High heels. Are they a conspiracy?

[CrockedPot]

So today I have spent eight hours in toe pinching, arch stretching, high heeled shoes. At work. By the end of the day I was glaring in envy at the men in their round toed, laced up, low heeled 'ergonomically designed' soled shoes, while I minced around like someone who had their feet bound in some medieval torture chamber. AIBU in thinking we put style over fucking comfort every single day and don't think a thing about it?? What are we doing?? (or is just me, wearing the wrong style of pretty, painful shoe?)

Stinklebell - in what way are we disagreeing?

It's my stated view that 'sexy' is if you can walk comfortably and confidently.

Your post indicates that you are not always comfortable or confident, 'your feet ache and you can't scoot around in them'.

Where's the disagreement?

I think they look pretty silly tbh.

silver-fish.hubpages.com/hub/The-Cost-of-Killer-Heels

I don't agree that heels are "tight pinchy shoes that show off your bunions"

It sounded a bit sneery, but if that wasn't how it was meant

I've never bought into wearing heels or makeup. A lot less hassle and a lot less problems as a result.

I've never 'bought into' them either Joysmum, I just wear them because I like them.

ThatBloodyWoman... What you meant to say was that YOU can't wear them without YOU looking ridiculous.

The 'sisterhood' still alive and well I see... I'm glad I'm not in it.

Why would anyone put style over comfort?

I rarely wear heels.

Usually only when going out.

I'm 5ft tall.

Last time one of the other women was as tall as my husband-6ft2 in flats!

I mean what's the point for me I'm always the shortest-no point in being uncomfortable as well!

of course they are a conspiracy - lets see, they are uncomfortable, they damage your feet and you cannot run when you are wearing them. but women do wear them because they are told 'they make you look better' and that is essentially your value as a woman. I am talking about serious high heels here, a small heel on a boot is fine.

some women can walk in them but the vast majority look really silly staggering along convinced they look great!

I always used to wear heals (very high) until I had a bad case of plantar fasciitis, and the pain was unbearable! I had to wear trainers / low shoes for ages (under threat of having injections in my feet if the pain didn't ease). Add that to two pregnancies where I didn't wear heals because my feet don't work properly when pregnant, and I have lost the ability to feel comfortable in heals.
I tend to wear flat shoes now to work. I do have a pair of heals from New Look and M&S which I will wear every now and again. They're comfortable but I feel the difference in my leg & feet when I wear them.

Stinklebell - I accept the 'slightly sneery' jibe. You are probably right.

In my defense, look at women in high heels. How many look comfortable and how many walk well?

Also, look beyond the pretty shoes. How often do the actual feet look pretty? You see many women in lovely shoes with their feet scrunched up and a big gap at the back of the heel. The same women with big blue veins running down the tops of their feet.

We are so in thrall to the beautiful shoe that we often overlook the actual foot. Just look at pictures of celebs in their expensive shoewear. Yeah, the shoes look great but the feet actually look ugly.

I NEVER wear heels, I don't own a single pair. Why would I want to totter round in pain?!

Abd look what high heels do to the feet- bunions, mishapen toes, corns, some celebs and models who have worn heels are now having surgery to correct the deformities.
Their feet look ugly.

Healthy feet are something to be proud of and look very attractive.

I can cope with a mid height wedge as long as the shoe has straps. I'd add court shoes and ballet pumps to the instruments of torture list. Given an open choice, I'd stick with birkenstocks or slouch boots, but neither is a great look for work.

Comfort comes first. Skinned ankles and blisters are not a professional look.

running it may be the weather in the UK but I rarely see pretty healthy feet full stop. In winter they are covered up with trainers, Uggs, boots etc and in summer, some of the sandals (flat and high) look terrible, all unsupportive straps and so on. I agree very high heels can look equally ugly.

I don't see wearing a 2 inch heel as either a moral failure or having 'bought in' to anything.

Why do you need to denigrate people who wear heels though? Who gets to say what heel height is right? I have no bunions, no missing nails, no misshapes, no corns, no athletes foot or anything else. I alternate depending on what I'm doing. I wear safety boots too! I wouldn't 'slip-slop' along in flats like Birkenstocks, for example, because I'd fall out of them irrespective of any health benefits of wearing them.

If shoes hurt me, I simply wouldn't wear them.

It sounds very stupid to generalise and to make bald statements surrounding conspiracy and women doing it for men. I hate that.

I don't see wearing a 2 inch heel as either a moral failure or having 'bought in' to anything.

Neither do I nor have I ever said so.

I have only advocated comfort and wellbeing.

I used to, but then started to work from home and had two kids, so now I have a very beautiful collection of mostly unworn shoes, because I prefer biker or riding style boots for work (and leisure, may I add). I think we women are moved by the sleek beauty of heels, but the realization of the physical cost only hits us when we wear them for any longer than an hour at a time. And while men find them attractive, and the right style will elongate the leg, most shoes these days don't, at least not if you're size 12+ post-pregnancy and don't have slim legs. I say go and splurge on some timeless chic ballet pumps or low wedge pumps, or even some nice boots or brogues, and ditch the heels!

Why iv211? Ballet pumps are no more timeless than court shoes or stilettos. I have ballet pumps; I wear them very occasionally. They're flat so I find myself 'slopping' in them in a very unattractive manner and they cause me back twinges (possibly because I wear them infrequently).

If we were only ever concerned about the healthful aspects of our footwear, we'd all be shopping at hospital orthopaedic departments and shoe shops would cease to exist...

It's interesting to read about the different style of shoes people like.

yeh i do not like ballet pumps either - they make you walk like a duck and offer the foot no support.
once in Spain i was rather taken by a heeled pointy boot but they literally made two of my toes go numb for years!!

I love heels. Wear them most days. I feel more confident and literally walk taller in them.

Each to their own I guess

I get a bit tired of being told I'm a slave to societal conditioning and debasing myself to men by wearing them. Nope, I just like them!

Wearing ballet pumps can be an issue if you wear flat shoes only occasionally. Wearing only a small heel causes your hamstrings to shorten and the lower back to be tilted. Wearing flat pumps or bare feet can then put the body under an unusual stretch.

I am of the opinion that the foot is quite self- supporting- we evolved barefoot after all. wearing light or minimal footwear causes the foot some work and be self supporting.

Bitoutofpractice- who do you wear the shoes for?

atthestroke me! Like I wear everything else that I wear for me!

I have bunions because of the bones in my knees and feet affecting the way I walk, basically am knock kneed and flat footed. I really look after my feet though especially because I love running, and this in turn makes my feet stronger and puts off the day I may suffer pain and need surgery, also I have good orthotics in my running shoes. Just wanted to say people can have wonky feet without it being ANYTHING to do with poor footwear. I have made my feet sound awful but actually my toes are nice and straight, and the bunions aren't red and knobbly - it's just that my right big toe turns in more than it should. Also I can wear heels occasionally up to 2.5/3 inches as long as they fit properly and are wide enough at the front.

One shoe I cannot wear is traditional Birkenstocks. I felt like I was wearing the shoe box...