I just don't get high heels

[Orangeanddemons]

I don't know why. I don't honestly think they flatter anyone. I grew up in the era of the DM, and they sort of passed me buy. I don't think I've ever wanted to wear anything with a really high heel. I see loads of boots and shoes I like, but the heels always seem to be so high. Am sure the rest of Europe aren't as bad as the Uk. I always seem to find lower heels on holiday

[AnnieLobeseder]

Much snorting at CerealMom. I like you.

[AnnieLobeseder]

ROFL at people who wail at "no arch support". Nature did not design us to wear shoes. Arches don't need support. And heels will break your feet eventually. They knew this way back in 1994 even! This paper makes the same claim I made earlier - modern high heels mimic the damage done by foot-binding. They also claim that barefoot societies (no arch support!) have the fewest problems with their feet.

I run in these {awaits cries of horror}

[squoosh]

Ask any podiatrist their opinion on ballet flats.

Ballet flats do indeed fuck up your feet, I still wear them though.

[AnnieLobeseder]

I seem to remember the damage done by ballet pumps is due to having to position your feet with curled toes to hold them on (like flipflops), not by the lack of arch support.

Sensible shoes, people, sensible shoes!!

[MrsKoala]

I've had lots of knee surgery and back problems. After my surgery i bought loads of ballet pumps/flats but had so much pain. My physio said sometimes they are worse for your 'shock absorption' in your joints - especially pounding the pavement in a city for 2 hours a day.

I now wear good quality brogues daily with insoles and reserve my heels for evening dos.

It's true you get used to heels tho - i went to uni late and before from 16-21yo i had some right 'dolly bird jobs' And heels were worn all the time. When i got to uni i downgraded to chunky heeled boots of only about 3 inches which felt very low, then went to trainers for 2 years. When i tried to wear heels again i found them really uncomfortable.

i'm 5ft10 so don't need the height. I find Toms do quite nice flats which stlll look good with skirts. My look is quite vintagey so find i wear Toms with dresses and wear broques with my 'mannish' 40s trousers. And I still feel very glam. (oh and the obligatory converse with jeans/yoga pants too)

[Fuckitthatlldo]

"Excess pronation is a condition that affects 75 percent of the population and has been related to many conditions, such as heel pain (otherwise known as plantar fasciitis), knee pain, and even lower-back pain," says podiatrist Phillip Vasyli.

In this case, doctors actually recommend wearing shoes with a slight heel, as opposed to our trusty flats. "The popular trend of ballet flats has caused us to see an increase in many of the aforementioned conditions due to a lack of overall support and flimsy shoe construction," Vasyli says.

[Lazysuzanne]

these are my favourite shoes
www.vibrams.co.uk/collections/vibram-fivefingers/products/bikila-ls

they are, I feel the very antithesis of high heels.

I'm very into weight training and my legs are so 'shapely' I have the legs of a Romanian gymnast that heels don't really look right.

They're just not my thing, I only ever wear flat shoes and tend to think that women who wear heels are a bit silly

Pretty sure heels can cause problems with feet & posture(?)

[Lazysuzanne]

As per AnnieL, I also thought the problem with ballet pumps is the lack of a strap to keep them on your foot which requires you to grip with your feet (?)

[squoosh]

'I only ever wear flat shoes and tend to think that women who wear heels are a bit silly'

Well I think that people who make sweeping generalisations are more than a bit silly.

Also, toe shoes? Beyond creepy.

[Lazysuzanne]

let me just clarify that then, to me women in high heels look a bit silly, it's not a generalization, it's my opinion.
A bit like saying 'to me apples taste better than banana's'

You think toe shoes look creepy? yes they do look a little weird and I dont mind at all if other people dont like them

[MrsKoala]

But Lazy you didn't say look a bit silly did you? you said are a bit silly.

[alwaysrunninginheels]

I never wear flat shoes. I like the look on other people but when i try it i look ridiculous. The only flat shoes i wear are trainers and that's when i am running, proper running, not just after the kids. I love heels, high heels, medium heels, chunky heels, wedges. Love them!! Heels are fab.

[Lazysuzanne]

what is it...national split hairs day?

I dont get defensive when people say flat shoes are ugly, why do all the tottering mini mouses start squeaking if I say heels are silly?

[MrsKoala]

Insulting people for pointing out you're wrong doesn't make you look any better Lazy. If you meant look silly then just say 'sorry, i mistyped' or something. You must realise there is a big difference between saying a huge proportion of the population are silly - because you don't like their shoes - and saying you think people in heels look silly. It isn't just 'splitting hairs'

I think generally the boring truth tho, is that most women wear both, flats and heels. Being mostly intelligent individuals means we can make varied decisions based on what tasks we have ahead and then choose appropriate attire accordingly.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I'm another one who is glad to be able to dress purely for comfort at work (scientist here too). I have a few pairs of chunky heels for dress smart occasions, but generally live in very low heels. My chiropractor told me small heels are better than flats. I do believe in arch support though, my feet and back feel so much better with it, barefoot 24/7 doesn't do it for me.

I do think the right heels, worn with appropriate clothes in appropriate situations can look stunning.

But I hate seeing people struggle in their heels, they are automatically at a disadvantage if they can't walk far, or on uneven ground, or over soft ground, or need to run in an emergency, why would you do that to yourself?

[squoosh]

'why do all the tottering mini mouses start squeaking if I say heels are silly?'

Oh Dearie me, you sound awfully defensive there.

I made a judgement on a type of shoe, you made a judgement on the people who wear a type of shoe. Says a whole lot about you, but not much about the people you're judging.

[Lazysuzanne]

ok calm down, I dont actually give a fu(k

[AnnieLobeseder]

Fuckitthatlldo - WTAF? But what if the barefoot people are doing feminism right?

[SarahGoodwin33]

I love heels I'm afraid! I have size 9 feet so wearing flats particularly with skinny jeans or pencil skirt makes me feel like a golf club but heels actually make my feet look smaller so it's a win win from my point of view!
Loving peep holes at mo to show off my rather too expensive gel pedi that my mum paid for!

[LadyBigtoes]

Re arches. It's wrong to assume that the way nature made us is naturally perfect and so we don't need any support. We're a product of evolution, in which some bits are a bit crap and tend to go wrong or be wrong to start with - you could count knees, eyesight and the upright spine among those. Look at eyesight - many people can't see clearly at all and need glasses, most of us have declining eyesight as we get older. Eyes aren't always naturally perfect with no need of help, maybe feet aren't either.

[missmartha]

Well Id love to be able to wear heels, even HIGH heels, but I have little to no sense of balance so don't.

It's not fair on other people and I tend to look inelegant.

I wear a lot of flat shoes, I spend lot on flat shoes.

I love enbrogue.com and if you love flats you should get yourselves over thee.

[HesterShaw]

And there we are calling this kind of thing weird and unnatural. Ditch the heels!

[missmartha]

This thread is called "I don't get high heels", not 'I don't get foot binding'.

I don't think any of us get foot binding, in fact I think it's probably illegal.

[GrandstandingBlueTit]

I wear a variety of shoes, but mostly flats, converse, trainers, boots and 2-3 inch heels. I wear heels to work most days, and almost certainly if I’m going out at night, so do probably wear them proportionally more than other styles. I am 5’9” and I’m a strider. I stride in my heels, and run for the bus in them. As I do in all my shoes. Any shoe you can’t walk properly in makes you a figure of derision, whether you like it or not, so 2-3 inches is my limit. Other people will be able to go higher and be fine.

I am not wed to any particular style of shoe. Why would I be? Unlike for men, there’s endless choice out there for women. Why confine yourself to one style? I don’t see the rationale behind wearing flats religiously any more than wearing heels religiously.

I am a feminist and am aware of the foot-binding analogy. Personally, I wear shoes that fit and allow me to walk properly. I am also aware that much of my ‘choice’ to wear heels sometimes is tied up with socialisation and patriarchal standards of beauty. I know some feminists judge me for wearing heels and I’m fine with that. We’re all judged for every single thing we do by at least someone. You can’t please everyone, so you might as well please yourself, etc...