Where are the Wearable Heels?
Shopping for shoes is really harder than I thought. Last month when I was in London and had nothing to do, I went shoe-shopping and to my surprise, it was very hard to find shoes that I actually liked enough to try on. The reason? Mostly because the shoes out there were super high-heeled -mostly 4-inches high.
Shortly after, I read this article on timesonline.co.uk about the current trend of skyscraper heels. It basically tries to use the current social environment to explain why skyscraper heels are so popular and that the most fashionable women would not dare to wear shoes lower than 4 inches, (although flats are acceptable.) I don't agree with some of the points in the article but it's interesting to read about the super high heels out there.
OK, back to my original point. The point is, it's just so hard to find shoes that I like (the look of) and are practical. When I mean practical, I don't even mean 1-inch kitten heels (although 1-inch heels sound nice for work) -what I mean are 2 to3 inch heels, which to me sound like heels of the perfect height for partying or a nice night out.
Yes, I get that 4-inch heels would make one look taller, obviously. But what's the point when you're going to spend the whole night hobbling around and feeling tired or even pain (from just standing!)? Perhaps the pain of skyscraper heels is worth it if you're a celebritiy who is getting photographed on the red carpet in a fabulous dress and you only have to stand around for awhile. But if you're a girl who just wants a fun night out, you probably don't want or need such high heels. Clearly as consumers we have the choice not to buy such high heels if we don't want to, but the problem is, it's just so hard to find pretty heels of decent height these days!
Seriously, am I the only one who is finding it harder and harder to find a wearable pair of heels?
Image Credit: http://www.sakefifthavenue.com/
Shortly after, I read this article on timesonline.co.uk about the current trend of skyscraper heels. It basically tries to use the current social environment to explain why skyscraper heels are so popular and that the most fashionable women would not dare to wear shoes lower than 4 inches, (although flats are acceptable.) I don't agree with some of the points in the article but it's interesting to read about the super high heels out there.OK, back to my original point. The point is, it's just so hard to find shoes that I like (the look of) and are practical. When I mean practical, I don't even mean 1-inch kitten heels (although 1-inch heels sound nice for work) -what I mean are 2 to3 inch heels, which to me sound like heels of the perfect height for partying or a nice night out.
Yes, I get that 4-inch heels would make one look taller, obviously. But what's the point when you're going to spend the whole night hobbling around and feeling tired or even pain (from just standing!)? Perhaps the pain of skyscraper heels is worth it if you're a celebritiy who is getting photographed on the red carpet in a fabulous dress and you only have to stand around for awhile. But if you're a girl who just wants a fun night out, you probably don't want or need such high heels. Clearly as consumers we have the choice not to buy such high heels if we don't want to, but the problem is, it's just so hard to find pretty heels of decent height these days!
Seriously, am I the only one who is finding it harder and harder to find a wearable pair of heels?
Image Credit: http://www.sakefifthavenue.com/
posted by Harrods Girl at 3:39 AM
38 Comments:
I completely agree. I had a hard time finding practical work heels. Unfortunately, everything was far too high. >< Well everything that looked good anyways.... :P I won't get near any of those stuffy/cliche "working girl" shoes. It took ages to find anything.
It's impossible for me to wear heels higher than 3 inches. My feet won't stretch (arch) that high.
You're not the only one who is having a hard time finding wearable shoes.
Almost every pair I end up buying no matter if they're flat or high heeled, I end up getting a blister. It has made my feet quite ugly from all the scars to be honest.
So I know what you mean. If you find any good ones let us know.
At least there is a good selection of non-stiletto type heels available. I find a wider heel makes standing all night alot easier!
I am a student and I do like a nice outfit for school on the odd day or so and it's impossible to slog all over campus in heels.
I see some girls do it, but they look like they are in hell. Even in the snow "clack" "clack" "clack" on the slippery pavement.
I have found some 80's shoes on ebay that seem to work. My feet are only sevens, so they ball of the foot isn't even long enough to carry the height.
It's insane. These shoes are for women who walk 10 feet from their town car to the restaurant or house.
Period!
I´ve been in ballet all my life, so trust me when I say that I know about painful shoes.
A great tip to avoid blisters: use skin-colored micropore (sold in any pharmacy or drug store). It´s worked miracles for me; you just paste on your feet on the parts where your shoes would normally give you blisters (sorta like putting a bandaid on, except its more versatile and cheaper)
i am sticking to wedges this summer. love heels but you are right, they are hard to wear. i like sergio rossi and tods, i find them easier to wear, even if the heels are about 4 inches.
Weirdly enough, I just read this today, on the same subject: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120778218752803139.html?mod=rss_Today%27s_Most_Popular
You're not the only one. I just started working and I would love some nice formal heels, but they're so hard to find...
High Heels Look Great, but are hard to walk around in!
Great little article..and very timely. I adore high heels. At my age and with me carrying a few more lbs than I should, high heels are a no no. But, I just go head, flaunt my Betsey Johnson accessories and stagger around in my high heels. My friends have this mantra - "Who cares if you cannot walk - you look soo great!" Well, a recent trip to the gym rendered my immobile with a badly sprained ankle (watch those personal trainers). I have just increased my collection of fab mega heels by 20 pairs this year - some not yet worn. I am undone. I cannot wear any of them. I agree the rope wedges are great for comfort..and the more slender stilletos very hard. But..its no use...so I am giving away my shoes Size 9 and a half - some size 10. I am profoundly depressed. My clothes look stupid with flat Mary Janes.
But then again, maybe its comuppance and these are just for you gorgeous young things. You see. they say if you wore it the first time, you cannot wear it the second. I wore stilletos in the 60's!!
Gorgeous Granny
no, you are quite right. they should make more 5-6cm heels for everyday wear!!!
Yea it's a problem. My wife looks great in high heels but she will only wear them for a special occasion and certainly not when there is a lot of walking and/or standing. When she goes out casually and finds she needs a heel she will wear a wider heel. Something like a wedge heel she finds more comfortable and we both think they are sexy looking. She doesn't like tottering around on a stiletto heel for very long. She also finds high heel-wide heel-no extreme pointy toe slip ons to be to her liking as well if the occasion warrants it.
Well said there! Whenever I choose skyscraper heels for a night out, I always end up regretting it. Painfully. It's just not worth it. But I did become a wedge-and-platform convert this summer. It's winter that's poor in shoe choice.
SUCH a problem! And is there anything LESS fashionable than a great outfit with great shoes, worn by a woman who can't walk in them? Not much...
i love skyscraper heels, the higher the better! i'm short, you see. but i think i'd love them even if i wasn't short. and i've always been taught, one must suffer for beauty.
You're definitely not the only one! I wish I had a scan of the insane spike heels in this month's InStyle over here. I've been looking all summer for some "mid range" heels that are chic, with no luck at all.
i was just thinking the exact same thing yesterday at the mall! all of the heels were the same ankle-twisting height, and i just wanted some decent black pumps.
Yep rediculous;y high heels are in this year. I can handle the 4 inhes but anything above that is bad ... really bad. Surprisingly I bought a pair of 5 inch shoes from Faith on Oxford Street.
They were easy to walk in I think its because they had a big wedge at the front of the shoe and the arch of the shoe was less steep than some 3.5 inch heels I own.
Maybe I am one of the few, but I am most comfortable when in heels than anything else and the 4 inch height has been treating me well. (Perhaps it is my high arch, but I can walk miles with ease).
Having said that, I have found it more difficult to find heels that are NOT high enough to me- meaning everything in between.. from kitten heels to under 3 inches. The medium heights hurt me and I cannot stand them, but they are definitely out there.. Kenzie is a big one, some of their designs are cute but just not a good height for me- you may like them though. They really are everywhere and in all prices.
Much love, xx
i totally agree! although these sky-high heels look fabulous, they're not practical for daily activities. I love four to five inch heels, but sometimes I would just like a few pairs of heels that are between the kitten heel height and 5 inch heels!
i love your blog by the way!
check out mine: http://la-couturier.blogspot.com
:)
I find walking in heels pretty easy, actually. I don't know if it's because I started wearing heels at an early age or if it's because I wear heels often (or both!), but my five inch Louboutins and Lanvins pose no problems.
I was reorganizing my shoe closet a few days ago, and was surprised to see that the heels that I so struggled to walk in a few years ago were a mere two inches. Wtf, ahha. Now, I walk in my three inch Marc Jacobs pumps with ease. They're practically flats to me.
A bit of wisdom my mom--who never wears heels shorter than five inches--gave me is that when buying shoes with heels that are higher than four inches, you should look for a pair that has a platform in the front. It takes a load of stress off your arch and the ball of your feet because it sort of evens out the super high heel and cancels out the part of the height. This coming from a woman who walks easily in a towering pair of YSL tribute pumps.
For me, three inches is the highest I can stand without a platform, so if I spot a pair of four inch heels that I love, I have to make sure there's a platform.
I hope that helps!
I'm only 5' tall, so erm, I sort of rely on heels.
Totally agree! I always think that shoes are like men, hard to find the pair really suitable for you,pretty enough and comfortable... Oh well...
I agree with Angel, the platform on high heels is a big plus, because the shoe may appear to be 4 inches but your feet is arched only for 3. Also I really don't get how ppl find wedges comfortable, even 2 inch wedges always twist my ankle. They feel like a brick attached to my foot.
As for lower heels, like 3 inches, I'm pretty sure I saw a few very nice looking patent pumps at Steve Madden. The only problem with these is they don't have a platform so you can feel every bump on the road. Perfect for indoors though, like work or a nightclub.
I'm glad I'm not the only blogger with an inability to wear these giant heels! I completly agree, all heels available now seem to be really high and therefore (for me) unwearable, even wedges have gone high. Char x
I think heels should be 2 to 5 cm higher also. visit vixensboutique.com for the latest in apparel
I usually wear heels in the 3-3.5" department. I am known at the library where I work as the hot shoes gal. I love shoes! But I also take lots of breaks in between wearing them. I sit on my ass all day, too, so it makes it easier. But when I'm crammed in the office, I wear slippers. So all these girls who walk around shopping or strolling down the street in high heels are really kidding themselves. I refuse to believe that there are people who are immune to the pain of the high heel. There are some people who say that the more designery the shoe is, the better it is for your feet, but that is a lie. Sure, you can tell they are better quality, but they still cut your feet up the same as a cheap shoe. For that, I still shop at Payless!
You are so right! I'm also having a hard time finding shoes that are practical. I take the bus to work every day and it's too hard to run around while teetering in sky high shoes!
Let me know if you ever find a pair that's only 2-3 inches high. :)
As a women's shoe designer, I'm constantly told to make a comfortable skyscraper heel. Unfortunately, I haven't found the right design to fulfill this request. Even the great designers haven't accomplished this. Sorry ladies..but we're trying.
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I feel so bad for girls that cant wear high heels. I would NEVER wear a heel less than 4 inches, but usually prefer 5 or 6 with a platform. And if you cant do a heel, just do a flat- they're so much more attractive than kitten heels IMO. There is nothing better than owning the sidewalk in 6 inch Alaia platforms.
if you want to find a variety of great shoes, you should go to shopgoldyn.com- they've got some great stuff!!!
custom made shoes is my answer!
try "shoegirl" in cwb, hong kong. its near timesquare- 21 yiu wa street. its a sweet little shop where you choose your own heel height, material, color, etc... ;)
I agree with savvy girl, Sergio Rossi and Tods are very comfortable and easy to walk in.
SO TRUE! I still can't find me a pair of wearable heels this fall! I'm thinking chloe might have something wearable.. or jimmy choo.. But i still can't find anything really!
Those Louboutin boots are to die for.
Christian Louboutin is rumoured to be bringing out some 8 inch heels soon...
How many people could even stand up in those?
One report said '8 inch heel sans platform'. Really?
Quite helpful piece of writing, thanks so much for this post.
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