And I am supposed to walk in these, how?
The male species may not be aware of the torture-wear storming the shops this past year. Following the best few seasons for ages featuring frocks that I actually desire and which would be cramming my wardrobe if it weren’t for (a) dosh (or lack thereof), (b) space (or lack thereof) and (c) my favourite outlet, Primark — bringing high fashion to the low rent — STILL failing to sort out its cheap labour sources … the deity that rules these things has snuck in footwear that hates women.
Unbearable AND unwearable! Your choice this summer is flat flip-flop-style sandals with that alarming strap that threatens to slice your big toes from all the other little piggies; medium-height wedges that allow no movement in the dark night of the sole; and vertigo-inducing hobblers, example above (Top Shop). Steve Martin didn’t call them “cruel shoes” for nothing.
What happened to good ol’ Clarks, you may ask? Well, what happened with me was a pair of lovely black leather mid-heel boots that moulded beautifully to my size sevens, apart from the stitched band across the base of the toes that failed to give and pushed my big toe joint sideways, making walking painful even now.
China got rid of its bound feet decades ago, but here we are being lured back into crippling bondage boxes for our delicate tootsies. Do you know how similar to bound foot-stumps the current trend in foot shapes is? These things may look fab when you are reclining sexily, but have you watched women walking in them? Have you TRIED walking in them? Look at the angles on those things. They push your bum out at unnatural degrees closer to our Australopithecus ancestors, and force you to waddle like a duck.
France bans the veil but puts up with our young women crippling themselves permanently. If you are going to dictate what women should or shouldn’t wear — which you should not be doing at all — I’d rather see Sarkozy banning Carla Bruni and her sisters from wearing these things in public than telling grown Muslim women they have no say in their own attire.
And, yes, I did buy a pair. Why do you ask?
Anna’s food blog here:
http://annacheneats.blogspot.com/
Heelage makes women walking into a spectator sport — it gives the walker a sexy sway and a flattering calf-muscle bulge, but at the price of damage to the wearer.
I'm glad to have left my old platform boots back in 1974 — and even cowboy boots have been banished to the wardrobe because I can't work a wah-wah pedal whilst wearing them … let alone walk.
Fine when you're actually cycling, I guess, but stopping must be a gymnastic feat.
Passing through Belgravia I saw a woman cycling in stilettos this high. I thought she should join the circus.
I think they really should start a freak show featuring women who do crazy things in high heels.