SHOES ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
It can only be described as love at first sight. From its shiny gold buckles to its beautiful black leather, everything about it was perfect. It was my match. I wanted, no, needed, it so badly that I stared at its gorgeous figure every day for months. Each time I returned, my desire for it grew exponentially, inflating my heart and making it harder and harder for me to not shell out the dollars and finally have it in my hands.
I first laid eyes on it in a photo that was uploaded by a girl who most likely wanders the endless scroll of “Women’s Fashion” on Pinterest as much as I do. Maybe it was the lighting of the photo that saturated everything in it with beauty: the girl’s blonde hair, her turquoise stone necklace, the gorgeous gold emblem on her shoes. Maybe it was the scenic backdrop of beautiful blue sky and fresh green grass that highlighted the shine of the boots. Or maybe it was the elegance the lift of the leg suggested. Whatever it was, it made my heart clench. I had to have these Tory Burch boots.
So I went on the Tory Burch website, ignoring my conscious reminding me that it’s not the cheapest of brands. Part of me hoped it would only be slightly above a “reasonable price” for a college student who worked part-time, but that sliver of optimism died instantly when I saw the price. $499. There was no way I could justify such an extravagant purchase.
Firstly, I didn’t have the money to pay for such an expensive (and if we look at them objectively, somewhat simple) pair of shoes. Secondly, living in cities where rain and snow are unavoidable, my shoes always became scuffed and accumulated salt stains, regardless of how carefully I walked in them, consequently making any-priced shoes look dirty, old, and cheap. Thirdly, I later learned that a friend of mine actually owned a pair of the Tory Burch boots I so coveted. She revealed that even though the shoes are well-made and high quality, they caused blisters and were a pain to break in. And finally, who would even know that I spent half a grand on these shoes? Unless they recognized the Tory Burch emblem, people would just see another pair of black boots with gold detailing. Deterred mostly by my bank account, I resisted the incessant urge to place an order.
Despite knowing all the reasons why $500 shoes are a completely unnecessary buy, I still wanted them. Why? Why didn’t impracticality calm my desire? What drew me so strongly to them? I didn’t need another pair of shoes (let alone a high-end one) to add to my already decent-sized collection of shoes. I didn’t need to impress strangers with my taste in fashion. I didn’t need the boots to live a happy life, though it certainly felt like I did. I feel like I do every time I meet a new pair of beautiful shoes. My eyes widen and I feel a sudden rush of excitement. I feel an invisible cord wrapped around me, dragging me towards the sculpture before me. If I’m in the store, I feel obligated to ask the sales associate for a pair in my size to try on, regardless of my true intent to make a purchase.
I am not alone in this obsession. For decades, the female population and shoes have been seen as inseparable. In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Dorothy returns home through the magic of her ruby slippers, which are now one of the most treasured and valuable film memorabilia. In Disney’s Cinderella (1947), her glass slippers reunite her with her true love and a happy ending. In the popular TV series Sex and the City, the protagonist, Carrie Bradshaw, is a shoe lover who has a collection of over 100 pairs and once spent $40,000 on a single pair. Perhaps we are swayed to like shoes because movies and television tell us that women are inextricably linked to the objects we wear on our feet. Is the prevalent conception that women are obsessed with shoes the reason for such high shoe sales and this established stereotype? As a female who buys at least 5 pairs of new shoes every year, I am familiar with and can confirm the crazy love for shoes that exists, but why does it exist? What is it about shoes that draw females so strongly to them? Why are shoes out of all items so popular within the female population? Are we merely attracted to their physical beauty or are there other explanations? I believe shoes are more than just eye candy or for walking.
Trying on any sort of apparel stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is involved in the brain’s reward and pleasure systems. Dopamine helps us regulate emotional responses, see rewards, and take action to get them. Its release during rewarding experiences reinforces behaviors that push us to seek out stimuli that can give us the “feel-good high” again. Dopamine release increases until we pay, which is when levels flatline and our guilt starts to creep in. However, this phenomenon surprisingly doesn’t occur when we buy shoes. We rationalize that shoes are worthwhile purchases for a number of reasons. Considering how often we wear shoes, we are more likely to get our money’s worth out of shoes than out of any other piece of apparel, so we hold onto that pleasurable feeling of doing the right thing longer (Azodi). Unlike sizing for other apparel, shoe size rarely fluctuates with age (after a certain point) or weight, and this stability removes the dagger that usually stabs our self-esteem every time a pair of pants or a shirt doesn’t fit (Siegel). Regardless of how our hair looks, how bloated our stomach is, or how much weight we gain, our feet will always look good in shoes and we’ll feel good wearing them. Shoes are enticing because our minds may actually be structured in a way that associates shoes with pleasure. Buying shoes activates an area in the prefrontal cortex called the “collecting spot.” Shoes can be viewed as a collector’s item, especially when we look at how shoes are displayed as sculptures in stores and in advertisements. Unlike clothing, which lie flat and lifeless when unworn, “shoes seem to have an autonomous quality” and are exhibited as art, so each time we collect one, we receive a mini-adrenaline rush for acquiring a gem (Siegel). Women feel like they’re gaining something immensely valuable and desired when they buy them and ownership can produce feelings of pride and status.
American women over the age of 18 own on average 20 pairs of shoes, even though only 5 are regularly worn. If we have so many beautiful pairs of shoes, why don’t we wear them all? In a survey that polled 2,352 women, 64% provided the excuse that the neglected shoes were either too uncomfortable, too high, or too tight on the feet; 55% said they were too difficult to match with an outfit; 41% were scared to damage them or thought they were too expensive to wear; 37% said they were gifted and didn’t like them; and 21% admitted they didn’t like the shoes as much when they got home. Astonishingly, 86% of women own at least one pair of shoes that they have never even worn (Huffington Post). Knowing we don’t wear all of our shoes for one reason or another, why do we continue to seek out and buy more?
The number of different shoe styles is infinite. There are plain flip-flops and ones decorated with words or jewels. Sandals can cover the back of your foot or the top and have a T-strap or straps that criss-cross. Boots can come up to your ankle, mid-calf, knee, or thigh. They can have buckles or buttons, and how many? Flats can have a round toe or a pointed toe. Heels can be slingbacks, pumps, peep-toe, wedges, or platforms. And athletic shoes come in endless designs customized for each sport and comfort. Every combination of style, heel height, color, and material are possible. With so many different shoes in existence, we feel compelled to own as many styles as possible so that we are prepared for all types of outfits, moods, weather, and events. People naturally like variety because it gives us options. Even though it’s not always true, having options to choose from gives us more control, as it seemingly gives us greater power over the fate or outcome of a situation (Weinschenk), such as picking the final accessory that decides the success and effect of an outfit. Our innate desire for control pushes us to seek choices, and in this case, more shoes, even if we always end up picking the same 5 pairs to wear.
The shoes that create the biggest dilemma for women and greatest confusion for all are high heels, which are known to be beautiful to the eyes but excruciatingly painful for the feet. Science has found that “high heels place undue stress on feet, directing pressure to the toes instead of distributing it evenly between toe and heel, and the arch loses its ability to absorb the shock and help us balance… Over time, these pressures can deform the foot creating major problems for women later in life” (D’Costa). Even without knowing the specific damage heels can cause, every woman who has worn a pair of heels for longer than 30 minutes know from experience that heels can’t be good for the feet, a fact that is confirmed every time the dull ache in the arches of our feet transforms into an unbearable pain after a few hours of wear. I own a pair of beautiful black leather Steve Madden shoes with an impressive 5.5 inch stiletto heel that always causes colossal pain in the arch and bloody blisters on the toes. Despite the obvious drawbacks, these shoes always end up on my feet when I head out to parties. Why do women wears heels despite how undeniably painful and detrimental it is to walk in them? Why are we willing to suffer pain that is avoidable and to sacrifice our feet for a few hours of outer beauty?
Our fascination with shoes begins soon after we learn how to walk. As soon as little girls start getting the desire to feel and act “grown up,” they put on a pair of mother’s shoes, usually heels, an act that strengthens their understanding of what it means to be female. A pair of heels is especially alluring because it is “the object of apparel that – more than any other – marks the difference between men and women” (Jacobbi) and emphasizes our sexuality and uniqueness. Shoes have the power to frame the image we want to communicate to the world. Dr. Ali Sadrieh, a podiatrist, believes “on the surface, it looks shallow. But I came to see she needs these shoes to project confidence, they are part of her outside skin” (Stover). So what does the type of shoe say about the wearer?
Shoes, particularly high heels, are often associated with the elite class that includes movie stars, socialites, and millionaires (Jacobbi), who project status and sophistication. The positive notions linked to shoes prompt women to use them to impress. Heels imply qualities such as fashionable, trendy, chic, stylish, poised, and cool. Her dedication to her image, knowledge of current trends, and willingness to give up comfort for fashion augments her beauty and status as the it-girl, the girl we all want to be and to be associated with from the day we tried on mother’s wondrous heels.
Do men care about the fashion aspect of heels? Probably not, but men may be drawn to heels for other reasons, reasons that may actually increase women’s attraction to heels beyond the fashionable quality of them. Heels, especially stilettos which have an extremely thin and high tapering heel, “create an optical illusion of ‘shortening’ the foot, slenderize the ankle, contribute to the appearance of long legs, add a sensuous look to the strike, and increase height to generate the sensation of power and status” (D’Costa). Women in heels appear more attractive because they appear more feminine due to the exaggeration of the female form. Heels can evoke sexiness as heel height forces women to assume a “primal mating pose” in which the buttocks are lifted and the back is arched (Azodi). Walking in heels exaggerates the feminine aspects of female gait, such as “greater pelvic rotation, increased vertical motion at the hip, shorter striders and higher number of steps per minute” (Persaud and Furnham). What woman doesn’t want long slim legs, great posture, curves, and a sexy walk? Fashion blogger Anna-Marie Fitzgerald posits, “a skyscraper shoe is an addictive, paradoxical combination of pain, power, and beauty” (Rexford et al.). The visual impact shoes can have can increase female-female competition for male attention. Women in heels are regarded to receive more attention from men and have greater dominance in the dating sphere, which can incline other women to risk painful feet in order to increase their own success with men.
So we come to the question: do women loves shoes because they impress others? Women can gain more than just attention for herself through heels. Women feel different when they wear heels. They feel more beautiful, confident, and powerful. Nancy Rexford, a fashion historian, believes “today’s extreme fashions may have more to do with expressing power and control – control over one’s own body and the power to use one’s body to draw the gaze of others” (Rexford et al.). Height is associated with power and heels can literally raise a woman’s status and provide a physiological advantage that brings her to the eye level of males and exudes authority. Interacting with men at the same height can subconsciously influence them to perceive women to be equal in more ways than just physical, such as in skills and power. Robert H. Frank, a professor of economics says, “height isn’t always advantageous, of course, but it usually helps. Taller people make more money and command greater attention in social settings. And hence the attraction of heels” (Rexford et al.). The multifunctionality of shoes allows women to have more control over many different aspects of their lives and to command a variety of contexts. Shoes have the ability to change not only how a woman physically moves, but also her demeanor, which can influence how she is perceived and treated.
Shoes and the message they send are so important to women that many are willing to take drastic measures to make wearing even the most uncomfortable, ill-fitting shoes a possibility. The solutions podiatrists can provide are surprisingly numerous: toe-shortening, toe-lengthening, foot tuck, bunion removal, platelet-rich plasma therapy, stem-cell injections, injectable fillers for metatarsal cushioning, Botox, Dysport, Myobloc for excess sweating, etc. (Stover). Some women have even asked for toe liposuction and to have their pinkie toe removed so that specific shoes could fit (Stover). These great lengths to which many women are willing to go to affirms the prominent role shoes now play in women’s lives.
Considering how much time, money, and effort women invest in shoes, are other women the only ones who notice the details of shoes even though they are worn to affect all? A survey that polled 2,103 men showed 79% of men actually do notice their partner’s footwear (Adams). Not only are men attentive to women’s shoes, but many men also have preferences for shoes they like to see on women. One man, George, who was interviewed by The Gloss, a fashion and beauty blog, recommended women “wear heels. It’s mostly just about posture. Women stand up straighter when they’re wearing heels, and that makes them look better” (Wright). Men might actually be pickier and more aware of shoes than we think they are as many find specific women’s shoe styles to be unattractive and unappealing. Jim, another interviewee, says, “we like shoes that look ‘normal’ to us. I’ve never met a man who liked wedges. Somehow, I think they look slutty. Also sometimes the little opening at the front of the shoe that has maybe two toes visible, sometimes (but only sometimes) I think it looks piggy” (Wright). The top ten list of shoes men find least attractive include: wedges, Uggs, crocs, platforms, flip-flops, moccasins, Mary Janes, ballet shoes, kitten heels, and sneakers. When asked whether or not they considered women to be more attractive if they wore what men considered “attractive shoes,” 93% of men said yes (Adams). Shoes, an accessory that can be easily overlooked due to its distance from eye level, may greatly impact men’s attraction to and perception of women, even though most women believe men are indifferent and ignorant about fashion.
The popular opinion that women are shoe crazy because they are shopaholics and love fashion could be a reasonable explanation, as there is some truth to it, but it’s not a comprehensive one; I was sure there had to be more that we gained from shoes than just the shoes themselves. Shoes are hard to figure out because more often than not, people don’t buy shoes out of necessity or practicality. 9 out of 10 women wear that are too tight for them and 8 out of 10 women admit to wearing shoes that hurt them (D’Costa). Women frequently make illogical shoe purchases, which raises the question of “why?” because clearly, shoes are no longer just objects that help us move from place to place.
Through research and personal experience, I’ve learned that it all comes down to the look of a shoe; is this concern just a result of the superficiality society has come to possess? Shoes are now more than just blankets for the soles of our feet. They contribute greatly to the image we hope to broadcast: “we wear them as a way to play with aspects of our identity in a less committed way than any other visible marker, such as a haircut or color. We can change that message everyday or more if we choose” (Siegel). Who we are greatly shapes how we live and shoes allow us to adapt to a myriad of social situations that ask us to highlight various aspects of our identity. Whether a woman wants to be sexy for a date, professional for an interview, fun to match her upbeat mood, or athletic to reflect her active lifestyle, there is a shoe to represent each part of every one of us.
Everyone uses different material items and methods to create and reinforce our identity and image. Just as how men often use cars to reinforce their masculinity, women frequently choose to use shoes to reinforce their femininity and to empower themselves. Although owning hundreds of shoes or splurging $500 on a single pair (which I thankfully chose not to do to my meager college bank account) may be excessive, there are a number of undeniable immaterial gains that come from buying and wearing shoes. Whether or not the painful drop in our account balance or the torture forced upon our feed are worthwhile sacrifices depends on the woman, but I certainly believe that sometimes they are because there’s nothing quite like feeling beautiful, powerful, and alive all at once, a feeling that radiates from the tips of our toes, through the balls of our feet, and up our ankles towards our delighted hearts.
I first laid eyes on it in a photo that was uploaded by a girl who most likely wanders the endless scroll of “Women’s Fashion” on Pinterest as much as I do. Maybe it was the lighting of the photo that saturated everything in it with beauty: the girl’s blonde hair, her turquoise stone necklace, the gorgeous gold emblem on her shoes. Maybe it was the scenic backdrop of beautiful blue sky and fresh green grass that highlighted the shine of the boots. Or maybe it was the elegance the lift of the leg suggested. Whatever it was, it made my heart clench. I had to have these Tory Burch boots.
So I went on the Tory Burch website, ignoring my conscious reminding me that it’s not the cheapest of brands. Part of me hoped it would only be slightly above a “reasonable price” for a college student who worked part-time, but that sliver of optimism died instantly when I saw the price. $499. There was no way I could justify such an extravagant purchase.
Firstly, I didn’t have the money to pay for such an expensive (and if we look at them objectively, somewhat simple) pair of shoes. Secondly, living in cities where rain and snow are unavoidable, my shoes always became scuffed and accumulated salt stains, regardless of how carefully I walked in them, consequently making any-priced shoes look dirty, old, and cheap. Thirdly, I later learned that a friend of mine actually owned a pair of the Tory Burch boots I so coveted. She revealed that even though the shoes are well-made and high quality, they caused blisters and were a pain to break in. And finally, who would even know that I spent half a grand on these shoes? Unless they recognized the Tory Burch emblem, people would just see another pair of black boots with gold detailing. Deterred mostly by my bank account, I resisted the incessant urge to place an order.
Despite knowing all the reasons why $500 shoes are a completely unnecessary buy, I still wanted them. Why? Why didn’t impracticality calm my desire? What drew me so strongly to them? I didn’t need another pair of shoes (let alone a high-end one) to add to my already decent-sized collection of shoes. I didn’t need to impress strangers with my taste in fashion. I didn’t need the boots to live a happy life, though it certainly felt like I did. I feel like I do every time I meet a new pair of beautiful shoes. My eyes widen and I feel a sudden rush of excitement. I feel an invisible cord wrapped around me, dragging me towards the sculpture before me. If I’m in the store, I feel obligated to ask the sales associate for a pair in my size to try on, regardless of my true intent to make a purchase.
I am not alone in this obsession. For decades, the female population and shoes have been seen as inseparable. In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Dorothy returns home through the magic of her ruby slippers, which are now one of the most treasured and valuable film memorabilia. In Disney’s Cinderella (1947), her glass slippers reunite her with her true love and a happy ending. In the popular TV series Sex and the City, the protagonist, Carrie Bradshaw, is a shoe lover who has a collection of over 100 pairs and once spent $40,000 on a single pair. Perhaps we are swayed to like shoes because movies and television tell us that women are inextricably linked to the objects we wear on our feet. Is the prevalent conception that women are obsessed with shoes the reason for such high shoe sales and this established stereotype? As a female who buys at least 5 pairs of new shoes every year, I am familiar with and can confirm the crazy love for shoes that exists, but why does it exist? What is it about shoes that draw females so strongly to them? Why are shoes out of all items so popular within the female population? Are we merely attracted to their physical beauty or are there other explanations? I believe shoes are more than just eye candy or for walking.
Trying on any sort of apparel stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is involved in the brain’s reward and pleasure systems. Dopamine helps us regulate emotional responses, see rewards, and take action to get them. Its release during rewarding experiences reinforces behaviors that push us to seek out stimuli that can give us the “feel-good high” again. Dopamine release increases until we pay, which is when levels flatline and our guilt starts to creep in. However, this phenomenon surprisingly doesn’t occur when we buy shoes. We rationalize that shoes are worthwhile purchases for a number of reasons. Considering how often we wear shoes, we are more likely to get our money’s worth out of shoes than out of any other piece of apparel, so we hold onto that pleasurable feeling of doing the right thing longer (Azodi). Unlike sizing for other apparel, shoe size rarely fluctuates with age (after a certain point) or weight, and this stability removes the dagger that usually stabs our self-esteem every time a pair of pants or a shirt doesn’t fit (Siegel). Regardless of how our hair looks, how bloated our stomach is, or how much weight we gain, our feet will always look good in shoes and we’ll feel good wearing them. Shoes are enticing because our minds may actually be structured in a way that associates shoes with pleasure. Buying shoes activates an area in the prefrontal cortex called the “collecting spot.” Shoes can be viewed as a collector’s item, especially when we look at how shoes are displayed as sculptures in stores and in advertisements. Unlike clothing, which lie flat and lifeless when unworn, “shoes seem to have an autonomous quality” and are exhibited as art, so each time we collect one, we receive a mini-adrenaline rush for acquiring a gem (Siegel). Women feel like they’re gaining something immensely valuable and desired when they buy them and ownership can produce feelings of pride and status.
American women over the age of 18 own on average 20 pairs of shoes, even though only 5 are regularly worn. If we have so many beautiful pairs of shoes, why don’t we wear them all? In a survey that polled 2,352 women, 64% provided the excuse that the neglected shoes were either too uncomfortable, too high, or too tight on the feet; 55% said they were too difficult to match with an outfit; 41% were scared to damage them or thought they were too expensive to wear; 37% said they were gifted and didn’t like them; and 21% admitted they didn’t like the shoes as much when they got home. Astonishingly, 86% of women own at least one pair of shoes that they have never even worn (Huffington Post). Knowing we don’t wear all of our shoes for one reason or another, why do we continue to seek out and buy more?
The number of different shoe styles is infinite. There are plain flip-flops and ones decorated with words or jewels. Sandals can cover the back of your foot or the top and have a T-strap or straps that criss-cross. Boots can come up to your ankle, mid-calf, knee, or thigh. They can have buckles or buttons, and how many? Flats can have a round toe or a pointed toe. Heels can be slingbacks, pumps, peep-toe, wedges, or platforms. And athletic shoes come in endless designs customized for each sport and comfort. Every combination of style, heel height, color, and material are possible. With so many different shoes in existence, we feel compelled to own as many styles as possible so that we are prepared for all types of outfits, moods, weather, and events. People naturally like variety because it gives us options. Even though it’s not always true, having options to choose from gives us more control, as it seemingly gives us greater power over the fate or outcome of a situation (Weinschenk), such as picking the final accessory that decides the success and effect of an outfit. Our innate desire for control pushes us to seek choices, and in this case, more shoes, even if we always end up picking the same 5 pairs to wear.
The shoes that create the biggest dilemma for women and greatest confusion for all are high heels, which are known to be beautiful to the eyes but excruciatingly painful for the feet. Science has found that “high heels place undue stress on feet, directing pressure to the toes instead of distributing it evenly between toe and heel, and the arch loses its ability to absorb the shock and help us balance… Over time, these pressures can deform the foot creating major problems for women later in life” (D’Costa). Even without knowing the specific damage heels can cause, every woman who has worn a pair of heels for longer than 30 minutes know from experience that heels can’t be good for the feet, a fact that is confirmed every time the dull ache in the arches of our feet transforms into an unbearable pain after a few hours of wear. I own a pair of beautiful black leather Steve Madden shoes with an impressive 5.5 inch stiletto heel that always causes colossal pain in the arch and bloody blisters on the toes. Despite the obvious drawbacks, these shoes always end up on my feet when I head out to parties. Why do women wears heels despite how undeniably painful and detrimental it is to walk in them? Why are we willing to suffer pain that is avoidable and to sacrifice our feet for a few hours of outer beauty?
Our fascination with shoes begins soon after we learn how to walk. As soon as little girls start getting the desire to feel and act “grown up,” they put on a pair of mother’s shoes, usually heels, an act that strengthens their understanding of what it means to be female. A pair of heels is especially alluring because it is “the object of apparel that – more than any other – marks the difference between men and women” (Jacobbi) and emphasizes our sexuality and uniqueness. Shoes have the power to frame the image we want to communicate to the world. Dr. Ali Sadrieh, a podiatrist, believes “on the surface, it looks shallow. But I came to see she needs these shoes to project confidence, they are part of her outside skin” (Stover). So what does the type of shoe say about the wearer?
Shoes, particularly high heels, are often associated with the elite class that includes movie stars, socialites, and millionaires (Jacobbi), who project status and sophistication. The positive notions linked to shoes prompt women to use them to impress. Heels imply qualities such as fashionable, trendy, chic, stylish, poised, and cool. Her dedication to her image, knowledge of current trends, and willingness to give up comfort for fashion augments her beauty and status as the it-girl, the girl we all want to be and to be associated with from the day we tried on mother’s wondrous heels.
Do men care about the fashion aspect of heels? Probably not, but men may be drawn to heels for other reasons, reasons that may actually increase women’s attraction to heels beyond the fashionable quality of them. Heels, especially stilettos which have an extremely thin and high tapering heel, “create an optical illusion of ‘shortening’ the foot, slenderize the ankle, contribute to the appearance of long legs, add a sensuous look to the strike, and increase height to generate the sensation of power and status” (D’Costa). Women in heels appear more attractive because they appear more feminine due to the exaggeration of the female form. Heels can evoke sexiness as heel height forces women to assume a “primal mating pose” in which the buttocks are lifted and the back is arched (Azodi). Walking in heels exaggerates the feminine aspects of female gait, such as “greater pelvic rotation, increased vertical motion at the hip, shorter striders and higher number of steps per minute” (Persaud and Furnham). What woman doesn’t want long slim legs, great posture, curves, and a sexy walk? Fashion blogger Anna-Marie Fitzgerald posits, “a skyscraper shoe is an addictive, paradoxical combination of pain, power, and beauty” (Rexford et al.). The visual impact shoes can have can increase female-female competition for male attention. Women in heels are regarded to receive more attention from men and have greater dominance in the dating sphere, which can incline other women to risk painful feet in order to increase their own success with men.
So we come to the question: do women loves shoes because they impress others? Women can gain more than just attention for herself through heels. Women feel different when they wear heels. They feel more beautiful, confident, and powerful. Nancy Rexford, a fashion historian, believes “today’s extreme fashions may have more to do with expressing power and control – control over one’s own body and the power to use one’s body to draw the gaze of others” (Rexford et al.). Height is associated with power and heels can literally raise a woman’s status and provide a physiological advantage that brings her to the eye level of males and exudes authority. Interacting with men at the same height can subconsciously influence them to perceive women to be equal in more ways than just physical, such as in skills and power. Robert H. Frank, a professor of economics says, “height isn’t always advantageous, of course, but it usually helps. Taller people make more money and command greater attention in social settings. And hence the attraction of heels” (Rexford et al.). The multifunctionality of shoes allows women to have more control over many different aspects of their lives and to command a variety of contexts. Shoes have the ability to change not only how a woman physically moves, but also her demeanor, which can influence how she is perceived and treated.
Shoes and the message they send are so important to women that many are willing to take drastic measures to make wearing even the most uncomfortable, ill-fitting shoes a possibility. The solutions podiatrists can provide are surprisingly numerous: toe-shortening, toe-lengthening, foot tuck, bunion removal, platelet-rich plasma therapy, stem-cell injections, injectable fillers for metatarsal cushioning, Botox, Dysport, Myobloc for excess sweating, etc. (Stover). Some women have even asked for toe liposuction and to have their pinkie toe removed so that specific shoes could fit (Stover). These great lengths to which many women are willing to go to affirms the prominent role shoes now play in women’s lives.
Considering how much time, money, and effort women invest in shoes, are other women the only ones who notice the details of shoes even though they are worn to affect all? A survey that polled 2,103 men showed 79% of men actually do notice their partner’s footwear (Adams). Not only are men attentive to women’s shoes, but many men also have preferences for shoes they like to see on women. One man, George, who was interviewed by The Gloss, a fashion and beauty blog, recommended women “wear heels. It’s mostly just about posture. Women stand up straighter when they’re wearing heels, and that makes them look better” (Wright). Men might actually be pickier and more aware of shoes than we think they are as many find specific women’s shoe styles to be unattractive and unappealing. Jim, another interviewee, says, “we like shoes that look ‘normal’ to us. I’ve never met a man who liked wedges. Somehow, I think they look slutty. Also sometimes the little opening at the front of the shoe that has maybe two toes visible, sometimes (but only sometimes) I think it looks piggy” (Wright). The top ten list of shoes men find least attractive include: wedges, Uggs, crocs, platforms, flip-flops, moccasins, Mary Janes, ballet shoes, kitten heels, and sneakers. When asked whether or not they considered women to be more attractive if they wore what men considered “attractive shoes,” 93% of men said yes (Adams). Shoes, an accessory that can be easily overlooked due to its distance from eye level, may greatly impact men’s attraction to and perception of women, even though most women believe men are indifferent and ignorant about fashion.
The popular opinion that women are shoe crazy because they are shopaholics and love fashion could be a reasonable explanation, as there is some truth to it, but it’s not a comprehensive one; I was sure there had to be more that we gained from shoes than just the shoes themselves. Shoes are hard to figure out because more often than not, people don’t buy shoes out of necessity or practicality. 9 out of 10 women wear that are too tight for them and 8 out of 10 women admit to wearing shoes that hurt them (D’Costa). Women frequently make illogical shoe purchases, which raises the question of “why?” because clearly, shoes are no longer just objects that help us move from place to place.
Through research and personal experience, I’ve learned that it all comes down to the look of a shoe; is this concern just a result of the superficiality society has come to possess? Shoes are now more than just blankets for the soles of our feet. They contribute greatly to the image we hope to broadcast: “we wear them as a way to play with aspects of our identity in a less committed way than any other visible marker, such as a haircut or color. We can change that message everyday or more if we choose” (Siegel). Who we are greatly shapes how we live and shoes allow us to adapt to a myriad of social situations that ask us to highlight various aspects of our identity. Whether a woman wants to be sexy for a date, professional for an interview, fun to match her upbeat mood, or athletic to reflect her active lifestyle, there is a shoe to represent each part of every one of us.
Everyone uses different material items and methods to create and reinforce our identity and image. Just as how men often use cars to reinforce their masculinity, women frequently choose to use shoes to reinforce their femininity and to empower themselves. Although owning hundreds of shoes or splurging $500 on a single pair (which I thankfully chose not to do to my meager college bank account) may be excessive, there are a number of undeniable immaterial gains that come from buying and wearing shoes. Whether or not the painful drop in our account balance or the torture forced upon our feed are worthwhile sacrifices depends on the woman, but I certainly believe that sometimes they are because there’s nothing quite like feeling beautiful, powerful, and alive all at once, a feeling that radiates from the tips of our toes, through the balls of our feet, and up our ankles towards our delighted hearts.