# Do you like high heels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518 "2010-11-22T05:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jelly\_Roll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jelly\_Roll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelly_Roll)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/61 "2010-11-22T22:12:47Z")
Chalk me up as another woman who LOVES her heels and is not the least bit uncomfortable in them. I’m wearing 4 inch heels right now, at work, and feel fine-no pain or discomfort here. I also didn’t “wobble in” this morning. I think most wobblers are either inexperienced walking in heels, are wearing really uncomfortable shoes or are drunk. Or possibly all three. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/62 "2010-11-22T22:14:34Z")
If I have anything over about an inch high, I tend to twist my ankles or fall off. I’ll stick with flats, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/63 "2010-11-22T22:27:34Z")
Oh, don’t get me wrong. If someone likes wearing heels, feels good in them, and can walk in them without looking like they’re in imminent danger of falling over, more power to them. It’s not my choice, but my choices only work for me. I don’t expect them to work for other people. I do feel free to chuckle quietly at women who wobble around in four-inch spike heels, skirts so tight and short they can barely walk in them, and shirts so tight they’re threatening to launch buttons at lethal velocity (yeah, I’ve seen all of these–in fact last night at the mall, all on the same person). I just won’t do it where they can hear me, because that would be rude. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/64 "2010-11-22T22:28:50Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > I’m a guy and I think heels are silly looking. They are actually a point against a woman I might have an attraction for in the same way I’d view really long fingernails - a ridiculous sacrifice of practicality to fashion. > > I’ll go a bit further and wonder, how many women do you suppose have been killed in emergencies (maybe even 9/11) simply because they couldn’t move quickly enough in their heels? Mens’ dress shoes can also slow you down, but not to the extent of high heels. I always get my shoes with rubber souls that I can move in about as well as sneakers. Basically this. My best friend makes orthotics for a living and he tells me that the women he deals with who have the most foot, knee, and back problems are the ones who insist on wearing heels all the time, in spite of how much it hurts them. He has subsequently told me that the ballet flats that are out now are at least as bad, as they provide no support whatsoever. When I see women out there wearing footwear like that, especially if they’re teetering around, like they’re about to fall on their face at any second, I instantly lose respect for that person for choosing to do so much damage to their body for the sake of fashion. > [@lorene](#): > > Hmmm. This seems to be going the way a lot of threads about so-called “girly” things go, with people attributing a mindset or a motivation to someone based on an erroneous assumption. > > When I wear heels, it’s because they’re the best shoe for my outfit and because they are comfortable. I am not sacrificing practicality for fashion, comfort for a nice-looking ass, or binding my feet. I don’t wear shoes that hurt. Period. Sometimes the cut of a skirt or a pair of pants looks better with heels. Sometimes it looks better with flats. There’s no suffering going on with my choice of shoes. > > If my shoes pose such a dire threat to my heath and safety that I cannot safely evacuate in the event of a fire, a bomb, or a plague of locusts, then I have far greater problems than the shoes I chose that morning. Likewise, if I buy a pair of shoes that are too high or unstable to walk confidently in, then I am an idiot who deserves to be mocked. > > Overall, though…they’re shoes. That’s it. Nothing to judge me on (unless you’re judging how \*\*awesome \*\*I am for all of my beautiful shoes. There is that. 😉 ) > [@Zjestika](#): > > I get this a bit in real life, too. I wear lots of dresses with heels and hardly ever wear pants, unless they’re yoga pants- glorified sweatpants. It’s not (totally) because I’m girly, it’s because I hate things with stiff waistbands. I hate jeans and slacks, to me they are uncomfortable. So I wear pretty swirly dresses because they’re like fancy muumuus, loose and comfortable. So I get a lot of “Aren’t you dressed up!” when in reality I am dressing for maximum comfort. The heels and dress I wore to get an oil change this morning were far less to impress the folks at Jiffy Lube than to wear something similar to the nightgown I was wearing before I left. Now, I do get that some individuals are comfortable in heels. But, as this thread seems to be demonstrating, a significant number of women out there put heels on, even knowing that they are uncomfortable. That’s what bothers me. There is no way I would deliberately wear an article of clothing that injures me just by virtue of wearing it/them. No way. And I simply don’t get why anyone else would. I think it’s irrational. To the very few of you who can wear high heels without permanently messing your legs and spine up, I apologize in advance for judging you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/65 "2010-11-22T22:29:30Z")
I’m a man, I voted the last option. I don’t care one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/66 "2010-11-22T22:41:47Z")
Many women at a coffee shop I frequent wear high-heel boots. It’s in a fairly well-off part of town with yoga studios, salons, day spas and high-end boutiques galore, so it attracts women that tend to take care of themselves, who can successfully pull off the Amazon Sex Goddess look. Still, it’s nothing like a fetish. The ex owned a few pairs of shoes and boots with heels, but seldom wore them. It really really matter. I think she might have been self-conscious that she’d look taller than me; she’s 5’ 7", I’m 5’ 10". Women, wear whatever you feel comfortable in. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/67 "2010-11-22T22:44:04Z")
My first rude impulse is to say that I like them fine–on my floor. That out of the way, I’ve honestly never thought about it. They do dress up an outfit–like a jacket on a man–but I can’t say I’d miss them. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/68 "2010-11-22T22:50:04Z")
We’ve been having snow on and off for about a week now, and sidewalks and roads are in terrible condition. Are women still wearing stiletto heeled winter boots? You betcha. Those damned things should be illegal - they don’t do anything you need a winter boot to do and are actively dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/69 "2010-11-22T22:51:27Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Amazon Sex Goddess They’re selling those on Amazon now? ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/70 "2010-11-22T22:53:25Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Well, Miss Fancy likes to live dangerously, eh? What if terrorists decided to attack the Jiffy Lube?! Then I would die knowing my ass looked GREAT! 😉 [QUOTE=Dread Pirate Jimbo] But, as this thread seems to be demonstrating, a significant number of women out there put heels on, even knowing that they are uncomfortable. [/quote] That’s strange, I don’t see that at all. I’m hearing a lot of women here say that they are comfortable and happy in their heels, and some women saying that they don’t wear them because they hurt. Both are fine and valid. I haven’t noticed one lady say that she chooses to wear painful shoes. Did I miss something? ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/71 "2010-11-22T23:30:38Z")
Spiky heels, no. Cheap heels - well, I’d rather you just twist my ankle and get it over with. But well-made heels, that are slightly wedge-like, thus providing stability? PRICELESS. I have a pair of Clarks that are amazing. Can’t find a picture or link to 'em though. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/72 "2010-11-22T23:56:59Z")
As a (straight) man, I suppose that heels do accentuate a few key features of the female anatomy. However, I honestly don’t notice womens’ shoes very often, and I usually only consider whether a woman is wearing heels when deciding whether I need to offer her my arm to get down a flight of stairs. But: I love dancing with women in heels. I do mostly ballroom, and heels get a woman up on her toes with her weight forward, and that makes a lot of things easier. The best example is a simple inside turn in swing dancing: a woman with her weight on her toes can whip through the turn very nicely, while a woman in flats is at a disadvantage. Shoes with a wide, lowish heel (between 1 and 2 inches) are ideal. In other dances, like tango, it can help with long sliding movements, especially because women usually have smaller legs and so take naturally smaller steps. My girlfriend sometimes wears character shoes, like some dancers in musical theater, which are really ideal. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/73 "2010-11-23T00:04:15Z")
Sure they kind day look good. But after a night on the town. She wouldhave a helluva time getting to my cabin through the snow and what would she put on when time to go to the outhouse. Extra tufts or boots are sexy sexy. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/74 "2010-11-23T00:36:26Z")
in every-day life, they seem completely impractical and I am indifferent to them… however, in the bedroom, esp. for some standing foreplay and action… (male doper, heading for my bunk) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/75 "2010-11-23T00:48:09Z")
I don’t notice women’s shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/76 "2010-11-23T00:53:20Z")
Wish I had time to peruse the thread, but I don’t, so I’m posting blind . . . I love heels. I work at home in my grubs most of the time, so I enjoy a chance to go out, dress up, and look sharp. Mr. S and I often dress up (heels and hose for me, dress shirt and tie for him) even if we’re just going out with each other, no special occasion. The rest of the time I’m in fairly sensible shoes, so I don’t think the occasional few hours in heels will hurt me. And now that I’ve dropped 75 pounds, I’ve got my nice legs back, and I wanna work 'em, knowwhatImean? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/77 "2010-11-23T01:10:59Z")
I love my heels, you’ll pry 'em from my cold dead feet. But I only buy ones I can actually walk in, because ‘ridiculous’ isn’t what I’m going for. > [@gwendee](#): > > Are we done now with “gladiator sandals” and shoe-booties that cover the whole foot, but just the foot making the most lithe and lovely ladies look as if they have hooves? Yes please. Can we also please lose the peeptoe boots? Because peeptoe boots are an abomination unto the Lord, and anyone wearing them needs to be smited with holy fire. > [@Mach Truck](#): > > I’ll go a bit further and wonder, how many women do you suppose have been killed in emergencies (maybe even 9/11) simply because they couldn’t move quickly enough in their heels? Anyone too stupid to take their shoes off in that situation needs to be removed from the gene pool. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/78 "2010-11-23T01:21:14Z")
Since the neuroma and the accident that left me with a plate and screws holding my left fibula together, not to mention the residual bone spurs and cartilage damage in my left ankle, heels just aren’t going to happen. (Well, maybe a low kitten heel for a special occasion, and only if I know I won’t have to be on my feet much.) Even before the ankle/leg issues, I basically only wore heels for weddings and job interviews. For my own damn wedding, I wore a low wedge sandal with good arch support - hell if I was going to be limping after 15 minutes! ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/79 "2010-11-23T01:24:52Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Yes please. Can we also please lose the peeptoe boots? Because peeptoe boots are an abomination unto the Lord, and anyone wearing them needs to be smited with holy fire. Strictly technically, you can’t smite with fire. Smiting involves blunt force trauma. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518/80 "2010-11-23T01:28:44Z")
I’ve fallen out of practice with heels. I like wearing them in theory, and I used to wear them all the time, but the older I get the less willing I find myself to suffer for fashion. I still like pretty shoes but I stick with wedges or low heels nowadays. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-high-heels/561518.md?page=5)