Could you give up heels forever?

[RollonSeptember2018]

I'm seriously considering giving up heels, and chucking all of mine away. I really hate them, and I find it's one of the reasons I dislike wedding and christenings etc because I'm so uncomfortable.

Why do we wear them? Is anyone out here brave enough to never wear them? Can you attend a wedding in a lovely dress and flat shoes? Which ones? I don't ever see women doing it so would feel the odd one out and feel ridiculous.

I don't wear them to work and I'm so comfortable in flats, brogues etc and it's lovely.

Night out or wedding/posh event and I'm in agony can't walk properly. Attended a posh do this weekend and almost threw my shoes when I got in I just wanted them off.

I wear high heels only if going out for a dinner where I’m sitting down.
Day to day, I wear trainers or very small block heels.
I’m 5ft. Husband is 6ft 3. Heels or not I’m small and he’s tall.
We’re both perfectly comfortable with that. I’m very comfortable in my own skin. What I find irritating is people saying to me, you’re very small (I’m very petite as well as short). What is the response? Why do people feel it’s okay to say this? If I was very fat, I doubt they’d point that out! What is so wrong with being short anyway?!!!

I was a bridesmaid this year and wore sparkly ballet pumps from French sole under my full length dress as it was too short with heels. I’ve attended other weddings in flats too, usually if I know there’s going to be a lot of waking in grass. If the dress is on or just above the knee then dressy flats can look great. What looks awful is heels you can’t walk in or wandering around barefoot because you’ve had to ditch your shoes as you were in so much pain.

Not sure. I refuse to wear uncomfortable shoes but love heels, so often choose padded sole, wide (even if your feet aren;t wide) fit heels, and they are comfortable. Ditto well shaped wedges and subtle platforms. You could go for kitten heels. I find complete flats make me walk in an ungainly way like a duck. A bit of a lift helps.

i never really wear them because im very tall (same size as the average uk man) and my legs/hips look good without being pushed up by heels anyway.
i do have heels but i feel so tall and tower over most men. i really keep a pair for weddings or VIP meetings if i want to feel a bit slimmer, so really about 4 times a year for 4 hours max.

ballet flats do produce a waddle as women try to make them stay on. they are just as stupid as staggerers.

shoes that fit, dont hurt and stay on can be smart, although they are no longer available in my size. I have enough, fortunately.

Hate them and ditched them when I was about 30. For formal occasions I wear sparkly or bright sandals or flats, have a nice pedicure and painted toes if they're on view. I make a bit of an effort. But I won't ever squeeze them into heels again, it's just hideously uncomfortable. I'm 5 foot nothing but I have to just embrace that. I love brogues and smart plimsoll type shoes like VANs. You don't have to be frumpy if you put some thought into it. Has anyone mentioned the great blog En Brogue?

YANBU there are loads of nice shoe options for the non heel wearers. I do have a few pairs of mid heels for formal events but depending on mood also some lovely flats, sparkly or embellished for special. Mostly I like converse but maybe not for a wedding (although I could be swayed). I'm not against heels myself but I find it increasingly hard to find occasions where I want to wear them. Comfortable shoes Rock!

Ive only worn them very occasionally for the past 3 years or so. I have a couple of pairs of wedge sandals that are high but reasonably comfortable, that I wear with dresses that just don't look right with flats. And I have a very beautiful pair of stiletto shoe boots that I occasionally wear for a night out if I know I won't be walking much. But generally I think once you realise how stupid literally crippling yourself is, you can't go back.

heels never made a short woman look taller, just a short woman on tiptoe.

dont do a meghan, either - that inelegant touch and go lurch up the steps because she was wearing staggerers was not pretty.

I’ve not worn heels for about 20years. I’ve got severe back and pelvis problems and need crutches to walk so heels are out. They cause me a huge amount of pain too.

I’ve got loads of pairs of flat shoes and sandals. If I see a really unusual or fancy pair I buy them

I very rarely wear heels anymore, for special events I have several pairs of Badgley Mishka flats, very sparkly but still comfy :)
www.badgleymischka.com/shoes/?pgID=1&gnsPvar=&gnsPatt=%3E3402147&cID=48&gnsScat=&gnsBrnd=&gnsPrge=&gnsRev=&sortBy=&attL=%60%60Heel%20Style%3AFlat%7E%7E&varL=&catL=&brandL=&priceL=&ratingL=

Mischka, stupid autocorrect

Ah I have found my ladies!

Now as you are all so confident without them, would you mind sharing links or photos of the shoes you have without heels? What shoes would you wear to a wedding?

I have a wedding in two weeks and I’m wearing a pretty navy and pink flowy on the bottom dress, it’s very feminine so what shoes do I wear with that?

I also remember a kickstarter thing once for shoes that come with 6 interchangeable heels. It looked fantastic, but was about £150 has anybody got them?

So for instance these dresses, both shown with heels. What flats could be worn with them?

For me either strappy metallic sandals or peep toe flats

Never worn them, have feet in great condition for my age. Well pleased.

Not very social, so don't worry too much.

Some ideas:
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Pure-Blush/p/26132419

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Orabella-Daisy/p/26135765

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Rosabella-Lola/p/26135212

Never been able to wear them. They make the bones in my feet hurt, then I fall over!

I'm clearly in the minority here, but I'll never give up heels. I don't wear them everyday, but I would never go on a night out in flat shoes. I'd just feel completely under dressed. I do have a few 6 inch pairs (I'm 5' 3") but definitely 4" heels on a night out.

I don't 'stagger around' in them. I've had years of practice (started wearing heels at about 12, 38 now) Women that you see staggering around, unable to walk in heels, the majority of the times the shoes don't fit them properly.

I've never worn them. Not once.

You can get some low heeled flat shoes for formal events if you take some time to look

I barely ever wear heels but I do have a few.

I've weeded out any uncomfortable ones, and choose them carefully. I have a great pair of black ones with a hidden platform, a pair of heeled suede boots and a couple of pairs of block heels from Clark's (boots and shoes) which are about 5.5cm. These latter are a doddle to wear.
I use Gabor, M and S, LK Bennett and Clark's, usually. Each of these brands has uncomfortable and comfortable ones, and the style isn't the only determinant.

this title kind of made me laugh!

yes, I decided when I was about 22 - and being told by certain recruiters that I must wear heels to interviews - that it was a no.

Since then, I went to one party in heels and never again. Then I really thought about them and they make no sense for anyone who feels uncomfortable in them. So at 42 I can say I have worn them once in 20 years and have attended all weddings, other posh dos, in flats.

I effectively did give them up after I broke my ankle in my 20s. It's never been a serious problem in terms of shoes I wanted to buy, but it's true to say that even before I broke it I found very high heels and stilettos intensely uncomfortable anyway.

I don't actually find heels uncomfortable if I don't have to walk too far in them.

However I have owned various pairs of flat shoes which should in theory be comfy but leave my heels grazed and bleeding (brogues and canvas shoes are the worst culprits) and like a PP I recently had a light switch moment and got rid of the lot. From now on I will not wear uncomfortable shoes!

OP, Butterfly Twists have a section for Wedding Flats and I think quite a few would go with your dresses.