Quentin Tarantino In Heels
Posted on May 12, 2009
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This New York Times article includes a photoshoot with Quentin Tarantino with the 2nd image showing him wearing some great heels from Trash & Vaudeville.
Yet another celebrity male in heels. It is becoming more common. I for one hope it catches on, even if it is just a fringe fashion thing. At least it will be a choice, not something weird.
It’s Official: Heels Are Good For You
Posted on May 12, 2009
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My experience is that when I wear heels, my posture is better and my leg muscles get more toned. I also have bad ankles after they were shattered in an accident. I find I have ankle pain the day after I spend a long time walking, hiking or climbing ladders and such. When I wear heels, I have no ill effects and no pain the next day, even if I walk around all day (8+ hours) in 4 or 5″ heels.
Now we have medical evidence that heels can be good and flats are bad for you. Of course, I am biased but this article backs me up…
Men in Heels in Elle Magazine
Posted on March 9, 2009
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Elle Magazine has an article in the Feb 2009 issue about men in heels.
Rad Hourani, clothing designer, put male models in the same high heeled boots as the female models.
You can read it at http://fashion.elle.com/blog/2009/02/men-in-heels.html
The World Isn’t Fair.
Posted on March 4, 2009
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I often find myself sitting in a restaurant, an office or walking down the street when I notice a really nice pair of heels on a woman. Today, it was at lunch and a blonde woman was sitting in a booth with her legs crossed placing her foot just outside the booth. She was wearing a new pair of ankle boots with a nice heel and suede covering.
My first thought when I find myself fixated on a woman’s shoes is how lucky she is. Women can wear just about anything and it is acceptable. If I wore them, people would think I was strange.
I can get away with heels if they are styled after men’s shoes. Some people notice and, while few make a fuss, most that do probably think I am different or weird. If I wore some of the heels I am most attracted to, more would make a fuss and I would really stand out. I love the bright colors and fancy designs that women wear without a care.
It really bothers me that a woman was sitting in a booth wearing really great heels without a care in the world while I pine away for the same experience. I would appreciate and relish every moment while she takes it for granted.
I have no idea what drive me to feel this way. I have a deep desire to wear heels and detest society for dictating rules defining acceptable behavior that excludes a person, mostly men, from wearing the clothing they desire.
Yes, I can and do defy society’s rules, but this does not come without consequences. The adage about first impressions is true. Seeing you in heels can turn people off without giving you a chance. If the wrong people see you it can have negative consequences to your job, friendships and family.
How I dream about a day when people can wear whatever they want without facing labels like men’s or women’s. It will probably will never happen because we are a judgmental people that finds great pleasure in oppressing and forcing others into our definition of ‘normal.’
UPDATE: I found the boots she was wearing. Victoria’s Secret Suede Boots (see pic)
Rick Owens 2009 Collection
Posted on January 27, 2009
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Rick Owens showed his 2009 collection in Paris and once again placed men in high heels. Look for the heels about 4 minutes in.
Vegas Vacation
Posted on January 9, 2009
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I am off to Las Vegas for a week. I plan to wear heels almost the entire time I am there. Last time I was at the Golden Nugget, I guy noticed my heels and asked a few questions. I got the impression he was envious and would wear heels himself if he could bring himself to it. He said that if heels were made for men, he would buy some.
I find Las Vegas is oblivious to men in heels as well as many other things that might draw attention in the real world. It is probably the best place to start building confidence wearing heels in public.
I will post from Vegas when I have something to tell.
What I Am Wearing This Week – 1/5/09
Posted on January 5, 2009
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This week, and last, I have been wearing my Steven Madden Oxfords with a 4.5″ heel and 1/4″ platform. While I normally wear a US Women’s 10.5 or 11, these shoes are a 10 and I used a shoe stretcher or them but only a small amount. They fit perfectly now with plenty of toe room. They are some of my most comfortable shoes.
I wear them under my long jeans normally and a friend didn’t even notice until I pointed it out. He did think my feet looked a little short but that was it until pointed out.
I did wear them under my long kaki pants one day with the same results except, being black, they contrast more than with the dark jeans.
I would rate the sound of these heels in the medium range but they could be silenced with rubber taps, while I will have put on them when these wear out.
Overall, these shoes look fairly masculine except for the heel. They are the pair I select when I want to keep the fact I am wearing heels subtle but don’t want to wear my Sketchers 4″ block heel boots. I don’t believe these are sold anymore and wish I had picked up a second pair in black and maybe a pair or two in other colors.
I visited Red Lobster, Albertsons Grocery, Pet Smart, Lowes and pumped gas in these heels this past week and wore them at home and driving for at least 12 hours each day, as I was off work. I wore them with thin socks and barefoot and they were comfortable the entire time.
If you can find these, I highly recommend them!
Out and About 1/1/09
Posted on January 1, 2009
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I wore my Steve Madden dark brown Oxfords with a 4″ heel under my long jeans today. My wife and I met a friend at Red Lobster for a late lunch. Not a single person indicated they even noticed I was wearing heels although many noticed my wife’s 5″ mules and cute outfit.
After lunch, we went to Albertsons grocery store and there were not many people there but the wide aisles and open space near the registers were prime locations to see my shoes. No one seemed to notice or didn’t make any indication if they did.
If you read my blog regularly or the thousands of posts over at hhplace.org, this is a recurring story. The many men wearing heels seldom experience any negative comments or treatment. I sometimes find myself hoping people will notice while, at the same time, hoping they won’t. I can’t wait until I can wear my choice of shoes without thinking out it at all.
Out & About 12/19/08
Posted on December 20, 2008
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After work tonight I put on my Steve Madden oxfords with a 4″ stilitto heels and wingtip style perferation detail.
Note: Photo is similar but not the shoes I was wearing.
I was wearing a polo style shirt and my long jeans that cover the heel when standing. My wife came in and wanted to head to dinner so we went to a chicken wing place.
When we arrived, there were lots of 20-somethings around but I didn’t miss a beat and we walked in. The place was packed and one end of the place was cleared out with large speakers blaring dance music. We discovered this place now turns into a club after 10pm.
The only table available was a high-top in the bar area right in the middle of the restaurant. I am always a little hesitant when I have to sit on a stool in plain view with my heels on display. The other diners/drinkers were a mix between young singles there to drink and dance and sports fans watching the end of a few games. These are exactly the people I would expect to notice a guy in heels and tell their friends and point. Worst case, they might cause a small scene.
Walking in, I didn’t see a single person notice my heels. No reaction at all. We sat and I hooked my heels over the stool’s rungs where they became obvious to anyone that might look. Many people walked by our table and we were a table closest to the open area that would become the dance floor. Over an hour, we ordered, ate and paid and not once did I see anyone react like they even noticed, although I can’t imagine they could have missed it.
This is yet another example that a guy in heels is no longer a big deal. Most people don’t care and no one will say anything unless it is a compliment. Even in a crowd that I would expect likely to disapprove, nothing at all. If you are a guy that wants to head out into public wearing a stylish pair of heels, outings like this are great confidence builders.
People don’t care and reactions are not anything like you would expect. All the negatives are in your head. I walk the mall, stores and restaurants in 4-5″ stilettos, styled after men’s shoes, and have never had a bad experience. Block heels would not even warrant a glance and the more I wear them, the more convinced I am that I could wear a pair of strappy 5″ red stilettos and receive the same lack of attention. Maybe someday!
Cultural Influences – There is no gender
Posted on December 9, 2008
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Cultural influences are a powerful driver in how we develop and are the basis for the rules placed on people living in a specific cultural group. There are many studies that have shown that boys and girls do not inherently migrate toward what we consider respective male and female toys and colors. Raised in a gender sterile environment, just as many boys as girls like dolls, trucks, lace, skirts and even the color pink.
Examples: http://www.springerlink.com/
http://www.questia.com/
I recently ran across this article that talks about how the colors pink and blue used to be assigned to the opposite gender. Referenced in the article are various magazines and publications from the early 1900s that tell parents that pink is a boy color, and blue is a girl color.
“There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is a more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” – Ladies Home Journal, June 1918
A little research attributes the change to several different events, including WWII. During the war, the Nazis assigned colored symbols to identify oppressed groups. Everyone knows about the yellow star of David used to identify Jews. Pink triangles were used to identify homosexuals. The Catholic church also assigns colors they associate with religious beliefs. Blue is associated with the Virgin Mary. Whatever the reasons, after WWII, the color associations were swapped and girls were associated with pink and boys with blue.
Now, in a gender neutral environment, one would expect an equal number of boys and girls to select any given color as a favorite, understanding that certain colors may be more popular with everyone. If so, then why is it considered weird or unnatural if a boy declares pink to be his favorite color?
Society begins forcing its cultural rules on us the day we are born. Hospitals place little boys in blue and girls in pink. Growing up, girls witness TV ads and shows with girls playing with dolls, wearing dresses and everything is pink. Even if they would rather play with a monster truck in the mud, the urge to fit in directs them to the cultural norm.
Fortunately for girls, being a tomboy is not considered an abnormal occurrence and is often encouraged. This is not true for little boys. A boy that wants to play with barbies, put on a skirt or wear pink would, in many cases, be taken to the psychologist. Girls can wear any color and play with boy toys and it is accepted.
Isn’t is logical that a certain percentage of people will be attracted to a specific color, toy, hobby or career? These things do not have a real gender assignment except the assignment society has placed on them. Since we can see that society has changed these assignments in the past, isn’t that proof that the gender assignment is arbitrary and has no reflection on any difference between the brain, abilities or genetics of men vs. women? It is learned behavior that can leave a boy with interests in things society has arbitrarily assigned as female a victim to prejudice.
What color a boy likes, what toy he chooses to play with, what article of clothing he prefers has nothing to do with gender until is is compared to society’s current rules. It does not make him homosexual or feminine anymore than a girl wearing pants makes her masculine. While we tolerate girl’s freedom to experiment and explore the entire spectrum of experiences, fashion and careers life has to offer, boys are treated with intolerance, labeled in derogatory ways, and ostracized for exploring the same.
Modern society preaches diversity and tolerance while exercising neither. While a boy wearing high heels does not harm another person in any way, society allows, actually encourages that he be treated like a spectacle and forced into a little box labeled ‘boys’.
There is a difference between acceptance and tolerance. While I can wear heels in public and seldom have anyone comment, people make gestures or expressions to indicate disapproval. While I support everyone’s freedom to their beliefs, when their mindset of what is ‘normal’ or ‘acceptable’ is being set in an arbitrary and ever-changing way by media, religion and society, we are not really being accepting. I may not like the color red on you, but it should not drive me to inform you that you are somehow breaking the rules and I will not accept it. It does not affect me so why should I go out of my way to cause you grief? Am I not the one causing the disruption?
If we all want to be free, we have to learn to stop trying to force our beliefs and rules on everyone else. Only when we release that need are we ourselves truly free. Culture is a box from which we need to escape.
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