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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Oh the most 'powerful' shoes of the season...pencil heels

26 replies

GloriaVanderbilt · 25/08/2011 12:23

From Kurt Geiger in an email to me this morning:

'Kurt Geiger have reinterpreted their signature stiletto to bring you the most powerful heel for the season - the pencil heel.'

The thing is these 5 inch things aren't powerful at all are they. They're all about making us powerless as we struggle to stand upright in order to look 'seductive' (which is also what they are apparently)

How can we be fooled by this cr*p? It's a big con isn't it.

OP posts:
minipie · 25/08/2011 12:30

Well, they're probably quite powerful if you stab someone in the eye with them like the person who wrote the email perhaps.

Original poster
GloriaVanderbilt · 25/08/2011 12:32

Grin That's true.

OP posts:
Hardgoing · 25/08/2011 12:35

Don't worry, according to the same newspaper that brought us heels with midi-skirts on the weekend, we should now all be in flats. If they can't remember their own edicts, why should we take any notice of them.

SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 25/08/2011 19:13

I predict an epidemic of broken ankles. Those things look dangerous.

MooncupGoddess · 25/08/2011 19:28

Bloody ridiculous. As are all high heels. I am always astonished, as I fight my way through the London public transport system, how many women wear shoes that mean they can't run, or even walk fast. It's just so limiting.

Having said that, I can't believe my luck that ballet flats or equivalents are still in fashion - there are loads of nice flat shoes to choose from, which never used to be the case.

SinicalSal · 25/08/2011 20:07

'powerful' pfft. can they prevent a double dip recession? Can they
increase the road building budget in the southwest? can they fuck.

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 26/08/2011 05:53

Heh, I like my heels but not if I can't fricking walk in them. I mean, they're nice, but yeah... you can't really do anything except sit there moaning about how your feet hurt in them...

BrokenBananaTantrum · 26/08/2011 06:21

I stopped wearing high heels 10 years ago. I am 5ft tall. I feel powerful. I can walk in comfort, run if I need to and don't have terrible back ache when I get home. I found it liberating to give them up.

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 26/08/2011 06:31

Ahh, I never go too high, so that I get back ache when I get home. I still prefer my flat "thug" boots (as DSis calls them) but I've never been keen on flats... Grin

Hardgoing · 26/08/2011 10:32

I wear heels all the time, either boots or nice strappy ones which don't fall off or in summer, wedgie-types. I don't have a problem running or looking after children in them, but then I am used to them, have worn them since late-teens (and am now early forties). I also don't wear high high ones any more, preferring a kitten heel/2 inch heel. I personally don't feel ballet flats which ruin your arches (and reference the art form of women as swans and premature arthritis) are more liberating, but then I don't see shoes in this way anyway.

Original poster
GloriaVanderbilt · 26/08/2011 16:53

Thankyou for all the comments. I find it such a paradox that we're supposed to be buying some kind of power...but what kind? The power to kill with sexiness? I don't think so. Perhaps some people mihgt like the idea of men falling at their feet with desire if they wear these things but it's a bit of a weird concept to try and sell.

OP posts:
minipie · 26/08/2011 16:58

Oh it's probably just a word that their random fashion press release generator spat out. These things make no sense to anyone working outside the truly bonkers fashion world - and probably not to most of them either.

madwomanintheattic · 26/08/2011 17:34

i wear clogs. Grin
el naturalista ones.
they are very comfortable.
i've got green ones, red ones, blue ones and multicoloured patchwork ones.
i do own heels, but mostly they gather dust. some of them i've had for years and never worn.

i've never thought of shoes as powerful - it wasn't released with an image of a 'sexy' career woman was it? in a sex in the City sort of banker-chic way? Grin

SinicalSal · 26/08/2011 23:54

I have a real problem with the notion of sexiness as power.

Um... cock goes up...cock goes down...result! what head spinning, life defining POWER, over the most wonderful thing in existence. use it wisely oh Great one

ComradeJing · 27/08/2011 00:49

But even ballet flats are crippling in their own way. I have terrible knee and hip pain after a day in normal ballet flats and I'm only a youngun. Just look in the S&B threads. Every few weeks someone comes and asks about nice supportive and smart shoes that aren't old lady ish. They don't exist!

BTW I love heals but I recognise that there is not a huge difference between heals and foot binding.

ComradeJing · 27/08/2011 00:53

Sal I think we have been told sexiness is power because then men can say that they are powerless not to stare, comment, assault and rape.

PonceyMcPonce · 27/08/2011 00:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hardgoing · 27/08/2011 12:22

Not a huge difference between heels and foot binding? Have you seen the results of foot binding? I haven't found myself unable to walk, move, or in constant pain recently through wearing heels, in fact, I find myself able to live a normal life travelling for work and achieving my feminist dreams! I don't believe feminism is about renouncing all adornment, it's neither here nor there if someone has an ear piercing or wears heels (and they are not in pain whatsoever), it is if their toes are broken deliberately by their parents and then bound to cripple them for life.

Empusa · 27/08/2011 12:33

"As are all high heels. I am always astonished, as I fight my way through the London public transport system, how many women wear shoes that mean they can't run, or even walk fast. It's just so limiting."

Not for all women, I used to be able to run in 6 inch stilettos! Grin

catgirl1976 · 27/08/2011 15:21

I really love high heels. The extra height gives me a feeling of authority. I feel more powerful in a really high spike heel. Can't see a problem in that. If you don't - don't buy them?

Original poster
GloriaVanderbilt · 27/08/2011 18:54

Well it might be nice to feel taller than everyone, (though it makes me uncomfortable...without heels on) but I bet if the short person poked you, you would fall over Grin

Not really. Just joking, but can anyone really sustain this powerful feeling when moving in these things? Or just standing still?

OP posts:
Original poster
GloriaVanderbilt · 27/08/2011 18:56

What I think I'm trying to say is it might be an illusion of power, fair enough but is it real power?

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 27/08/2011 18:58

hmmmmm - they increase my confidence and I think confidence is very powerful so.... possibly they do increase power in that sense.

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 27/08/2011 18:59

Of course it's not real power. If the power doesn't exist without the shoe then it's nothing but an illusion.

Original poster
GloriaVanderbilt · 27/08/2011 19:01

Yes confidence I suppose.

I can see what you mean Catgirl.
I'd feel so much less than confident in a 5 inch spike heel though. I'd be constantly thinking about how not to break my ankles iyswim.

I can't even wear 2 inches comfortably or confidently.

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