https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 04 Apr 2026 09:42:04 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1838630 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 15:41:00 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1838630@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Those of you who commented on this post, particularly those who commented on changes taking place, has your answer changed since this question was posted? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1838619 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 14:45:17 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1838619@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I never did, except for a year or two in high school. Some of my boots have heels that are a couple inches, but that's a boot thing,on men's or women's styles. Other than that, I've gotten less adament about heel height over the years and now have a couple pairs of dressy 2" heels, but never have worn heels as everyday shoes. Were I to work in a more formal office, I'd find an appropriate style that didn't involve heels. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1838459 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 00:13:37 +0000 Anonymous 1838459@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Old thread. Deleted my comment </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1838344 Mon, 21 Aug 2017 17:54:25 +0000 Christina F. 1838344@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have given up on heels, as my feet are fussy and I don't need them in my industry. I do have some block heels that I don't mind wear, and some wedges, but not pumps. Oddly enough, I was just moving the shoes I don't keep out into a new storage system, and thinking to myself whether I really need both nude and black pumps... surely keeping only one or the other would suffice if I need business heels? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1838106 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 23:17:24 +0000 Thistle 1838106@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If men don't have to wear them, neither do I!</p> <p>On a more serious note, I gave up heels years ago. My low back can't take them, and my feet hate them. Not good for your knees or hips either, according to the specialist I saw years ago.</p> <p>For funerals and such, I wear a black pantsuit with appropriate oxfords.</p> <p>I've most assuredly worn 1 inch or less heels to company functions. I found dressy slipper flats for the last event. Got several compliments on them, too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1837944 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 07:08:57 +0000 MsGreer 1837944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>HA, good one! I pretty much live in flats and really these days I have nothing higher than 2 1/2" and prefer that to be a wedge or block heel. I've always thought anything over 3" were just<br /> "Sex Shoes" haha some are just ridiculous and have no idea how one could even walk in them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1837940 Sun, 20 Aug 2017 05:55:07 +0000 Grace 1837940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For more formal occasions I will wear 2.5 inch pumps. A lot of the time I wear flats, and that includes the office. These days most offices have a business casual dress code which allows for flats. If I want something a little more dressy than flats I will wear wedges, which I may wear once or twice a week. I have knee boots which have a 1.25 inch chunky heel and ankle boots with a 3 inch chunky heel.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1827681 Sat, 22 Jul 2017 05:48:58 +0000 Histiletto 1827681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The idea of need as to what a person wears depends on the wearer. What I prefer for self-expression, may not be with in your taste to own or be associated with and visa versa as to your preferences to mine. Questions such as this come from people who don't understand the stewardship of individuality that nature provides to everyone. It hasn't help to achieve a better understanding about individuality when society thinks it knows more about the things a person is and then dictates its will to make it so. Each person has their own perspectives, opinions, tastes, desires, talents, experiences, and appearances. The act of society trying to control what it determines we should desire, falls under the definitions of bullying and enslavement. There were many good things that happened for humanity from the thinking of those during the Age of Enlightenment, but it didn't restore an individual's right to make their own decisions as to what that person could wear. Even in the so-called nations of freedom, people are forced to comply with the social norms if they want to live with out ridicule and being assaulted for exhibiting non-stereotypical behaviors and appearances.</p> <p>So, do I think women need to wear heels, anymore? Well! What classifies the wearing of heels as a need? Certainly, for the most part wearing them isn't a matter of life or death. In a few professions, heels have been part of the dress code or they are understood requirements depending on a person's sex and job assignment. Like it or not, by choosing the job, the choice makes wearing heels necessary. All the other venues to wear heels are subject to personal choice and discretion. So, if a person has the desire, taste, ability, and the heels, it's their decision as to the necessity.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427986 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 07:06:31 +0000 Jen 1427986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't wear more than a 1" heel because of tendon issues. I wouldn't ever wear stilettos for day to day wear if I could anyway, but I do like the way they look.</p> <p>I wish the trend of young teens wearing massive heels would die out. I have to wonder how messed up these kids' feet will be in a couple decades. One of my high school teachers always wore heels to the point that on the rare occasion she wore sneakers, she'd still walk on the balls of her feet because it was uncomfortable to walk flat footed. She'd been wearing heels since she was a teenager. I admit that kind of scared me off of heels! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427403 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:06:31 +0000 Dimity 1427403@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've never worn a heel higher than about 1.5 inches. I just find them dreadfully uncomfortable and impossible to walk in, and I love walking. Once, the HR person in my office actually had the nerve to tell me that I should wear heels. I don't know why she said it and I felt that it was a bit much given that I wore nice flats that were very suitable and quite stylish so never looked inappropriate. I ignored her and have never found myself in a situation where I said, "Damn, I didn't get the job/boy/whatever because I didn't wear heels".&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427387 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:54:41 +0000 rachylou 1427387@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I suppose one of the things about heels is they are - or were - *grown up* shoes. I mean, for example, sometimes at a quinceanera there's this whole presentation of heeled shoes to a girl.</p> <p>One thing about heels is the muscle in the back of the leg shortens. I have always had trouble going back and forth. I wear them so infrequently now, I have a really hard time balancing in them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427221 Mon, 19 Jan 2015 00:02:10 +0000 DonnaF 1427221@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a Golden Anniversary party to attend in late May.&nbsp; They live in Vegas, but maybe it will be in their church.&nbsp; Wishful thinking, right?&nbsp; I don't think I can get away with wearing my clogs for this event.&nbsp; I hope I can wear my heeled sandals since they are way more comfy than my pumps which I tend to walk out of.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427220 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 23:59:48 +0000 MsMaven 1427220@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A couple of years ago I had an appointment to discuss a possible legal action with a highly regarded lawyer in the field. She came out to meet me in a nice silk top, a pencil skirt, and sky-high Louboutin heels. (I think they were purple.)&nbsp;I was impressed at how well she walked, but I strongly suspect she had a comfy pair of low-heeled shoes or flat hidden away to wear when she wasn't seeing clients.</p> <p>By the way, back when I first joined the California Women Lawyers in the late 1970s, the informal discussions at our meetings and even in the newsletter was "what to wear to court" and in other situations. The younger lawyers had gone through undergrad and law school in the 60s and 70s and many had a difficult time adjusting to the requirement of heels-hose-suit of the Dress for Success days.</p> <p>I wore mid and low heeled shoes because I am tall. In both law firms I worked for I was taller than at least half the male lawyers, but I can see how a petite woman would want to wear heels to help put her eye to eye with the males. (And I never felt comfortable in a matched suit, either.)&nbsp;</p> <p>I hope women lawyers can wear nice pants to court and moderate shoes nowadays. California casual must have influenced the stodgy halls of justice.&nbsp;<br />MsMary, what do you say? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427212 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 23:47:50 +0000 shipskitty 1427212@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like a bit of heel for work in particular but we're talking 1-1.5 inch to 2-2.5 inch max. No stilettos or kittens though they need to be sturdy as one of my ankles is slightly bodgy after a reconstruction years ago. I don't commute in anything over 1 inch though unless I'm wearing boots (pain to carry to work and fit at work) and usually I'm commuting in flats. </p> <p>A bit of heel just feels more balanced, polished and authoritative in my outfits for work. However I choose that. There would be no penalty for always wearing 1 inch or less provided the shoes looked sufficiently polished for work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427201 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 23:33:58 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1427201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been wondering something similar. I never really thought heels were required, but I have thought that high heels of 3 inches or more seemed very popular the last several years. And it seemed to me the popularity is waning--until I saw an email from Nordstrom with their new arrivals in designer brands. Among them were some sky-high heels with platforms, just like the styles I imagined were on their way out.&nbsp;</p> <p>I've been pondering the topic because I just bought a pair of pumps with a high heel and platform, in a metallic taupe color that works well with my wardrobe. I am debating keeping them, in part because they look very high, and I'm wondering if the height looks dated. The platform makes them about a 2- or 2.5-inch heel, a very comfortable height for me to wear. And yet, I'm wondering if i wouldn't prefer to have a lower-heeled style, if I could find it with the same level of comfort. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1427005 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 18:42:29 +0000 Anonymous 1427005@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great question. I never thought about how things have changed since I entered the workplace in the 80s. Heels seemed like an unspoken requirement then. I agree with others; don't think there's a need to wear heels nowadays. There are so many smart flats. That said, I typically choose heels for anything other than hiking, sport, or around the house because my legs are disproportionately short. If I have to move about, though, any heel higher than a 2" stack is lethal as I'm very clumsy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1426994 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 18:23:15 +0000 rizamei 1426994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Echoing what others have said, I don't think women are required to wear heels anymore, but I still see people wearing them. I would also agree that the general move toward casual attire has in some ways made things more complicated because choosing the new alternative to the old formal default&nbsp;can be tricky. </p> <p>A good example is a job interview: a nice suit, with heels, used to be the general default. Now that it's not, you have to figure out if you need to wear a suit at all, and if so (and if you don't want to wear heels), what flats are professional enough to work with whatever outfit you choose. I often see people making iffy or risky&nbsp;choices for job interview outfits because they are mightily opposed to just wearing the easy suit and heels.</p> <p>I actually prefer to wear a low heel or wedge (in the 1.5" -&nbsp;2.5" range) for professional situations. They work better with dress trousers (you can get that nice drape without having your hems touch the floor). Also, like bettycrocker, my heels are narrow compared to the rest of my foot, so they often come out of my shoes when I walk. So I prefer shoes with a high vamp or a strap. (Or boots!)&nbsp;My Mary Janes look a lot more polished and professional as pumps with low heels than they would as flats. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1426986 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 17:58:21 +0000 Anonymous 1426986@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The Gentle Souls ballet flats with ankle straps&nbsp;that&nbsp;<b>Gryffin</b> so easily talked me into buying are the only flats I own. I have fussy feet with OA and bunions, which necessitates a wider width shoe. The problem is that my heels are not wide, so I walk out of pumps and ballet flats. The only shoes I don't walk out of are Mary Janes, boots and athletic shoes. The Gentle Souls ballet flats are great for casual wear, but they would never be appropriate for dressy occasions. My dressy shoes have 2-inch heels, as I struggle to find dressy shoes in the wide D width I need. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1426942 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 16:50:42 +0000 Angie 1426942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a fascinating thread, Laura. What do your consider&nbsp;a heel? For me it's <b>anything over one inch.</b> And yes, I think that's a<i> dressy r</i>equirement for certain dress codes. </p> <p>Heels that are&nbsp;3 inches and above are another story, and I don't think that has ever been a requirement - merely a fashion statement - and for some a way to feel more powerful, and accentuate the shape of a bare leg.&nbsp;</p> <p>These days, dressy one inch flats are widely available and acceptable in dressy settings if that's your preference. I once dressed a client for a ball in a gorgeous blue dress, four inches above the knee-cap (she was very tall, so the skirt wasn't as short as it sounds), with gorgeous hose and black pointy toe one inch flats from Prada. She absolutely could not wear higher&nbsp;heels so we had to go the one inch heel route. Although not as formal as the long gowns with heels that night, she looked stunning and was very well turned out. She felt and looked appropriate.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1426919 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 16:19:14 +0000 gradfashionista 1426919@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There is a movie that just came out with Reese Witherspoon, based on the autobiography of a woman who hiked a Californian trail. I read an interview with this woman and one of her quotable quotes went something along the lines of, "Until women stop wearing heels, they won't know freedom." I have to agree with her. I understand the aesthetics, and I understand the need for petite women to find a way of asserting their physical space,&nbsp;but I fundamentally see heels as physically and socially crippling.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1426915 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 16:15:30 +0000 frannieb 1426915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is an interesting conversation - i do wear heels quite a bit - I stick to a 2 inch heel and if it is a wedge I will go up to 3 inches. &nbsp;I have never felt like I had to wear heels - I just like them.&nbsp;<br />Maybe I like heels so much because I wear lots of pencil skirts and dresses and to my eye on me it looks better with a heel and not a flat shoe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1426914 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 16:15:19 +0000 Artificialsunshine 1426914@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I never wear heels because I feel so awkward in them. I'm so glad that they're no longer a "required" part of our culture's dress code. However, I do think it's sad that we're so casual anymore. I can't speak so much for the rest of the US, but here in the southeast, it's becoming commonplace to wear jeans, a tshirt, and sneakers to weddings and funerals. I just think that's tacky and disrespectful! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore/page/2#post-1426897 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 15:35:40 +0000 Sveta 1426897@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For the life of me I do not understand why would heels be a requirement i the professional setting (unless your profession is street walking? :-0 )<br />Vanity, aesthetics, wish to fell taller or sexier - yes, I can get that. But professionally? Why would be something so gender specific be a requirement? Shoes do not have to be high heeled to be dressy - after all there are men's dressy shoes which are flats. Refined shape, slick leather, self colored heel - yes&nbsp;but high heels? Boggles my mind!<br />I do understand why would a short woman <b>wants</b> to wear heels in a situation requiring some power (like a lawyer or business executive) because on the subconscious level the&nbsp;height of the person is perceived as an indicator of strength. This is coming back to our animal predecessors - the bigger the opponent the stronger it seems. But to be <b>a requirement</b>?&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Staysfit</b>, there is quite a tendency for REALLY tall women to prefer flats or lower heels - not all of them but quite a few. At least I had it for quite a long time at my 5'10" and there are women who are quite taller than me. It is not easy to tower over 80% &nbsp;of the people on the street or in the room and does require some spunk and determination - especially if your partner is not much taller than you (like in my case). It took me years to get over this feeling but still I would not go over 2.5" heels now - although it may be more about the comfort factor &nbsp;with my fussy feet :-)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore#post-1426888 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 15:17:21 +0000 Diana 1426888@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do think you're right that heels have become far less common these days. In boston I rarely see women wearing very high heels any more, even among the lawyer types, although I do still see commuting shoes (which i have other issues with, mostly involving ppl) so it's possible that heels are still prevalent inside the office. I also don't often encounter people who work in offices and drive there, so I could be biased. I *do* see very high, teetering, spiky stilettos sometimes at night though, mostly among college age women who don't know how to walk in them. The fact that they can't walk in them suggests to me that even they don't wear them often. My mom wore heels every day (she was a scientist like me by the way, and then a stay at home mom) for many years and could literally hike in them. </p> <p>Anyway I feel in most big cities I've bern in recently (NYC, sf, la, London, etc) there are many people obviously going to work and wearing flats. The huge exception to ribs was tokyo. There, it almost seemed de rigeur for women to wear skirts, tights, and some kind of heels. Now they weren't always sky high but definitely classic heels (as opposed to, say, my combat boots which technically have a 2" chunky block heel but read as flat). It was December so I mostly saw pumps and heeled booties. Even in Osaka and kyoto , which were a lot more casual, heels were common. And I saw all these women on the subway and walking, not driving. </p> <p>Personally, I don't wear what I think of as heels (although I do often wear shoes that actually have 1-2" heels but read as flat) but I work in a field where it would look totally out of place anyway. Good thing for my fussy feet! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore#post-1426865 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 13:27:49 +0000 Ann in New England 1426865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm laughing so hard because I just bought two pairs of black leather pumps, intending to keep only one. But now I'm leaning towards keeping both, as they have slightly different heel heights and I can't choose.</p> <p>I haven't really worn heels for years, except for the occasional wedding. The other occasion is when I am doing some type of presentation or am "onstage" in some way. It is likely socialization, but I only feel "powerful" and "in command" if I wear heels in that situation. Possibly because I'm 5'3".</p> <p>But I find that most flats make me feel frumpy in work pants and pencil skirts. Pumps appear to be a solution to quite a few of my wardrobe frustrations. I don't want a wardrobe of different heels for different occasions, so I'm hoping the black pumps (and maybe nude in spring/summer) will work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore#post-1426847 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 11:11:04 +0000 Summer 1426847@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I was younger, heels - 3 inch or over - were the norm for practically every part of life. They were worn for work, for shopping in the city, for going out in the day or at night. Even the adverts portrayed women vacuuming the house in 3 inch heels! It seemed that only the very young and the very old wore flat shoes. Thank goodness that we now have the choice of what we put on our feet. Thank goodness, too, that future generations may be spared the crippling effects of bunions and bad backs!</p> <p>Personally, I still like to wear heels for dressy events like weddings, but for everyday life I stick with a lowish heel or a flat. If I had super-long legs I might even wear flats all the time, but I find a low (1-2 inches) heel is more flattering for my leg length and my style.</p> <p>I think heels are fun and undoubtedly glamorous, and I'm sure they'll be around for a long time yet, but I love that we now have the freedom to wear just what we want, and that we are dressing to suit ourselves and our life-styles rather than what the fashion industry (or man?) dictates. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore#post-1426845 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 11:02:47 +0000 froggiebecky 1426845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I never saw a need to wear one or the other, but I have worn flats almost exclusively here in Edinburgh. I finally bought some wedge-heeled booties, and have been very happy with them. Overall, though, my reasons for not wearing heels have had to do more with location: it's cold, it's wet/slick roads, and the streets are several hundred years old-with bricks and uneven walkways to match. When I get back to Oz, the heels will come back out again! &nbsp;(though I should make myself a challenge to wear some of these heels before I go..&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore#post-1426844 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 10:54:46 +0000 Astrid 1426844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The only pair of heels I own are an old pair of dancing shoes with a small heel. And they aren't very comfortable to me. I only wear flats and I'm 5'3''. I don't think I need heels to look good or make my clothes or outfits look good. I know a lot of people who only wear flats. I think wearing heels so often is much less common in Germany. A lot of women wear them going out or maybe for a special occasion, but most wear flats in everyday life. And I know quite a few more who never wear them. Oh and a good friend of mine is 6ft and has an US shoe size 14 and she wears heels from time to time... I don't think shoe size or height should decide whether you should wear heels or not. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore#post-1426840 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 10:20:18 +0000 Staysfit 1426840@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, I'm not sure about the tall girls don't wear heels thing? I think that's a dying stereotype. Why wouldn't they? Is it so they can be shorter than men or their partner (whatever gender)? </p> <p>It's interesting that in NYC people are wearing flats. People walk more there than they do here. I live in a commuter city. We also have one of the highest rates of obesity in the country. I have heard that trends start on the coasts and drift inland. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-think-women-need-to-wear-heels-anymore#post-1426828 Sun, 18 Jan 2015 08:38:21 +0000 Deborah 1426828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Heels have never been an expectation&nbsp;in my mind, but as a short person I don't see myself giving up heels any time soon:)&nbsp; I make sure all my heels are comfortable but I like being a little taller at work and I like the longer line a heel gives me.&nbsp; I wear flats too, but mostly for casual. </p>