15 hottest products of 2008: Skyscraper heels
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Shopping, Technology, Health
Once upon a time, towering high heels could only be found in the pages of men's magazines like Exotique or Bizarre, where women strapped themselves into 5, 6, 7, or even 8-inch heels. To the extent that these outrageous shoes existed in the real world, they had to be made-to-order from companies that specialized in the fetish trade. In 2008, however, skyscraper heels, such as Christian Louboutin's 5-inch Lola pumps or Lanvin's cone heels have been burning up runways and punching holes in red carpets. From Victoria Beckham to Gwyneth Paltrow, fashionistas have been pushing the trend ever higher: in fact, some reports state that Louboutin is experimenting with an 8-inch heel. By comparison, standard stilettos are about 4 inches, and anything over 3.5 inches is considered high. When Americans think about weird self-mutilations, the conversation usually turns to the so-called "Giraffe Women" of Burma, or the lip plate-wearing Mursi of Africa. Every so often, however, American culture takes a weird left turn, making it possible to talk about the strangeness of our own practices. Like 1990's facial-piercing craze or the subsequent primitive tattoo trend, skyscraper heels demonstrate that Americans are far from immune when it comes to bizarre beauty practices.
While high heels were originally designed to increase the height of 16th century nobles, their role in 20th century United States has generally been aesthetic. In addition to increasing height, they make leg muscles more defined, force the wearer to walk with an upright posture, and elongate the calf, creating a more statuesque profile. Unfortunately, they also are linked with a wide variety of health problems, ranging from bunions and hammertoes to tendon problems and knee disorders. Beyond this, they also make it difficult for women to walk, an effect that some liken to Chinese foot binding.
Recently, the health effects of high heels have become even more defined with the development of so-called "Cosmetic Toe Amputation." Also known as a "toe tuck" or "toe face lift," the operation involves cutting open a toe, scraping away at the bone, and sewing the digit back up. This, in turn, causes the toe to atrophy, a process that is comparable to the development of shrunken heads. Supposedly, this operation makes it easier for women with wide feet to wedge themselves into stylish Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo pumps.
Even barring reports that repeated high heel usage render many women effectively lame, there is little doubt that the shoes take their toll on their wearers. According to some reports, 75% of the patients who hobble their way into podiatrists' offices do so because of high heel usage. Here's hoping that the skyscraper heel trend slows down while America's women are still able to walk!
Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He has never worn high heels, despite a youthful flirtation with The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-09-2008 @ 12:50PM
ASL said...
The new high heel fashion will make lots of poditrists and back surgeons happy! Bunions, ankles, and lumbar spines will ache & break. It is amazing the foolish sacrifices made for fashion. Next thing you know women will stuff squishy bags of fluid into their chests to make their boobs look bigger!! Ahh, I long for the day we agonized over superficial issues like world hunger and a cure for cancer-
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12-09-2008 @ 2:44PM
gloria stanislawski said...
Good Grief Women everywhere, rebel! Use your head! Protect yourselves don't be mindless sheep wearing high
heels so men who only care about trendy fashion, (ok they
look sexy but ask a man to wear them). NOT! Now making
everyday fashion higher heels, like they don't jknow better.
They just want money, DON'T BUY THEM!
GLORIA STANISLAWSKI
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12-09-2008 @ 3:42PM
Carol said...
High heels have been part of fashion for women for a very long time. True, skyscraper heels have been the in thing in 2008, and dont be surprised to be see women (including myself) wearing 8in heels if they make them.
High heels are sexy according to many, but women be warned! Wearing high heels looks great, especially if you can walk great in them, but they have their price. I'm 20 years old and have been wearing heels since I can remember. At 20, Im already having a bit of pain on my feet and on rare occassion, pain on my lower back. I love high heels, and my saying has always been "the higher the heel, the better the diva". Im not saying that I won't stop wearing high heels, I'd be lying if I did say that. However, now instead of wearing these 4 or 5 inch heels all the time, I just wear them to parties or at night for events. Other than that, at work, the heel size is smaller, but I should go even lower than that....
I love skyscraper heels!
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12-09-2008 @ 6:46PM
kidsgardener1 said...
High heels are bad for your feet. Must have been created by men! The other top thing I found on AOLis HEALTHY, and it is called a TickleMe Plant. This is the coolest plant ever. You tickle it and it closes its leaves and lowers its branches. 15 minutes later it raises them up. I give out miniature TickleMe Plant greenhouse sto my friends and family to grow their own. You can find them on line in hundreds of places.I think this is one of the top 15 cool things of the year
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12-09-2008 @ 7:53PM
Shanae said...
Im tired of wearing expensive high heals Shoes, I hope my bf buys me something that is green like that TickleMe Plant I keep hearing about. You know the one that closes up when you tickle it, hence the name the Tickleme Plant. Plus it flowers and he knows that I love flowers, so..go green and get me a Tickleme Plant,
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12-16-2008 @ 10:29AM
gabbie said...
m a male who was offered a challenge by my sisters and her friends to walk in their high heels for a week end let me tell you it started off kind of slow but i eventually got to liking the feel of high heels and now wear them on occasion as my sister and i go out to club they can b very addicting so fellas beware if your girl or sis challenges to walk in their shoes b careful you just might become a diva
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1-06-2009 @ 12:24PM
Hunter said...
I've been blogging for almost a year about women in high heels and have concluded that some women just don't care about comfort or practicality as it pertains to shoes. The stilettos have gotten higher to the point that stripper heel heights are becoming the norm in today's fashion. It is ridiculous yet undeniably sexy for women to wear high heels. And I don't believe for a minute that the majority of women wear high heels for men. They wear them because it makes them feel sexy and stylish, pain and all. I'm glad they do, but being a male I have no illusions that women wear heels for my benefit.
BTW- I prefer 4 to 5 inch heels with a slight platform and a stiletto heel. Suede is my favorite. Love the suede.
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1-06-2009 @ 12:33PM
hunter1riley said...
I started my blog http://onlyinhighheels.wordpress.com/ back in the spring when Gwyneth Paltrow promoted her movie wearing towering high heels. I tend to think that was the beginning of the super high heels we see today. High heels have been popular before but I don't think ever like this and with the heel height we are seeing...outside a strip joint.
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