Why do women buy shoes that are too uncomfortable to wear?

[Cygnus]

Why do women buy shoes that are too uncomfortable to wear? This is not rhetorical. I understand fashion and fetish, but to wear shoes to work..for 9+ hours that you cannot bear to wear for more than 9 minutes...just what is the deal?

[INTJoe]

I think I know this one...is it because they're dumb?

[athenian200]

Why do women buy shoes that are too uncomfortable to wear? This is not rhetorical. I understand fashion and fetish, but to wear shoes to work..for 9+ hours that you cannot bear to wear for more than 9 minutes...just what is the deal?

Paranoia or fashion.

If it's paranoia, it means they're afraid that people will notice how big their feet are if they wear the proper shoe size, so they try to hide it by purchasing smaller shoes than they should.

If it's fashion, then the shoe is just poorly designed, and the person is so image-conscious that they would rather torture their feet with the bad design than have risk having a lesser image.

So I guess ultimately, it's because the person is unreasonably self-conscious about their image in ways that, realistically, many people are unlikely to pay attention to, much less judge them on. Somehow, this drive to be perceived well surpasses both the pain caused by wearing such shoes, and the guilty knowledge that they are potentially contributing to a trend that pressures others to think they must do the same thing to themselves.

[Elfrun]

I think the answer is 'superficial' appearances and too much concern for the image they present. Fashion over comfort or something like that :rolleyes:

Some people bend to fashion trends and peer pressure with little thought of anything else. Surprisingly though some people can be comfortable in some very uncomfortable looking shoes.

[Haphazard]

I never really got the need to change shoes for every occasion. I mean, it's not like people are staring at your feet, right? So why not just get one pair of running shoes and wear them until squirrels and sparrows drop dead from the stench when they get within range?

[Allie]

Hey! Wait a sec. I have a thing for shoes, not a fetish, but I love shoes :-) Ballet flats, stilettos, pumps, flip-flops, whatever.

You could have a blah outfit, but the shoes make all the difference! It's not just the styles, but the condition of the shoes as well. A complete package.

It's part fashion/vanity, part grooming I supposed. It's a matter of appropriate dressing, like running with sneakers, pumps for work, stilettos for night time, etc...

No self esteem or confidence problems here. Just old-fashion (no pun intended) dressing etiquette. Sort of like, if I am going to get dressed, why not do the best job of it, you know?

[Cygnus]

I can appreciate liking shoes. Today's example is a woman at work has some white 5 inch spike heals..and most of the day is not wearing them, instead barefoot and complains when she has to wear them. So I ask why she bought them in the firstplace if they are so painful. She said they look great and she need white and when she bought them, it was off season..so the only white pair she could find...Of course my response was "ah..."

[ethsar46]

I dont get it either, if they hurt your feet why wear them?

Its just not logical......

[athenian200]

I can appreciate liking shoes. Today's example is a woman at work has some white 5 inch spike heals..and most of the day is not wearing them, instead barefoot and complains when she has to wear them. So I ask why she bought them in the firstplace if they are so painful. She said they look great and she need white and when she bought them, it was off season..so the only white pair she could find...Of course my response was "ah..."

Actually, it sounds like there's a chance she might be wearing those shoes as an excuse for being barefoot most of the day. People will be somewhat less likely to say anything to her about taking them off if they know the shoes are really uncomfortable.

That's probably a less typical reason, but it is another possible interpretation of her behavior.

[animado]

I find any high heels to be uncomfortable, but when you're short, they're a good thing to get used to. (Allows me to see more of my tall friends faces...)

[strawberrycat]

Maybe they're so uncomfortable that no one bought them so they went on sale and whoever bought them is just poor or wanted a bargain.

[mkay]

I've bought shoes that seemed comfortable at fitting time, only to find out too late that they rub. Then I figure I'll break them in because I want to get my money's worth. But I wouldn't buy shoes I knew were uncomfortable.

[lagoon]

Actually, it sounds like there's a chance she might be wearing those shoes as an excuse for being barefoot most of the day. People will be somewhat less likely to say anything to her about taking them off if they know the shoes are really uncomfortable.

I like this reason, i know i few people who want to walk round barefoot so they complain about how uncomfortable their shoes are to get away with it. They are slightly odd people though

[Seppuku Savant]

High heels aren't always uncomfortable. It's entirely dependent on shoe construction and sometimes weight/fitness can play a factor. People should wear whatever they like, within reason. Nonetheless, women that pander to fashion are irrational.

[dandylion]

Hey! Wait a sec. I have a thing for shoes, not a fetish, but I love shoes :-) Ballet flats, stilettos, pumps, flip-flops, whatever.

You could have a blah outfit, but the shoes make all the difference! It's not just the styles, but the condition of the shoes as well. A complete package.

It's part fashion/vanity, part grooming I supposed. It's a matter of appropriate dressing, like running with sneakers, pumps for work, stilettos for night time, etc...

No self esteem or confidence problems here. Just old-fashion (no pun intended) dressing etiquette. Sort of like, if I am going to get dressed, why not do the best job of it, you know?

I agree completely.

Anyway, the people who wear shoes that are uncomfortable ARE stupid, especially if they complain about it being painful because they made a conscious choice to settle for less. There ARE nice shoes that are comfortable, they just need to keep looking for the high quality-made ones. And if they really must wear the uncomfortable ones, they can at least make them more comfortable by adding gel soles or something.

[Journey]

Sometimes it's not their fault they have to wear such shoes. You definately CANNOT wear tennis shoes to a special event like weddings and parties. Work is a different situation though unless you have a uniform.
It is dumb if you do that to yourself when you don't need to. Personally I wouldn't ever torture my feet just so that I could look nice.

[Monte314]

Vanity.

[Erika Redmark]

I bought a pair of shoes not too long ago that ended up being a bit too small, but enough to give me blisters…I was just kind of careless and didn't spend enough time trying on different sizes to see if they actually fit. >>;

[rwyatt365]

As I used to say, "Sacrificing their feet on the altar of cute".

[seoa]

many reasons, but one is money. if you want shoes that look good *and* are comfortable, you're unlikely to get them in the lower end of the price range. i've found that the more i earn, the more disposable income i'm willing to spend on shoes, the easier it is to find fabulous footwear that makes my feet as happy as my mirror.

having said that, i recently bought the most gorgeous shoes that turned out to be slightly too tight across the bridge of my foot. my friendly cobbler couldn't help - he said i just had to wear them till they loosened up a little. so i've started wearing them into work, knowing that at some point in the day i'll be wandering round barefoot.

but it's all in the pursuit of making the pretty pretty shoes wearable, and i love them *so* much, and it's not like i'd go into a meeting barefoot, so who cares :)

[Liason]

height appeal, prada makes you look sexier etc yadda yadda yadda. I don't though. INTJ women might do it, but they do it much less than other types.(naturally)

[notoppings]

This is just one reason. In some work environments certain dress codes must be followed men must wear ties and nice dress shoes and women must wear high heels, not flats. I know some people will say thats not fair, but foot wear is a requirement for several jobs and if an industry has decided on a certain style and as long as all are complying it's not an invasion.

[Cygnus]

many reasons, but one is money. if you want shoes that look good *and* are comfortable, you're unlikely to get them in the lower end of the price range. i've found that the more i earn, the more disposable income i'm willing to spend on shoes, the easier it is to find fabulous footwear that makes my feet as happy as my mirror.

having said that, i recently bought the most gorgeous shoes that turned out to be slightly too tight across the bridge of my foot. my friendly cobbler couldn't help - he said i just had to wear them till they loosened up a little. so i've started wearing them into work, knowing that at some point in the day i'll be wandering round barefoot.

but it's all in the pursuit of making the pretty pretty shoes wearable, and i love them *so* much, and it's not like i'd go into a meeting barefoot, so who cares :)


Thank you all for the replies so far.

Not her fault. Dress codes or social situations requiring certain dress codes. I'm not buying this as a valid reason. I have complete faith women are capable finding solutions that do not require self induced pain.

Vanity and using shoes as an accessory to augment feminine sexuality, can be confusing, but understood. I think these reasons only cover the surface (pun intended :) ).

The reason I quoted Seoa, was not to single her out, I think she has unknowingly hit upon something deeper. Several of the responses on this topic stated women simply made a mistake, the shoes seemed to initially fit, yet later turned out to not fit properly. This is where it starts to get interesting.

"but it's all in the pursuit of making the pretty pretty shoes wearable, and i love them *so* much..."

I believe many women, through social conditioning and personality,apply this philosophy to many situations in their lives...including relationships.

"He is so nice, and I love him so very much, but..."
She will break him in

Sound familiar?

[JessicaHavenLea]

This thread is validation for my lack of love for heels even though I'm a munchkin.

I need some more Chuck Taylors.

[curiousjane]

Aesthetics.

Cute shoes, pedicures, makeup samples, and some forms of fashion are my indulgences, within reason. I am not extremely "girly", but I have a thing for shoes. Maybe because they are easy to try on and fit. Clothing for women is soooo hard to shop for! Shoes are sooo much simpler! (Even when you have huge size 10 feet with narrow heels, like me.)

Killing my feet for the sake of fashion, however, is only acceptable in high-fashion settings. Otherwise, I'd go barefoot, or in flats. Occasionally, some boots are super comfortable, and provide the needed height for some slacks I have that haven't been hemmed professionally.

[seoa]

"but it's all in the pursuit of making the pretty pretty shoes wearable, and i love them *so* much..."

I believe many women, through social conditioning and personality,apply this philosophy to many situations in their lives...including relationships.

"He is so nice, and I love him so very much, but..."
She will break him in

Sound familiar?
what's abnormal about this - "no pain, no gain" is a cliche for a reason...

it's a basic ROI (Return on Investment) model:
- am i willing to say no to the cookie (pain!) so i stay thin & beautiful (gain)? (managed it on monday, didn't manage it just now - yum)
- will i run that extra mile or 10 every day for a month (pain), so i can win the marathon i've set my heart on (gain)? (what - you think i'd jog in these heels? this one's a theoretical example)

and to use your example:
- will i stay with this guy who is not perfect (pain) but has *so* much potential (gain)

in each case, the sensible ROI decision is based on whether the future gain outweighs the immediate pain.

are my beautiful, gorgeous, s3xy, stunning, to-die-for red 4" heels worth some short term pain...???

oh yeah!!! :)



seoa added to this post, 2 minutes and 32 seconds later...

eugh... except i thought i'd picked up cookies with bits of white chocolate in.

it's not - it's peanut. ugh!

darn it, i'll have to stay T&B then :rolleyes:

[Cygnus]

I do not think it falls into the "no pain, no gain" cliche or a return of investment model. It is how we are conditioned and our personalities deal with obstacles. We use force. "Good" is defined as appropriate and responsable use of force and "Evil" force with no limits. Women and men have different conditioning and personalities, thus ways of exerting force.

[mkay]

I believe many women, through social conditioning and personality,apply this philosophy to many situations in their lives...including relationships.

"He is so nice, and I love him so very much, but..."
She will break him in

Sound familiar?

I agree that many women (as well as men) do this. I don't think it has to do with shoes, lol. Myself, I stay away from "people projects."

[foroneonly]

I may be in the minority but I love cute shoes. Comfort is a must though!

[Stella]

I'd consider it a combination of being socialized into understanding that as being part of your gender identity appearance, which has been defined as appropriate for certain occasions.

Many people I know consider the importance of how they dress to accentuate their sexuality or gender identity (though the high heel has been worn by both males and females throughout history, while currently being more acceptable for women to wear). My mother tells me that if I don't wear high heeled shoes I'm supposedly manly. Oh yeah, what century? *Eyeroll* :) I have spoken to some women who wear very high heels and they say it makes them feel powerful. Unfortunately for women to often feel powerful these days they have to play on seductiveness as well in order to get the attention. So I suppose considering the changes wearing high heels makes to the body (accentuating the calves, changing the posture to give a more seductive gait, giving the illusion of being taller and lengthening the legs, and making the foot appear smaller, among other aesthetics) would make sense when one is demanding power, if that is what is expected of women in appearance to be found attractive.

Sometimes I understand the appeal, but I don't understand the double standard. If I'm going to stumble around all night wearing heels, so can the guy standing next to me.

[mkay]

I'm petite and would love to be taller, but I wouldn't wear shoes that I couldn't walk gracefully in. I figure it would defeat the purpose of fashion (presumably to look better) if I hobbled or stumbled around, lol.

[Mittens]

I'm near 5'10", which is pretty much a built-in understandable reason for not wearing heels. So I don't, because most are uncomfortable and, well, I go around in either a pair of ratty black chucks or some black flip-flops. Which should give some idea of how much I can't be bothered to find something nice to stick my feet in.
And I hate shoe shopping worse than I hate pants shopping.

[mkay]

I'm near 5'10", which is pretty much a built-in understandable reason for not wearing heels. So I don't, because most are uncomfortable and, well, I go around in either a pair of ratty black chucks or some black flip-flops. Which should give some idea of how much I can't be bothered to find something nice to stick my feet in.
And I hate shoe shopping worse than I hate pants shopping.

If you're ever looking, Naturalizer and Aerosoles make comfortable shoes, some with heels. Not the height of fashion, but good for professional wear and affordable.

[Beery Swine]

If it's paranoia, it means they're afraid that people will notice how big their feet are if they wear the proper shoe size, so they try to hide it by purchasing smaller shoes than they should.

God, that is so strange to think about. They must do that because of other women because I can't think anything I care less about than the size of a woman's feet.

Ladies: stop tearing each other down all the time.

[mkay]

God, that is so strange to think about. They must do that because of other women because I can't think anything I care less about than the size of a woman's feet.

Ladies: stop tearing each other down all the time.

I've never understood that idea, even as a woman. Unless I had Donald Duck feet, I wouldn't be worrying about the size of my feet ever, lol.

[Eric86]

My mom used to wear high heels a lot, and her feet are in really bad shape now. I personally don't see the point of them.

[SimplyOtter]

I once read, somewhere, that high heels shoes' only purpose IS to make women feel uncomfortable and unsure in walking; apparently this would make them look fragile and in need of help and protection, so I guess this is why whoever invented them thought it was an easy way to make a woman look sexy for a man...

Mmhh. Two thoughts here come to mind.
1) is it really true that a woman looks sexy just when she looks fragile? I don't think so, at all.

2) I think women today can't afford to be fragile anymore, maybe in too many fields. They have to learn to be independent and tough at an early age.Is buying high heels shoes a cheap way to have that (fake) fragility back, maybe?

I'm in love with high heels. I just can't do without them. But I totally agree with you, they ARE silly. :)

[mkay]

I once read, somewhere, that high heels shoes' only purpose IS to make women feel uncomfortable and unsure in walking; apparently this would make them look fragile and in need of help and protection, so I guess this is why whoever invented them thought it was an easy way to make a woman look sexy for a man...

Heels were originally worn by men and women. This is from Wikipedia, but I'm sure you can find other sources, too:


Raised heels are stated to have been a response to the problem of the rider's foot slipping forward in stirrups while riding. The "rider's heel," approximately 1-1/2" high, appeared around 1500. The leading edge was canted forward to help grip the stirrup, and the trailing edge was canted forward to prevent the elongated heel from catching on underbrush or rock while backing up, such as in on-foot combat. These features are evident today in riding boots, notably cowboy boots.

The simple riding heel gave way to a more stylized heel over its first three decades. Beginning with the French, heel heights among men crept up, often becoming higher and thinner, until they were no longer useful while riding, but were relegated to "court-only" wear. By the late 1600s men's heels were commonly between three and four inches in height.

In 1533, the diminutive wife of the Duke of Orleans, Catherine de' Medici, commissioned a cobbler to fashion her a pair of heels, both for fashion, and to increase her stature. They were an adaptation of chopines (elevated wooden soles with both heel and toe raised not unlike modern platform shoes), but unlike chopines the heel was higher than the toe and the "platform" was made to bend in the middle with the foot.

High-heeled shoes quickly caught on with the fashion-conscious men and women of the French court, and spread to pockets of nobility in other countries. The term "well-heeled" became synonymous with opulent wealth.[citation needed] Both men and women continued wearing heels as a matter of noble fashion throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. When the French Revolution drew near, in the late 1700s, the practice of wearing heels fell into decline in France due to its associations with wealth and aristocracy. Throughout most of the 1800s, flat shoes and sandals were usual for both sexes, but the heel resurfaced in fashion during the late 1800s, almost exclusively among women.

[44sunsets]

I once read, somewhere, that high heels shoes' only purpose IS to make women feel uncomfortable and unsure in walking; apparently this would make them look fragile and in need of help and protection, so I guess this is why whoever invented them thought it was an easy way to make a woman look sexy for a man...

This matches exactly what I think the underlying psychological purpose of high heels is. It's designed to make women look more vulnerable, and swing their hips and butt more, hence making them more "sexy".

I'm sure the "official" historical explanation is completely different, but I think it's just a smokescreen.

I think it's all rather silly myself.

[Isabeau]

A little heel (not over 1 1/2") is better for your gait and back.
Only comfortable shoes worn here. Mostly cute comfortable shoes.

[Minerva]

Why do women buy shoes that are too uncomfortable to wear? This is not rhetorical. I understand fashion and fetish, but to wear shoes to work..for 9+ hours that you cannot bear to wear for more than 9 minutes...just what is the deal?

Simply because the desire to "look good" outweighs the desire to be comfortable.

[Allie]

Heh. Whatever the reasons for those heels, they do look great on the ladies! Even I have taken second looks and admired at said ladies and their heels :p

Added heights may be another reason to like them, especially when one is short. It's quite nice to be able to reach those top shelves effortlessly!

I could have sworn there was a general study about taller people having an advantage over shorter people or some such years ago (not sure, it's been awhile). If so, that may be part of a subconscious attraction to high heels, who knows.

[Beery Swine]

Heels? Give me sneakers on a hottie ANY day of the week over those delicately cumbersome western versions of the burka.

[Ranie9]

To appear attractive to men. MEN design uncomfortable shoes for us to wear, and demand that we wear them if we want to appear attractive to them. It is not our fault, it's THEIR fault. *goes back to her margarita*

[seoa]

i feel we're getting off topic.... :) the OP was about uncomfortable shoes, not about heels.

is there a difference, i hear you say? yep. i have many pairs of 4" heels, but they're perfectly comfortable for a full working day. obviously if i was taking a 10 mile hike, or standing up at work all day, then they wouldn't work out as well, but for sitting at a desk & making the occasional cup of tea... they're plenty comfy for an 8-10 hour stretch.

and i'm 6 foot in my heels, which is possibly taller than i need to be, but i don't see this as a problem...

i like heels. bare feet are my preference, but since i have to wear shoes at work /when driving /in the rain, i'd far rather wear pretty heels that make my calves look more shapely, make me move in a more sensuous way & are quite honestly more *fun*, than boring & sensible low heels...

but then i like being girly....

[Allie]

^^^Yeah...Another heeler (hahaha. pun intended).

Heels = pain/uncomfortable to the vast majority of people though. But, I know what you mean.

[Vivid]

Paranoia or fashion.

If it's paranoia, it means they're afraid that people will notice how big their feet are if they wear the proper shoe size, so they try to hide it by purchasing smaller shoes than they should.

If it's fashion, then the shoe is just poorly designed, and the person is so image-conscious that they would rather torture their feet with the bad design than have risk having a lesser image.

So I guess ultimately, it's because the person is unreasonably self-conscious about their image in ways that, realistically, many people are unlikely to pay attention to, much less judge them on. Somehow, this drive to be perceived well surpasses both the pain caused by wearing such shoes, and the guilty knowledge that they are potentially contributing to a trend that pressures others to think they must do the same thing to themselves.

Listen to the INFJ. This is what I was thinking.

[HeterodoxRobot]

High heels are neither comfortable nor functional, but they sure as hell can be sexy.

On a day to day basis, I wear clothes and shoes that are more functional and comfortable in design, but if I ever feel like dressing up and looking sexy, sure, I'll don a pair of aesthetically pleasing heels that my feet will surely hate me for by the end of the evening.

Being the heterosexual female that I am, I've come to accept the fact that there will be times when I resort myself into engaging in somewhat bizarre practices, such as wearing make-up, tweezing my eyebrows, removing "unwanted" and "unsightly" hairs, wearing perfume, and a bunch of other make-myself-look-not-like-a-monkey tasks.

Why???

Because men are a bunch of superficial, vain monkeys who like to look at visually appealing nice pieces of "hot" ass.

[seoa]

one more thought (hey, it's shoes - i can't stop thinking about them at the moment :))

i don't think it's heels that are necessarily the problem. i think the evil is......

*trumpet fan-fare*

....slip-on-shoes.

i mean - they're so horribly illogical. what stops these so-called "slip-on" shoes from just slipping straight off? it's coz they're too tight. they have to be.... they have to grip & cling.

horrible thought!

i only wear shoes with some kind of strap or fastening that holds them on to my feet in an entirely logical way. maybe this is why my 4" heels are sufficiently comfortable - because they're not also trying to be klingon (ha!) shoes....??

slip-ons. bah!

[Grizzly]

Because men are a bunch of superficial, vain monkeys who like to look at visually appealing nice pieces of "hot" ass.

Then why to women get angry when the vain monkey asks this question?

But we get the short end of the stick in the summer. Having to wear a full suit and a tie on a hot summer day.........thats brutal.

Id happily wear a skirt and highheels in that weather.
Plus it would make my calfs look hot.....

[searcher]

I have no idea. Sure - shoes are good...BUT, I would pick flats or boots over heels every time.
Even better would be barefoot, but it doesn't take a genius level IQ to work out that this is not generally socially acceptable.

Really, why do we wear shoes all the time, especially as going barefoot is so much better for you. *resolves to ditch shoes more often*

[athenian200]

Really, why do we wear shoes all the time, especially as going barefoot is so much better for you. *resolves to ditch shoes more often*

You're not the first one to ask that question. Anyone else who's interested in this idea for some reason, read here:

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I happened to read something about this a long time ago. I don't generally go around without shoes in public because of the social implications, but that doesn't mean you can't. People might well be better off not wearing shoes where they're unnecessary.

[HeterodoxRobot]

Then why to women get angry when the vain monkey asks this question?.
I thought the OP was a chick, is Cygnus not?

[Elfrun]

I thought the OP was a chick, is Cygnus not?

Nope... but the internet is a crazy place, he could be a 12 year old girl from Bhutan - just saying ;)

[HeterodoxRobot]

Nope... but the internet is a crazy place, he could be a 12 year old girl from Bhutan - just saying ;)
True dat.

Wanna see a real pic of me???

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[enfpchick]

I don't know but certain high heels just make the outfit and must be worn no matter how uncomfortable. You just grit your teeth and bear it. My mom always says beauty is pain.

[SimplyOtter]

True dat.

Wanna see a real pic of me???

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

:scared: you scared me!!

[Amity]

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
From Time's article on photographer Nick Veasey's X-ray works (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.).
This image illustrates how a woman's shoe (left) contorts the bones of the foot and ankle and throws the weight onto the big toe joint, while a man's boot leaves the foot in a natural position.

[enfpchick]

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
From Time's article on photographer Nick Veasey's X-ray works (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.).


BUT the heel still looks way better :p

[Uberfuhrer]

This is my favorite thread of all time. :wideeyed:

[allenlam]

A female friend told me that most comfortable shoes are too bad looking to wear. They choose to wear uncomfortable shoes to appease men.

[iceberg]

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

[skqt]

I get the impression that those that are confident in themselves in terms of their abilities and intellect won't resort to wearing uncomfortable attire.

So, those that do go about wearing uncomfortable shoes are competing with what they can (and think they have), beauty. It is easier to attain and use than say...intellect.

People act towards their own insecurities.

One can't have someone with brains who at the same time tortures themselves with certain clothing, food or anything else. People just don't have conflicting characters.

Not to mention that footwear like heels are unsafe and unhealthy. No rational person would wear them. Sooner or later I am going to see someone snap their ankle out of sillyness. Have health and safety departments banned these things yet? It's one of the first things I would crack down on. I'm just waiting for that *snap*.

[OneBadMother]

Women wear uncomfortable shoes for the same reason they wear pants without practical pockets. :P Interpret that how you will.

[Deepdelver]

I'll take Cultural Influence for two hundred, Alex.

[enfpchick]

I just bought a new pair of uncomfortable heels today to go with my new dress. It will hurt but at least I'll look good doing it.

[Caesar]

Excellent thread. Bah, uncomfortable high heels (or any other type of uncomfortable footwear).... :irked:
Heels? Give me sneakers on a hottie ANY day of the week over those delicately cumbersome western versions of the burka.

:thumbsup:

[Amity]

I just bought a new pair of uncomfortable heels today to go with my new dress. It will hurt but at least I'll look good doing it.

If "looking good" in uncomfortable footwear is worth blisters, swelling, calluses, corns, bunions, thickened and ingrown toenails, "pump bumps", hammertoes, Morton's neuromas and other nerve damage, stress fractures, shortened Achilles tendons and calf muscles, back and knee problems, and increased chances of twisting an ankle and taking a nasty fall, then :thumbsup:

[Incognito]

It in their nature to do so. Can't really be explained i guess.

[Lupin]

I just love feet. Drawing and scultpting them in particular, so high-heeled shoes, ballet shoes all the shoes which are uncomfortable are actually the best forms to hold feet in their most beautiful positions. The x-ray was excellent. 72 or so bones in the feet so they'd compete for being the most complex structure in the human body I would think.

As feet don't appear to change much throughout a woman's life, the sexy high-heeled look is understandably desirous (quite unlike other types of clothing or accessories). There's nothing like wearing extremely well-designed, highly fashionable or equally classic shoes, slingbacks, sandals, mules.

Have literally bought shoes that look good for the event I've been going to then left a flat pair in the car or carried something more comfortable in another bag.......well, shoes say so much about a person and any opportunity to flash an ankle must be taken! Love this thread.

[spittingvenom]

We, men and women, do all kinds of crazy and painful things for sometimes conscious (I wear high heels to make my ass and legs look hott in order feel sexy or to attract the opposite sex), for sometimes distorted (I shave my legs because it makes me feel cleaner but in truth I want to look like a hairless little girl/french prostitute so men will be sexually attracted to my smooth legs), for obeying social rules (I wear a business suit to my job interview to look professional), for creating a persona (these tatttoos make me look like a bad boy, full of life experience), for practicality (this bra will delay the natural sagging of my lovely breasts thus keeping me sexually attractive for as long as possible).

My point? We are bound consciouly and unconsciously to approval of other human beings by playing with, within, (and sometimes around) what is expected of us socially. Men do painful things to gain approval and sex as well.

Another question? Shaved legs on women. This is not a natural state, but men often prefer it. Does it bother you that being clean shaven was historically done to represent little girls?

[Cygnus]

I love all the input on the thread. I do what to cry foul on some to claim that the reasons for wearing certain shoes is for men. Women traditionally spend a lot more time and focus on outfits,accessories, and appearance. I would wager it is more competing and measuring themselves against other women.

[Antisocialite]

Why do women buy shoes that are too uncomfortable to wear? This is not rhetorical. I understand fashion and fetish, but to wear shoes to work..for 9+ hours that you cannot bear to wear for more than 9 minutes...just what is the deal?

I don't know why a woman would wear uncomfortable shoes to work but I have done that for dates. Beauty knows no pain! :cry: ;D

[Lupin]

I would wager it is more competing and measuring themselves against other women.

I tend to agree with your comment, Cygnus, on a most general level but, thinking independently, being quite adventurous and knowing what works best for me personally, I couldn't really give a stuff about competing with other women on accessories, clothes or shoes.

Surely, anything we buy is an extension of our personal taste. I can see why there appears to be a need to allay personal insecurities regarding other females' allure, sexual attractiveness, and perhaps it's all based on scarcity of potential mates. But how we operate is key and in city life all that you say is unfortunately true so competition does come in strongly even though I can't abide it.....that's why I keep my own counsel and stick to the people who make me feel good, male or female.

London is bad enough but NYC....OMG! I even know women who compete on food at lunchtime....i.e. how little they can eat and doing anything other than accept the bread roll. The dreaded bread. They need to see that the other woman/en is/are eating more than them in calorific value. I ask you? Is this how civilisation is changing us? Even my sister does this in the company of women friends which is pathetic....."here have mine, have another helping, have a bread roll.....".

Anyway, back on thread, clearly.....

SHOES ARE ART :)