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.

Well, it's important to make sure your outfit looked just right for a funeral. Good you have your priorities straight.

@1000Pieces yes, it was important for me
My mum always commented on a specific dress she liked and I wore with heels so I picked that
Surely most people want to look their best for their bloody parents funeral when they are doing a reading

What a weird comment. My mum died a few months ago and I absolutely put a lot of thought in what to wear to her funeral. She loved clothes and colour and it would have felt disrespectful not to. Who are you to say what's right for a funeral of someone you don't know?

I now wear nothing but trainers unless it’s a smart event / interview etc. I’ve been struggling with plantar fasciitis recently and the trainers have been a huge improvement. I really love playing sport and walking so
have absolutely no qualms about prioritising my foot health and general mobility!

A friend recently got a new job in a central London office and was specifically told to wear heels to work. It seemed very dated and unfair to us both but sadly not everyone's caught up with the times.

OP what you saw is lovely. Nobody should ever be forced, or feel forced to wear high heels. The fewer that do, the less anyone will feel pressurised to. Then those that do will be making a real choice.

I would pass a law that nobody can be required to, except for in a theatre production.

Well Kate Moss was rocking a pair of red high heels on an open top double decker bus in the past couple of weeks so..…….🤷‍♀️though I presume it’s not her normal mode of transport. However that is not the point, if heels were completely out of style, high profile fashionistas such as Kate Moss and Meghan would be constantly in flat shoes with every outfit, which they are not, they mix it up to suit the occasion. Just because something doesn’t suit your lifestyle or the job you do does not mean it’s out of fashion.

I had a really bad dose of covid earlier this year, 8 weeks lying on the sofa or in bed asleep and I watched alot of netflix, prime etc. I was particularly struck with some of the surgeons in Grey's Anatomy, they wore such high heels and I kept thinking how could they stand for hours in theatre wearing them. Then I had to remind myself they are acting and real surgeons probably don't, or as you say do they?

I hadn't thought about that but I've recently started a new job in central London (in an office where people come in, unlike my last job) and it's true, there are very few heels, even though it is officially a 'smart' office. And yes, this is progress!

I have never been a heels wearer as I had an issue with one of my legs that means I can't wear spindly heels; I do wear wedges sometimes, but now you mention it, not even many of those around.

I notice this on American TV shows. My sister works in theatre, everyone wears plastic/rubber shoes (like croc style) as it’s a health risk in normal shoes with the blood splashing about. Need to be able to wash them daily. Plus you’d ruin your louboutins!

I work in film (in costume) and the costume designers don’t care about stuff like that and choose ridiculous outfits sometimes that don’t make sense, but keep the talent happy.

I’ve never worn heels to work as we do so much running about / carrying, normally in glamorous locations like derelict buildings so it would be totally inappropriate. No one wears nice clothes either. I used to wear them on nights out as I’m only 5’1" but I don’t care anymore, comfort above all else!

Aren't all those women over 40?

I was at a party on Saturday night. I wore sparkly trainers. Most friends wore flat or small wedge sandals. One wore skin tight jeans and sky-high heels. Very old fashioned 😆 but god she looked stunning.

She seemed comfortable in them all evening too. It's a mystery how some women can.

Yes they are, that’s my point, a previous poster claimed heels are only dated if the wearer is over 40 hence me pointing out fashionable women over 40 who wear heels.

They’re all over 40. 🤷‍♀️

Exactly that’s my point!

What did you have on your feet @TheOGCCL ?

Yes, been like this for a while.

High shoes for important meetings only and they live under desks.

We switched to smart/casual even before covid unless meeting external clients.

Definitely wouldn't pop out for my lunch in heels.

@AchatAVendre I was told by an older male partner many years ago that I dressed “like a secretary”, whatever that means. I do chuckle thinking about that now as I rock up to work in jeans. Law firms are strange places.

Gosh there are some right sourpusses on this thread. My comment was tongue in cheek 🙄As if I genuinely care what people wear on their feet.

I mean in the context that it could come across as racist in the example I give. Not just Chinese people - there are some people I meet for work from other parts of the world who are simply shorter than the average here but who wear flat shoes.

I would like to think that we are all a bit more clued up on diversity in the workplace now although obviously it doesn't account for unconscious bias. But a "disadvantage" - really? How do you think that might work? Disadvantage someone from what? If a manager or fellow employee suggested that to a shorter person from a non-British background in the workplace, then it would be potentially very harmful to their career as they might end up getting accused of discrimination on grounds of race.

@TabithaTittlemouse Ha I had on ballet flats... With skinny jeans... Trainers make me feel scruffy. I live in London and walk or cycle to work so no complaints about the general direction of things!

Personally I think this transcends trends. Yes heels won't ever disappear completely, especially for a glamorous occasion, and yes Kate Middleton might keep at it, but why would women who find the things uncomfortable continue to wear them for day to day life. As PP said there's a whole generation of young women who have never worn them. Same way as people now wouldn't wear a corset, no matter how flattering. Bras even optional these days.

Same way as people now wouldn't wear a corset, no matter how flattering.

Plenty of corsets and bustiers around at the moment being worn as day wear with wide leg trousers.

Well, it's important to make sure your outfit looked just right for a funeral. Good you have your priorities straight.

You have no idea about this persons circumstances and your comment is wholly unnecessary.

Oh and fyi when my own mum died I made sure I looked my best for her funeral because she was the most important person in my life and she always dressed up whenever she could. Shame you weren't there to judge me.

I still wear heels for dates or going out to a bar etc. Makes my bum look bigger and my legs nicer. Other that that, no

I also just think it's virtually impossible to look suitably dressy for occasions such as weddings while wearing flatties.

Happily in the part of the US where I live, most weddings are evening black tie affairs; I wear long dresses and dressy, but low-heeled sandals, which don't even show unless I'm dancing. For funerals I wear trousers and flats with a low wedge. For work, now that I am back in the office one day a week, I wear trousers and smart sandals almost exclusively. One day a year, I might wear boots (I live in Florida.) The need for any kind of high heeled shoe has completely disappeared from my life, and I intend to keep it that way.