Omg! The world of shoes is drowning in flats.

[LaraMN]

Flats, flats, flats, flats, flats...

I hate them. They're like glorified slippers.
If you like them, take no offense; it's a personal *issue* of mine. I'm just irritated that half the stores have eighty miles of flats on display and nothing cute with a heel that is appropriate for daily wear.

[AlCzervik]

1. flats make my feet hurt, no support at all.

[LaraMN]

2. I didn't even think of that.

Makes sense, though. One more more reason for me to dislike them!

[NewJeffCT]

3. Not in China

It seems like every woman there under 50 wears heels with all sorts of straps and buckles on them.

[LaraMN]

5. Clearly, I was born in the wrong country!

:rofl:

[NewJeffCT]

14. weird thing is

supposedly, women wear heels when out in public, but when they go to work, they switch to more comfortable shoes/slippers/sneakers.

In the US, it used to be the opposite - women would wear the sneakers outside of work, then change into the heels in the office (back in the day before business casual became the norm)

[SeattleGirl]

4. And for the past few years, it was heels, heels, heels.

So now we're going for the ultra casual look??? Ick!

[LaraMN]

8. I was irritated when EVERYTHING had a giant wedge.

I don't mind, say, a pair or two of wedges for certain occasions, but EVERYTHING had a wedge sole for awhile. Now the flats...

[SeattleGirl]

32. I refuse to wear wedge shoes.

Years ago, when wedgies were the rage (back in the 70's), I was wearing a pair. Was walking down a flight of stairs, and I misguaged my step. I ended up falling down about 6 stairs on my backside, and broke my tailbone. To this day, I have problems with my lower back. :grr:

[MissMillie]

6. heels and daily wear are contradictory

anything higher than an inch is just not practical

and matters get worse when the shoes have those god-awful pointed toes. (I like to call them clown shoes--3 inches of empty point at the toe of the shoe... just like a clown.)

I wish they'd make an office-wear shoe w/ about 1/2 the support of a good running shoe, with a rounded toe and a 1-inch wedge heel (or less).

oh... no sequins.... no bows... and no patent leather.

[mzteris]

17. and in not leather, period.

I'm going to be re-entering the work force (soon, I hope. I have to find a job.)

I haven't worn heels in close to 15 years. I tried on a pair a few years back (for a funeral) and couldn't even walk in them!

I don't plan on wearing them at all if I can help it. I'm not going the "managerial, power suit" route this time. (Do women still wear power suits? lol) (Besides, heels really ARE bad for you. Your knees, your back, your arches - everything.)

I haven't worn much of anything but sandals and tennis shoes, with the occasional "loafer" in 15 years.

So I need something less casual, comfortable, not ugly and NOT leather. :sigh:

[Critters2]

48. For not leather shoes, look here...

www.veganstore.com


or ask around over in the animal rights/veg group.

I don't wear leather, but I wear New Balance walking shoes or Okabashi sandals pretty much exclusively, which many people wouldn't consider attractive. I have two pairs of vegan dress shoes--the same style, one in black, one in white. Other than that, New Balance and Okabashis. I'm easy to please.

[mzteris]

56. Unfortunately I have to try on shoes

before I can buy them. (Try on anything, really.) I don't know how people buy stuff without touching it first. lol

My feet are particularly tricky to fit comfortably, too.

So usually I wind up buying "really cheap imitation leather" shoes. bleh.

Thanks for the link, though. I'll take a look. Heck - who knows? I may even take a chance.

SHOCK. Now there'd be a surprise!! :rofl:

[LaraMN]

20. I wear dress boots alot when it's cooler.

I like them because I wear jeans often and they work well under those.
Pointy shoes? Yeah. I NEVER buy those. They'd hurt even if I wore them sitting down all day.

[grace0418]

21. And what's with all those straps on heels?

I do not understand the point of teetering around in ridiculous shoes. Maybe for a wedding or some other formal event. But every day? With jeans? Going to the grocery? Or my favorite, at the airport. I don't know about you but if I have to drag my luggage maude-knows-where and then run for the farthest gate in the airport because there was a gate change at the last minute, there is no way in hell I'm doing it in high heels.

[Reciprocity]

55. Do you mean like this one?

<<<<<<<<<<<<

[MorningGlow]

69. Clown shoes!

:rofl:

I call them "cockroach killers" 'cause those silly points can nab 'em in a corner. Ug-LY! I absolutely refused to buy them. Never owned a pair. Didn't see any sense in 'em. (We don't have roaches.)

About a year ago, some shoe companies started marketing round-toe pumps that weren't too high--maybe 1 1/2" heel, kind of reminiscent of shoes from the '30s or '40s. I thought they were adorable, but they never caught on. :(

Now I have no need to buy dress shoes, since I'm a SAHM...all summer it's been Keds and Birks! Now moving on to moccasins and hiking boots...

[swag]

7. At least they're not fucking flip-flops.

[LaraMN]

22. They're pretty much ONE step up from flip flops. n/t

[tigereye]

42. when I was in San Francisco, I swear every woman had on flip-flops

I was wearing loafers, and my feet still hurt like hell.

:wtf: Maybe they weren't walking around as much as we were, but I doubt it.



I am a big fan of flats and flat boots, and am pleased there are so many options again. I own one pair of dress shoes with a chunky heel for special occasions, and that's it.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

52. The last pair of flip flops I bought were very supportive and cute...

I will never forgive my dog for eating them. :cry:
Duckie

[cobalt1999]

59. Don't go dissing the state shoe of Florida.

That's all I wear on the weekends.

[Sanity Claws]

9. I've seen lots of heels

The heels I've seen are a bit chunky, high and have straps across the middle or front of the foot. They look very nice with professional clothes but not jeans, IMHO.

[LaraMN]

23. Yeah- I'm looking for something that works under jeans

since that's what I usually wear.

blah.

[Debi]

10. I'm 5'2" - I need my heels!

:cry:

[MissMillie]

13. I'm 5'1".... don't need a heel

:hi:

[Debi]

26. cool!

I do, though. Just makes me feel good :P

[grace0418]

16. No you don't. Nothing wrong with being 5'2".

Heels are bad for your feet anyway. :hi: (I'm short too, btw). :)

[Debi]

29. I know they are

but they make me feel pretty :blush:

[NewJeffCT]

19. Guys usually love short women

so, accentuate your lack of height by wearing flats!

[Debi]

25. I feel sexier in heels

and more comfortable - I feel like a munchkin in flats. I'm not in stilettos today (although I own several pair) just a cute pair of 2" black patent leather mules...open toe of course...God I look good!

[NewJeffCT]

37. ok, ya got me

Heels or no heels, I'm a sucker for a woman in open-toed shoes.

[Debi]

54. Woo-Hoo

:woohoo: If I had a camera with me I'd shoot you a pic (sadly my toes are not painted...sorry )

[NewWaveChick1981]

11. I hate flats too.

:grr: My MIL loves flats and buys them for me too. She always gets them at a megadiscount (clearance plus coupon plus whatever other discound she can wheedle), and I have asked her not to buy them. She does anyway. I take them back for store credit and put the credit toward decent shoes. :P

[LaraMN]

24. That's the way to go!

:bounce:

[underpants]

12. Thank God-I just KNEW my mime shoes would come back into fashion

:woohoo:

[LaraMN]

27. Oh, you're tres chic.

Mime is HOT!

:rofl:

[grace0418]

15. As someone who refuses to wear heels, I'm thrilled. At least flats are only popular

every once in awhile. Those of us who loathe heels have to contend with them 90 percent of the time.

[LaraMN]

30. Lol! A reasonable assessment!

:thumbsup:

[ceile]

18. Absolutely!

Glorified slippers. That's all I see where ever I go. Now, I'm not super short (5'6), but the thought of being practically barefoot when I go out is very unappealing.

[LaraMN]

31. I don't even like wearing slippers INSIDE my house.

Defninitely not OUTSIDE of it!

[KitchenWitch]

28. I, for one, am glad there are so many flat choices this season

Because of my disability, it is exceedingly painful for me to wear anything with more than an inch of heel.

[LaraMN]

33. And I suppose you don't *need* the extra height, eh?

I guess I don't *need* it either, but I still like it!

:D

[KitchenWitch]

34. When I was younger, and my body could tolerate it, I wore the highest heels possible

I loved the attention.

:D

Some things never change!

:7

[RebelOne]

78. Me, too. Wore the highest heels and shortest skirts.

But those days are gone. Now I dress for comfort. I love my Reeboks.

[distantearlywarning]

35. I hate heels.

Guess I can actually go shoe shopping this season!

[grace0418]

36. I know! For the first time in YEARS I can actually find shoes in a shoe store that

I would actually wear. Otherwise it's gym shoes, men's shoes (luckily I have big feet) or ordering from Zappos.com.

[tigereye]

44. zappos is fabulous!

I love boots and they have every form of boot known to man and woman.

[grace0418]

50. Ah yes, I already have an Ode to Zappos thread going.

Best place on the internets.

[Ellen Forradalom]

38. Move to California

where flip-flops are formalwear.

[tigereye]

45. yeah, what is that about?

the weather?


I for one have always hated that big rubber tube between my toes....

[Deep13]

39. Why is there such a difference between men's and women's shoes?

Do women hate their feet and backs? I think it is pretty clear that men's shoes are made with the human foot in mind. On the other hand, makers of women's shoes have never heard of the expression "form follows function."

[tigereye]

47. my tai chi teacher is a chiropractor and he rails about high heels constantly

he thinks they destroy women's feet.

[grace0418]

49. As long as women keep insisting they need them to feel pretty and are willing to spend

ungodly amounts of money on them, manufacturers will keep making them exactly the way they are. I know it's one of those things just ingrained in our culture but if you really step back and look at it like you were an alien visiting earth for the first time, you'd think "why do half of the humans try to balance themselves by walking on their tiptoes and the ends of sticks? That makes no sense."

I remember visiting my mother at her retirement community when she was still living here in Chicago. I had dinner with her and a group of about 12 women in their 70s and 80s. I don't know how, but the subject of high heels came up. Every single one of the women said they wished they'd never worn them, ever. They all suffer untold issues with their feet/backs/ankles/hips/knees as a direct result of wearing high heeled shoes. Seems like a silly thing to do for the sake of fashion.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

81. Hammertoes ain't pretty.

I knew women born in the early part of the century who ruined their feet wearing spike heels and pointy toes in the Fifties. Hammertoes, bunions, all kinds of crap.

My mom, on the other hand, wore bitchy shoes that didn't hurt your feet. They were heels with a wide strap across the front to keep them on and they were called Spring-O-Lators.

How she didn't fall down, I will never know, but they looked good on her.

In her old age she still wore lace ups with some heel to them. Her calf muscles were permanently shortened.

[1gobluedem]

40. But it's nice for those of us who CAN'T wear heels

Instead of always having to opt for the old lady shoes....

[skygazer]

41. Well, its kind of good in a way for me

Since I have more shoes than I know what to do with and can't wear half of them right now because of my bad knee. x(

But I hate flats, too. Even a low heel is better than flats which just make your legs look like tree stumps. Or I should say MY legs. :P

[Pierre.Suave]

43. as a guy

it is a shame, heels really look nice on a woman with nice legs.

[bicentennial_baby]

46. I love my tomboy loving Husband...

Sneakers and flip flops for me! :bounce:

I did wear a low heel for the wedding, but that was an exception...He actually would have preferred me to be barefoot. :D

[sniffa]

63. baggy jeans/shorts and a-tanks too

:loveya:

[bicentennial_baby]

64. I love you...

I'll be patching my jeans this weekend...

i <3 my husband :loveya:

[Debi]

77. Get a fucking room you two

:puke:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

51. Honestly?

I don't wear anything but flats...It's because I don't want hammer toe. I have pretty feet...and I'd like to keep them that way forever.
Duckie

[bicentennial_baby]

62. Same here!!

Pretty feet unite! :toast:

[WinkyDink]

53. Flats do nothing good for the female leg.

[GreenPartyVoter]

57. I can't walk in heels. It's birks for me all the way

[Nikia]

58. Good

Heels are damaging to women's feet and limit most women's speed and endurance. I don't think that it is wrong that they are less fashionable. I am glad that girdles are not a popular fashion anymore either.
I don't agree that we should sacrafice comfort for fashion.

[legally blonde]

60. I'm with you LaraMN

I love heels - I love being taller (even though I'm already 5'7") and my legs look sexy (if I do say so myself ;-) )

I know heels are bad for my feet and back and I'm sure that in 20 years I'll regret this decision, but oh well :shrug:

[sniffa]

61. this thread couLd be goLd

i'LL keep an eye on it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

65. It's flats all the way for me.

That's because I'm old and fat and I look really stupid and pathetic in heels higher than maybe 1-1/2". Anyhow, they make my feet hurt. I haven't worn actual shoes in three months (bare feet or flip-flops at home; sandals at work), and I'm not looking forward to colder weather because then I'll have to start wearing real shoes again. But they'll be flat shoes suitable for my old, fat, big-footed self.

[Kali]

67. same here

hate the confines of winter:rofl:

A couple of years ago I visited a frind of mine in Germany. Her mother is the WORLDS GREATEST SHOPPER (she can make an Arab cry - you should see her in Mexico) and she dragged us off to some giant shoe sale at a local public multi-use place (like a perfomance center - sort of like where we do Indian arts sales or gun shows) and I found these sort of Euro-clog type shoes (Berkamanns, I think - I think you can get them from Canada) They are the only shoes I will ever wear besides sandals or convers. She found some more for me and had my friend bring them over, so now I have two pair. I think they are men's but who cares? I call them my German mens lesbian shoes.:rofl:

[Lavender Brown]

66. I don't mind flats, I'm just glad the pointy-toe shoes are on their way out

For a while it was hard to find shoes that didn't require the wearer to chop off their pinky toe to fit into them. x(

[Taverner]

68. You're a boots kinda girl

But then again, you exude class and sophistication....

Unlike the flats wearers of the world....

[LaraMN]

70. I exude, do I?

:rofl:

Well, I AM currently on a three day streak of not having tripped, fallen, slid, or run into anything.
And now I've jinxed myself.
:scared:

[bicentennial_baby]

71. you're an ass...

just sayin'

:eyes:

[LaraMN]

72. Huh?

:crazy:

What's that about? I miss something?

[bicentennial_baby]

73. Oh, just saying that women who choose not to

wear heels or can't, lack class and sophistication. Typical for him, but I couldn't resist.

I love you, and you wear whatever makes you a happy girl :loveya:

[LaraMN]

74. Ah! Gotcha!

:loveya:

I thought you were responding to the o.p.
I'm brain dead but wide awake- a dangerous combination.

You work your flats, baby!

:thumbsup:

[bicentennial_baby]

75. I'm just a tomboy...

I don't do dressy shoes unless required. My Wedding, for instance. I'm a casual chiquita :D

:loveya:

[MiniMandaRuth]

76. Ugh. I hate the things.

They're really popular with a bunch o girls at my school. I can't stand them.

[LydiaJ]

79. We beautiful leggy girls love flats because

they are SO comfy!!!

It's about time they got rid of the Wicked Witch of the West shoes anyway!... I know... :spank:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

80. Heels make my feet hurt.

I don't like that burning sensation in the ball of the foot due to my body weight being there.

Flat and pointy I can handle.