To think that high heels are just not worth it

[OrkneyGirl]

I've come back from a girls night out and feet are hurting like feck. Don't get me wrong, I have my fair share of heels but omg why do I honestly wear them?

Normal people who wear heels don't tend to fall in them! I've only fallen in heels once in my life (because I wasn't looking where I was going and tripped on a curb) and I used to be an avid stiletto wearer.

That's true. I've fallen over more in my dms. Heels have played havoc with my knees though. I'm tall and fell over a lot in my clumsy years, so should have probably avoided heels like the plague. 20 years of them has not been helpful.

The other upsetting thing is the way women who wear them feel they have to justify the reasoning of why they wear them, to all the haters. We don’t need to justify anything.

the lovely things people have written

• I feel empowered
• I like the confidence they give me
• I look elegant
• they are fun

the things others have written
• they look shit
• they are disgusting
• they’ll deform you

I only see one set of ugliness here…. Look at the language you are using to stamp on someone else’s joy. (In your very comfortable sensible shoes made for practicality - and spitefulness)

I had this realisation a few years ago and no longer wear them. I'm really short but it just isn't worth it

I used to wear them occasionally, but have always felt miserably uncomfortable in them. All I can think about when I see them on other women now is how much their feet must be hurting.

I wear barefoot shoes now, mostly, and never anything that isn't flat.

I hate heels, but what do you wear for example if going to a wedding or a formal night out?

Dressy flats. There are loads around - metallic, embellished, brightly coloured. At the end of the day nobody looks at your feet and the only person who cares is you.

Ive never found that heels are generally more uncomfortable than flat shoes - it depends on the individual pair of shoes surely? I bought a pair of fairly expensive flat shoes last year and they are SO uncomfortable that I very rarely wear them. I haven't worn really high heels for many years and until recently I usually wore shoes with about a 3" heel until I slipped my disc just under three years ago. I didn't walk funnily in them, I didn't clip clop when I was walking as someone else mentioned, and I could run for a bus in them without falling over. I can only remember ever falling over in heels, and alcohol may have been involved as well 😆.

Not worth it.

They put us at such a disadvantage compared to men. I don't know why we do it to ourselves. No man ever said we'll have to take a taxi because I've chosen to wear shoes that I can't walk in.

The penney finally dropped with me over covid and I never went back.

Just normal flat shoes

Yeah I haven’t worn them since Covid. Also hitting my 40s in that time and now having a toddler.

I think they’re beautiful - never been a stiletto fan, but have some lovely vintagey looking t-bar and Mary Jane heels just gathering dust. I’ve finally accepted that I’m not going back to them but now have the what to wear to weddings dilemma…

I also hate ballet flats. Find them uncomfortable and they do nothing for me. Right now I live in sneakers and in winter it’s boots with a chunky sole.

I think part of the issue is, what do you consider to be heels? What about all of these? Disclaimer: I own them and while I wouldn't do a hike in them, I find them all to be pretty comfortable. I don't totter or fall or wear them out in a blizzard. I just really like them and enjoy wearing them when I get dressed up. Guess I'm just a big old victim of the patriarchy.

https://www.farfetch.com/uk/shopping/women/miu-miu-110mm-velvet-platform-sandals-item-22999697.aspx?lang=en-GB&size=21&storeid=10441&pup_e=4537&pup_cid=59216&pup_id=22999697-21&clickref=1100lzxsMd4j&utm_source=laurenlyst&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=PHUK&pid=partnerize_int&c=PHUK&clickid=1100lzxsMd4j&af_siteid=laurenlyst&af_cost_model=CPA&af_channel=affiliate&is_retargeting=true

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gr/shop/product/jimmy-choo/shoes/high-heel/saeda-85-crystal-embellished-velvet-sandals/1647597321376401

https://us.clergerieparis.com/products/corasr-328774

https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/product/valentino-garavani/shoes/high-heel/one-stud-90-patent-leather-pumps/1647597326372140?srsltid=AfmBOor8oE0opJdddBZAibbMPsYl7r8q_9lcl7rJcT52gvV7AJ2avNVM4wo

I'm not saying that every flat shoe ever made is comfortable, or that everyone has to like the same shoes as me. I don't like a hard, inflexible flat sole at all, and I don't like shoes that constrict my toes, which plenty of flat shoes do. I also hate ballet flats, even barefoot ones, they don't feel attached to my feet.

My best friend at work is actively more comfortable in heels and never wears anything lower than a 3" heel. Apparently years of wearing heels have shortened her calf muscles making flat shoes very difficult for her to wear.

To me heels = stilettos. Those are all just shoes, tbh I think they look masculine or almost childish dressy up, certainly not shoes I would wear

I've worn platform sandals in the past and I think they make my legs look nicer but I think the only person who cares if my legs look better is me. My husband thinks I beautiful whatever I'm wearing.
I'm glad my adult girls prioritise comfort over stupid shoes. They love their shoes and will wear platform shoes but almost never wear high heels.

I dislike all of them but they’re indisputably heels.

@artis1

A lovely selection. To me they are all ‘heels’ as they aren’t flat. They have a heel which offers additional height.

Heels to me is a much broader definition than just a stiletto. I have many pairs of heels, none of which are over 8cm.

Haven't worn them since I retired five years ago. My feet thank me.

I broke my leg a few tears ago and haven't ŵorn heels since. Im very short too but feck am i going to be in agony

I like them. Only wear them very occasionally. I prefer high heeled boots. Don't find them uncomfortable. This thread gets done to death on mn, 1000's of times. Yawn. If you don't like them, don't find them comfy, don't wear them. But don't berate women that do.

Your taste aside (Those saltwater sandals so beloved on MN are so much nicer), I would consider them all heels, so I wonder if some of the debate, which seems unnecessarily vitriolic, is actually about stilettos vs other shoes rather than heels vs flats?

I usually only wear them if I'm wearing a long formal dress or trousers, because I'm too tight to get clothes re-hemmed for my titchy height.. or some trousers which are cut to look 'right' at a certain length. Usually it's flatties all the way, particularly for weddings where there's likely to be a "hanging around in a posh garden" bit. No one looks good tottering around in stilletos on soft lawn.

I guess maybe it is also the dressing up bit I mean sure men go tshirt or collared shirt? Shorts or jeans/trousers, trainers or other shoes

That is about it, I probably dress the female version of what men wear as in I just have clothes i wear smart casual and for an event slightly more that's it

I don't 'dress up' I do lnt wear make up dresses, get my hair done, fake tan or whatever I just wear clothes and normal similar flat shoes

Not saying anyone on here as I don't know but people away from here think it's weird for a woman no idea why we are not all the same

Disgusting? Seriously? They are shoes. And not even shoes you are being asked to wear. Get a grip of yourself

Ain't that the truth.

Women aren't "pathetic" to quote another poster, for daring to wear something THEY WANT TO WEAR!!
Fucks sake, I rarely wear heels but couldn't summon up any bile for what others choose to wear.