Fanshawe Fashionista: Put yourself in her high-heeled shoes
No offense guys, but girls often get the short end of the stick; we seem to get scared and burned by men more often than not; we are the ones who carry and give birth to children (ouch!); and let us not forget our little monthly friend. That said, we bounce back from the curveballs life naturally throws us so well, that it's no wonder we choose self-inflicting, painful fashions on a daily basis.
After recently attending a political party in Toronto (yes politics, but that's a whole other story) to spend time with a boy, I found myself in a very sexy pair of 4-inch BCBG shoes, accompanied by an equally cute knee-length tweed skirt and Donna Karen wrap sweater, on a brisk fall night in downtown Toronto. The rule of thumb should always be: never walk more blocks than inches on your heel. Therefore 3-inch heels permit no more than a three-block walking radius — that's why cabs were invented. Simple enough, right? —Wrong! We found a great parking spot only six blocks from the event. Therefore me, my adorable shoes and terribly cold and uncomfortable self, along with my handsome date made the 20-minute walk east down Queen Street. The whole time I thought of how much more comfortable my date was, and how much more comfortable male fashion in general really is. As I regretted my shoe decision and cursed at my swelling feet, he enjoyed the walk, and I wish I had too. I then decided that it's nearly impossible to dress up for an event, look fabulous and be entirely comfortable the whole time, even in flats.
So why is so much of women's fashion impractical and just plain irritating? But more importantly, why do so many of us put up with it? (Usually to impress a boy, other women or sometimes to gain confidence in ourselves.) It's almost expected that just because a model can pull off a look so well on a runway, it should be a part of every woman's daily life. Breasts should be pushed up to the ceiling via a tight corset or uncomfortable push-up bra, and pants should be so tight that breathing is nearly impossible (but at least your ASSets look good). And shoes, as cute as they may be, are impossible to wear comfortably until they have been broken in; and even then, good luck walking six blocks in anything with an arch opposed to the twenty feet models strut on a catwalk.
It's one thing to just stand there and look pretty, but real women don't just do that. Amid looking great, we still have to walk, function and smile. It is something that a lot of men are aware of, and have little sympathy for. If any men actually read my articles and gain anything from them, please pay attention to this: love, respect and admire the strength and beauty of the women in your life. Whether it is your mother, sister, companion or just a friend, tell her how stunning and radiant she looks all of the time. We don't usually doll ourselves up for nothing, and it's nice when the little things we do that are often uncomfortable are noticed. Sometimes we sacrifice comfort for fashion in an effort to turn heads. And it seems that at the end of the day, as our feet soak in water and we can finally let our hair down, it's all worth it.
Until jogging pants, running shoes and a ponytail are considered glamorous and classy, it will be stilettos and fancy panties that will have to do. I guess the phrase “no pain, no gain” is true in and outside of the gym, ladies.
Know a good way to soothe aching feet? Email Jen at fanshawe_fashionista@yahoo.com
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
After recently attending a political party in Toronto (yes politics, but that's a whole other story) to spend time with a boy, I found myself in a very sexy pair of 4-inch BCBG shoes, accompanied by an equally cute knee-length tweed skirt and Donna Karen wrap sweater, on a brisk fall night in downtown Toronto. The rule of thumb should always be: never walk more blocks than inches on your heel. Therefore 3-inch heels permit no more than a three-block walking radius — that's why cabs were invented. Simple enough, right? —Wrong! We found a great parking spot only six blocks from the event. Therefore me, my adorable shoes and terribly cold and uncomfortable self, along with my handsome date made the 20-minute walk east down Queen Street. The whole time I thought of how much more comfortable my date was, and how much more comfortable male fashion in general really is. As I regretted my shoe decision and cursed at my swelling feet, he enjoyed the walk, and I wish I had too. I then decided that it's nearly impossible to dress up for an event, look fabulous and be entirely comfortable the whole time, even in flats.
So why is so much of women's fashion impractical and just plain irritating? But more importantly, why do so many of us put up with it? (Usually to impress a boy, other women or sometimes to gain confidence in ourselves.) It's almost expected that just because a model can pull off a look so well on a runway, it should be a part of every woman's daily life. Breasts should be pushed up to the ceiling via a tight corset or uncomfortable push-up bra, and pants should be so tight that breathing is nearly impossible (but at least your ASSets look good). And shoes, as cute as they may be, are impossible to wear comfortably until they have been broken in; and even then, good luck walking six blocks in anything with an arch opposed to the twenty feet models strut on a catwalk.
It's one thing to just stand there and look pretty, but real women don't just do that. Amid looking great, we still have to walk, function and smile. It is something that a lot of men are aware of, and have little sympathy for. If any men actually read my articles and gain anything from them, please pay attention to this: love, respect and admire the strength and beauty of the women in your life. Whether it is your mother, sister, companion or just a friend, tell her how stunning and radiant she looks all of the time. We don't usually doll ourselves up for nothing, and it's nice when the little things we do that are often uncomfortable are noticed. Sometimes we sacrifice comfort for fashion in an effort to turn heads. And it seems that at the end of the day, as our feet soak in water and we can finally let our hair down, it's all worth it.
Until jogging pants, running shoes and a ponytail are considered glamorous and classy, it will be stilettos and fancy panties that will have to do. I guess the phrase “no pain, no gain” is true in and outside of the gym, ladies.
Know a good way to soothe aching feet? Email Jen at fanshawe_fashionista@yahoo.com
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
