High Heel Horror Story

My mother-in-law tells me that in the mid 1950s, students in her home economics class were taught to walk in heels.  While this seems very old-fashioned, it is also kind of sweet.

But these were kinder times and the heels that these girls were taught to walk in were 2 or 3 inches high. 

And then the 1970s came, and many women put away the heels. I came of age in the 70s and no one was wearing heels that I hung out with - we were reading MS magazine and wearing sensible shoes.  Oh sure, the disco era came and went but I wore little chinese shiny slippers, never learning to walk in high heels and always thinking I looked stupid trying to do so.  And so, I never went above 3" heels (and 3" was considered high by me!)

And then a few years ago, I saw heels get higher and higher and higher...

It started innocently enough - what would have been a mid-heel, topped up with a little platform:

Even schmucks like me could do it...

But then they went higher, so high that the wearer actually needed an oxygen mask:

 

Now don't think I am simply a whiner because I cannot wear these myself.

But here's the rub: every stylist in Hollywood is putting every actress into these shoes.  But they have forgotten one crucial thing: they have forgotten that many of these poor women are like me: they can't do the high heels.  Or even worse: they can wear the heels, but they have no idea how to walk gracefully in them.

Since it is Hollywood Award season, I have gotten plenty of opportunity to see this in action - A list actresses struggling to walk the red carpet, unable to walk up little stairs. 

A couple of weeks back, I saw the spunky Lea Dunham, she of the much bellyhooed show, Girls, all gussied up for the Golden Globes.

Now this girl is sweet.  And exuberant.  I haven't seen her show, but when I saw her unbridled excitement when she won, I couldn't help but like her!  But when I saw her get up and walk across the room I was horrified.  She did not know how to walk in heels and even worse, her stylist had completely ignored that fact and put her in shoes that were not possible for her to walk in.  She lurched across the room.  She lurched up the stairs to receive her award.  She lurched acoss the stage afterwards.

So I ask:  whatever happened to the kitten heel?  What ever happened to the mid-heel?  Where is Sofia Coppola in her ballet flats?  Must every stylist in Hollywood torture these actresses by placing them in 6" heels?

I say: stop the madness!  These are long dresses.  If fitted well and hemmed properly, a smaller heel can be worn without anyone being any the wiser.  If you are 5'2", is it not exciting enough to be 5'4"?  Must you be 5'8"?

What do you think?  Do you think these heels are getting over the top, too or am I just a cranky old 50 year old with flat feet?  Okay - wait - I am the latter regardless, so don't answer that question!!

 So happy Tuesday!  And for you lovely ladies who can wear these high heels: I salute you!!

Have a happy day and stay safe out there!