Lofty Heights

Hell hath no fury like a London commute during a heatwave. Stuck in someone’s armpit, bashed by a suitcase and barely able to breathe while recycled air is pumped into your lungs: it is impossible to glamorise. Or so I thought, until I completed a journey in 4-inch sandals. My head was raised above the masses as I towered over the BO heavy carriage. Despite my hair being stuck to my face, I was able to walk out of the station with my pride intact. My shoes had saved me from the punishing conditions.

In the age of Vibram FiveFingers, ballet flats and practical footwear, wearing a heel is a declaration. I have proudly been wearing heels for the past three years and have been growing more disheartened at the alienation of the heel from a woman’s footwear rotation. For decades, heels were the expected footwear choice of the modern woman. It wasn’t unheard of for an office to embed heels into their sartorial policy: glamour was mandatory. However, times have changed, and on the SS26 runways, flats dominated. At Louis Vuitton, every single look had the model wearing a heel-less shoe. Looking out the window while I write this, the same can be said for the passersby. And it’s boring! Thankfully, the AW26 collections are more optimistic and will begin making their way into stores in the coming months. Dior had rosettes adorning satin sandals. Chanel had patent, square-toed heels and Dries Van Noten had T-bar pumps in a tapestry fabric. 

Heels have become synonymous with repression and discomfort; more women than ever are in managerial positions and seek shoes to reflect their newfound agency. However, in a culture infatuated with productivity, have we also begun to neglect the charm of impracticality? A heel is not always an aggressive stiletto: a block heel can provide support and balance while a boot or well-made sandal can maintain the ankle support we all need. The frivolity of high heels can be rescued and you’ll feel more glamorous for it. 

Summer is the ideal time to begin sporting your stilettos. The hem of a flowing maxi dress is saved from the grime of the streets when united with a wedge sandal. The sweat-stained T-shirt is instead patinated if worn alongside a 4-inch pump. An overworn little black dress is resurrected if accompanied by a brightly coloured sandal. If the added height is too lofty an ambition, a sly kitten heel carries a charm with it that trainers can only dream of. If you must, bring flip-flops in your bag, but at least experience the elegance first.

Existing comfortably in these shoes can be a daunting prospect, but it is possible. I live for the ego hit of towering over sneering blokes. Relish the admiration and envy you will receive and use that to fuel your crusade, rest assured in the knowledge that over time they will become an extension of your limbs. Be proud of injecting glamour into a world that views ornamentation as a crime. There is something mystical about adding length to your stride: you have made the decision to risk the need for elastoplasts – blisters are your badge of honour – and your click-clack echo is an exercise in drawing attention to yourself. As I wear my heels today, Dita von Teese's words echo in my head: "Heels will put the fear of God into people." Better to cause it than feel it.