share: Why do women love shoes?
We've had a lot of talk here on Empowher about shoes. MBT shoes, all sorts of shoes that talk about helping to get to fitness goals faster, that actually tone the butt, legs and help with posture and everything in between.
But there are very few who have 60, 70 or even 100 of these kinds of shoes (unless we're getting them via endorsements, sports-star style!). Many women do, however, have 50, 100 or even 200 pairs of shoes, from sandals to cool boots to strappy slingbacks and sky high heels.
Even in a bad economy with problems all around us - shoes can cheer us up no end.
Why IS that?
Most women love shoe shopping, compared to clothes shopping. Clothes shopping is fun but there's always the risk you can't fit into your usual size anymore, or that your flat belly has morphed into muffin top over night causing horror in the fitting rooms.
But shoes? Nah. Shoes nearly always good look, no matter what our size. The big woman can add shape to her legs - the petites can spring up 3 or 4 inches. We don't really grow out of our shoes like we do out clothes. A few extra donuts may have us choosing our sweats instead of our skinnies but our shoes? Always our friend!
Our butts are raised up and stick out just a little bit - enough to make us look like a killer queen in our jeans or a shapely goddess in our little black dress.
How can an "ehhh" outfit look good? A hum drum dress look amazing? Shoes! They can make or break an outfit. We sometimes even choose our outfit around our shoes and boots, not the other way around. And why not? A gorgeous pair of shoes can make us feel like a million dollars as soon as we step into them. They can be of any color, any size, any height, shape or material. With shoes, the possibilities are endless.
Or so they tell me!
The most cited reasons for women loving shoes are the following-
They often last longer than clothes
They can make or break an outfit
They dress up even the plainest of clothes
Heels make legs and butts look great
Men drool over high heels, which women enjoy
High heels make women feel taller and slimmer
The choices and types of shoes and boots are endless
A woman of any shape and size can wear great heels. No such thing as that size 0 stuff.
Easy to slip on, easy to slip off...
They just make us happy and feel good
We feel more sexy and feminine with heels
Without them, many women believe their clothing is somehow "unfinished" and incomplete. Fashion is like cake - the clothes provide a strong foundation but the shoes and accessories are the icing. The pièce de résistance!
I think we all know that high heeled shoes are not good for our bodies but most of us love them anyway. And won't give all of them up for a collection of sensible flats no matter what the experts say.
So with this in mind, tell us:
Do you love shoes? Why? What makes footwear, once used simply for warmth and protection, such an artistic statement these days? Do you want to confess how many pairs you have?
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Add a Comment6 Comments
I think you have listed all of the reasons why I love shoes, Susan! Plus the reason why my husband loves heels (they make my butt perk up even more) yes, he has actually told me that's why he loves heels.
Shoes can certainly empower women, making us feel powerful, beautiful, stylish-- all at the same time. They certainly have an effect that will influence us to spend lots of money on them, even more than we know we can afford.
February 1, 2010 - 6:27amThis Comment
I think women love shoes because we were all read the story of "Cinderella" when we were younger. Somehow shoes = happiness. That's my theory.
February 1, 2010 - 7:41amI absolutely loved shoes, and had quite a few pairs of beautiful high heels that I adored, being just 5' tall. And then I was diagnosed with RA in 1982. Needless to say, in those days before Enbrel, out went the heels and in came the dreadful sensible flat shoes. I don't feel as feminine or powerful or stylish in my sensible shoes. Although I'm thankful that I'm as healthy as I am, I would give anything to be able to wear a beautiful pair of "Cinderella" shoes.
February 1, 2010 - 4:22pmAnd I have to digress!!! I am not a big shoe person. I am 5-foot-10 and so I've never been a big fan of heels (although I think tall women who wear heels are awesome!) I just don't like towering over people by so many inches. I'd rather wear flats and see them eye-to-eye (or close to it). I have a few favorite pairs of shoes (Brighton loafers, a Kenneth Cole pair of flats that I wear to death and will mourn when they finally go, a red pair of Pappagallos, etc) but other than that, it's all sneakers or -- whenever I can manage it -- bare feet.
I am totally a barefoot girl at heart. At home I'm always barefoot. At work I've been known for kicking off my shoes under the desk when I first get to work in the morning and not putting them back on until I"m going home at night. Yes, I wear socks around the office. People are used to it. I just don't work well in "grownup shoes," lol.
So give me jeans and bare feet or shorts and sneakers, and I'll be happy as can be!!! (Though I'm sure that if I were a few inches shorter, I'd be right there in the shoe store beside you.)
February 3, 2010 - 10:02amI get what you mean, Diane! But I'm 5'8" and love high heels. However, I have a 6'5" husband so it works for me!
February 3, 2010 - 12:25pmI don't mind towering over people - it must be part of my superiority complex!! Ah, I jest!
Susan,
We suffer from the same complex- haha. I'm 5'7" and my husband is 6'1" so it works out for us :) BUT my ex-boyfriend was about 5'8"-5'9" so wearing heels with him felt EXTREMELY awkward. Then one day I woke up and realized "I can't spend my life in flats!!" and broke up with him (JK I'm not that shallow-- but I briefly thought about it)
Heels are beautiful Diane, but you really have to be willing to pay the price, especially if you'll be doing some walking in them. At home, I am a barefoot girl like you! I find no use for shoes when I am in the comfort of my own home and only my one year old can see me. When I'm out, on the other hand, I find that heels give me that boost I'm missing when I'm barefoot (or in flats) not to mention they are a GREAT way to show off a good pedicure.
February 4, 2010 - 12:44pm