Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give up on heels?

232 replies

Mimmi78 · 17/02/2023 17:41

I have had a life long love affair with heels, tall, shiny, colours, kittens, courts and sky highs.
Roll forward to working from home since 2020 and now spend one day a week in my Central London office.
I have recently found a whole day in them excruciating and painful. just can't wear heels all day anymore! I have been lugging them about in a bag and do the train to office in trainers and any other walking!
Aibu - just keep lugging them about like the rest of us!
Yanbu- Join the revolution and here are some fabulous feel good but not horrid alternatives!

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 18/02/2023 23:12

drop the heels...

Cheeriochoc · 18/02/2023 23:13

Yanbu. Drop them for the office but keep them for a nice night out / occasions.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 18/02/2023 23:15

Yeah ditch them
i love wearing my choice of trainers or brogues etc to work
heels feel a bit dated just imho

RNBrie · 18/02/2023 23:16

I have up heels a few years ago because I worked out that wearing them slowed me down on my commute... they cost me about an hour a week not running for trains...

I've not missed them at all... I sold 3/4 of them on ebay and just kept the ones I really loved but I never wear them, I'm not sure I even could now.

Flat shoes have really come on style wise too in the last 5 years and it's perfectly possible to get lovely flats for all occasions so I still have beautiful shoes.

Adrelaxzz · 18/02/2023 23:18

Heels are quite a dated look nowadays. See few of them in the trendy bit of the city.
Think we will look back and think of them like we do corsets. Women being forced into impractical wear.

Onnabugeisha · 18/02/2023 23:22

Adrelaxzz · 18/02/2023 23:18

Heels are quite a dated look nowadays. See few of them in the trendy bit of the city.
Think we will look back and think of them like we do corsets. Women being forced into impractical wear.

Corsets were actually very practical and comfortable. They had same function as our bras- support for being active. It was tight-lacing which was a fad and the replacement of whale bone with steel bone that was uncomfortable and caused the health issues.

DigitalTranny · 18/02/2023 23:25

I hardly ever see women wear them nowadays. Almost never on young women. They all wear trainers, sports shoes, comfy boots.
You would never see me dead in them. They are just horrible. I think I wore them occasionally decades ago. I don’t even own a pair..

Whatifthegrassisblue · 18/02/2023 23:26

I feel your sadness, I have a young toddler and now a SAHM; after lockdown haven't worn my 50+ heels in so long. They are all so beautiful, I used to be known as "The Shoe Queen". I can't bear to part with mine just yet" 😪 Maybe keep a few of your favourites and give the rest to someone who will truly love them

MyCatIsAnnoyinglyCute · 18/02/2023 23:30

Rarely see anyone in heels now, even on a night out everyone is in trainers or boots.

FeinCuroxiVooz · 18/02/2023 23:30

yanbu. I stopped wearing heels about 6 years ago when it dawned on me that they were an instrument of oppression. I have some lovely brogues for smart work wear.

Nimbostratus100 · 18/02/2023 23:32

I hate them and hate seeing women wear them. A woman in heels is always less physically capable than a woman in flat shoes

They were originally military, to remain on your horse during cavalry charges - they became phetishised and used to disable women. - its gross

I can never feel the same respect for a woman if I see them wearing heels, whether they are an employee, a manager, or anything.

Why put on in item of clothing which has no function whatsoever except to disable the female wearer for the pleasure of the male observers?

slashlover · 18/02/2023 23:33

Why would YBU to not wear something painful?

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 18/02/2023 23:36

I haven’t worn them in years, they are evil and I look like an idiot trying to walk in them. There are more than enough flat shoes to choose from.

Littlebluedinosaur · 18/02/2023 23:39

I need to look very smart for a formal special occasion. I’ve been looking at heels online despite not wearing them for years! What else could I choose?

UWhatNow · 18/02/2023 23:41

Agree they look dated and ridiculous.

EmmaEmerald · 18/02/2023 23:48

Littlebluedinosaur · 18/02/2023 23:39

I need to look very smart for a formal special occasion. I’ve been looking at heels online despite not wearing them for years! What else could I choose?

Flats?

re corsets, I have not heard of them as a "support garment for being active". A posh woman riding a horse would have worn one while sitting at home. Working class women wore much looser garments, if they wore them. I imagine a lot of working women wouldn't have worn a corset on the factory floor etc? Generally, an instrument of oppression rather than a desire for support, I thought.

I'm pleased if heels are going. I once had a meeting held up by 40 mins by some muppet who was literally ten mins walk away but stuck in a cab, she blithely said she couldn't get out and walk because of her shoes. So unprofessional.

Rellywobble · 18/02/2023 23:52

The only shoes I wear with a small heel are Fly

wineandsun · 18/02/2023 23:54

I wore heels to a wedding last year and my feet hurt for a week after. Covid has changed how we dress

spottie · 19/02/2023 00:09

The only people who wear heels nowadays are the women on the apprentice

Matildahoney · 19/02/2023 00:15

I still love my heels! I don't feel properly dressed without a heel and I will not be giving them up any time soon. I've tried countless different styles of flats and they just don't suit me (trainers aside which I can't wear for work) and I don't find them comfortable! My heels are here to stay. As for @Nimbostratus100 I am in no way less capable in heels, I can run in them and I've fallen/tripped more times in flats than I have in heels.

CosieRotton · 19/02/2023 00:16

I’m the same. I was never a killer heel person but I always had lovely vintage style heeled shoes. Since lockdown I can’t wear them. I should sell them but I just can’t bring myself to yet.

Elphame · 19/02/2023 00:21

I have a lovely collection of most beautiful heels. I rarely wear them now but I'm always looking for a reason to.

I can do anything in my heels that I can in flats and the only time I have tripped and injured myself is in flats.

Busybutbored · 19/02/2023 00:25

Nimbostratus100 · 18/02/2023 23:32

I hate them and hate seeing women wear them. A woman in heels is always less physically capable than a woman in flat shoes

They were originally military, to remain on your horse during cavalry charges - they became phetishised and used to disable women. - its gross

I can never feel the same respect for a woman if I see them wearing heels, whether they are an employee, a manager, or anything.

Why put on in item of clothing which has no function whatsoever except to disable the female wearer for the pleasure of the male observers?

Wow so extreme and a bit unhinged. I love heels on me and I love them on other women, why would you say they're only for men to look at. Such a weird comment 😕

JackieDaws · 19/02/2023 00:44

EmmaEmerald · 18/02/2023 23:48

Flats?

re corsets, I have not heard of them as a "support garment for being active". A posh woman riding a horse would have worn one while sitting at home. Working class women wore much looser garments, if they wore them. I imagine a lot of working women wouldn't have worn a corset on the factory floor etc? Generally, an instrument of oppression rather than a desire for support, I thought.

I'm pleased if heels are going. I once had a meeting held up by 40 mins by some muppet who was literally ten mins walk away but stuck in a cab, she blithely said she couldn't get out and walk because of her shoes. So unprofessional.

Show quote history

Such ignorance
Corsets were indeed worn for support and working class women did wear them. There was one called 'Pretty Housemaid' that were designed for women who worked in service.
There were some designed for maternity, and a lot opened at the front for feeding.

Oh and having rolls of flab and fat showing through your clothing until recently was a sign of slovenly and dirty habits amd no one wanted to be seen as that.

EmmaEmerald · 19/02/2023 00:53

Jackie "Such ignorance"

well, I posted my thoughts in order to learn, but....um....thanks for that?

i thought jumps were more common for working women. I was thinking of women doing jobs in fields and factories.

anyway, I can't help seeing a corset as oppressive but I no longer wear a bra much these days.