Culture of Shoes

[jitterbugbaby]

Here's an interesting article in the New York Daily News about women and shoe culture. It's got a bit of everything: celeb shoe quotes, cultural observations about shoes, shoe care and buying tips, and Penelope Cruz saying she can't get into the mind of a character she's playing until she figures out what shoes she'll be wearing.

I thought it was interesting.

[shoesense]

It was interesting, though I would have to disagree with some of the basic tenets, such as high heels being one of the main differences between men and women. May I remind the author it hasn't always been so? Pumps were menswear for quite a while--and yes, they had to do with status, of course. Unfortunately, in women's case high heels have less to do with status and more to do with (you guessed it!)...sex! Now, that seems unfair, at the very least.

[graymnnce]

Originally Posted by shoesense

It was interesting, though I would have to disagree with some of the basic tenets, such as high heels being one of the main differences between men and women. May I remind the author it hasn't always been so? Pumps were menswear for quite a while--and yes, they had to do with status, of course. Unfortunately, in women's case high heels have less to do with status and more to do with (you guessed it!)...sex! Now, that seems unfair, at the very least.

And not just in the ancient past, either - remember the 1970's? I wasn't such an anomaly in those days!

[Nemtynakht]

I had a student last term who wore pumps, and wedges, and I think even platforms on occasion. He knew he was flaunting convention and he just did it -- when you asked him about his shoes, he would say, "I know, aren't these cute? And they give me extra height but they're still comfortable." He wasn't being silly, it was just his look. He was awesome.

[graymnnce]

That young man has discovered an important secret: to wear heels as a man, you must wear them with cheerful confidence. I know when I feel insecure or vulnerable, I tend to get dirty looks, whereas when I feel good I get smiles and compliments. Took me a lot of years to learn what he caught on to right away!

[richardkray]

Great article jitterbugbaby - Keep postin em'!