High heels completely eradicated from central London

[TheOGCCL]

I was in central London yesterday at lunchtime observing the office workers getting lunch. And not a single non flat shoe to be seen. Mostly the trainer and dress combo (all sorts of dresses and all sorts of trainers), also as its summer flat sandals. Same at the all-female conference I attended including all the speakers.

I've always been mystified by very high heels as they tend to look more unattractive than attractive as the wearer hobbles down the street like they've been hit by a car but think lower heels can look nice and add a bit of height and style. Clearly most people are not prepared to put up with uncomfortable shoes now.

I have no desire to go back to the days when I was told off for walking onto the site in trainers and that if I wanted to wear 'scruffy' footwear for the journey home, I had to wait until I'd got to the station (a mile away) before changing my shoes in case somebody thought I was staff.

What were they wearing instead at the wedding? @BonnyAndBlythe

How is it harmful to say that shorter people are taken less seriously at work? I don't know if it's true, but I can't see how it's harmful. I know there's research that shows that fatter and less good-looking people are less likely to be promoted and get career opportunities, so it would surprise me if there was something similar with height. Which, yes, would put your Chinese colleagues at a disadvantage. That's not good - but how is it harmful to say it?

I am in the USA and live in HOKAs. My dd bought me a pair for my bday last year and once I wore them I didn't want to wear anything else. I have 4 or 5 pairs.

There is a lot of freedom here in what women wear to work. In 2022 its easy to look trendy and fashionable without wearing heels.

I'm not against heels but I only wear them on rare occasions these days. My dds are 21 & 19 and they rarely wear them either.

My youngest also loves her big knickers even though she's definitely the most glamorous of the 3 of us! 😄

I'm glad to see young women choosing comfort and athleticism.

I think it’s brilliant they’ve gone for work scenarios

I expect some people will still wear them for going out out. But hopefully they’ll demand comfier styles now. I was in Dune the other day and noticed all the footbeds are padded - never the case in my day!

I don't get the hatred for heels, I love mine and won't be giving them up, I feel so much more polished wearing them, posters keep saying, or rather hoping they'll be eradicated will be disappointed because fashion always goes full circle,

I love heels but I wear flats as well. I understand that some people don't like heels but I don't understand why they have to be rude about those people who want to wear them. Why can't women wear what they choose and not hate on others. And insulting people by saying they're middle-aged.... 🙄 This is flipping Mumsnet.

And the issue with looking middle aged is?

To be fair, there's a compromise between 4" and flats, but your choice.

Agree with all of the above.

I also just think it's virtually impossible to look suitably dressy for occasions such as weddings while wearing flatties. I'll admit some women can pull it off, but I'm not one of them - I'd just look frumpy and dumpy without a bit of a heel.

I love heels but they don't love me.
I wear low heeled boots in the office and save the proper heels for special occasions.
I've started wearing trainers for some nights out though. If I'm out with my younger friends. (I'm 39)

I’m happy being short and can’t walk I heels my arse sticks out and i waddle when I do. Fallen over shearing them a lot - for I like flats and wear trainers a lot

I consider myself quite glam and like to do hair, makeup, nice dress, nice perfume etc, but I have NEVER understood the art of wearing shoes that actively make you more uncomfortable and make it more difficult to walk.

Perhaps I'm just really duck footed and some people have genuinely comfortable heels, but my days of clubbing tell me finding high high heels intensely uncomfortable is pretty much universal.

I do actually the idea of wearing painful footwear that supposedly makes one more attractive pretty misognistic.

Obviously a heel is not dated at all, unless you are over 40

Someone needs to inform Victoria Beckham, Meghan Markle, Kate Moss, I could go on….. they obviously didn’t get the memo.

It’s funny how much things have changed since I started my legal career over 20 years ago. At that point it had only just become acceptable for women to wear trousers (something that my younger female lawyer colleagues find astonishing). Today we “dress for your day” which basically means, for me, trousers and a smart top with boots for the winter and a semi-casual dress with sandals (I like a wedge because I am short) for the summer. Meant to be smarter for client meetings but we don’t have many of those “in person” anymore and even then I would just wear a smartish dress with a jacket. No power suits any more!

But no I don't go so far as to think women only do it for men. In fact, I think a lot of female fashion is a language amongst women rather than men. But it still stands that there is something uniquely off putting to me about painful footwear, moreso than any other appearance enhancing/fashionable item or process.

As in, maybe dying ones hair blonde or wearing extensions could be seen as anti feminist in some circles but that doesn't bother me in and of itself. But something that actively causes awkwardness to women does feel less okay. And I'm not defensive at all, I'll happily wear a low or wedge heel if necessary and I will happily say I think high heels can look SO pretty, I'm just not a heel wearer because my discomfort in them outweighs my love of them and, somewhat egotistically, feel like I don't need them as I tick enough other boxes of being nicely dressed without them

I think for a while "heels" might mean 3ins or so. Then they became those skyscraper ones - quite vertiginous spike heels maybe 4" or higher, or those with a platform at the front. Think of Royal ladies at engagements.
Just not practical for most women on a day to day basis, compounded by lockdown.

Same. I was told that I was to wear a skirt, but by the time I started my traineeship a few months later, loads of women were wearing trousers in the office.

Theres a remarkable number of older male lawyers around though who think that anything not resembling a prissy high heel of some sort is somehow "not suitable" for work. Even a black shoe that is slip on and clearly not a trainer. And don't get me started on their suggestions of "kitten heels". There is literally no arguing with them, they actually still believe this is a thing. I can imagine that if one of them actually tried to argue the point, simply sitting and giving them that look might be enough to make them go away.

Do they all tend to commute to work on public transport on a daily basis then?

You do realise that women do jobs other than being models and performers? I don't really see Victoria Beckham or Kate Moss as particular role models in my profession, mainly because they don't work in it.

Same. I was told that I was to wear a skirt, but by the time I started my traineeship a few months later, loads of women were wearing trousers in the office

Same here - we were told not to wear trousers in a solicitors’ conduct and ethics training session FFS. I politely noted the sexism and was told it didn’t matter what I thought - if the male client or judge didn’t approve of trousers it would harm my client’s case or my firm.

See also: don’t wear a name badge near your breasts because men will stare, don’t use a notebook smaller than A4 or you’ll look like a secretary, and always carry a “satellite” handbag because male clients don’t want to see you hoofing your crap around.

Yes, I agree! We also have “dress for the day”, which has really changed the way people dress. Very few women wear heels and it is a slightly dated look.

Interesting you mention Gillian Anderson in the fall looking dated in heels. Watching the Split recently and the lawyers were all wearing heels!

Everyone else can do what they like but there's no way I'm surrendering mine!!!

I'm 5ft nothing. Without them conversations often take place a foot above my head, I can't reach things on the top shelf, can't be seen in some pictures, took ridiculous behind a podium etc.

Never had a broken leg, bunion, sprain etc. Wear them at the right height, comfortable ones and there isn't an issue.

Yeah fuck that - all that torture for what?

I wore heels for the first time in ages last week when I was interviewing, and I just felt hobbled. Not uncomfortable but just restricted, especially after a few flights of stairs. Lesson learned. Luckily I suit the dress & trainers look.