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How High Do You Go?

August 14th 2007 02:02
Red High Heel Sculpture by Bruce Gray
Red High Heel Sculpture by Bruce Gray - pic from brucegray.com


After receiving an hilarious video link this morning, which some of you may have already seen, it got me thinking about the hazards of high heels. Here's the video....and prepare to have a giggle at someone else’s expense.


Reminiscent of Naomi Campbell's famous fall at the Vivienne Westwood show in Paris during the 90's, (click here to see footage of that fall plus an interview with Letterman) I thought about how dangerous it can really be towering higher than your usual centre of gravity in a pair of shoes made purely for fashion, and not wearability. I mean, look at those shoes!!!

Vivienne Westwood Polsky Platform Heels
Vivienne Westwood Polsky Platform Heels - pic from artnet.com



It's a phenomenon we've been familiar with since platform shoes became widely popular during the 1970's and during their brief mainstream revival in the 1990's thanks to the Spice Girls. The red high heel sculpture at top by Bruce Gray stands at nearly 6 feet tall. Here is a picture of it with the artist himself standing next to it (in his own pair of classy red pumps!). Obviously not for wearing, but an interesting comment on the sexual "charge" associated with the platform high heel.

Red High Heel Sculpture and artist Bruce Gray - pic from brucegray.com
Red High Heel Sculpture and artist Bruce Gray - pic from brucegray.com


In more recent times, this foot fashion has seen a resurgence. Last season I bought myself a cute pair of dark tan peep toe platform wood stacked heels. I receive compliments when I wear them, but more commonly the response is "Phwoar, they're high!! How the hell do you walk in those????" I've never had too much trouble with high heels. In fact if they have a platform as well, they seem unusually sturdy. Perhaps it's the archaic deportment course I did around the age of 14, or perhaps I started early with heels and got the hang. I know some friends who'll never wear heels because of the pain and discomfort, and yet my mother laments her ability to wear them ever since she had her knee replacement surgery.

ChristianLouboutinEmilyShoeBoots_netaporter
Christian Louboutin Emily Shoe Boots - pic from net-a-porter.com


Whilst Christian Louboutin is beyond the budget of most followers of fashion (especially at around the US$840 mark for these!) many platform heels can be found at local chain stores, like the Duomo heel found at Wittner, pictured below. This would be a more suitable height for most women, I imagine, but I'm curious to find out how many would consider actually buying and wearing these, and where would you wear them to?

Duomo Platform Heel from Wittner
Duomo Platform Heel from Wittner - pic from wittner.com.au


Maybe it's a matter of strong ankles (I said strong, not thick) and a firm core (thankyou Pilates) but I would wear them. Definitely. I'd wear them to work with a feminine fitted skirt suit, I'd wear them with a pencil skirt and blouse, I’d wear them with a geo print shift and some neon tights.

How high do you go?
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VivienneWestwood.com
From Viviennewestwood.com


After visiting the Victoria and Albert exhibition which travelled to the National Gallery in Canberra a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed with Vivienne Westwood. It’s not just that she’s sixty and has a beautiful thirty-year-old Italian lover, although that does impress me, and it’s not just that she’s been an inspiration for generations of fashionistas, mostly it’s because for Westwood, fashion is thought


[ Click here to read more ]
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