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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ridiculously high heels - Apprentice Final Four

427 replies

axolotlfloof · 18/03/2022 22:28

Just watching this week's episode.
Really pleased to see 4 women in the final, but why the heels?
Even Karen is wearing them.
They are bad for your feet, balance and just ridiculous.
My Mum's feet were destroyed by heels in the 60s, and I prioritise walking over heels.
Aibu?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
jeanne16 · 19/03/2022 07:07

My DD has a very senior and well paid job at an investment bank. She has never dressed in a tight bodycon dress with high heels. The advise that women must wear heels is very dated.

Benes · 19/03/2022 07:08

What a horrible thread that just tears other women down (again).

Yep. There was one commenting on a woman's name yesterday! Apparently if you choose to call yourself by a shortened version of your name then you won't be taken seriously in the workplace.. nobody seemed to have issues with shortening mens names though 🤷🏼‍♀️

Maireas · 19/03/2022 07:08

Actually, @RandomBasic, I've re read her post and you're right. Sorry!
It's such a strange thing, and I've never come across it in schools before.

Quincythequince · 19/03/2022 07:09

The only correct answer to this question, is they can wear what they like!

That’s it!

If you want to slag them off, don’t pretend it’s about something else.

I imagine they wear those heels for not many hours at all, but yet here we still are criticising them.

And now Suzy Lamplugh and heels??

WTAF?? These women are being filmed for TV and this has been brought up?

And now women should dress a certain way so they aren’t attacked?!

Dear god

BigButtons · 19/03/2022 07:09

@Maireas re read what has been written.

speakout · 19/03/2022 07:10

pompei8309

I'm ok if you think I am frumpy.
However I am nearly sixty and my feet are beautiful.

OLP2019 · 19/03/2022 07:10

@Quincythequince

That was not what the OP posted OLP, so actually ‘you behave’ (WTF - which says that to a grown up? Probably the same kind of person who thinks it’s ok to tear them down)/

This thread went that way because of the posters’ sentiments.

Because you turned it into "oh women slagging women off again" when actually most of the posters are saying wear what you like but the expectation from men historically for women to "dress to impress" is kind of sad and dated frankly
Maireas · 19/03/2022 07:12

I think all the women in the final have gone for the very glamorous look, with hair extensions and false eyelashes etc. Tight fitting dresses and very high heels are part of that image. Maybe that's their choice, or maybe they had to conform?

Alrightqueenie · 19/03/2022 07:12

I've never worn heels in my 20 Yr + working career, imo it's like a modern day equivalent of Chinese foot binding. I've got one pair of heeled mules that I bought for my sister's wedding. I swapped to trainers half way through the reception because my feet were killing me.

Quincythequince · 19/03/2022 07:12

No they aren’t OLP
These women have been eviscerated!
You’ve even made a comment about the junior execs where you work - how supportive you must be!
Do you say that to their faces?!

And I’m a Doctor by the way, it would be impractical to wear these 98% of the time at work, so I don’t.

Sorting in a boardroom, or ‘pitching’ - not so much of a problem!

Quincythequince · 19/03/2022 07:13

sitting (FFS - typing when walking!)

Benes · 19/03/2022 07:13

Behave ! The whole point of the thread is about if women HAVE TO dress a certain way to get ahead in business!! If that's how you chose to dress that's totally fine you do you !!

That's wasn't the point of the thread. The op is clearly criticising women for choosing to wear heels. There was no mention of whether they have been forced to do this.

I work in a media company with several female senior managers and never have I seen any of them tottering around in ridiculous heels and tight dresses- they all dress professionally and for themselves frankly !!

So 'you do you' turns into 'tottering around in ridiculous heels' a paragraph later......
So 'you do you' but I'll judge you negatively for it 🙄

LizzieSiddal · 19/03/2022 07:14

I realise they can wear what they like but I’m not sure they are. I know people who work in this kind of TV, be in no doubt these women will have been told exactly how they shoudl look and what they should wear. I think it’s throughly depressing that they all look the same, I’d feel exactly the same if they’d made them all wear an overall! Although at least then they probably wouldn’t have to totter around all day. Someone them can barely walk in those heels!

It’s giving a very false sense of what a woman needs to look like in 2022 to “get on”.

EvilPea · 19/03/2022 07:14

I wear heels for work. The more stressful the higher the heels.

It’s a choice and should be a choice. Teaching girls is part of work wear is utter bollocks. That’s terrible.

itisyourbirthdayKelly · 19/03/2022 07:14

I've been told today that I have to teach my class (Y8) that heels are part of a work wardrobe for women, and that if you want to succeed, it's essential to wear them.

Ah, that’s why I failed totally in life then. I thought I had failed at everything I tried because I’m a bit thick - no! It’s because I can’t walk in heels!

Christ, I have worn heels twice in my life. Once as a bridesmaid and once when my MIL threw a fit because I was wearing trainers on my wedding day. Walked like a new born foal each time, hated them, didn’t see the fucking point.

I said to dh I last night, imagine me on the apprentice. My badly dyed hair, no make up skills, I’d either be bare faced as usual or try and put some on and look like a clown, my version of smart which is the cheapest dress I can find in the sale section on asos.

I’d walk in and Lord Sugar would give me his coffee order or ask me to clean the windows.

Quincythequince · 19/03/2022 07:15

@Alrightqueenie

I've never worn heels in my 20 Yr + working career, imo it's like a modern day equivalent of Chinese foot binding. I've got one pair of heeled mules that I bought for my sister's wedding. I swapped to trainers half way through the reception because my feet were killing me.
And this 👆🏻Is fair enough!

90% of the other shit said about them here is just vile!

Benes · 19/03/2022 07:16

I can remember after the Suzy Lamplugh findings, practical clothing than can be ran in was mentioned.

WTF.... nice bit of victim blaming there

LizzieSiddal · 19/03/2022 07:17

So 'you do you' turns into 'tottering around in ridiculous heels' a paragraph later......

But many women do “totter around”, they can barely bloody walk in the heels and quite frankly it seem ridiculous to go to work and expect people to take you seriously if you can’t bloody well get up and walk around the office like an adult should, without looking like you’re about to fall over.

Quincythequince · 19/03/2022 07:18

@Benes

I can remember after the Suzy Lamplugh findings, practical clothing than can be ran in was mentioned.

WTF.... nice bit of victim blaming there

Exactly! Fucking appalling thing to have said then, and to mention it again now.

Maybe I should never wear a bikini? Or make up? in case this could be construed as a come on.

pompei8309 · 19/03/2022 07:19

speakout - I didn’t say you’re not, it’s a choice and personal opinion, at 60 I probably won’t be wearing them either

Theluggage15 · 19/03/2022 07:19

What a vicious nasty bunch of people on here. They can wear what they want. All the sneering about being dated, dangerous, silly, cheap just so unpleasant.

‘It’s only the very junior admin assistants who wear them’ ‘I/my daughter has a very important job in the city and only ever wears jogging bottoms.’ What difference does it make to you what they wear? Why the anger at how they dress? Really really odd.

OLP2019 · 19/03/2022 07:19

@Benes

Behave ! The whole point of the thread is about if women HAVE TO dress a certain way to get ahead in business!! If that's how you chose to dress that's totally fine you do you !!

That's wasn't the point of the thread. The op is clearly criticising women for choosing to wear heels. There was no mention of whether they have been forced to do this.

I work in a media company with several female senior managers and never have I seen any of them tottering around in ridiculous heels and tight dresses- they all dress professionally and for themselves frankly !!

So 'you do you' turns into 'tottering around in ridiculous heels' a paragraph later......
So 'you do you' but I'll judge you negatively for it 🙄

The point i am trying to make is most of the women I've known struggle to walk in heels and after a long day at work they're massively painful. The idea that these shoes form part of a uniform of a successful woman is totally outdated! If my colleagues enjoy wearing heels that's fine but it should not form the identity of a power woman in business!!
DrManhattan · 19/03/2022 07:21

Do you reckon they have to wear different colour dresses because they all look the same? Helps LS to tell them apart.
All that fake laughter at his terrible jokes. Cringe.

Peasock · 19/03/2022 07:22

I mean the apprentice is in no way a guidebook for working in business, if people watch it and assume it is then that's pretty sad. I suspect most people would want to look their best on TV, I'd wear a dress with heels and make up because I'd want to. A lot of men don't wear full suits to work anymore but they do in the show.

It’s a shame Shama had to quit she was about the only woman on there this year that I could take seriously

Does what a woman wears indicate anything about their attitude and capability at work then? Shame if it does.

Benes · 19/03/2022 07:22

@LizzieSiddal

So 'you do you' turns into 'tottering around in ridiculous heels' a paragraph later......

But many women do “totter around”, they can barely bloody walk in the heels and quite frankly it seem ridiculous to go to work and expect people to take you seriously if you can’t bloody well get up and walk around the office like an adult should, without looking like you’re about to fall over.

The vast majority of women who I see wearing heels are more than capable of walking in them.

Talking about women 'tottering around in ridiculous heels' is just another way of pulling women down. It's so hypocritical to declare ' you do you' but a few sentences speak negatively about womens clothing choices.