Like you, I don’t see the 3+inch heels out except for the occasional young teen or office worker at lunch or happy hour. I am seeing lots of wedges but mostly flats and the ever present flip flops.

I have one pair of 3+ inch heels that come out only at night. I LOVE the way they make my legs look and they are comfortable and easy to walk/dance in but far too glamorous for any other occasions. When I wear them out in our North Idaho town I am very aware that I am the only one in high, high heels.

I’m in Los Angeles–I wear a lot of wedges and sometimes platforms, but rarely a pointed heal. And if I do, it surely isn’t too high! I don’t wear flat flats either. Those can be painful too. Some arch is good.
I’ve noticed women here really only bring out the high heels during the evening or for a special occasion. And even then, it’s only a handful that do.

These super high heels make legs look HOT and feel sexy!!! I get a buzz just knowing my one pair are in my closet even if they only come out on date nights and weddings.

Maybe people just buy them because they like the idea of them – but then find they are not so keen on the reality of wearing them.

I have always found high heels too painful to walk in for more than 10 minutes at best, and I don’t need to look any taller than I already am. In teaching, nobody wears high heels except for the occasional administrator. When I wear 1 1/2″ heels everyone notices and asks if I’m in pain.

No, I’m stymied as well. I had a shopping client yesterday and we both just balked at the sky-high stiletto selection. I never see anyone wearing these heels, and certainly don’t don them myself!

This post is too funny. However, you do pose an interesting question.
I admit, I am one of the those women who do wear 3+ inch heels. In fact that is all I wear during the work week. I love heels and I can’t imagine not wearing them. Do my feet ache? Yes, sometimes they do, but I make sure that the heels I buy are well made and that they fit well. On weekends, I am usually in my ballet flats or gladiators, although sometimes I will put on heels just because …
On the other hand most of the footwear I see on the women around me are sensible low heel options, often dowdy and unimaginative, but sometimes really cute. I do come across a few high heels, but not as much. Perhaps women do swap flat shoes with heels when they venture outside the office. If I had to walk and/or take public transportation to work, I know I would wear flats and then change into heels at the office.

I, like Danja, wear high (3+) heels every week day – because my work does not require me to be on my feet! I would certainly reconsider if I were standing any part of the day. I injured my leg 4 weeks ago in a boating accident and have been restricted to flats. I miss my heels the most!!!

I think it’s the closet orphans. Most women I know, myself included, have a few pairs of heels for special occasions, which come along infrequently, so they sit in the closet gathering dust.

It’s funny because the last time I was shoe shopping, a woman looked around exasperated at all the sky-high heels and said “Who wears these?!” Maybe someone is buying them, but I think retailers would be surprised at how many more shoes they sold if they had more lower heeled options.

I’m certainly not buying up sky-scraper heels! I do prefer heels to flats … flats make me feel frumpy. Three inches puts me at 6′, and I either look eye to eye or tower over men I work with, which I like. I consider myself to be quite adept at walking in heels, but anything higher than 3 inches makes me a little nervous of dislocating my trick knee.

I lost weight a couple of years ago and went down two pants sizes. When I was in a larger size, the inseam was longer and I could wear higher heels. Now I need two inch heels to wear standard length pants and I am finding it very difficult to find stylish lower heeled shoes. Ugh, I am *so* not interested in heeled loafers.

I’m one of the gals buying up the 4-inch heels. I never wear flats to work unless I know I will be moving to a new office or something. Personally, I don’t find them too painful to walk in — especially if there is a platform or a thicker heel. However, I don’t “go out” at night, so I only wear flats on the weekend when I am hanging out with my bf. I’m in LA, btw.

I work in an area that involves lots of walking on cobblestone so the majority of women I see wear flats or wedges. I do see the occasional woman in high heels though and admire her courage and ability to navigate the cobblestone sidewalks! As for me, I don flats most of the time, but when I want to wear heels, I usually limit myself to 2″ to 3″ ones and will usually wear flats on my commute and then switch to the heels at work.

Hmmm. You might have a point, Anne.

Danja, it’s like you said. If you commute on foot and with public transport, you’ll probably need to swap out your shoes when you get to work or wear low heels.

I guess I find three inch heels high and anything higher mind blowing. My preference is for one to two inches heels and they have to be chunky and stable. I have two pairs of three inch heels (once again chunky and stable), but they come out at night when I am NOT commuting on foot. A gal is allowed a few pairs of pretty “sitting shoes”.

I have clients who wear three inch heels or higher daily but they usually sit at a desk for most of the day. This makes a little more sense.

Although this is NEVER an option for me, we are forgetting that some women will walk around with foot pain for the sake of fashion and aesthetics. For this reason, super high heels are sold over and over again.

Melody, that’s the story of my style life. It’s virtually impossible to find a comfortable and fab looking low heeled shoe these days.

We are still no closer to solving the mystery of the missing heels. For now, I’m going with expensive closet decoration.

My theory is that the minority of women who wear super high heels tend to also be the women who buy a LOT of shoes and who buy expensive ones. I don’t really have any support for this; it just seems to fit with the people I know.

On daily bases, I wear flats or wedges of all height ( mostly 2.5′, but some of them are 3-3.5″). I do own a couple of pairs of 3+ inch heels, but as it has already been mentioned, they are special occasion shoes only, for 2-4 hours of mostly sitting, and even then I can not wait to take them off. But I do like how they look on my feet.

Most of the women here wear flats, but I do see quite a few ladies who work in offices that do wear high heels on regular bases. So I would figure it is them who buy the daily versions of these shoes and everyone who buys the going out version. It would be interesting to see the statistics about sales of high heeled shoes – how many day vs. evening versions. I would bet that the second type is much bigger.

Submitting my situation:

desk worker. Heels/platforms and wedges all 3″ or better. i don’t wear flats very often at all – I can never find any that I think are genuinely attractive and my pants are all fitted to a heel of 3″ – I am not going to buy new pants to wear shoes I don’t like… flips on the weekend around town (wedge style flips). Tennies for my fitness walks.

today I am rocking an embroidered black and white slingback espadrille with a 1″ platform and a 3″ heel. just measured it….with grey wide leg cropped pants, soft pink v neck t and denim jacket.

Heels make me feel powerful – finished and feminine.

My highest heels are 3″, and those are for evening wear or special occasions.

I see very few women in higher heels than that — but then I don’t go clubbing! I live in a conservative city fashion-wise, and that is evident in most women’s choices of clothing and accessories.

Count me in as a high-heel wearer. I’d been sticking to 3-inch as my limit, but then I found my 4-inch Me Too platforms and am loving them! I did just pick up two new pairs of 4-inch-ers, and to be honest I haven’t yet committed to keeping them. Comfort is a major issue for me; I can handle my legs getting tired after the workout they get in the skyscrapers, but if my feet hurt even a little I instantly pass.

That said, I do think that so many of the skyscraper heels are just out of control, and I can’t figure out who would wear them, or where?

Until I found this blog/forum I thought I was supposed to learn to walk in those high heels. A few years ago I was told by a personal shopper to practice walking in them before an event. I have those high heels in the closet collecting dust. I was nervous the whole night that I wore them. I am much happier following Angie’s concept of wearing shoes that I feel are more suited to me. Thanks Angie.
I do turn green with envy when I see women with better balance than me wearing gorgeous high heels. They look great, but I rarely see them actually walking in them. I usually see them in a picture.

Good question! This post is making me realize why I see so many MOTG wearing gear daily — Merrells, etc. What else can a girl find in the store these days that is comfy, stylish and has a 1″ or 1 1/2″ heel? There certainly is a dearth of options for women who need to be on their feet all day!

Count me in… I am 5′2. I am on both extremes. I wear flat sandals and gladiators and then I wear skyscraper heels. The lowest heel I have is 4 inches and range to 5 1/4 inches. Of course, there is a proper platform support. My feet never ache as I wear the proper size and get them stretched for my wide feet. I am in Houston. I see heels at night in clubs, restaurants. I have friends who wear tracksuits from Bebe and BCBG and then pair high heels with them. Looks cool to me. I am a teacher and stick to flats generally. I don’t think it’s practical to wear heels when working around children.

I think sky scraping heels are reserve for special occasion only, like wedding, party or night time date, etc. They only comes out when a lady want to look extra special.

Not sure I have ever owned a heel higher than 3″. I have some close to 3″ that I call “meeting shoes” and would only wear if I was a t a sit down all day function. Yet a 1″ heel is perfect for me and I have had 12 hr low heels that felt better than flats.
Went to a cocktail party last night at fairly casual restaurant. There were three pairs of high platform heels being rocked. I went for a sleek, kind of sexy flat sandal because I knew in advance it was standing room only. Felt great all night

Shoe choices this last year have been sadly not my favorite although I do think the “flat” market is much improved – cuter, more updated and comfort.

I love 3 inch heels! With platforms I can go higher. I’m not really sure who’s buying the cage heels, the 4 or 5 inch Loubies, and the sexy ankle cuff shoes, but I hope they’re not wearing them to the office! Maybe they all have special parties and fashion events to go to all the time. I would hope so, because many of those shoes are very expensive. I DID wear my 4.5 inch nude patent platform stilettos Saturday night, my husband took me out for our 1 year wedding anniversary!

I regularly wear a 4 inch platform wedge style shoe and sometimes a 3.5 inch chunky heeled platform style pump. I love heels and can walk more comfortably in them than flats. Honestly, my preferred heel height would be about 2 to 2.5 inches in a wedge style shoe but that is very hard to find. I wish more wedges with a small platform would be in the stores. I find flat flats very very uncomfortable and I feel matronly in them. Personally, it seems like only gals with thin legs can get away with flats in my opinion, my legs are muscular and I feel dowdy in flats and skirts.

I think people generally don’t have that much discipline. I admit that it took me two pairs of too high booties last year to become more disciplined. (I’m returning those 4″ SW snakeskin boots today with no regrets.) I will wear up to 3 1/2″ comfortably (and my feet are size 7.5-8) with a stable heel but only because I do sit at a desk for most of the day. Anything higher and it hurts my ankle. I also agree that everyone deserves to have a few pairs of pretty sitting shoes. And aesthetically, I actually prefer lower heeled boots.

There is definitely a market. They do come out at night in NYC in large quantities. During the day, even though flats are more prevalent, there are still certainly lots of heels, especially during the work week. Lots of women commute in athletic sneakers and switch to heels in the office. It isn’t stylish in any way, but I can’t really blame or criticize them. This has, however, caused an epidemic of IPL (imperfect pants length) because all those pants seem to be hemmed for the sneakers.

For me, more than anything else, high heels represent suffering for beauty and fashion slavery more than anything else. There was a very funny Daily Show sketch about this, but I couldn’t help but find a grain of truth behind it. Some women feel powerful in them, which I find interesting. I feel crippled in them because they limit my ability to move freely. If I had to run for any reason (and I sometimes do), my shoes would hold me back. I avoided heels even when my feet weren’t as fussy because they made me as uncomfortable mentally as they did physically.

Hmm, I think I should clarify before people get mad at me: When I said “for me,” I meant it. For me, personally, heels represent suffering, because they hurt my feet when I wear them. But others may find them comfortable, which is fine.

Ooooh! Ooooh! I know who bought all the high heeled shoes! The minister at my church. She calls em “preachin’ shoes”. She wears them to do her sermons in because she feels powerfully feminine in them and they give her confidence. She has the best collection of heels I’ve ever seen.

I only buy heels that are 2 – 2-1/2 inches for two reasons: first, all my pants are hemmed for that length and second, I have small feet and anything higher than that throws my foot at a really awkward angle because my foot is so short. I think someone with longer feet can handle higher heels since the foot is not positioned at such a steep angle in the higher heels.

I am constantly frustrated at the lack of realistic heels available in the stores. Like Angie, I imagine there is some amazing closet decorating going on since I rarely see these beauties worn in real life!

Limo shoes – it’s ride in the limo, down the red carpet and sitting in your seat at the Oscars. That’s the only folks I see wearing them. On the California central coast, while we do have a few celebrities out and about, even in “real life”, don’t see even them wearing the really high heels – in fact, they mostly go for incognito wear. I do admit to having a couple of pairs myself, but those never go out of the house. Cant’ walk more than a few feet in them. Even my Jimmy Choos are flats!

All I can say is that I am glad I am not the only woman wondering WHY there aren’t more mid-heel stylish shoes out there! I get to about 3 inches(my going-out shoes) and my feet last about 1 hour at most in them. No more. Flats and low heels are my friends, frumpy or not. I do see and admire women who can really strut in their high heels, but I also see lots of women tottling along and looking like they are about to do a face-plant, so I comfort myself then that I a not missing much

It’s my dentist. She is always wearing the most outrageous 4-inch heels. I don’t know how she does that, standing on her feet all day (on hard tile floor, to boot). But she says it’s a way to exercise her creativity and fashion flair, since the rest of her outfit is covered up by a white coat.

As for me, 3 inches is my limit. With size 6 feet, anything higher makes me feel like I’m standing on tippy toes!

I don’t see many high heels out during the day… maybe in downtown Charlotte I might see some more on the business gals but even then, it’s more flats and low heels than anything.

High heels look fab, but it’s worth noting that wearing high heels regularly will shorten your achilles tendon and calf muscles, all the way up to your hamstrings and low back. I can’t tell you how many clients I have with low back pain that is directly attributable to their high heels.I don’t wear them at all, but I do believe that high heels are best reserved for special occassions!

I ask myself this question every time I´m shoe-shopping, and that´s pretty often!!
High Heels are the prettiest of shoes, they look like a shoe should look like. So I fall in love with them regularly. On the other hand I know that I can wear them for only a few hours, so i don´t buy them as often as i ´d like.

I totally agree with you, angie, that there should be more low heel options – flats are nice, but a lot of outfits only work with a heel.

Let´s demonstrate for our right to low heels!!!!!!!

In Chicago, where people walk a lot, I often see women changing their shoes. They commute in comfortable shoes and then switch into the heels at work. I do this too, except I have comfortable flats and uncomfortable flats. I work in a very fashion forward industry and the girls I work with definitely wear the heels you’re referring to, and they spend 12 hours a day on their feet producing a television show in such heels! I’m not sure how they do it, but they do it with grace. The girls are all very slender and petite, so I wonder if it has something to do with their small proportions that make these heels less painful?

I wear heels, I wear flats, I wear wedges. I am an equal opportunity shoe wearer. I love them all, but thin stiletto heels aren’t my personal style. I like chunky heels (Fluevog, Farylrobin.)

I can wear 4″ heels if they come with a wedge and are made like the KC Cedar City wedges or by Aerosoles Otherwise I’m just torturing myself. But of the 15 odd women I work with, atleast 10 of them wear 4″ heels to work everyday. I have asked them so many questions on how they do it, if they’re uncomfortable, if they use secret insoles etc. They always maintain they’ve always been comfortable in them, no tricks or secret insoles or anything needed. Some of them even go dancing in 4″ skyscrapers! I’ve just reconciled to the fact that some can wear ‘em and some can’t – and I definitely can’t.

I have been wondering the same thing! Who wears those heels? I can only do 3 inches, nothing more.

I work a desk job in the Detroit area and I normally wear 3″ to 3.5″ heels to work, though I commute in flats and change when I get to the office. I find them comfortable, but I’m young and sit down all day. I’m also 5′8″ and enjoy that I’m nearly six feet tall in my heels.

For special occasions I normally wear at least 4″ heels. I have a pair of unbelievably comfortable 5″ purple suede heels (with a 1″ platform and thicker heel) that I wear often at night but my husband is 6′4″ and I like getting into his stratosphere.

I think that my big feet help with the comfort. I wear a size 10. Since my feet are so long a 3″ heel is much less of an incline for me than someone who wears a size 6. Conversely, I have yet to find a ballet flat that doesn’t look like a clown shoe on me.

Depends on many factors, like the city. When I lived in Manhattan, I wore sexy high heels at least 4 days/ week. Often to the office, almost always out at night. It’s a dressy, competitive, stylish city where taxis are abundant and my office was less than a 5 minute walk from my apartment.

Toronto is a more relaxed, less elegant city. Living here, I drive or walk instead of taking taxis. I no longer sit at a desk 9 hours/ day. I live in a 3 story house (lots of stairs). High heels no longer fit into my lifestyle.

I have many Cuban relations by marriage. They live mostly in Miami and New York. Those women would never, ever consider wearing heels under 3″ tall. Young or old, they totter about on these gorgeous, crazy, uber-feminine shoes. They think that those of us women who wear lower heels (or ever leave the house without wearing makeup, or don’t enjoy wearing tight clothes) are missing out on the joy of being women and shake their heads at us in pity.

So, do I wish that more flats and low heels were available? Definitely! But do I know plenty of women who will always ensure there’s a vibrant market for high, higher and highest? Absolutely.

I have a lot of high heels, but then I have a lot of shoes. And while I like high heels looks-wise, I can only wear them when I know I won’t be walking much. And even then, I often take a pair of flats just in case. So, for the most part I do wear flats.

My collection is a lot like what’s in stores: mostly high heels or flats. I have very few shoes with a nice, low heel — which isn’t to say I wouldn’t LOVE some! But I can’t find them, either, and especially not cute ones. Once again, the companies are selling to the extremes. Makes for interesting fashion on the runway, I guess, but leaves us women with some major gaps in our wardrobe.

The key to finding comfortable heels is the same as finding great jeans – try on tons! I don’t believe in breaking in heels … if they’re the least bit uncomfortable when trying on, I pass.

Here’s a couple of basic low heeled shoes I’m considering, but they’re just basic colors, nothing fancy or interesting about them.

http://piperlime.gap.com/brows.....=705935012

http://piperlime.gap.com/brows.....=694249002

Regarding feeling powerful in heels … there are some studies that indicate that taller people make more money (article link below), so I like to emphasize my height to give me any possible advantage in business. Also, I have had a boss who preferred for me to sit instead of stand to talk to him because I was so much taller. I really enjoyed how it bothered him!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/Car.....index.html

I see women wearing high heels in downtown Chicago, but it’s not the majority of women. Flats and lower heels dominate.

I prefer heels around 3 inches, give or take 1/2 an inch. Any higher, and my foot is also at an incomfortable angle for walking. I also prefer my heels a little bit thicker. I only own one pair of shoes that arguably has a stiletto heel, and they’re not particularly comfortable.

I’m wearing more flats lately (I have 3 pairs: black patent, silver sequins, and dark plum ballet) b/c of the cute flats that are suddenly all over the place, but if there were as many fun options in my prefered heel height and heel width, I’d be buying those instead (and probably more of them!).

I wear heels every day at work. If I am running errands I would likely switch to a flat shoe so I can get around better.

If I would wear flats to work, I would somehow feel “undressed”…my heels are just part of me and my style. I do try and buy very well made heels by Born, Clarks and Sofft.

The area where I live though, (not at work) very few people wear heels. Most look like they barely changed out of their jammies and most wear flip flops and look disgraceful IMO.

I’m going to stereotype and guess that the following types of people are buying the sky-high shoes:
- Fashionistas in urban areas
- Avid collectors (you know, some people are obsessed with handbags, others are obsessed by heels!)
- Socialites
- “regular” people who can wear the heels (I’m envious) and buy them for special occasions or work

Our impressions of high heel wearing streetwear is the same. Just not many women out there actually wearing the multitudes of skyscrapers available in stores, other than perhaps at night.

It also surprises me that some of you find all flat shoes frumpy. WOW. In my professional opinion, that’s just not true! Sure, there are loads of frumpy flats around, but there are loads and loads of extremely stylish flat shoes available too and the assortment grows each season. But, I do understand that some shoes are too flat and of no support at all. I can’t wear those either.

We need fabulous looking one to two inch heeled shoes. Who will hear our plight? I am at my wits end with this perpetual footwear challenge.

The other thing that is hard to find are nice, simple and classic low-heeled slingbacks! Usually, I buy them in several nice colors for spring, but they were nowhere to be found this year.

I have to stick up for flats too. They have a sweetness and a delicacy about them that heels never will.

I also think our perception of proportion has really been warped by fashion. Women who look perfectly normal in flats will feel stumpy and short-legged if they are used to wearing heels. Fashion dictates that long legs are absolutely crucial. While I have no problem with a bit of leg lengthening and agree it does help a lot with balancing some figures, the amount of length that super high heels add is a little freakish to me. There *is* such a thing as legs that are too long. I think 1 or 2 inch heels add just enough length to balance out most frames without looking wildly disproportionate.

Most mainstream fashion advice speaks of high heels as an absolute must, making a lot of women feel like they can’t have a functioning stylish wardrobe without them. Bless you Angie for proving otherwise!

Well, It must be ee!

I have 2 1/2 inch all the way up to 4+ inches. I wear heels every day. I do not have a sit down job. I walk in them all day… and hard …4hrs 2times a week at AT, and do hair 3 days a week in heels….people are just amazed..I have run through airports, malls,etc…I guess I am just as baffled as to why people can’t wear them??

On a daily basis some one will say “how do you work in those shoes”…I have just started to saying …”They just don’t bother me” They don’t seem satisfied by that, but I don’t know to tell people..

I’m another one who has tiny feet (5 – 5 1/2, depending). My platonic ideal for a shoe is a 2 heel, and because my feet are small, that gives me the same boost that someone with size 10 feet gets from a 3 inch heel. I do have 3 inch heel shoes, and they are indeed gathering dust…

The timing of this post is perfect, because I just read a co-worker’s Facebook status update that stated “Can no longer afford my dream house as I just bought 2 pairs of Jimmy Choos and a pair of Manolos. They were on super sale, but still.” This woman is a tall, gorgeous blonde who in her Choos (yes, I went over to her desk to check them out, and they’re 4″ of black patent gorgeousness) is well over 6 feet tall. So yes, people do buy these, and yes, do wear them to work.

I think some people have a foot that is less fussy in heels. Personally, I suspect that people with a wider, larger foot are probably the most comfortable. Length because you have more toe room to help you balance, and width because your weight is distributed across more surface area at the ball of your foot.

That being said, I would guess that the market for these shoes is divided into three groups; people who wear them all the time because they don’t find them uncomfortable, people who switch into them for their desk job, and people who love how they look but leave them in their closet…

I also think that not all heels are built the same. I have a couple of pairs of 2 1/2 inch heels that are extremely painful because they rub on my pinky toes but are too wide in the heel. And, I have a pair of Taryn by Taryn Rose sandals that are 4 inches high and as comfy as a sneaker!

Hey, Vickie! This isn’t really related to this post but I thought it was a really interesting point that I saw on the news tonight. The fact that the fashion industry has taken a big hit in the past year but that JEANS, SUNGLASSES and BATHING SUITS have had strong sales while other segments languished. I thought of you when I heard this. Yeah, I’m truly a new YLF addict. : )

I have to say you ABSOLUTELY have to dig for the 2″ comfy gorgeous heels but they are there to be found! I never thought I would wear a pointy toe pump but I’ve bought 2 pairs this summer already & want to wear them EVERYWHERE! I also agree, that not all are created equal – no matter what the heel height it has to be comfortable for me! I simply cannot wear anything over a 2 1/2″ heel because it is ludicrous for my lifestyle & I will not wear it enough to justify the purchase. So, I stick to the 2″ that I will want to wear with everything (stylish, comfortable, versatile. Now, I’m on the hunt for boots….maybe it’s the thrill of the hunt….hmm there’s something else to ponder as well!

I am actually wearing a 3 in heel today! These are hard to pull off if you have a lot of walking planned – especially for me – but they do not hurt for the minimal walking required at work. I did not wear heels for a long time and I still prefer 1-2″ heels – but do like the occasional sky scraper if the shoe is (relatively) comfortable to wear and cheap. I bought my current pair at Nordstrom for $17!!!!

Personally, I do not like to wear these at night with nicer clothes as the whole outfit looks too glamorous – but with a nude safari dress, I can wear heels and pearls and feel right at home. I am wearing a nude dress with a nude safari dress layered over it (no pearls today). My red patent heels give it just the punch needed.

I don’t wear them and I don’t see them (Miami)

I’m 100% of the Angie school of heels. I don’t even own a pair higher than 2.5 inches, and I intend to keep it that way. I have sketchy balance and I’m 5-8…Adding elevation to the mix would just cause no end of trouble.

I recently bought a pair of nude 3″ heels with a peep toe. I love them, but have yet to wear them. I think they looked so cute in the store, but now I don’t know if they are comfortable enough to wear all day.

A co-worker wears super-high heels, and I don’t know how she does it. My feet hurt just thinking about them.

i was just in Vegas and the high heels ruled at night. They were everywhere and on everyone – in the casinos, walking the strip and in the clubs. i was the only one in flats!

i am 54 years young and i wear 4″ heels & boots every day at work in NYC. when commuting, i wear ballet flats in the summer or riding boots in the winter. i love shoes and i hope i never have to give up my heels!!!!

Angie,
Question about feeling frumpy in flats….for me, they make my legs look short and thick. I would love to wear flats if I could look like Audrey Hepburn in them. But I have thicker legs and I cannot seem to find a way to wear them and not feel short and thick. I’ll wear a ‘flat’ that has even a 1 inch wedge heel but all the really cute ones in stores seem to be flat flat flat. Do you find that wearing flats still allows someone who is not built like Audrey Hepburn to look lean and graceful?
Thanks!
-grace

I’m 26 and didn’t even own a pair of heels until last December. At that time I got a modeling contract and had to learn to walk in them, and since I’m in a small market, the shoes have not been provided at any of my gigs, so I’ve had to buy a few. I was shocked to find that some of them are actually comfy. My mother is a physical therapist and the biggest tomboy I know, so all my life I heard nothing but how bad heels are for you. I know that she’s right, but I’m also pretty sure that wearing them once or twice a week won’t kill my joints. I do prefer shorter heels – 2″ would be ideal – but they are so rare and not often cute at that height, so I buy the 3″+ heels. I actually have some platforms that are 4″ because there’s an inch platform. They’re the comfiest heels I own, believe it or not.

For those who are tall and feel awkward in heels, I say get over it! LOL. I’m 5′10″. Sunday I wore my tallest heels to church, making me 6′2″. I was taller than lots of the guys and looked the rest of them in the eye. I think it’s good for tall guys to have a woman imposing on their height. In my experience it’s always tall guys that have a confidence issue about taller women. I was once told by a guy 2″ taller than I am in flats that I was “too tall for him”. My husband is 5′6″ and never once has my height been an issue for him. In fact, he loves when I wear heels. I have to say I cheered extra hard for Harry & Ginny in the new Harry Potter movie because she’s taller than he is. =o)

*raises hand* it’s my fault guys! I am a shoe fanatic and I loves heels. I wear them at least 5-6 times out of the week and a majority of them are over 3″. In fact one of my most comfotable pair are some 5 inchers. I wore them from 8 am to 2 am (work, then dinner, drinks and dancing) and I could of been wearing flats.

Maybe I just have extremely un fussy feet?

Agreed with some of the earliest posters (i.e. Paige):

Being 5′2, living in Toronto, the 4 inch+ heels come out on date nights, girl’s night out and weddings – mainly dress up occassions. On a one-time wear basis, they’re heels that can last me about 4-5 hours max and that must include some sitting.

Otherwise than that, practicality wise – heels shorter than 4inches are a definite must for daily wear!

I’d say most of these missing heels end up as closet orphans. I have often bought 3″+ heels because they looked great in the store and/or were on sale, only to find them painful to wear. I got rid of quite a few when I did my big closet clean-out last year.

Closet orphans, definitely! I have a few pair, the biggest disappointment being the gorgeous Franco Sarto with a croc-embossed heal and elastic upper. FS is usually a ringer, but these are a couple centimeters higher than my feet can tolerate and only good for a half hour. To add insult to injury, during their maiden voyage a Birkenstock-wearing wedding guest called me a “fashion victim” because I needed to slip them off. Ouch!

YAY for Bethany. I’m 5′10″, 5′11″ on a good day, and I wear heels proudly. I don’t mind being over 6′ tall in them either. My 5′11″ husband has absolutely no issues and loves how my bod looks when I’m wearing heels, so it’s great. NOT to say I abhor flats – they have their place and are an important part of my casual wardrobe – but if I want to feel like I’m properly dressed for work, I charge forth in heels.

I believe there is a subset to the “hides in closet” category. I was seduced by cageheels that are beautiful, but now I have no idea what to wear them with, day or evening!
Fathenry

I generally see 3+ inch heels only on super-petite women, at least in the daytime. I’m tall and I like heels, but unless it’s evening, I’d rather have about a 1 1/2 heel but I can never find any that aren’t extremely pricey and/or not in my size.

I use my heels primarily as decorations! No joke! I used to wear heels more when I sat at a desk all day — now I’m on my feet more but wouldn’t trade freedom for high heels any day!

So yes, my heels were gathering dust, but now I artfully display them near my nightstand or on a shelf so I can admire them from afar. LOL.

This post just really rings true because I was wondering the same exact things, all these wild heels, no one wearing them!

Final thought: High heels are a must on the red carpet because all that matters is how a look translates onto film or into a photograph, hence celebs will always wear the highest heels they can find. I don’t blame them, I’d do the same. But as a result of celeb-trickle-down fashion, high heels end up in every shoe store across America.

Final final thought: Now that I think about it, I did wear heels a lot when I was 18-19 yrs old w/o blinking an eye!

BB’s Weekly Fashion Link Round-Up…

MyStyle thinks Victoria Beckham’s jet-set style is major.

Stores are full of sky-high heels, but who’s actually wearing them? YouLookFab investigates the mystery of the missing heels

Frugal-Fashionistas.com gets a facelift (gawd I wish my blog …

I didn’t take the time to read all the comments, so this may have already been said…. but I think a lot of women buy tall heels because the shoes are gorgeous, and they fully intend to wear the shoes, but as in my case, maybe they collect dust in their closet because it’s hard to find good venues for wearing them, based on lifestyle.

I’m a college student currently residing in a Kansas suburb. So, of course, I’m not going to wear heels to go to the movies or to run errands or shop. I may wear them on a dinner date with my boyfriend, but only if we aren’t going to have to walk very far – I’m not afraid of walking in them, but I’m pretty tall and sometimes if I have to walk a lot in heels, I feel like I look like I’m trying to hard with my outfit. This is the same reason I won’t wear heels for a night out downtown (again, lots of walking) or to a club, bar, or party when I’m at school (I’m within walking distance of the night scene, so that means flat shoes for less awkwardness – and besides, who wants to walk home up a big hill after partying in super-high heels and risk breaking one’s neck?).

However, if I lived in a big city and/or had a car to drive me everywhere or could afford lots of taxi rides, I’d wear heels all the time. I still don’t think I can do the super-high heels to work though. My work environment is pretty laid back for an office, and If I was towering in tall shoes, I think my boss would laugh at me.

They’re all gone because I swear my mom is buying all of them! My mom is fabulous and she’s 50 but she def doesn’t look it. We’re both a little over 5ft tall but you would never know she was because she even vacuums in her 4 inch heels! I wore my first pair of super high heels last night 4 1/2 inches(!!) and…yeah I couldn’t walk back haha.