The Agony of the Feet: Fashion Victims

Fashion comes from many sources, many of them nonsensical to the everyday mind. Originally, fashion was entirely utilitarian: warmth and protection. Eventually, fashion expanded to include aesthetic value and express cultural and social values. In modern times, fashion seems to be an attempt to be as extravagant and ridiculous as possible.

Take shoes as an example. The designs in recent years have become so fantastical that entire websites have been devoted to displaying them for astonishment and ridicule. There are, as it happens, many ways to make a pair of high-heeled shoes, and sometimes the result can be fashionably horrifying.

Taking a step back from haute couture, even shoes designed for everyday wear can be ridiculous. Ask nearly any woman who has ever worn a pair of pumps, and she will tell you about pinching, rubbing, blisters, aches, strains, and outright pains that she has endured for the sake of fashion. This discomfort isn't limited to stilettos, either; even Coach boots can rub the wrong way if they're a poor fit.

Part of the underlying cause of this agony is fashion, but another not insignificant part is that many women choose shoes that do not fit correctly. Small feet have long been vogue in many cultures, and the desire still drives many shoe purchases. But too-small shoes can damage the bone structure of feet and alter the alignment of the entire body. Not to mention how squeezing the toes into narrow peds can lead to blisters, corns, bunions, and other unsightly (and painful!) results.

Many people luxuriate in going barefoot as often as possible, but that is sadly not an option for most of the day. Not only is it dangerous to walk around barefoot outside the house, in many places, it's socially unacceptable. Whether we like it or not, no shoes equals no service in much of the business world.

That leaves us with the difficulty of selecting good shoes to get us through our days. As women, we want to look our best and feel attractive, but that does not mean we must resign ourselves to torturing our toes. There are attractive high heel shoes and Coach boots made wide enough to accommodate all five digits of the foot with support for the plantar fascia and cushioning under the heel. They are far less numerous than the "cute on the shelf, agonizing on the foot" types, but an attentive shopper and choosey customer can find them. There's no reason to suffer for fashion, no matter what the runway lords say.