Women who don't wear high heels unite!!!

Heels for me would only end in laughter for my friends and Schadenfreude for my enemies. Not happening.

i can't do it. i've tried. i hate anything that slows me down, and heels slow me down.

but i want to wear my kickass flowing ball type dress and it drags on the ground. should i get a pair of these to wear with it?

http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/ne/new-rock-nr-toberas-skull-biker.jpg

They're cool boots, who's to know that they're hidden under layers of froth and tulle??

oh, people will be able to see them. i can't walk like a girl, even in a girly dress. it has been commented on :/

Every now and again I am so tempted, I actually buy a pair of high heels. The cutest were a pair of Prada slings and a pair of purple Miu Miu Mary Jane-ish high heels. I don't buy expensive shoes (nor clothes) anymore, but boy do I long back to those days when I would spend too much on labels. :-) But do I long back to the crazed days when I would totter around in'em? Yes, only, I would want to be better at it and not have my mother snigger at me when I would walk down the street. Deep down I wish I could suffer the pain but alas I don't. I don't have the *character*.

Hurray for this thread :D I am a complete klutz in heels, I just don't feel like I can walk naturally in them at all. Give me boots any day.

I asked my mom, who lives in Japan, how all these girls do it (in Tokyo). "They are in pain. They just do it." Honestly, I wish I could. I'm jealous of Posh who seemingly was born in high hells. I'm not jealous, however, of her misgrown (?) feet due to high heels.

"high hells" :D Nice typo =)

I'm sitting here typing in navy knock off crocs which is probably taking the 'no heels' thing too far but having size 8/42 flat feet has never been compatible with nice dainty heels. I'm 5ft 8 so I've never felt I needed the extra height either. Plus I hit my late teens at a time when the fashion was for big boots and short dresses.

I do have a rather wonderful pair of 4 inch grosgrain pointy heels with ankle straps but they're strictly for indoor use as I can't walk outside in them.

I always seem to be able to walk okay in heels until I venture outside the house, then I start to walk exactly like a T-Rex. My man is the same height as me so I tend to use him as my excuse not to wear heels.

Obviously I try them on when I'm out shopping and admire my oh so shapely calves but I've rarely been tempted to buy them :)

Leigh, you're missing a trick. The longer your feet, the less the pain because the foot angle created by the high heel isn't nearly as harsh as it is for somebody with, say, size fours. I love heels and I think you're all mad, btw.

but it makes you walk slower and not be able to run! blech.

maybe that's it! i wore high heels for the first time in my life approx 1 month ago and was surprised by how easy it was. i have size 10 (american men's) feet though.

emsk i ran fine as long as i kept my toes pointed the whole time, i.e. not landing on heels but flat along entire foot. not that i would have won any footraces.

certainly can't imagine spending a whole day in them though, much less DANCING??!

I'm a bit of a tomboy and do a lot of walking every day, I can't imagine walking the 2 miles to and from work in heels without crying like a baby.

I dunno what it is with heels as I have no problem with high wedges (apart from one time when I made the mistake of putting rather viscous foot balm on just before wearing my 10cm wedge sandals out, almost breaking my ankle). I used to have smallish 2inch t-bar shoes that I danced all night in but I was much lighter in those days.

What are the mechanics for why men like to see women in high heels?
Is it a control/bondage thing, were Crass right?

I've got 54321,
I've got a red pair of high-heels on,
Tumble me over, it doesn't take much,
Tumble me over, tumble me, push.
In my red high-heels I've no control,
The rituals of repression are so old,
You can do what you like, there'll be no reprisal,
I'm yours, yes I'm yours, it's my means of survival.

Gotta love Crass...

I'm a bit confused by the use of the words heels/high heels in this thread: do some of you consider any kind of heel as a high heel (for you, there are two kinds of shoes: flat or heels), while others have three kinds of shoes: flat, heels, high heels?

High heels -- C/D

x-post

Well you get like kitten heels which tend not to be over an inch or two in height, but 'heels' does tend to refer to footwear intended to elongate the leg and make you taller.

Oh well, of course there's another high heels thread. Never mind Jen!

Ah, thx for the explanation.

Why do men like taller women though?

eye level cleavage?

Is seriously no one going to explain the high heel effect to Ned

Yeah, come on - I feel like an idiot.

My back can't take high heels, but I don't like absolute flats either. A modest wedge will make me taller than my husband, which is hotttt.

Emsk, you should definitely get those boots and wear them with a filmy fairy-princess gown.

OK - i looked it up...
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/58539

It would appear to be because it shows off yr legs and arse. But I still don't get how it does this more than ordinary shoes. Are women walking on tip-toes hot?

I can't wear any kind of cute, girly shoes at all. Partly because of tomboyishness, partly because of weight distribution. Strappy shoes are objects of mystery to me, and even those tiny, completely flat ones that all the young ladies wear with their skinny jeans are a source of wonderment to me. How can they be comfortable? There's no arch support, or visible cushioning between feet and pavement.

yeah beth i think i'm gonna do that. and wear it to bestival. first i need to check i can walk in platform boots tho, must be easier than heels, right?

The worst are those that wear strappy high heels WHERE THE TOES STICK OUT AND TOUCH THE GROUND. Double ick with stinky yuck on top.

I'm total tomboy during the day, but after I shower I like to put on a dress and a somewhat dainty shoe. It has to be comfy like a sneaker, though, unless I'm just staying in and all I have to do is shuffle from room to room in my house. Nothing worse than hobbling around downtown in shoes that are abrading the back of my heel, etc.

I can't wear any kind of open shoe. My feet instantly peel and crack. My son onnce asked me if my feet were decomposing. This despite pumice, sandpaper, lotion, etc.

if i could get away with not wearing anything on my feet at all, i would do it. i did for 2 years and loved it. unfortunately the world is full of dogshit and broken glass.

I don't wear shoes with any heel at all and haven't for about four years. it's not that I can't walk in high heels or that I find them particularly uncomfortable, but that if I wear them for even a few hours the next day the whole of my legs ache unbearably. for ages now though there have been plenty of nice flat shoes around. shops like topshop usually have way more choice of flats than they do of heels. I don't feel like I'm missing out particularly.

i don't really. special occasions. i've seen my grandma's feet from wearing high heels her entire life and it's not pretty. she's also had multiple surgeries and is unable to wear anything other than slippers now.
i've also had the distinct pleasure of seeing my stiletto obsessed co-worker's bunions.

Mmmmm, bunions!

It would appear to be because it shows off yr legs and arse. But I still don't get how it does this more than ordinary shoes. Are women walking on tip-toes hot?

well no, but the act of standing on tiptoe forces calf muscles to contract and thus look more lithe and (for some) sexxy - and presumably tight(er) buns are another eventual side-effect for similar reasons. ladies care to corroborate?

Look, having yr heels higher tilts your pelvis forward and gives the lower back a slight sway and makes the upper body lean forward and perk up a bit to off-set your balance. Plus the cross-over walk -- which, apologies but I really think it's the only way to be graceful in heels (and the higher they are, the more true that is) -- accentuates hourglass-ness and makes you sort of wiggle down the street.

Is it stupid and maladaptive and transparent and obv designed to play on a set of stereotypes about BOTH the sexes and their "roles"? Oh yah, totally. It's a game. Games are fun, sometimes.

Now get back to goff industrial combat boot discussion.

I like them sometimes, but not often. Definitely not on a regular working day, I just have to walk too much. I'll keep them at my desk and slip them on before meetings but that's about it.

Now when I was a vintage rockabilly and also a teacher, I wore them fairly regularly. Too old for that now.

i think people need to start posting pictures of cute flats and where to buy them.
cos i need new flats.

I haven't worn heels in 10 years, since I broke my ankle (not due to heels, due to complete clumsiness). I got a pair of Dankso closed backs that make me 2" taller, which is nice, and I wear them a lot. All my other shoes are flat and very utilitarian. I watch in awe women who are able not only to walk gracefully but also do complicated maneuvers in heels (i.e. flight attendants).

Seriously, life is too short to wear uncomfortable shoes. That includes nose-bleed heels. My feet are so important to me.

Also, in heels, I'm like 6 foot tall. So not a good look.

My work uniform shoes are heels, but I have never worn them. But now ballet flats seem to be killing my feet and legs, too.

do they have much arch support or heel cushioning? This would kill me.

I can't wear ballet flats, either. Not enough support. I need a good, structured sensible shoe. Like something I could go horseback riding in.

And why do all the current platform shoes have the thin heels? I want wider ones.

Ms. Misery: They only started to noticeably hurt since I put in insoles!!

I wish I could wear sneakers every day.

That is odd.

This is why I stick to vans, no problemos. Crocs used to be my number one choice but I slipped too many times due to worn-out bottoms. I fear breaking myself.

*considers herself lucky*

I may have to get them, too.

yay! revive this thread when you get your tires, Abbott!

The best heel I ever owned was my motorcycle boots (yard sale purchase).
They got drowned in the basement flooding.

Like cowboy boots, these are boots made for a practical reason. Riding motorcycles. (That's not really very practical, but the boots are!)

I loved those boots so much. And now all you can get is the square toed version!
(I lost many good shoes in the flood - including cowboy boots that I kept due to their awesomeness. One pair of pink cowboy boots. it pains me to describe this.
it was just a stupid flooding of a basement - not, y'know, homeless and without shoes.
but i tried to dry the shoes on the lawn. Which was ridiculous. You can't revive leather when it has been submerged.)

I was crying - I laid all of the shoes on the lawn and sort of gnashed my teeth and sobbed.

It was a very bad shoe experience.

I don't understand why the round toe/steel tipped motorcycle boots are so unavailable. I HATE the square toes.

OH MAN that would kill me, too. :(

Do you actually motorbike around? If so I am jealous. My cousin bought a v. $$$ pair of Doc Marten boots with his first ride and wore through the soles in about two weeks. Haha.

beth, have you tried zappos.com?

The Eccos look great, Beth! Buy them!

Chuck Taylors are akin to wearing a slipper. or a slip of paper. it is an unforgiving shoe.

I know, no arch support. But they look awesome, and you can always stuff them with the Dr. Scholl's inserts.
I will go to zapoos.com now!

thanks Abbott. it was a tragedy.
I don't have a motorcycle, no. I would if it was a reasonable alternative here - but winter sucks for that. I think.
i am about to enter the xxpost world.

The Ecco Cloud Ghillie was even MORE pricey on Zappos. 113.95, vs 109.99 on shoes.com.
I'm going to see if Amazon, where I have one-click shopping enabled (my downfall) has them.

YES!!!!
But 39 or a 40? My only other Eccos are 40s that only fit me well with a somewhat thick sock. These other shoes I would wear with a thin sock, but I'm nervous about going down to 39. What if they are too tight and I can't get it together to send them back? I don't know. For 110 dollars I think I want to try them on first.
MUST FIND WELL-STOCKED SHOE STORE!!!
MUST GET OFF ISLAND!!!

There's an Ecco store on Newberry St.

Phew. I can go to bed now. I have a PLAN.

burning through Doc Martens also makes me laugh.

Burn rubber has a new name!

beth beth these ones but maybe not in pink
http://www.zappos.com/images/731/7311674/6627-404822-p.jpg
(they are paul smiths and stupid $$)

YES PINK!!! MUST HAVE!!!!

my feet are square (as wide as they are long) so I can almost never find nice shoes that fit. waaaaa. i like those jail ones.

Beth, offtopic: we were at Aboveground tonight and Rufus met Nina's mom Michelle (we used to know her as Shelly Donut when we worked together at the bakery) and Rufus said "I thought you were Beth Parker! Do you know Beth Parker? You look a lot like her" and Michelle said, "Yes, I know Beth Parker and I think she's very beautiful, so thank you!" (I love Roo's social small talk).

i am glad to know you like pink :)

beth, only get those eccos if they have a PU sole and not a latex one. most ecco walkers like those do have PU injection-molded soles but pays to double check. PU is the best for comfort shoes cuz it's elastic and retains this in the cell memory - meaning it doesn't compress over time. loads of spring and shock absorption means less stress on your ankles, knees and hips, therefore less stress on your back etc. also, injection molded soles means that you get way more durability out of the shoe + a water-tight seal between the upper and sole. and PU is way more insulating for a winter shoe, and has more traction on wet concrete/lino/tiles than latex or rubber.

damn, what a shoe geek i am.

these are also kind of interesting
http://www.zappos.com/images/730/7304479/3832-388599-p.jpg
(and also expensive! eesh we know which way my taste runs... this is the first time i've searched 'womens-casual-oxfords' on zappos and i gotta say it ain't too pretty)

^ a brand called Think! - with exclamation mark included

these are my ecco 'biker boots' - they're nubuck with a gor-tex lining so they're 100% waterproof but completely breathable. i live in these, and cuz they're not too chunky i wear them with skirts and they look AWESOME!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1039/1022310295_8b64fd8312_o.jpg

Wow, Ruby, you have awesome shoe knowledge! I think it did say that the soles were injection-molded, but it could be that you just hypnotized me with amazing arcana.
Rufus cracks me up!
Robyn, I love pink! Remember, I am a flower gardener!

I REALLY have to go to bed now, I'm delirious. G'night!

if they're injection molded then they're definitely PU. dude, 18mths working in a relatively high-end shoe store, you end up learning a thing or two ;). plus, being able to spout off loads of technical knowledge is what gets the guys to drop NZD$350 on a pair of shoes. i probably sell the most men's shoes out of all my co-workers because of my ability to do this and sound all scientific-y about it.

PU is also around 3 times longer lasting than a latex sole. the catch is that you can't resole PU the same way you can with latex. it can be patched but you have to do it before the shoe wears down too much. this suxors if the uppers are in perfect condition and you want to keep wearing them.

AND if any of you guys ever buy eccos with a PU sole and the sole begins to disintegrate in a weird way (i.e. gets all crumbly) take them back to wherever you bought them from or contact ecco through their website. this is a manufacturing fault called hydrolysis, and they will replace the shoes for free if it happens.

more paul smiths - prettty
http://couture.zappos.com/images/731/7311681/6901-404834-p.jpg

flats even laurel might like ;)
http://couture.zappos.com/images/731/7311679/6218-404832-p.jpg

these are arriving in the next few weeks and i'm SO getting a pair (they also come in black patent and black leather, so maybe i'll get two pairs...):
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1371/1056760695_6324ed0869_o.jpg

i'm a bit worried that strap won't be very flattering to my ankles, though.

PU is Polyurethane, right?
i wish they wouldn't make the soles so ugly though! it's perplexing
e.g. these clarks shoes (clearly i like texture) wld look much nicer with nicer looking soles :/
http://www.zappos.com/images/732/7320466/1396-423527-p.jpg
http://www.zappos.com/images/732/7320466/1396-423527-p.jpg

uh
http://www.zappos.com/images/725/7255284/3832-286962-p.jpg

xpost
those red eccos are pretty cute - vintage looking!

rrrobyn, it is polyurethane. it's notoriously difficult to get the same kind of fine moulding (molding? i never remember which it is) on a PU sole as you get on a latex sole. plus, dress shoes obv have thinner soles, and PU isn't so beneficial when it's that thin. most ecco dress/business shoes still have a latex sole in order to get that nicer, cleaner look but they also have a comfy foam midsole. latex still has naturally shock-absorbing qualities, but it is harder than PU.

^^those shoes are awesome

(xpost the first pair; not so keen on the 2nd pair)

yeah i like the first ones better too - the 2nd ones are the ones that wld really benefit from a cuter sole
ah, shoes

ok this makes me a little embarrassed to work for ecco:

http://2ndnature.ecco.com/2ndNature/index.htm

Tiny terrors get to scoot around on their heels wearing scary shoes.
The skateboard heel.
It bothers me.
It pisses me off.
because they should have adult ones.

I never got to have anything like that! a skating shoe?

i'm pretty sure there are adult ones! i remember there was a thread a while ago about them, but i can't remember the title :(

I think they are called Heelies or Heelys and they are made for adults.

Yup, Heelys for grown-ups!

I actually don't want a heely. But I'm glad to have the choice!

The kids that have them always startle me - why is that child floating by me with no clear means of propulsion?

it would be even more disturbing if grown-ups started doing it. Or, if everyone wore heelys I guess it would be the norm and grocery shopping would become even more difficult.

I am too clumsy for this things. I'd break a hip for sure.

Rrrrrrrrrrobyn I love LOVE the red cut-away flats, YOU KNEW I WOULD.

Those Paul Smith flats are so niiiiice.

it's the buttons. Buttons on shoes are cute.

My other 'alf has a pair of Heelys which his Mum bought him for Christmas. He loves them. I loved it when he fell on his arse.

i'm wearing high heels for the first time in many many months.
they make me walk like a robot.

also i think they make my skirt look inappropriately short and whoreish

I think heels are known to do that. Has anyone asked you "How much" yet?

I opted to wear my uber comfy red mary jane keds with my dress today instead of flat ballet shoes that make my knees CREAK. I fear, however, that I look too much like a dowdy librarian now.

Also, why do people say, "oh! you dressed up!" when I wear a dress of the casual kind, when I want to tell them, "This is one step away from a muumuu, clowns! I am extremely comfortable!"

I was in Greece for the summer and saw high heels on Greek women maybe three times, they all wear cute flat strappy sandals in all kinds of colors. It made me happy.

Molly that is the great thing about casual dresses!

Yeah I kind of hate the comments that come when I do dress up. Makes me want to dress up all the time so they'll shut up.

(bell, I was kidding with you. not suggesting you are at all looking whorish)

i just ordered this from the internets:

http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51R6hFbQLfL._SS260_.jpg

i'm a goddamn lady!