"A cause may be inconvenient , but it's magnificent. It's like champagne or high heels, and one must be prepared to suffer for it."-Arnold Bennett
high heel (noun) footwear that raises the heel of the wearer's foot significantly higher than the toes. According to Jimmy Choo and Gucci, a low heel is considered less than 2.5 inches, a medium heel is between 2.5 and 3.5 inches and anything over that is considered a high heel. A high heel tends to give the aesthetic illusion of longer, slender and more toned legs.
Like most little girls, I would run around the house in my mother's heels just waiting for the day that I could wear my own. Be careful what you wish for, right? Now, like many women, I live in heels chanting the fashionista mantra: fashion over pain. So as we face higher taxes (for some...maybe?), higher airfare (definitely), higher heels naturally are all the rage. "High" has been redefined from three to four inches to five, six and even (gasp!) seven inches for fall and next spring. These are the highest heels to ever be sold on a commercial level. Not exactly your Momma's heels.
We must forewarn you that before you jump on this trend, there is a price for the heel appeal. The super sized heels are proving to be quite dangerous for some. At Prada's Spring/Summer 2009 show in September, two models fell trying to make their way down the runway in Miuccia Prada's platforms. Superstar Gwenyth Paltrow has been sporting six inch heels since April but keeps her bodyguard handy to keep her steady, as she teeters on her stilettos at junkets. In fact, 15th century Europe upper class women also wore extremely high platform shoes but had "a servant or chivalrous man to help them walk." Since some of our assistants may be on vacation (or non-existent), the results can be more disastrous than just a fall. According to podiatrists, elevating the heel more than three inches off the ground greatly increases the odds of suffering a sprained or broken ankle and back pain.
Besides the risk of injury, there is also the obvious discomfort factor. In fact, in order to make these super heels more wearable, some women are getting injections of cosmetic fillers like Juvaderm to plump up the balls of the feet.The effect lasts about six to nine months. A drugstore alternative is using Dr. Scholl's gel inserts (at about $12 it will definitely cost you less than collagen injections). So, now that we've given you the appropriate warning, why even bother with the mega heels? We have three words about this trend: they are hot.
If you dare to try the extreme heels, rest assured that you will not be the only one towering over everyone else. The super heel is a huge trend this fall and everyday women are buying the higher heels more so than predicted. Designers Christian Louboutin, Burberry Prorsum, Fendi and Missoni (all pictured above) have created five inch plus shoes (some with hidden platforms) in rich fall colors in a variety of heels and styles. According to the Houston Chronicle, "Louboutin says his six and seven inch heels are selling so well, he plans to introduce an eight inch platform next fall." More affordable versions can also be found at Steve Madden, Nine West and Aldo. Don't look for the trend to disappear anytime soon. We saw the spring shows and the heels were extreme. The New York Times reports in Shoes from the Shows that the heels were "noteworthy for their architectures, soaring heights and fretwork." Sounds fabulous, right? Just remember, the hotter they are, the harder you will fall. Happy and safe super heel wearing.
image source: runway images: jezebel.com, nytimes.com; gwenyth paltrow: nydailynews.com; shoes: net-a-porter.com (clockwise: Burberry Prorsum ruched platform heels, Missoni suede platform pumps, Fendi suede and leather platforms, Christian Louboutin Eugene Satin pumps)
-SD
8 inch heels?!?!? That's crazy! I can't believe girls would wear this. That's too much for me. Plus, I'm already 5'9" without heels. Boys would definitely not talk to me being 6 feet tall with 8 inch heels!
Posted by: starryeyed04 | November 12, 2008 at 02:07 PM