Fashion: Are Nose-Bleed Heels Really Over?

In the salon rouge of Paris' Musee Carnavalet, there is an entire wall dedicated to funny drawings depicting the excesses of nineteenth century fashion: Crinolines of preposterous size and width that routinely led women who wore them into absurd situations like the inability to fit through doorways or having to be squeezed into carriages by attendants. Prior to crinolines, there had been the elaborate wigs and headdresses popularized by Marie Antoinette in France and imported to England by her friend and ally in fashion Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire. And so it goes that each age has its absurd fashion trends that push women to adopt ways of dressing that in hindsight, call into question their judgment, values and in some cases, their sanity.

Our era will doubtless be regarded as one where footwear dominated women's lives both in terms of extreme height and fits of design fancy. I fully admit to falling prey to this trend myself. I own shoes I've worn exclusively in the privacy of my home because they're simply not fit to be worn out in the real world (my golden rule where footwear is concerned is that I refuse to wear out in public anything I'm unable to walk in elegantly). I purchase them for their inherent beauty and design prowess and I have no regrets. They give me joy.

Alas, even a die-hard fan of footwear such as myself must admit that some of the more extreme shoes out there have become rather absurd and an increasing number of fashion critics are understandably calling for the end of this trend. While I agree that there is nothing more painful to watch than a woman shuffling inelegantly in shoes too high for her gait, comfort and safety, I can't help but disagree with the view that the era of heels is over.

Unlike wigs or crinolines, there is far more driving the love of heels than fashion trends. High heels tap into a lust for height, elegance, power and domination but also lust in and of itself. They're sexy and who in their right mind wouldn't want to be sexy? This probably explains why high heels have been around for considerably longer than headdresses and crinolines and why they're most likely here to stay.

So, while I suspect that loafers and brogues may indeed have their fifteen minutes in the fashion spotlight, it's only a matter of time before interest in them wanes and we toss them to the back of the closet in favor of a sleek pair of shiny, sexy high heeled shoes.

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

*Shoes by Louis Vuitton, image courtesy of Jak and Jill Blog.

Comments

[Antonio Barros]

There will be always interest for heels! Women look great with them and guys go crazy when they a pretty woman with high heels.
They style of the heels might change every seasson but it will always be there!

Amazing blog!!!

http://thesingular.blogspot.com

[Inside Mode]

Wow. This has to be one of the best things I think I've read. It's so true. Though I seriously think that heels will always remain. As long as Galliano is still in business and newer/higher/and more interesting heels come out, like at Gianfranco Ferre S/S 09, the interest and want for them will always be there.

[John Agee Paris]

Ladies, I know sky-high heels must hurt, but they look SO good. I agree, the "trend" will not go away soon for all the reasons you describe.

[Make Do Style]

As a flats lover with a surprisingly large collection of heels, I'm all for my new obsession the return of mid heel court shoes - seriously I'm having fashion forward deja vu. They are so coming back but in a newer shinier form. I love the fact you get height but also elegance of walk too.