FootNotes:ON Shoes

   The essays in this collection offer various answers to this question, from the per-spectives of art, film, literature, history, folklore, dance, psychology, and cultural studies.Sometimes overlapping, sometimes contradictory, these analyses extend argumentsdrawn from the steadily growing body of work devoted to fashion. Reflecting the paradoxesinherent in shoes- in collecting,consuming, fashioning, representing. and wearing them-they are loosely organized into four sections: perspective, presentation,power, and perception. In a sense, such distinctions are arbitrary, for our contributorspersistently identify the ambivalences and anxieties in the culturally constructed meanings of shoes.
    Distinctions of class, gender, and sexuality often further overlap with ethnic identification,as particular styles become synonymous with certain groups of wearers. According to Tace Hedrick. spike heels (tacones) have come to he connected with the exotic beauty of Hispanic women. "Where would the Bratilian Carmen Minmda, Nuyorican Jennifer L6pez, or Mexican-born Salma Hayek be without their seemingly requisite high heels?" she asks. Heels have become synonymous with " brownness."
    Shoes can also be conceived of as talismans of their wearer, bearers of the
power accrued to the absent being. ln the magical thinking of American advertising,shoes have acquired a talismanic significance: ads for Air Jordan& once extended the prumise that the wearer could "be like Mike." Despite Michael Jordan's protest that"the shoes mean just shoes," young costomers were still willing to pay upwards of $200to purchase a token of his success.Vintage Air Jordans routinely go for$22,500,about as much as the retro VW beetle.  Jordan may have retired, but Nike's basie marketing strategy hasn't. A Lakota lndian says he runs the Sacted Hoop 500 far all Lakota (figure 2). Since,as he reminds us, "we belong to this land, to the spilit of Paha Sapa," we can all turn running a relay in our Nikes into a spiritual quest.
    Such a gesture, of course. distracts consumer from the realities of shoe production,from the impoverished and brutal working conditions of laborers in sweatshops in the United States and in the exploited third-world markets favored by Nike and other first world corporations. Recently, troubled athletic giant Re-eook publicized the results of a study citing health and safety problems in the factories of its subcontractors in Indonesia and its suppliers in China, Thailand, Vietnam. and Brazll.Nike is reportedly inviting college students to investigate its labor practices in lndoriesia and elsewhere. Students must, of course, possess a working knowledge of the country's language and regional dialects, so one wonders how many will actually be able to take advantage of
this "opportunity."

The Art of Strutting in High Heel Stilettos

When you wear a pair of high heel stilettos you are making a statement, a bold statement and the shoe lovers amongst us already know that stilettos deserve, in fact demand to be worn in a certain manner this includes mastering the strut.

The single most important aspect of strutting is attitude. You must adopt the stiletto mindset, you have already learned how to walk in heels strutting in a pair of high heel stilettos is not a technique it is a state of mind. This is not as daunting as it sounds in fact it will come to you naturally. I will list some tips to help you along the way.

• When you are in the house get dressed and slip on your pair of beauties. Think supermodel, you are a gorgeous, glamorous, confident woman. Look at yourself in the mirror, turn, pose and look down at your heels. Lift one heel then the other keeping one eye on the mirror and the other on your heels.


• You should start feeling elegant and graceful. Start walking, again using the mirror and experiment with your posture. Start walking with toes facing outward one foot in front of the other and vary your walk, try a slight zig zag in your path, try lifting your trailing heel a little higher when you make your step (a favorite with catwalk models). What looks and feels good for you is good for you. You are starting to develop your own style.


• Don't underestimate your facial expressions, especially the eyes. Again experiment. Practice in the mirror, pout, stare ahead use your eyes to convey how you feel all the time walking, turning and posing. Try arrogant, stilettos imply an element of arrogance the art is to make it understated don't overdo any element of strutting.


• You should now be well on the way to developing your own signature strut, your hips will sway naturally and your overall look should be a reflection of your personality. Individuality is imperative.


• You are now ready to strut your stuff. You should at all times exude the confident, beautiful woman that you know you are. You will feel gorgeous (you are) in your gorgeous heels. Enjoy every step, when heads turn enjoy, when you receive compliments enjoy, when your heels click enjoy, when you lift a heel just to admire enjoy.


• You feel like the woman you always knew you were, your personality, style and individuality are shining for all to see.

You are strutting girl.

Tick Lunney is a native Londoner with a keen interest in fashion and a lifelong love affair with high heels. I have been involved in setting up a new website dealing in designer and quality brand name high heel shoes and boots. Please pay us a visit at the following web address and have a look around.

High Heel Shoes - Latest Trends

High heel shoes are the ultimate way to complete any outfit, and make you feel and look incredible each and every day. With so many options for us ladies to consider, you can find a pair to suit any occasion. High heel shoes elongate the body, giving the appearance of a more slender frame, whilst adding inches to your height. They are a saviour for the more petite woman, but equally as attractive to taller ladies.

At the moment, there are lots of high heel shoes trends to choose from, catering for all needs and requirements. One of these is the platform wedge shoe. This style is ideal for providing comfort for work during the day or when shopping at the weekend. They are available in many different styles, and can range from the subtle to the bold, depending on your preference. These will give you an extra boost, and will look great when worn with trousers or a skirt. You can opt for a neutral colour for work, and go for a bolder shade when wearing them during your recreational time. Platform wedge shoes also go well with the popular maxi dress, so can easily be worn for a night out or on holiday.

Platform shoes on their own, are another popular trend which can suit a variety of occasions. They can be found in styles with a chunky heel, or narrower if this is what you prefer. Flatform high heel shoes are a new trend on the market, which are a mixture of the wedge shoe and flats, providing the height without the steepness, making them a more comfortable alternative. These types will look great when worn with a pair of jeans or with a skirt or dress, for more special occasions.

Another popular trend in high heel shoes at the moment is the clog. Clogs have been forgotten about for a long time, but have been reintroduced in more attractive designs, making them one of the essential styles in footwear this season. Clogs have been seen recently on the catwalk by many designers and generally come in the form of a wooden sole, with a combination of materials. The popularity of the clog shoe looks set to rise over the oncoming months.

If you are looking for high heel shoes for that special night out, then strappy shoes should be top of your list this season. Strappy shoes are feminine and attractive, and will look good with your favourite dress or skirt, for a party or when out at a club. Seen recently by designers such as Christian Dior, the strappy shoe can be found with different materials such as laces and fabrics.

High Heel Shoes in Women's Fashion

The craze for high heel shoes will never decline. Women love to wear high heels. It gives them a lot of confidence and they feel great. Men too love to watch women with heels on. The picture of a lady wearing heels and swaying her hips when she walks is a sight that men love to watch.

It also adds to the ego of a woman to be admired so visibly by the men. The love of high heel shoes can make a woman spend a fortune over designer wear. Her love for these shoes has made manufacturers invent more and more innovative styles to match the current trends. You can see different colors and various categories of high heels in the market.

History of high heels:

The history of the shoes dates back to the 17th century. It was first used as a tool to help Egyptian butchers to walk over the blood spilled from the animals after killing them. It was also used by horse riders to help them from slipping while riding. But the modern day high heel shoes came into fashion when Catherine de` Medici, the short little wife of the Duke of Orleans, wanted to improve her stature. She wanted to add a few more inches to her height. But she got the ball rolling and more and more women were enamored by the need to look taller. This heralded the trend of wearing high heel shoes.

The decline of the heels:

The high heels lost their popularity during the time of the French revolution in the 1700`s. It again came into fashion a century later and stayed in contention till the early twentieth century. It was overtaken by the flat-soled shoes which dominated the fashion world for some years after that. The high heels were then back with a bang with the Louis heels. And the heels have continued to be an important part of women`s fashion till date. Nowadays, the apparel is also being designed to suit the wearing of high heel shoes.

The contemporary trend:

During the middle of the 1900, the stilettos came into fashion. They were designed to look like the dagger and were very popular with the women. With the spread of the high heels in every field, women are wearing them to each and every place. They can be worn outdoors, to the party and even for office wear. The design of the shoes changes accordingly. The heights too vary starting form a mere 2 inches to a whopping 8 inches high. The varieties include platform shoes, wedge heel, stacked heel and spool heel.

Places where you can wear heels:

In the days gone by, heels could be worn to parties only. But with the passage of time, high heel shoes are now being worn to the office and even for doing standard work like doing the grocery. The style icons of today set examples by putting on innovative types of high heels which are later incorporated in daily wear by the people. They may even put on embellished heels with a lot of painting and carving. But these shoes can now be worn for any occasion.

Do high heels make you feel great?

Due to the fact that women look more seductive and sexy, they love to flaunt their high heel shoes. Heels not only add height but also make the legs look very attractive. The entire being of the woman is transformed when she walk by with a pair of high heels. She looks very sophisticated. So high heel shoes certainly add a new dimension to the personality of every woman.

Sexy High Heels - Shoes That Make a Statement

Sexy High Heels have been around for ages and women continue to buy them for all sorts of occasions. Almost from the first formal occasion a girl attends the issue of her shoes and what is age appropriate begins. High heels are available in heel heights ranging from three inches up to five inches and then you enter the area of fetish heels which means heels of six inches which rarely see the light of day. The sheer size of the women's shoe industry attests to many women's desire to own and wear new styles of shoes on a regular basis.

What should you look for when buying sexy high heels? First of all consider the heel height and what you are going to be wearing the shoes for. Women who are on the short side may be purchasing the shoes not so much because they are comfortable but they simply want to be taller and a pair of flats or kitty heels won't work for that purpose. When buying sexy high heels you need to consider how long you are going to be on your feet. If you work at a desk job, wear business attire all day and the extent of your walking consists of walking to the copier and back then four inch heels are perfect. If you work at a department store and are on the sales floor all day long then four inch heels won't work well. One suggestion is to buy a closed toe shoe with a two and at most three inch heel that will look great with slacks giving you a polished look without the discomfort of wearing high heels all day long.

Try a pair of wedges that have a bit of a platform and will give you some height and the platform makes up for the severe angle of high heels yet giving you the height you desire. Many women shy away from platforms although if you look through their closets you will find that many shoes are platform shoes albeit one or two inch platforms. Platforms are great for giving you height and reducing the cause of much foot and leg pain after wearing high heels. Part of the reason you have sore feet is your ankle is distorted in a pair of four or five inch heels as the single sole high heels have a wafer thin sole while the heel is providing all of the height. Platforms add height in the sole reducing the angle your foot rests at and makes the shoe more comfortable, like wedges and other platform type shoes. Many women mistakenly think platform shoes are only those stripper shoes that have the three, four and five inch platforms that make you look like a stripper when you wear them.

Don't neglect to add some of the cushion insoles to your shoes for comfort as being comfortable in your shoes can make your day. They are inexpensive, disposable and I don't understand why every woman doesn't have some in every pair of shoes she wears. Probably habit or just a failure to try the product but once you do you will probably be a believer. Needless to say be sure that the shoes you buy are in fact your size. Perhaps vanity prevents us from understanding that the size of our feet is of no consequence and our shoes need to fit properly. Many women are wearing shoes that are too small for them as they neglected to try on a larger size at the time of purchase. Always ask to try on a larger size just for comparison. The sales person won't have a problem with you making sure the shoes you buy are the right size. Just because you think you are a size 7, you may not be in the designer shoes you are buying and your feet will pay for it.

When buying shoes don't trust for a moment how the shoes look on the displays, try them on and try on shoes you don't think you will like from time to time and see if you don't surprise yourself. You lose nothing when you try on a pair of shoes and if it turns out you didn't like the way they looked send them back. Try on a pair of really high heels just to see how they look and feel. Go outside your comfort zone and be adventurous. Express yourself in the shoes you wear and don't be afraid to make a mistake unless of course you are buying $900.00 shoes and they are not returnable.

High Heels Shoes - From a Woman Who Loves Heels

he pros and cons of wearing high heels are constantly being debated in the media. Reactions from all contributors of this lively discussion can seem extreme when considering the subject matter but are not surprising to those of us who have an obsession with heels. Our voice is rarely heard.

We are constantly being told in the press of the dangers of wearing high heels.

As a woman who has a deep passion for heels I would like to offer my perspective on the subject.

For simplicity I shall consider four general categories of people who I consider to be the most opinionated on the subject and who contribute most to the debate. I have intentionally left out the medical profession.

1. Women who love heels. Most women have an interest in shoes but it is well documented that for some women high heel shoes are an obsession. Many theories have been put forward to explain this behavior. From personal experience I can say that women who have a passion for heels simply love wearing, owning and collecting heels and do so with a joy that adds an extra dimension to their lives.

2. Women who detest heels. These women are as passionate in their belief as their heel loving sisters. In general they find heels degrading to their sex and consider wearing them as an unnecessary, uncomfortable and painful betrayal of their gender.

It must be mentioned that neither of the above groups are likely to have their opinions changed, each believing the other to be mislead.

3. Men who love heels. Many men are attracted to heels. Usually this is a sexual preference or an unconscious reaction. This attraction is considered normal by both men and women but as it is sexual in nature it can in some men lead to an obsession that may develop into a fetish.

4. Lastly men who cannot understand why women attach so much importance to shoes of any type and are shocked at the amount of shoes a women owns and how much she will spend on a pair of quality heels.This group does not tend to contribute anything worthy of debate.

The fact that an item of clothing could arouse such extreme emotions would normally seem absurd. In the case of high heel shoes I am not in the least surprised as heels have always held a special place in the heart of many women. There is no doubt that wearing heels is detrimental to your health and that an obsession of any type by definition is not normal behaviour but in the case of high heels there is an element of mystique and sexuality that is unique and unexplainable.

In conclusion, high heeled ladies will continue to strut their stuff with pride throwing caution to the wind and our detractors will continue tell us the errors of our ways.

vive la différence

Tick Lunney is a native Londoner with a keen interest in fashion and a lifelong love affair with high heels. I have been involved in setting up a new website dealing in designer and quality brand name high heel shoes and boots. Please pay us a vist at the following web address and have a look around.

Why Do Women Wear High Heeled Shoes?

Because high heeled shoes make our legs look sexier. Because men designed them for their pleasure. Because they make us look taller; because they make our butt muscles tighten and so we think our fanny looks better; because we slowly develop stronger calf muscles; because it's something women can do really well and most men don't even want to try; because we always have a secret weapon handy; because flat shoes make our arches ache; because designers need more material to work with and heels offer so many possibilities.

Individuality, Femininity, Empowerment

Those are just a few reasons why every single woman on the planet doesn't just have three pairs of shoes: a brown pair of basic sandals, a white pair of fuzzy slippers and a pair of black flat shoes for walking and working. But that's exactly the answer. Women use shoes to show individuality and femininity or strength or naturalness or a million other facets of their personalities and lifestyles. Men have one little item of great importance that makes them who they think they are, that separates them from other men, that makes them feel or look or act stronger or weaker. Women have heels!

Getting From A to B

High heeled shoes can empower a woman or weaken her, it depends on the style, the height, what they're worn with, whilst flat shoes neither empower or weaken. They're merely feet coverings. That said, there are times in a woman's life when she wishes to be neither powerful nor weak, but simply needs to get from point A to point B in a practical and comfortable manner. That's why nearly every woman has a few pairs of heels, but at least one pair of flats, for those days when nothing but the road ahead and the steps underfoot have any importance.

A Final Cautionary High Heel Shoe Note

Although the main reason that women wear high heels may simply be due to the fact some queens, or would-be female monarchs, were un-regally short in statue, it also developed into a sign of affluence. But, fashionable, affluent ladies, BEWARE, since wearing high heels at some points in history, like during the French revolution, could cost you your head!

Nena is a researcher and writer who contributes articles about fashion, accessories, footwear, jewelry, womens trends and other hot products including high heeled shoes for the black flat shoes web site.

Sex and the Shoe

    In another episode, Carrie attends a baby shower. Concerned
about dirt and germs her guests might carry on their soles, the
hostess asks the guests to remove their shoes before entering her
apartment. At the end of the afternoon, Carrie can't find her
Manolos: they've been nicked by a magpie, attracted by their
beauty and sparkle.
    Having shoes as the protagonists of such a popular TV show
has transformed a secret label known to only a few privileged
fashion insiders into a mass myth at least as far as its followers
are concerned: you can't buy a pair of Manolos for less· than
$400!
    The Blahnik brand has even penetrated the world of rap
music. In Jay-Z's song "Bonnie and Clyde," dedicated to his pop
star girlfriend, Beyonce Knowles, the rap artist promises to love
and cherish his woman by offering her an Hermes "Birkin" bag, a
Mercedes Benz, and a pair of Manolos.
    Manolo Blahnik, the man behind the label, was born in the
Canary Islands in 1943. After studying fine art and architecture,
in the early 1970s he moved to New York, where he met Diana
Vreeland, the legendary editor of Vogue, who encouraged him to
design shoes. His first devotees were the most glamorous actresses
of the age: Marisa Berenson, Jane Birkin, Charlotte Rampling.
Today his shoes can be found not only in high-class boutiques and
on the feet of celebrities such as Kate Moss and Jennifer Aniston,
but also in design museums.
    Manolo's comment on the lengths people will go to for a pair
of his shoes, and for shoes in general, is: "Women love transforming
themselves, and shoes are the quickest and easiest way for
them to achieve instant metamorphosis. And they cost less than a
piece of jewelry, or an haute-couture frock."
    In wintertime, these ladies repair to Courmayeur, where, to receive
their friends, they pull out of the cupboard a slipperlike alternative:
Belgian loafers, inspired by the traditional footwear of
Flanders peasants. Made of felt, with leather trimmings and a little
tassel in the center, these loafers ensure that the lady of the house
always has a smile on her face. If the lady is leftward-leaning, and
the house in question is not the family apartment in Val d'Aosta
but instead a radical-chic farmhouse in Tuscany, she will be wearing
a pair of colored velvet slippers known as friuliane.
    Another fan of comfortable footwear is the ultratraditional
woman. She has always chosen what are known as penny loafers,
the most classic loafers in the world. When she was young she
wore them with a coin in the groove, blushing at the idea of wearing
the penny on the right or the left to indicate whether she was
single or already taken. Later she got married in a downtown
church, and when cracks began to appear in the marriage, she
consoled herself by moving on from penny loafers to loafers with
high, clumpy heels an utter abomination. In fact, the husband
ended up eloping with the baby-sitter.

The origin of the high heel goes back many centuries in history

    The origin of the high heel goes back many centuries in history. The first precursors of stiletto heels were discovered in a tomb of Tebas in Old Egypt, and date from 1000 BC. These heels possibly provided a high social status to those who wore them
    16 century
    Original high-heels shoes were used for riding horses; it was convenient for people to manage stirrup.  They became fashion things for noble class at the end of 16 century. It was said that short stature LOUIS XIV ordered his shoes designer to attach 4 inches high heels to his shoes to lay his special power and position.
    17 century
    It became an important fashion factor. At that time, the heel of reached 3 inches, shoes body was more slender. Even all the people who walked on road wearing the same design shoes because that just one style of it can be produced based on the technique in that period.
    18 century
    people tried to make slender high-heels, but the support powers was lacked, only widen the top heels and connected with soles can be accepted.
    19 century
    Lovely Jane shoes design was released, this design had popular for 50 years in 19 century, and the shoes technique in that time had in a high level, more and more shoes style came out.
    20 century
    The 1920s, it was combined with sandal
    1930s to 1940s, peep-toe was treated an inelegant action;
    The 1950s, it changed much;
    Now, it has last 400 years history, thought it is different in different period, I still keep a
development.
    Reasons against wearing high heels, which are almost exclusively health and practicality reasons, include:
    They can cause foot pain.
    They increase likelihood of sprains and fractures.
    They make calves look more rigid and sinewy.
    They can create foot deformities, including hammertoes and bunions.
    They can cause an unsteady gait.
    They can shorten the wearer's stride.They can render the wearer unable to run.
    Altered forces at the knee caused by walking in high heels may predispose to degenerative changes in the knee joint.
    Foot and tendon problems as listed below.  Women who wear high heels frequently have a higher incidence of degenerative joint disease of the knees. This is because they cause a decrease in the normal rotation of the foot, which puts more rotation stress on the knee.
    Reasons for wearing high heels, which are almost exclusively aesthetic, include:  They change the angle of the foot with respect to the lower leg, which accentuates the appearance of calves.
    They change the wearer's posture, requiring a more upright carriage and altering the gait in what is considered a seductive fashion.  They make the wearer appear taller.They make the legs appear longer.They make the foot appear smaller.  They make the toes appear shorter.They make the arches of the feet higher and better defined.
    Glamour Stiletto Run High Heel Race - August 19, 2006, Berlin Germany
Just looking at an image like this actually makes me nervous for these women. But I find it somehow inspiring as well. Maybe if I started training now ...
    In modern society, high-heeled shoes are a part of women's fashion

High-heeled footwear

       During this summer vacation, I read a book named “50 shoes that can change the world”. High-heeled footwear (often abbreviated as high heels or simply heels) is footwear that raises the heel of the wearer's foot significantly higher than the toes and often can be worn without socks. When both the heel and the toes are raised equal amounts, as in a platform shoe, it is technically not considered to be a high heel; however, there are also high-heeled platform shoes. High heels tend to give the aesthetic illusion of longer, more slender and more toned legs. High heels come in a wide variety of styles, and the heels are found in many different shapes, including stiletto, pump (court shoe), block, tapered, blade, and wedge. 

      According to high-fashion shoe websites like Jimmy Choo and Gucci, a "low heel" is considered less than 2.5 inches (6centimeters), while heels between 2.5 and 3.5 inches (8.5 cm) are considered "mid heels", and anything over that is considered a "high heel".

      Although high heels are now almost exclusively worn by girls and women, there are shoe designs worn by both genders that have elevated heels, including cowboy boots and cuban heels. In previous ages, men also wore high heels. 

      The history of the high-heeled shoe, or a shoe whose heel is higher than the toe, is a matter of contentious and heated discussion. Shoes in general have typically served as markers of gender, class, race, and ethnicity—and both the foot and the shoe have been imbued with powerful phallic and fertility symbols as evidenced in the contemporary practice of tying shoes to a newlywed couple's car. No other shoe, however, has gestured toward leisure, sexuality, and sophistication as much as the high-heeled shoe. Fraught with contradiction, heels paradoxically inhibit movement in order to increase it, at least in appearance. Standing in heels, a woman presents herself already half-walking while at the same time reducing the length of her step, fostering the illusion of speed while suggesting an imminent fall. The higher and more unstable the heel, the more clearly these contradictions are expressed (Kunzle, 2004)[where?]. Doctors and scholars alike have argued about the physical and cultural effects, both positive and negative, that heels have had not only on women, but on society as a whole.

When Should You Wear High Heel Shoes?

If you are a shoe lover as much as I am, you probably have over a dozen stunning high shoes in your cupboard. However, when is it really appropriate for you to wear a pair of high heel shoes?

I've seen women wear high heels on many occasions while they sacrifice the comfort of their feet. I find that there are only certain occasions and events to which you should wear your sexy high heel shoes. There are certain places you shouldn't wear them to. Here is my list of places which are either appropriate or inappropriate.

Appropriate occasions for wearing high heel shoes.

A Dinner Date: If you are going out on a date with a gentleman, especially if it's the first date, you can put on your sexy shoes. You will appear to him as a confident lady. This is a quality many men admire in a woman. Better yet, you'll be seated most of the time so your feet won't get hurt.

A Wedding: Receiving an invitation to a wedding is an honour. With wedding costs skyrocketing, couples are compelled to invite selected guests only. If you are the lucky recipient of a wedding invitation, you need to look the part. Weddings are occasions usually celebrated in style where guests are required to be dressed formally. When you choose your elegant evening dress you can certainly put on a pair of sophisticated high heel evening shoes to complement your dress.

Year End Functions: If you are going to a year-end function or any corporate function for that matter you need to look powerful and professional. A woman wearing a beautiful pair of high heels indicates to her colleagues that she is confident, strong and determined. Furthermore, while you are mingling and moving around, you'll find that the shoes are actually quite comfortable and manageable.

Inappropriate occasions for wearing high heel shoes.

The Shopping Mall: We all love to get attention but getting attention at a shopping mall is not good. Shoppers tend to gawk and criticise ladies who wear high shoes in malls. Furthermore, high heels are not made for walking long distances and you could easily walk 5km in a mall. I don't know about you but I'm not going to walk 5km in my heels. Why should I put myself through that pain?

Travelling: When you are travelling by plane or train, you'll have lots of luggage that you'll need to lug around. Yes, I know there are trolleys but there are some areas that you can't use them and you still have to lift your bags. The extra weight of the bags could hurt your ankles. So consider your feet the next time you travel.

I hope I have given you some insight in the world of fashion shoes. High heels are a girl's best friend but only when you wear them at the right time.

Better Fitting Footwear cc is your online shoe shopping site.
Making it easier more convenient and faster to purchase your best friend, we all know women can't get enough shoes, it's her best friend forever.

High Heel Shoes

Let's face it! High heel shoes for women are hot, sexy and downright glamorous.

Ok, ok. We all know how high heels are bad for the posture, how we can twist our ankles miserably while tottering on them or how badly it can affect our spines; but, when it comes to the crunch, wearing a pair of high heels for a special occasion, do we really care about what the doomsayers keep harping on about the bad effects on our body?! Most of us don`t, for that occasional foray of madness of teetering on 5-inch heels when it makes us feel oh, so special. Wearing them can make even average people like us feel like a diva! And to the Carping Cassandras, the advice would be to try on high heel shoes just once and experience the transformation!

High heel shoes are mood uplifters. Which women amongst us will not appreciate the way it elongates our body, stretches our legs to infinity and gives us that supremely confident walk (practice, practice, practice!)? Not all of us are blessed with shapely legs and if high heel shoes give us the chance to resort to trickery of creating an illusion of slimmer and shapelier legs, why give it a miss? After all, even supermodels require help!

Short calves suddenly look longer, leaner and meaner when wearing high heels. The position of the derriere and the chest change giving a more sensuous posture and a more graceful walk. Petite women need not be looked down upon by tall, statuesque women; wearing a pair of high heel stilettos will do the trick of bringing them to the same level. They also need not look like midgets besides their tall (if) partners.

Can you imagine a sunshiny summer day without a flirty, summer dress? And what better to complement the dress than a pair of high heel strappy sandals? Whether you are lounging on a yacht (sigh!) or attending a smart luncheon, your high heel shoes are indispensable accessories. Even if you are just grabbing a sandwich in the office break, wearing high-heeled shoes to work occasionally will be a sure-shot antidote to all the office drudgery, unless of course, you are straight out of 'The Devil Wears Prada' movie! Your office uniform, perhaps, consists of pencil skirts or trousers and teaming those with high heels will give you an air of authority, even if you are not the boss! And if you are the boss, so much the better; the power of feminine authority is never more evident than when clacking around in power suits and high heels and feminists can just glower!

Going to a party straight from office and no time to change; don't worry, stash your high heels in your bag in the morning, put them on in the evening and whoa, you are ready to rock! High heel shoes can transform the drabbest of outfits into something personable. There is an aura about high heels and no amount of gloomy prophesies of a doomed health will take that away from them.

Have you ever wondered how those Latino sirens manage to move so gracefully when executing those sensuous dance steps? Besides being fleet-footed and naturally graceful dancers, their high heel shoes definitely contribute to the voluptuousness of their dance movements. But, if you are thinking on those lines, first put in some real practice with the shoes on before hitting the dance floor.

These killer high heel shoes were invented not for concealment but for flaunting as their only purpose are to make women feel good about themselves!