Fashion is like the id. It makes you desire things you shouldn't. ~Bob Morris
I am curious as to why so many designers have chosen to take their shoes to such heights. The reluctant diva in me declares, "Embrace it... be fashionably glamorous!". That sounds very close to suffer for sexy, something I did when I was 20-something and actually believed a little discomfort was worth it.
From the age of 16, I've had an ongoing love affair with shoes, and notably, high heels. From platforms to chunky heels to stilettos, I've always loved elegant shoes with a high heel. Towering in at new elevations however, I'm unable to indulge this fashion "do" as a matter of personal comfort and challenged by the lack of heel options for many of the shoes that I would acquire given the advantage of choice.
For many women, this has become a growing issue and was addressed by shoeblog.com as recently. Hannelore Daniel, trend expert for the online shoe and handbag Web site Endless.com, explains designers have taken the sky-high route in heels because of what they've heard from women. "Women want to feel sexy and confident, and really high heels do that," she said. Maybe... but not all women equate their sexuality with the size of their heels. In fact, there are more articles on this subject as I happily discovered, creating a source of discussion which should, but does not, include the designers perspective.
A sliver of selections for the 40+ crowd cannot be considered smart marketing in a smart economy. Women within this age group, professionals and entrepreneurs are brand loyalists, and dare I say in this economy, financially independent consumers and curators of fine living. Likely influencers in their given communities and connected to most media and social sites, the brand that talks to this group will win big. Jimmy Choo: ✔ Christian Louboutin: ✔ Guiseppe Zanotti: ✔ Can I get these with 3¾" heels instead of 5?
While the designer is seeking a youthful showcase of their product, they need not exclude one demographic for another. Unsure about this strategy? See Michelle Obama, she is a grand participant in one of the hottest and heavily populated consumer bases: 40+ women in full. Her shoe game ain't bad either.
