Why we can't find kitten heels - YouLookFab Forum

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Why we can't find kitten heels

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

When I travel I like to pick up local fashion magazines. Recently I was in Victoria, BC, Canada. I picked up the May issues of Flare and Fashion, Canadian fashion magazines.
The Fashion magazine had a article on trends (page 66) and included this segment:

"Take the rise and fall of last season's kitten heels. From Prada to Stella McCartney to Giambattista Valli to Marc Jacobs, this retro-inspired footwear repeatedly graced Fall 2010 ready-to-wear runways. Originally seen as a shift away from the ever-reigning platform shoe, it quickly trickled down to mass retailers like Joe Fresh and Payless Shoes. One season later, they have vanished and the platform heel has reclaimed its place on the pedestal."

The majority of the article focused on trend forecasters and trickle-up versus trickle down fashion.

Shopping

25 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Patty

Veteran

I guess I was lucky to find a couple pair of kitten heels in a small town Payless this past weekend!!

Aida

Veteran

Oh that's such bummer, I had just resolved to replace all my rarely-worn flats with kitten heels -_-

Anonymous

Arg! I was so hopeful that things were changing! Now I guess we are going back to sky-high heels and flat-flat-flats. My feet are very sad.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have the hardest time walking in kitten heels. Worse than 3" slide sandals! I have only one pair and have worn them exactly once - I feel like Im hobbling.

Anonymous

That surprises me, given that Michelle Obama wears kitten heels a lot.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Sadly, my own shopping experiences back this up completely. IN the fall I was blown away by the variety of heel heights on offer. Some of the heels were even stable! This spring? Not so much. I've now blown my budget on shoes because the heel height and stability I need are so hard to come by and not to be passed up when they appear (my foot width issues muddy the waters even further).
Sometimes I wonder if the members of the YLF community are really fashion aliens on a totally different page from the rest of the world. I mean, judging by the merchandise that comes out every year, the majority of shoppers clearly favour long wide capri pants, poor quality tees and crazy high heels. Methinks the industry should hire us! Or at least Angie.

rosee

Veteran

Like Mo, I usually don't fare well with kitten heels -- not stable enough to balance on (my ankles like to turn quite a bit). I do better in more stable heels up to 3".
I used to have some really cool kitten heels in high school in the late 80s -- wished I saved them, I would, like, totally wear those now (every so often).

Kyle

Veteran

This makes me sad. I very much want a pair of chic, nude kitten heels. Thanks for sharing the insight.

Kari

Veteran

Oh, I love Victoria. Perhaps someday we should have a YLF excursion there.

Too bad about the news on sensible heel heights. I wonder if it's kitten heels only, or low heeled shoes in general (including the thicker, chunky low heels that may of us prefer over kitten heels) that are going to be tough to find. Guess it's a good thing that I stocked up now.

Heather

Veteran

I apologize to all who adore kitten heels in advance, but I cheered and tooted my kazoo about this news.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

They are always available in Europe. Let's go shopping there.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Are you taking us to Europe, Angie?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sure.

Sally

Veteran

One of my friends is a shoe forecaster and she told me last year that kitten heels were coming back. I was waiting for it and didn't see any. but everyone I speak to says yuck when I mention kitten heels.

Anonymous

Oh my gosh. I'm imagining a YLF trip to Europe with Angie leading us through the stores!!! Where do I sign up? I'm serious!

nancylee

Veteran

Out of curiosity I just checked the shoe offerings at JCrew and Banana Republic...and all the pumps are indeed sky high. Crazy. Kitten heels are great. Every time I wear mine I'm so happy I have them.

My sympathies to those of you searching for kitten heels......but keep looking. I'm sure there must be a few pair lurking somewhere! Maybe check outlets like 6pm? They might have last year's leftovers......

teri

Veteran

for me, the only reason for having / wearing kitten heels is because you are tall and sometimes can't find PPL without them..... lol

I might buy more kitten heels if they actually came with a kitten

Anonymous

Sad news, indeed! I wish I'd stocked up on low heels although I don't have occasions to wear heels that often. I need them for foot comfort when I need to be dressier than flats or with trousers that haven't been hemmed for flats just because they seem to hang better with a heel.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(The sign up sheet is at YLF headquarters and Rosie is in charge).

Sooooo, they did say that about skinnies and leggings too - and look what happened. I think we will see more kitten heels in our future.

Anonymous

I was in Macy's a couple weeks back and found a nice wedge sandal with a 2" heel....much lower than most that were shown. I tried it on and it was such a relief to find a decent height heel! I didn't get them because of other fit issues but I did tell the SA that it was so nice to see a good height heel like that! She did tell me that they are getting LOTS of feedback along those lines so maybe there is some hope. I'm not saying that ALL the heels have to be 2 inches but maybe...just maybe....more than ONE PAIR to choose from!

Patty

Veteran

".... trickle-up versus trickle down fashion. "
Sorry but what does this mean?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Trickle down is where designers push the trends and it trickles down to the street.
Trickle up (there's another phrase that escapes me at the moment) is where street trends influence the designers.

Patty

Veteran

Thanks Anna--I thought maybe that's what trickle up was but wasn't sure for fashion---figuring designers were above it all--LOL.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I love high heels and platforms, but I do sympathize with the rest of you. It is so annoying when you can't find the heel height you want. :T

Lisa

Veteran

Sad to hear kitten heels are already disappearing. I haven't seen many in stores and was hoping to find MORE lower heeled options, not less.