All About Wearing High Heel, Q & A

All About Wearing High Heels, Q & A

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Subject: Men Doing Pointe Ballet

Based on your comments about the flexibility of men's ankles, I thought you might be interested in this all-male "drag" ballet troupe. I saw them perform in the mid 1980's and they really do dance on pointe. One would imagine that these men have unusually strong and flexible feet.

http://www.trockadero.org/

Hope this is useful.

K.W. - 23 Jan 2006

Men Doing Pointe Ballet

Dear Katharine,

Thank you for this information!

That is why I often use the words "generally", "usually", etc. Also, on numerous occasions, I have written that there are exceptions to almost everything in life.

If these men can really get up on their toes to do pointe ballet, then they are rare exceptions. The vast majority of men can not.

Also, is it possible that some of these men are hermaphrodites (or he - she's) rather than 100% males??? If so, hermaphrodites are usually physically-shaped more like females and make better females (than males, whenever surgically altered to be of one gender).

Regards,
J.J. - February 18, 2006

Subject: Comfortable Pair of High Heels

hi, really appreciated your site on high heels. What a lot of work you have put into it. You are a gem to have done so. Thank you.!!!

Please, I have a pair of BLACK Enzo's that I JUST LOVE. THey are about 3-1/2 heel and have wonderful wide straps for the ankle with buckle... and no sides, just a strip up the back. THe issues are two fold, I have had them repaired and repaired. I am afraid they are on their last legs so to speak, the leather on the heels is nicked in many places; the inside lining has been replaced cause it cracked, but is a little too slipeery now and my foot slides when I walk. The soles have been replaced at the ends where they wore out. The toes are long squared off ones that are out of style now. Other than that, they're fine!!! lol

i have been scrying ebay like a maniac for a year for a new pair. I'd buy ten pairs if I could find them and wear them til I die (I'm 60 now, so many 10 pair would last til I'm 100?lol. But, no dice on ebay,nary a one.

Please, does anyone ever re-cover the leather on heels? --does anyone ever cut off the rather now witchy looking long square toes to make a shorter toe, and maybe an open toe? --why does my foot slide in the new sole lining, am I right, it is too slippery? Can someone replace it for me? --If I write Enzo Angiolini, which I think is a subsidary of Nine West about a shoe they stopped making at least 2 or 3 years ago, they probably dont have a secret stach anywhere, right? lol --There probab ly is no shoemaker who copies shoes? Probably would cost an arm and leg even though these shoes are minimal in leather --is there a name for a shoe that just has a narrow strip of leather up the back of the heel with an ankle strap? Not D'Orsay, not just 'ankle strap,' but maybe some other name?

Please, I hate to be a pest, but i travel alot, these are sexy shoes and COMFORTABLE. I can walk in them all day and all night and feel great.

if you can help, I would so appreciate it

thank you for reading this with kindest regards,
K. - 12 Feb 2006

Comfortable Pair of High Heels

Dear Kub,

<< Please, does anyone ever re-cover the leather on heels? --does anyone ever cut off the rather now witchy looking long square toes to make a shorter toe, and maybe an open toe? >>

Some shoe repair shops offer these services (see my REPAIR web page), but the fees for these services are usually quite high so that these repair or changes are cost effective for expensive shoes only.

<< why does my foot slide in the new sole lining, am I right, it is too slippery? Can someone replace it for me? >>

That is a common problem, especially noticeable with open-toe high heel shoes. Some companies (including Dr. Scholl) sell insert pads that are made of less slippery material to help prevent this problem.

<<--If I write Enzo Angiolini, which I think is a subsidary of Nine West about a shoe they stopped making at least 2 or 3 years ago, they probably dont have a secret stach anywhere, right? lol >>

It all depends on the style that you are referring to. You could ask the salesmen/saleswomen in stores selling that brand of shoes. Also, if they went out of style a year or even, a few years ago, you might be able to find them or similar styles in discount shoe stores (both brick-and-mortar and online ones).

<<--There probably is no shoemaker who copies shoes? Probably would cost an arm and leg even though these shoes are minimal in leather >>

There are some custom shoemakers who are able to copy some shoe styles. Yes, the cost will probably be very high (hundreds to thousands of U.S. dollars).

<<--is there a name for a shoe that just has a narrow strip of leather up the back of the heel with an ankle strap? Not D'Orsay, not just 'ankle strap,' but maybe some other name? >>

I know the style that you are referring by the exact words that you used to describe them, but have not seen any consistently-used name for them.

<< Please, I hate to be a pest, but i travel alot, these are sexy shoes and COMFORTABLE. I can walk in them all day and all night and feel great. >>

Keep looking and shop in the spring and fall of every year. You might find another brand and style to be just as good or even, better than your black Enzo's.

Most people who own a lot of pairs of high heels usually find some pairs to be more comfortable than the others. The main factor affecting high heel footwear comfort is proper-fit including proper length, width and toe box. Also, properly-curved shanks are very important for high heel footwear as they affect arch support and comfort. Other factors that can affect the comfort of high heel shoes involve the specific shoe style and materials used to make the shoes.

Regards,
J.J. - February 18, 2006

Subject: Exercises

Aloha,

My name is xxxxxxxx xxx. I am an exercise science student at UC Santa Barbara. Currently, I am researching women's attitudes regarding wearing high heels and problems associated with them. I came across your great website and book during my research. I was wondering if you knew of anyone teaching women how to walk properly in high heels ( i.e. workshops, private practice). I'm interested in the body mechanics involved with wearing heels, and trying to develop exercises to counter problems most women experience. Any information and help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your time.

Mahalo,

F.G. - 12 Feb 2006

Exercises

I am not aware of any formal training classes for wearing high heels. However, last year, I was contacted by a member of Tri-ess (a cross-dressing/cross-gender organization), who was offering a class about high heels in one of their conferences . Also, several years ago, I was notified about a group of secretaries in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, who wanted someone to speak about wearing high heels at one of their meetings.

I have often considered offering classes and even, opening up a school for high heels, but realized that "it is much easier said than done" and may not be a profitable endeavor. That's about it regarding classes, but note that there are people who train models on how to walk the runways in high heels using that highly unnatural, but eye-captivating walking style (that models normally use on runways).

In regards to exercises for wearing high heels, there is the very popular one of "tip-toeing" around (or walk on the toes only). Jenny of Jenny's High Stiletto Heels mentioned it on her website. Also, Jennifer Lopez did it in one of her movies.

Some people who wear high heels often do this exercise (or tip-toe around) instinctively. I do believe that this exercise helps (i.e., the more one tip-toes around, the better walker she becomes in high heels. Also, the higher one can get up on the toes while tip-toeing around, the better she can handle higher heels.) However, I do not know if this exercise has ever been proven scientifically to help a person walk better in high heels.

In my book titled "All About Wearing High Heels", exercising was mentioned for high heel wearers with permanently shortened calf muscles and Achilles tendons because exercising is so important to maintain good health (as well as aid in the proper digestion of food). Two possible ways to exercise (dancing and "stationary exercise bike" riding) were mentioned.

Also, in this web site, pointe ballet dancing (for wearing ballet boots with heels attached) and tango dancing in high heels were mentioned. With tango dancing in mind, any of the warm-up exercises and simple moves that women do in tango dancing can be good exercises for wearing and walking in high heels.

In my opinion, exercises for wearing high heels from an authoritative or institutional source would be terrific and very helpful for the increasing number of people wearing high heels. I know for certain that such exercises can be developed. (Some have already been developed, but are outside the scope of what I can publish as helpful.)

With that in mind, most exercises should be ones that are done only while wearing high heels. Of course, only shoes and boots with "sturdy" (not wobbly) high heels should be used. This is because most of the muscles and ligaments in the lower body (from the lower back down to the toes and esp., those in the hips, knees and ankles) change in shape while standing up in high heels. Also, the higher the heels, the more the muscles and ligaments change in shape.

Strength should be just as important as flexibility. In other words, it is important to strengthen the muscles and ligaments while they are in these altered shapes, so that these muscles and ligaments will be more resistant to injury while walking in high heels. Also, stronger muscles and ligaments in their altered shapes should make it easier to walk in the high heels.

In case this is unclear, think in terms of extremes. Consider a woman trying to master walking in ultra-high heels (or heels that are 5 inches or higher without platforms). Most women require some training with lots of practice. If the women have the necessary physical bodily attributes and the shoes are properly-fitted, their bodies eventually adapt (specifically, the muscles and ligaments in the lower body from lower back down to the toes become stronger and stronger in their altered shapes) and they get use to walking in the ultra-high heels. Barring injury, they usually walk better and better with more and more practice.

Perhaps, you (and possibly, other fellow students and faculty at your institution) could research and prove whatever exercises you develop to help and work scientifically. Again, extreme cases and even, extreme exercises should be much more convincing to others as to the effectiveness of the exercises. So, try to get some test subjects who are willing to train to walk in 5 or 6 inch (rather than 3 or 4 inch) high heel shoes by doing some serious power body building type of exercises with the lower body while wearing the high heels. (Note that in this case, be sure to use only shoes with ankle straps or boot with tight ankles.)

Furthermore, I mentioned some (traditional) calf muscles and Achilles tendons stretching exercises (in my PROBLEMS web page) to help prevent getting shortened calf muscles and Achilles tendons. With that in mind, it may be very helpful, if someone could develop exercises to strengthen the ankles, while they are in the high heel position (or while the wearer is standing up in high heels) because people wearing high heels are more vulnerable to ankle sprains (unless wearing ankle straps or boots with tight ankles).

Regards,
J.J. - March 19, 2006

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This page was last edited on March 19, 2006.
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