To wonder why the hell women insist on wearing high heels that they cannot walk in?

[CathJames]

Just that really. Every weekend I see women (usually short women) wearing high heels, some of them of gigantic proportion and they cannot bloody walk in them. They are trotting along with their knees bent and almost buckled trying not to fall over, they look absolutely ridiculous so why do they wear them? I mean I'm all for keeping up with fashion and looking good when out and about but if I can't walk in a pair of shoes without looking like I'm constipated (or drunk) then I don't wear/buy them!

Nope, sorry, high heels are quite obviously a women's fashion item first and foremost. It's a woman thing!

but no ones going to start a threat complaining that men dare to leave the house looking unattractive/badly dressed are they?

Oh yes I am! There is no way anyone should leave the house less than appropriately dressed. Male or female, a wardrobe check is always required. Have you seen the men who insist on wearing low flying jogging bottoms? Bare arsed cheek, literally... gross!

It sorrows me as much as it must you, ourblanche, but the fact is that women's appearance is subject to far closer and harsher scrutiny than men's in our society (hence no trend for men to wear crippling shoes).

Thanks for the Glosswitch article HammaTime - if you like that sort of thing you will also like this essay.

I'm tall. I wear heels, and sometimes they cripple me if I'm in them for too long. I don't care. I like having beautiful things on my feet. Nobody is making me do it; I wear heels because I like them. Scoff all you want...if you're a woman scorning other women, be nicer. If you're a man, stuff off.

I am normally a heels wearer but I do have some silly high ones. It's pure optimism, I think it'll be fine, I potter around the house in them before I leave and then it's fine, then 20 mins into a party I'm in agony Every. single. time.

I have two dd's and I can only hope that when they grow up that they don't feel the need to conform to what society views to be attractive or stylish, and they will become individuals who dress in a way that makes them feel good, not idiotic.

Fashion, is the short answer.

Because they want to, because they like them.

I wouldn't worry too much about other people's shoes.

I wear ridiculous shoes at work sometimes when I know I only need to walk between desk and toilet and coffee machine

I really, really don't think it matters what shoes other individuals wear does it?

More interesting is the question of why our society (and others) have some fashions for women that involve discomfort (for many of the people who follow them but not all), a reduction in mobility, higher risk of injury and so forth. The question of why women follow them even when it makes them look uncomfortable and rather immobile is secondary I think and rather more easy to answer and rather less interesting.

I tried some on in a shop once. I tried to walk. Wasn't happening. But then I caught sight of myself in a mirror - my God! My legs looked stupendous! So long and lean. But I realised the effect would be ruined by my inevitable stupid tottering so I didn't buy them. But I can see why people do.

Yes, but think about Donald Trump hair, and reverse the trend a little.

What gives me a lift is the increase in TOWIEism. All those little boys twisting themselves inside out in ways only women have had to, in recent times.

Think back to the Regency Dandy and how much more effort he had to put into his appearance in order to be socially acceptable, financially ept. Remember that crippling heels were originally a male thing. And a Prince Albert, anyone?

In fashion what goes around comes around. Soon we can all lounge around in sacks and slippers and watch the men strut like peacocks and cripple themselves in the name of fashion

I love high heels, but agree with the poster that says everyone has a different point at which their shoes are too high (and indeed different makes and styles can have different cut off points too).

Personally I can wear complete sky scrapers, but not if they have big platform soles too

DH is 13 inches taller than me. There is no point whatsoever in my crippling myself by wearing massive heels - I draw the line at around 2 inches & mostly wear flats. I'm short & I know it!

Occasionally I think about entering a High Heel Dash

When I worked in London I used to wear stilettos on my way to work in order to step my heels on the toes of the inevitable tube gropers - and then shifting my whole weight into that one heel. Works like a charm!

I can walk in them, though.

Love it, MagicalHamSandwich!

They'll keep me in work till I'm 90.

Podiatrist

At 5ft 2, with stupidly small feet a 2 inch heel is quite enough to bring me close to something resembling average while retaining mobility and the skin on my feet. My friend jokes about my best shoes basically all being one style of different colours, but that's the style that's the best compromise on dainty and being wearable.

Wearing something that I can't move in makes me look silly in the short term as I attempt to wear them, and risks buggering up my feet long term. I might be at the birkenstocks and hotter end of the market in my youth, but hopefully I'm not inflicting bunions on myself which will make practical flats compulsory anyway.

I'm tall and pear-shaped with big feet – it was never going to happen for me. I once bought some boots with approx 2 inch, chunky heels, and fell over in them (in Greggs, no less ). So actual high stilettos, I could not manage at all. I literally could not make it across a room, even looking like a constipated chicken.

So I always see it from the outside and do look on in amazement that people manage it at all.

Sometimes I do see high-heeled shoes in magazines etc and think they look cool, in an arty way - like the famously extreme Mcqueen ones. But I can't see why people wear them ... normal stilettos, I don't think look nice. That expanse of veiny, arched foot, bleugh.

I suppose I don't have a problem with women (or men) wearing what they want including high heels, as long as it is their choice. I have no time for workplaces where it's expected for women to wear them – that's appalling.

(I do understand the feminist argument, but I don't think the answer to that is to say women shouldn't wear them IYSWIM. Much like burqas but maybe we'd best not go there...)

I don't look at women tottering in heels or those who wear them despite pain and judge them as idiots etc. I just think it's a bit sad that when they are walking like a shitting duck they certainly aren't improving their appearance as they think they are. Or if they are just uncomfortable I think it's sad for want of a better word they are willing to do that for appearance. But I'm willing to concede that with long legs I might not be getting the motivation to suffer pain for something I take for granted. By contrast I probably look equally twattish to the shitting ducks with my choice of none complimentary footwear because I like them.

I never had a problem in high heels. Being 5ft, the high the better. I could climb ladders, scramble about on scaffolding, run for a bus, anything, no sweat.

I own a pair of amazing shoes which used to belong to a drag queen. I can't walk in them, no one I know has ever managed to walk in them. If I do manage a short walk, I can't change direction in them.

They are used as decoration now (along with the whip which came with them).

I love high heels, but I wonder why manufacturers, designers, make shoes with such ridiculously out of proportion heels, that is, over 4 inches/8 cms. that can't be walked in.

Women should absolutely wear what they want. I am about the being taller point though wtaf is wrong with being small? You are what you are and anyone who makes derogatory comments is a dick. But just stating it as fact...? Well I'm tall people state it as fact, it is fact so what?

Probably because they like the shoe, my most fabulous shoes are heels that hurt like fuck after 10 minutes of wearing unfortunately.