Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

145 replies

CathJames · 31/08/2015 16:22

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!

OP posts:
Youarentkiddingme · 01/09/2015 07:12

On holiday last week I was in the restaurant queuing at the buffet. A young girl (14 ish?) was staggering over and looked to be in some pain or severe discomfort causing her to bend over and spilling her dinner all over the floor. I very kindly asked her if she was ok, need help etc.

She was not impressed or grateful for my offer. The reason? She was wearing shoes with a 2" platform and 4" heel. She actually thought I was taking the piss because she couldn't walk in her shoes. I'm surprised I hadn't noticed them!

Bunbaker · 01/09/2015 07:15

"I certainly see VERY few women in heels at the supermarket and I live in Essex, supposedly famous for its heel wearers"

Honestly, you do see them round here. Not huge numbers of women admittedly. Maybe it is because they stand out that I notice them. However we do have a number of women where I work who wear impractically high heels, and to me they just look uncomfortable.

BitOutOfPractice · 01/09/2015 07:22

Ah, I see, from your first answer it sounded like you see dozens, every day Hmm

goblinhat · 01/09/2015 07:32

Maybe it's just the women who can't walk in them that we notice.

Some dancers wear heels after all.

WizardOfToss · 01/09/2015 07:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tobysmum77 · 01/09/2015 07:41

Y'see babyganoush there is again nowt wrong with being very tall. I work with a woman about your height and she wears heels sometimes. Whyever not she certainly doesn't look freakish. Its the issue I have with heels, the woman mist be 5'6 comewhat may mentality.

I'm taller than dh in heels I used to wear them loads but just cant walk in them these days.

FrancesOldhamKelseyRIP · 01/09/2015 07:48

Not many people wear heels on the street in the daytime, but a fair number (like me) change into them once they get into the office. Loads of young women wear very high heels at work but most of them wear heights / formats they can walk in because most young women aren't stupid.

Floisme · 01/09/2015 07:51

I never wear heels and I'm 5'2. But I'm all for having fun with clothes and even looking ridiculous sometimes - as long as it's enjoyable and no-one else is getting hurt, why not? Fashion isn't meant to be serious.

MischiefInTheWind · 01/09/2015 07:52

I'm short and don't wear heels, but I've always been happy with my height.
I don't have a problem with other people wearing them, but it's the pain, distortion and long-term health effects that I worry about when girls and young women get channelled into what is feminine and beautiful.
DD does wear heels, but she's on her feet for most of the day and so chooses for comfort. I've never seen her in stilettoes.

hackmum · 01/09/2015 08:37

Women are sold a lie that high heels are empowering and make them look sexy. Neither is true - it's not empowering to be tottering about and falling over and damaging your feet. Strangely, it doesn't look sexy either (unless you get your kicks from seeing women unable to walk properly, which I expect some men do).

But it's rather like cigarette smoking, which was for years advertised on the same basis. Look how glamorous and attractive cigarette smokers are! Ignoring the obvious fact that smokers have yellow teeth and nails and stink to high heaven.

Of course the other advantage of high heels from the point of view of a woman-hating society is that, having exhorted women to wear them to look attractive, we can then blame women for wearing them if they can't then run away from rapists - as Chrissie Hynde's remarks demonstrate.

MinesAPintOfTea · 01/09/2015 08:53

I worry about it, because it generates social pressure to be uncomfortable and limited in movement. Individual women can wreck their feet but in agregate its worrying.

ALassUnparalleled · 01/09/2015 09:46

Of course the other advantage of high heels from the point of view of a woman-hating society is that, having exhorted women to wear them to look attractive, we can then blame women for wearing them if they can't then run away from rapists - as Chrissie Hynde's remarks demonstrate.

There's plenty of women-hating going on in this thread. Chrissie Hynd's remarks were stupid beyond words but why waste time pointing out women of all ages wearing all sorts of clothes when you ( and I mean a collective you, not you personally ) can have so much fun criticising other women's shoes.

The most uncomfortable footwear I've ever owned were a pair of Doc Martens boots. I have a standard fit size 4 and these didn't fit anywhere

TheDowagerCuntess · 01/09/2015 10:53

I love heels and wear them all the time - at least for work and going out, if not for general weekend wear.

I'm 5'10" so don't go for vertiginous heels - but that's mainly because I totally agree with the OP - the wearers inevitably look ridiculous.

Heels were meant to make the wearer look elegant, poised, stylish, whatever. The minute you get into carrot up arse, newborn giraffe territory, it defeats the entire purpose. If you can't stride in them, they're too high for you.

Bunbaker · 02/09/2015 06:46

"If you can't stride in them, they're too high for you."

I agree. I am not anti heels at all, I just don't like wearing shoes I can't walk in. To me a shoe with heels is maybe 2-3 inches high, and I would be struggling with 3 inches.

BoskyCat · 02/09/2015 08:46

It's not woman-hating to ask why women feel the need to wear shoes that literally cripple them.

You can feel baffled at why any individual woman would want that, and also ask what are the forces that put pressure on women to want that.

WeAreEternal · 02/09/2015 09:03

I wear sky high heels very regularly but I only wear ones that fit properly and are comfortable.
I can walk perfectly, even over the cobbles streets in our town, I can even run for the bus in them.

It's mainly due to practice and buying decent shoes.

I think the problem with a lot of the women we see wobbling on sky highs is that the don't wear heels day to day so on a Saturday when they do wear them it's a bit alien to walk in them, I also think it is hugely to do with the shoes being ill fitting.

Bunbaker · 02/09/2015 09:08

"It's not woman-hating to ask why women feel the need to wear shoes that literally cripple them."

I agree. In fact you could ask anyone why they would wear clothes or shoes that are very uncomfortable.

ALassUnparalleled · 02/09/2015 09:17

The sneering comments, the descriptions of shoes as "poncy" were utterly judgemental. On the whole a very nasty little thread.

Theydontknowweknowtheyknow · 02/09/2015 09:19

YANBU it baffles me now but then when I was a teenager I used to wear those awful white stilettos in spite of the pain. Blush The reason was fashion so I'm guessing that's still the reason.

At least my feet are toasty, comfy and happy now.

goawayalready · 02/09/2015 09:20

ive three children i dont wear heels anymore since they can walk its become a habit i need to run in my shoes!

when i did wear heels i always made sure i could walk in them im with the op why wear them if you cant walk in them

BitOutOfPractice · 02/09/2015 09:23

I always find bring told I only do something because I've been conditioned by the patriarchy to do so both patronising and tedious.

TuckingFablet · 02/09/2015 09:27

I'm just under 5ft and never wear heels. They're just not comfy. I don't really care that other people do, but why would you wear something that isn't comfy? Baffles me what some people do for fashion. Then again, I'm not the best person to advise on this as my wardrobe consists of skinny jeans, quirky slogan tshirts and converse shoes.

derxa · 02/09/2015 09:31

To me it's like Japanese foot binding. I can't wear heels because my feet are very wide. I'd rather wear no shoes at all but don't want to scare other people.

Bunbaker · 02/09/2015 09:32

I don't find this thread nasty. I just think that most posters find the idea of wearing something very uncomfortable on your feet baffling. And there is nothing nasty in that.

I wouldn't care that someone who hates spicy food finds the idea that I like curry baffling.

puddymuddles · 02/09/2015 09:32

I never wear heels as find them uncomfortable. I am shortish at 5 ft 4 but not really really short. I think really short people in high heels look silly as it only makes them about my height which is still short and they are damaging their feet/posture. Up to them though!