoes for quite a few tasks, especially the walking round/scavenger hunt? Not sure which series, and as you say, most of them did wear heels for the line-ups (and the men wore ties, which also seems dated). The heels look painful, maybe that's because when I was a kid, the heels were more platform/Spice Girl, and by the time stilettoes came in about mid noughties, I was an adult and not bothered. But no, I would not wear them at work, or anywhere!

I usually wear court shoes or sandals with a heel for work, although I can’t manage really high heels now thst Im older and have had back surgery. I would only wear flat shoes or sandals if Im wearing trousers. I don’t think heels look dated at all, and think nothing looks worse than wearing trainers with a skirt or dress.

The TV show isn't about doing your best to be the best little corporate businessy person ever.

Its about establishing yourself as a media presence, and therefore, depending on the show, women have to wear (1) itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikinis or parts thereof, (2) spray tan, (3) too much makeup/ hairspray, (4) heels / suits/ nails.

Yes, but only in the office. I have a box of heels in the office. I go to and from work (and out for lunch) in my flats and then put my heels on when I get in. I am short though (5’2”). If I were taller, I might not wear heels in the office all the time.

No, I think they’re impractical for the commute(not good on escalators) and in the days of hot desking keeping a pair in the office to change into isn’t practical anymore.

I haven't worn heels since the 90s, and never will again.

Platform loafers, if I want height, or smart black shoes with laces or kitten heels.

I don’t own any heels. Everyone wears trainers in my office (publishing company) even some senior management.