Tuesday, February 16, 2021

The Fall of High Heels

On that fateful day that I tried on women’s clothing for the very first time, the second item I tried on were a pair of high heel pumps (preceded by a pair of nylon stockings). Ever since then, high heels have been an integral part of my wardrobe.

Slipping on a pair of heels is usually the last step in my femulation – they complete me as a woman and I seldom wear anything else. So it saddens me to read the InStyle article Diana sent me documenting the decline of high heels.

Sales of dress shoes, including heels, went down 71% in the second quarter of 2020, according to fashion site Glossy. As the world approaches the one-year anniversary of working from home, will women really go back to teetering around an office in stilettos? And, perhaps more importantly, will they be required to in order to be taken seriously and get ahead in their careers?”

The author of the article is happy about the decline of heels, however, her article quotes observers who believe that heels will make a comeback post-pandemic.

Who knows?

I do know that I have lots of heels in my wardrobe and even if they stopped selling heels everywhere tomorrow, I would be set for life.




Wearing Nine West
Wearing Nine West


Alison Laing
Alison Laing, transgender pioneer

16 comments:

  1. About a decade ago or so in the UK, ballet pumps (or "flatties") seemed to reach their peak. A handful of style magazines stated that this was the death of the heel, but it came back. A good shoe can be comfortable, IMO, and a poorly made flat can hurt too. On the flip side Birkenstock sandals are great. :-)

    COVID19 lockdowns have, as you say, brought comfort fashion and with the lack of going out (pubs, restaurants, etc) makeup and 'going out' outfits have tanked too.

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  2. This is why more men should wear high heeled shoes!

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  3. I think we will see a comeback. I have been doing my part, purchasing two pairs this week.

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  4. I used to visit the Nine-West site daily but sadly have not checked it for weeks. It is not that I have lost interest but lack opportunities to get out in an "all dressed up" way.

    I think high heels will always be around like cocktail dresses, but not seen as much every-day.

    Like you Stana, I have a life time supply.

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  5. For those of us of a certain age, we grew up with men's and women's clothes and shoes being quite different, I don't think I saw my mother wear a pair of trousers until I was well into my teens. Mum always wore stockings, heels and more often than no a dress (a skirt and jumper was considered a bit casual). ON the other hand my father always wore a suit and tie, and I certainly remember starched collars!

    Jeans, training shoes, tee shirts, etc. were all still to enter into our consciousness so to be a woman meant wearing heels!

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  6. I'm taking the platform that, as people return to socializing, women will be pumped to dress up, and high heel shoes sales will spike. (puns are as intentional as is wearing my heels) :-)

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    1. You're a shoe-in for funniest comment of the week! And I do believe you're also correct:)

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    2. Connie you always get to the sole of the issue.

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    3. I always try to stay instep with the latest fashions, as I am well-heeled. I can be strappy in my insistence, and I am flat-out against the elimination of high heels. In fact, you can have my heels when you pry them from my cold dead feet!

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  7. Dear Stana ,
    All should take heart , a lady is Mystical in high heels , they will always persevere and transcend fad styles and Never Never go away and will always stay loved by all genders .

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  8. I still remember most of the 90's and the beginning of the 2000's, when most women (in real life but also in TV shows and movies) would only wear clunky shoes and chunky heels. No elegant pumps or boots.. let alone stiletto heels.

    I'm soo glad that for the last 10 to 15 years, stiletto heels have been back. And I'm sure they'll be back when life gets back to normal! ;)

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  9. ladies stiletto high heels are probably the female equivalent of mens dinner suits i.e. a timeless look that will always transcend current fashions...

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  10. I know! I am trying to replace my favorite black pumps. I prefer to try shoes on before buying, but none of my usual locations are even carrying them, let alone in my size.

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  11. I LOVE HIGH HEELS but I get incredible pain on the balls of my foot. They get inflamed and my 3 middle toes get tingly and numbing. I've tried everything from cortisone shots to orthotics. It's been over. year and nothing works.

    What's a girl to do?

    oh. I'm 6'3" with no heels and not overweight.

    Gwen

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  12. I LOVE HIGH HEELS but I get incredible pain on the balls of my foot. They get inflamed and my 3 middle toes get tingly and numbing . I've tried everything from cortisone shots to orthotics. It's been over. year and nothing works.

    What's a girl to do?

    oh. I'm 6'3" with no heels and not overweight.

    Gwen

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