What cost vanity? "Toe Cleavage"

[Guest]

I love to walk and so protect my feet like treasures. I wear heels only to the opera or other special occasions when I don't expect to walk more than the distance from a seat to a bar. I love shoes and have been extravagant in the past for this passion but since breaking an ankle a few years ago I would not do anything to risk the use of my feet. Not much surprises me in the news but this astonished me, particularly its relation to women, vanity and the need to look fashionable. - Perdita

If Shoe Won't Fit, Fix the Foot? Popular Surgery Raises Concern - By GARDINER HARRIS (NY Times, 12.7.2003)

Days after her daughter's engagement a year ago, Sheree Reese went to her doctor and said that she would do almost anything to wear stilettos again.

"I was not going to walk down the aisle in sneakers," said Dr. Reese, a 60-year-old professor of speech pathology at Kean University in Union, N.J. She had been forced to give up wearing her collection of high-end, high-heeled shoes because they caused searing pain.

So Dr. Reese, like a growing number of American women, put her foot under the knife. The objective was to remove a bunion, a swelling of the big-toe joint, but the results were disastrous. "The pain spread to my other toes and never went away," she said. "Suddenly, I couldn't walk in anything. My foot, metaphorically, died."

With vanity always in fashion and shoes reaching iconic cultural status, women are having parts of their toes lopped off to fit into the latest Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos. Cheerful how-to stories about these operations have appeared in women's magazines and major newspapers and on television news programs.

But the stories rarely note the perils of the procedures. For the sake of better "toe cleavage," as it is known to the fashion-conscious, women are risking permanent disability, according to many orthopedists and podiatrists.

"It's a scary trend," said Dr. Rock Positano, director of the nonoperative foot and ankle service at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Dr. Positano said that his waiting room increasingly is filled with women hobbled by failed cosmetic foot procedures, those done solely to improve the appearance of the foot or help patients fit into fashionable shoes.

More than half of the 175 members of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society who responded to a recent survey by the group said that they had treated patients with problems resulting from cosmetic foot surgery. The society will soon issue a statement condemning the procedures, said Rich Cantrall, its executive director.

The American Podiatric Medical Association is also likely to formally discourage medically unnecessary foot operations, said Dr. Glenn Gastwirth, executive director of the group.

"I think it's reprehensible for a physician to correct someone's feet so they can get into Jimmy Choo shoes," said Dr. Sharon Dreeben, an orthopedic surgeon in La Jolla, Calif., who is chairwoman of the foot and ankle society's public education committee.

But advocates for the procedures say that critics simply do not understand the importance of high heels. "Some of these women invest more in their shoes than they do in the stock market," said Dr. Suzanne M. Levine, an Upper East Side podiatrist who is widely quoted in women's magazines and has appeared on network television promoting the procedures.

"Take your average woman and give her heels instead of flats, and she'll suddenly get whistles on the street," Dr. Levine said. "I do everything I can to get them back into their shoes."

Full article: Health Section of NYT

 

[Quasimodem]

Perdita,

That betrays a monstrous anti humanitarian outlook.

First, a "designer" perpetrates an obscenity of malfunction upon the consumer.

When the design cannot be worn by people with a human form, do they throw out the badly-designed fashion?

No! Instead, they begin carving up the consumers to fit the shoe.

Somebody should tell those people that the story about "The Procrustean Bed" was supposed to be a cautionary tale.

 

[Linbido]

"Take your average woman and give her heels instead of flats, and she'll suddenly get whistles on the street," Dr. Levine said. [/URL]

And they say that guys only focus on T&A. I read about the high heels phenomena many years ago. The desire to wear stilettos and the like is of course mainly the attraction they cause; women in high heels looks sexy.

But why? If I try to simplify it, a deep clevage and a short skirt is attractive because the much desired exposure of skin. Same theing with tight, form fitting clothing, which accenuated the said T&A. But why would a woman who walks around on her toes be more attractive then one who uses her whole foot?

Well, the theory in the article I read was that you walk different in high heels, unnatural, even clumsy. Also, your calves are tense, a clear caveman-times sign of nervousness and apprehension. So basically, when we wear high heels we come off as low-status, scared and helpless, in the back of the monkey brain that the human kind still posesses. Something to take advantage of.

Dunno if that's the truth, but somehow it makes sense to me.

 

[Wills]

Dear Perdita,

Now you have touched an exposed nerve, women and their shoes.

You know me, I like women, I'm kind to them, I speak nicely about them, I have great respect for their every attribute - except one, SHOES.

If things ever go bad, I can console myself that I have enough shoes stored around the house to open a shoe shop - even a museum - some of them are thirty years old.

We once reached a deal, the store cupboard was full, we have bags of them in the attic, even here in Portugal I keep finding secreted stores of shoes. And we haven't lived here for 16 years! So this was the deal, if she threw out two pairs, we agreed she could buy a new pair. This almost broke her heart until she came up with a 'cunning plan' - she wouldn't throw them out, we would take them to the local charity shop. Great - at least someone would get to wear them.

Saturday came, we collected a bag full and took them down town, I was happy for her when she bought just one new pair.

A few weeks later, searching in the garage for tools, I came across a bag of shoes, suspiciously like the ones discarded. A serious cross examination took place, almost at Military Inquiry level. She justified buying them back because they were so cheap!

As to surgery, are they completely mad or utterly vain?

Will's

PS Daughter is following the same path, that's really why I'm here in Portugal and they are back in the UK - no room for me and the shoes.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Re: Re: What cost vanity? "Toe Cleavage"

Well, the theory in the article I read was that you walk different in high heels, unnatural, even clumsy. Also, your calves are tense, a clear caveman-times sign of nervousness and apprehension. So basically, when we wear high heels we come off as low-status, scared and helpless, in the back of the monkey brain that the human kind still posesses. Something to take advantage of.

Dunno if that's the truth, but somehow it makes sense to me.

I don't know about that. Ultra-high heels are also associated with BDSM and intimidating Domme, so I think the opposite is more likely true. Heels make a woman look taller and more formidable, and make her carry herself more erect. And if tensed muscles are a sign of fear, then we should all be pitying Governor Arnold.

With all the plastic surgery, implants, liposuction, and body piercing going on, I don't find cosmetic foot surgery very surprising. I'm not sure if it's true, but I heard that Michael Jordan underwent surgery to fuse his little toes to their neighbors in order to reduce the chances of breaking the bones.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

Lin: you make a good point. The article mentions the ancient 'art' of Chinese foot-binding which besides the sexual fetish containment also did not allow women to walk easily, let alone "run away". High-heels seem to work similarly. I wonder what happened to the good old "barefoot and pregnant" status? Ha ha.
--------

Wills, I appreciate the levity your post brings to this. I must say that my shoe attachment began very early, that is, before fashion or peer pressure. I recall vividly the shoes I wore at two: black patent with several buckles that came above the ankle. I would pay dearly to have them made for my feet today (and they are flat).

My mother liked to remark to people how even before I began to go to school I was insistent on the shoes I would wear. When I was only 3 or 4 I refused to wear the common and practical black Maryjanes she'd bought me and she was forced to return them and get the "green" ones. Believe me, I was not spoiled; my mother was rarely forced to do anything by her children.

Beginning with the black patent toddler shoes I carry about a dozen lost favorites in my mind's eye still. Once I ran into a woman at work who I didn't know. She said she used to ride the same bus I did and remembered my shoes! I liked that. If anything, I like the idea of possibly being eulogized someday for my shoes.

Perdita

 

[destinie21]

I love shoes, in fact some might even call me a shoe whore but I do have a brain if I'm having a 14 hour day obviously I'm not going to be wearing Manolo's lest I risk cripping injury.

Still I love shoes

 

[Linbido]

Re: Re: Re: What cost vanity? "Toe Cleavage"

I don't know about that. Ultra-high heels are also associated with BDSM and intimidating Domme, so I think the opposite is more likely true. Heels make a woman look taller and more formidable, and make her carry herself more erect. And if tensed muscles are a sign of fear, then we should all be pitying Governor Arnold.

Tense muscles on males and tense muscles on females could mean entirely different things. In the calves case it's sypposed to mean apprehensive and ready to run. Aahnold flexing his triceps would instead mean aggressive and ready to fight.

I think wether the heels' original attraction comes from this or that or something else might be redundant in these days. It is hammered in, as a part of the beauty ideals of the 20th/21st century. High heels, long legs, and height in general are part of the current beauty ideals. For whichever foggy reasons. Like why unnaturally large tits would be sexy. They obviously are, to the extent that people pump them up manually. But is there a natural reason for that attraction? Not really.

With all the plastic surgery, implants, liposuction, and body piercing going on, I don't find cosmetic foot surgery very surprising. I'm not sure if it's true, but I heard that Michael Jordan underwent surgery to fuse his little toes to their neighbors in order to reduce the chances of breaking the bones.

Well, that wasn't really cosmetic then, was it? Could be an idea for the swimmers too. That Australian Thorpe has some of the larges feet I've ever seen, and he have won everything thereis to win by now. But the knife to your your feet to make then wider and swim faster, perhaps?

Feet are IMO the least attractive part of the human body. Both on men and women, I prefer any other part to stare at.

...and I find women in tennis shoes really sexy.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: What cost vanity? "Toe Cleavage"

I don't know about that. Ultra-high heels are also associated with BDSM and intimidating Domme, so I think the opposite is more likely true. Heels make a woman look taller and more formidable, and make her carry herself more erect.

Good point but not fully thought out. I was not anywhere near formidable looking in my first heels. Later, yes, and I enjoyed the feel of them and the new stance of my body; I made the most of it (the whole package so to speak). But, that was long ago before the pain set in.

Whether one looks indimidating or dominant in heels is up to the woman, not the heels.

One plus, and a good enough reason for splurging on expensive shoes: fucking in heels can be quite painless if one is not standing up.

Perdita

p.s. and of course "fuck-me pumps" are worth the presentation.

 

[Mhari]

I find the thought of undergoing surgery in order to fit one's foot into a shoe to be disturbing to say the least.

But then, I'm a Boot Grrl.

Lots of boots. Lots and lots and lots.

You know it's bad when you're trying to find the mate to one black boot and pull out black boot after black boot after black boot...and they're all different.

I suspect myself of having a boot fetish.

But at least my toes fit into 'em all without needing surgery!

 

[Wills]

Perdita,

You are not making this up just to make me feel better?

Don't forget that other woman almost eulogized for her shoes - Esmelda, Queen of Phillipines - or something.

We have an expression in UK 'Let your fingers do the walking' - it is connected to business telephone directories, I would propose you let your fingers walk you into eulogy through your keyboard.

Will's (A downtrodden sole man)

PS. 1/2 way - no shoes yet

 

[Guest]

Wills, I was thinking of a more significant eulogy. Marcos had the booty of a country to fulfill her fetish. My shoes cost me; I always had to give something up for them (food, rent, etc.) But for a couple decades now I haven't owned more than a dozen pair at a time, most of them expensive only for the quality of fit and comfort. After I broke my ankle I bought a very expensive doctor-prescribed pair. My younger son said they were the ugliest shoes he'd ever seen. I only wore them once or twice.

Perdita

p.s. shoes do not figure in my self or cultural identity.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I agree with Lin, I read the same thing.

I think it's the same logic behind female mutilation of all sorts. If a woman can't run for it, if she has no sex drive, if she has no intelligence, etc, she's much easier to control!

 

[Wills]

Svenskaflicka

You are not, I hope, suggesting men design shoes so that women can't run away. Does any one know who designs these 'crippling shoes'?

I think most men would agree with me that they have virtually no say at all on what women choose to buy for their feet.

Incidentally, I do a very good foot massage if anyone is over my way. (It is not a fetish)

Will's (Flexing fingers in case the door bell rings)

PS. Flika - I left a message for you on the Xmas present thread

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Svenskaflicka

You are not, I hope, suggesting men design shoes so that women can't run away. Does any one know who designs these 'crippling shoes'?

I think most men would agree with me that they have virtually no say at all on what women choose to buy for their feet.

Incidentally, I do a very good foot massage if anyone is over my way. (It is not a fetish)

Will's (Flexing fingers in case the door bell rings)

PS. Flika - I left a message for you on the Xmas present thread

Will, how many shoe designers are women?

*going over to the X-mas present thread*

 

[Madame Manga]

I remember a fascinating book I once read on human body manipulation/mutilation. It concentrated on corseting and footbinding and tattoos, of course, but it had a whole chapter on high heels.

One diagram showed the differences in posture between a woman in flats and a woman in heels. As I recall, the author's contention was that heels force you to walk with shoulders back, chest thrown out and pelvis tilted. This emphasizes the breasts and derriere, flattens the stomach and slims the waist. That sounds like reason enough.

Most days I put on sneakers or scuffs, but I do not scorn heels when the occasion calls for them. I'm not quite 5'4" and look girlish. You'd be surprised how much authority a little extra height can give you. A three-inch heel is about my limit, though. I go for the chunky sort, at least an inch square or more--spikes are suicide, and I can't take pointy toes at all. I had a co-worker once who was forced to have two bunion operations after wearing tight shoes for sixty years. It wasn't cosmetic--she was in agony every day. No thank you.

MM

 

[Guest]

Re. keeping women in their place:

I recall reading an insightful article in the NYT not long after 9/11 about the thousands of high-heels found in the streets as women ran from the site. The people who made it out of the towers commented on the heels discarded in the stairways. Also, that h-h sales dropped significantly for a time after that date.

Perdita

 

[Wills]

Svenskaflicka

Try these Else Anita, Sandra Choi (who is the designer for Jimmy Choo), Beth Levine, and Vivian Westwood.

Surely VW is guilty of shoe crimes against women?

I also discovered this book - believe me this is the title and auther as listed at Amazon

All About Wearing High Heels
(For Women and Girls)
by
J J Legamour

Will's

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Svenskaflicka

Try these Else Anita, Sandra Choi (who is the designer for Jimmy Choo), Beth Levine, and Vivian Westwood.

Surely VW is guilty of shoe crimes against women?

I also discovered this book - believe me this is the title and auther as listed at Amazon

All About Wearing High Heels
(For Women and Girls)
by
J J Legamour

Will's

VW - Volkswagen???

Oh, you mean Vivian Westwood... I think she's guilty of a lot of fashion crimes!

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I never wear high heels, they're too uncomfortable to walk in! I have big feet, and I need big, comfortable hiking boots that i can walk around in all day. I also have weak ancles, and I easily trip over. One hour in high heels, and I'd break a leg!
Not to mention the fact that I hate shoes. There's nothing I dread more than shopping for shoes - not even going to the dentist!
There's no way I'd waste good money on Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos, when I could invest in an interesting book instead!

 

[Aaron Dazer]

Svenskaflicka

I think most men would agree with me that they have virtually no say at all on what women choose to buy for their feet.

yea what he said. I find this all Very interesting. But I’d like to say Fashion like many things is proof that Women have as much Difficulty understanding what men what that men have understanding what women want. Not to get too deep into it but we've all see the African Neck Ring women. Long necks are sexy so they put ring after ring into it blah blah blah

. Men aren’t attracted to the high hills' Men are attracted to the women felling Sexy, in the high hills'. the whole tall skinny is sexy thing is programming. Go deeper into the Feelings one will find most men are truly attracted to more voluptuous women one that can put out a lot of children. in a Modern Society breading isn’t on most men’s minds. Just the straight Pleasure of it. So men are attracted to the Trophy. The abnormal one, the Mutant the fashionable ones society puts into view. And now that everyone has big round breast, i think there will be a major turn in the next century when men start likening smaller flatter ones cuz they different.

 

[Sabledrake]

It's nothing new, really ... women (and men alike) have been mutilating or endangering themselves in the name of idealized beauty standards throughout civilization. Removing lower ribs to cinch the corset to a hands-spanned waist ... belladonna dripped into the eyes to make pupils enlarged ... lead-based face paint ... the list goes on and is pretty scary!

Personally, I never wear heels. I lack the "shoe chromosome," and all things considered, I'd rather feel comfortable.

Sabledrake

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Toe cleavage.

I've never thought about that concept before.

What will be next? Armpit cleavage? Ass cleavage? Navel cleavage?


I think this is a great challenge for Fetish writers to explore more deeply. Enough of the boring foot-fetishism! We want really kinky stuff!

I want to see stories about men drooling over womens' grainy elbows, hairy bellies, female moustaches, cellulites, crooked legs, chipped nailpolish, or, the Ally McBeal-version - great flapping waddles!

 

[Quasimodem]

. . . I want to see . . . Ally McBeal-version - great flapping waddles!

Puh-LEEZE!

WATTLES

Wattles are bad enough.

The last thing we need are walk-impairing deformitites.

 

[LadyJane]

I love high heels (especially the kind with pointed toes!) and wear them often, but happily I don't have to mutilate my feet to make them fit. Even before 9/11 though I kept a pair of sneakers at the office in case we had an earthquake...