It’s a common condition among people who run a lot. I play a lot of tennis. Doctors actually prescribe heel lifts (about 1/2") as a means of treating sore achilles. I tried them, but couldn’t insert them in my athletic shoes without getting a half-size bigger shoe, and that created another set of problems (e.g. jamming my toes and a greater risk of rolling my ankle). So now I just accept that my achilles will gripe at me. And I avoid flats.
Interesting article, by a woman who wrote a book about…women’s shoes!
Stilettos 
Yeah, that’s right. I was getting the word mixed up with stalactites.:smack:
Boy, that’s a reach, huh?
Thanks!
Q
Hey, you might be on to the next big trend: ancient cave rocks as shoes! You’ll make billions!
I mean, hell, it can’t be any weirder than these.
Long pointy things Made sense to me!
Actually I think the answer is there. I annoyed a pretty young co-worker until I figured it out (maybe). Women like shoes the way men like tools. You can’t have too many, you don’t even need to use them, but you see something you want, and you get it. Utility and necessity are way over-rated.
Again, it depends on the shoe. I didn’t even start wearing heels until I was 25 or 26 – believe me, if they’d been uncomfortable to wear or move around in, I would have given up on them after the first pair. Instead, I started out with a pair of knee-high boots with block heels and a square toe box, and I was fine.
Not every shoe is badly constructed (for the sake of fashion or otherwise). Of course this means you need to be picky about what shoes you wear, but that is a choice that’s available to you. And that’s really true of any shoe, high-heeled or not.
And it really is a matter of price. Not that I’m suggesting everyone goes out and buys a $1500 pair of Louboutins (which aren’t even that well constructed to begin with), but there is a SUBSTANTIAL difference between a pair of Forever 21 $15 5 inch pumps and a $200 pair of 5 inch pumps. Lately, I’ve been picking up designer shoes at the outlet mall and let me tell you: there is even a noticeable difference between the $200 shoes and the $800 shoes.
And before you judge me: I get the $800 shoes on mega clearance for no more than $100 a pair at most. I’m just sayin’, a good pair of Manolo’s ain’t even in the same class as my cheap pumps. The expensive shoes can be worn for days without even a twinge of pain— and that’s because they really just are made that much better.
Best answer.
Foot doctors unanimously condemn any and all heels over a certain height, regardless of manufacturer or price. The human foot just isn’t designed to bear weight the way high heels force it to. The pointed toe shoe is especially bad.
I don’t disagree that some are probably more comfortable than others, for a short time..but they are all damaging your foot and legs.
Thanks, dad. I am aware. Cardiologists universally condemn fried foods, but I’m sure you also eat burgers and fries once in a while, too.
There’s no reason to repeatedly get all preachy about our slutty shoe choices, since we’re all intelligent women who are conscious of the choices we’re making here.
Your statement:
I don’t believe I said they are orthopedic shoes that are doing wonders for your feet, I simply said they don’t cause you any direct discomfort, as the shoes are of much better quality than cheaper shoes. Surely you understand that those are two different ideas, right?
My go-to shoes with 2.5 inch heels are pretty much indefinitely wearable, and I really doubt they do any more damage than any other habit. I wouldn’t say they are “comfortable” in the way that sneakers are comfortable- they are dress shoes, after all. But they do not cause pain or tire me out.
Added to that, most of the time people aren’t really on their feet that much. How far do you really walk at work? Between the water cooler, the bathroom and the lunch room, the average worker bee might cover a few blocks in a day. People with substantial on-foot commutes tend to bring along flats or sneakers to change in and out of. And nobody wears their killer heels kicking around the house.
You may wear your heels out shopping or to a party, but people don’t do that every day and these things don’t last too long.
I see a whole lot of woman wearing them at the mall. And, believe it or not, I see women wearing them at Disney.
Those shoes are cute. Most of what I’m reading: Doc recommends nothing over a 2" heel and definitely a rounded toebox like that one has. I grew up in the 80’s and I can’t tell you how glad I was to see those round toed shoes after all those years of pointy pain.
I don’t think your go to shoes would be categorized as “sexy” though.
I’ve found out all kinds of interesting things about high heels in the last day or so, I had no idea that platform shoes were first worn by 15th century prostitutes, I thought those things were invented in the 70’s!
Yes (although I’ll point out that my husband and son are the shoe people in our house - I’ve gotten more acquisitive regarding shoes, and my husband does fine with one hammer and a set of screwdrivers and really doesn’t even want a table saw). But its an acquisition thing, not a utility thing.
And yeah, I see people wearing them at Disney too. And I laugh to myself. But I suspect more people at Disney are causing their feet problems by carrying too much weight then with three inch heels.
I only own one pair of 3 inch heels now; since I broke my foot my doctor doesn’t want me to wear heels at all. I save them for “dress up” occasions.
I wear them because I like the way they look and the way they make my legs look.
I really only notice women wearing high heels if they can’t walk gracefully in them.
I’m always amazed that women are able to keep their balance while wearing those things…at least without a brass pole to hang on to.
I think the title says a lot about the OP and also fits right in with the general culture of misogyny around here. That said, I have been enjoying this- read the responses of women regarding why they wear high heels, and then picture yourself calling her a whore afterwards.
“I wear them because they make me feel good about myself, and confidence makes a woman sexy.”
Whore!
“I wear them because my husband likes them and I like to wear things that please him to make him feel special.”
Whore!
