Musings and Amusings

Following in the footsteps of Grecian courtesans that notorious woman Catherine d’Medici introduced Italian style by wearing high heels (she was rather short). Since then women have been crippling themselves in the search for the advantage kick-arse shoes give the wearer.

Latterly nine inch heels with four inch platforms have been gracing the feet of the ultra thin models we are supposed to emulate. What is it about our shoe fetish? Many of the most seductive styles can only be worn safely when lying down; a prophetic position perhaps? Feminism surely takes a back seat where high heels are involved. I was interested therefore, to read some comments from an article by Germaine Greer on this fashion which is surely not a fad:

Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer – “One can’t help but feel powerful, beautiful when wearing them.”

Alexandra Shulman, editor, British Vogue – “Men do find them attractive – wearing heels is certainly not all about women and other women.”

Plum Sykes, novelist and fashion journalist – “It’s really only for gay men and other women.”

Camille Paglia, academic and author – “It’s a shrewd social strategy to see and be seen. But long term mutilation of a crucial body part is inevitable for the compulsive fashionista.”