Shafted Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Good, I'm glad the title got your attention. So what is stewing in Shafted's head now? Long ago I pondered what is the real reason we have this love for high heels. I personally came up with several reasons, but none of them really delved deep enough into one's psyche. It is like something buried so deep in our own minds that we are unable to access words to descibe it. Perhaps buried in that most primitive part of our brain. So what is this fascination with walking on our toes. It dawned on me that in the animal kingdom (mammels specifically open grassland types) there are predators and prey. When we look at the animals what is the first thing we notice about the way they walk (besides being quadrapeds). They walk on their toes, Their heel doesn't even come close to touching the ground. In fact proportionally there feet are much longer in relation to leg length than ours. Ever notice these animal have a heel halfway up their leg. Now of the two groups the preditors walk on bare toes while the prey walk on toes protected by a hooves. Both are built for speed. All animals that walk on their toes are built for speed. One could flirt with the idea of the hooves being platforms implying platform lovers are prey, but it is really getting away from the point I'm trying to make. The point I'm trying to make is high heels touch a very primitive, very primal part of ourselves in a way that many cannot understand. It appeals to a part of the brain that is capable of scaring us if we let it or worse. This is the very primative reptilian brain of which our higher level brain functions are piled on top of. It scares us because sometimes it takes control, leaving us feeling regretful for our actions or words. In my own experience, I finding I'm a much better person after heels than before. When I'm wearing heels, besides the confidence, I find a strange inner peace with that part of my mind satiated. I can be cranky and irritable if for whatever reason I can't be wearing them. Many of you guys out there have reported on the calming effect of high heels, and I think this is what's going on. High heels appeal to us on a most primal level which is the real reason IMHO of why we have so much difficultly trying to figure out why we like them. With that primitive part of the mind occupied, it lets the rest of the mind enjoy the world with remarkable clarity. Well that's my own little theory anyways. Feel free to tell me I'm full of it, or not. Shafted, the boots that is! View my gallery here http://www.hhplace.o...afteds-gallery/ or view my heeling thread here http://www.hhplace.org/topic/3850-new-pair-of-boots-starts-me-serious-street-heeling/ - Pm me if you want fashion advice or just need someone to talk to.
Dr. Shoe Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Actually, that isn't strictly true. The horse's fetlock (for example) is more like an ankle than a heel. The heel is actually incorporated at the back of the foot in much the same way as it is on a human foot. Graduate footwear designer able to advise and assist on modification and shoe making projects.
shinysoles Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Interesting theory,I have never been able to explain why I'm fasinated by high heels,all I know is they look amazing and seem to have a hold on us all,deep in our being.Wearing them would make you vulnerable and easy prey,but they must surely be the epitome of femininity and a gift to us all.
mtnsofheels Posted March 5, 2012 Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks Shafted for your thoughts and theories of heels and what is does for us. Interesting attachment to the animal kingdom you have painted for us, but if that were the case we would be dressing and showing all our colors in a flamboyant manner similar to the birds and some male mammals like the Lion. We would be the show stoppers of our species and the females would crooning over us. It started that way when heels were invented and men wore them, some how it got cross wired and heels were given to the females of our species. Not that is bad, it has done much for the ladies too. I think heels have tapped into other feelings for all those who wear them, a special addictive feeling that could be feminine or just as taste of that feeling which only wearers would feel. Similar to the massive addiction to electronic stimulation like computers and I-pads/I-phones etc. Similar in a sense of captivating and addicting for those who participate... Those feelings of which there may be many more as we look deeper into our inner selves gives us gravitation to selected items of interest. I am still trying figure it out for me too, but I do not feel like prey or predator but stimulated on a different level. Good thinking though, thanks Shafted. Mtnsofheels
hhl4vr Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 thanks Shafted for sharing - it's something to thing about. I have been searching myself for years as to why I have this love for heels. For me, I always thought it was part because I'm short (5'1) for a male and when I have heels I feel more "normal". All i know is that I get a real sense of confidence that I do not have otherwise. No matter what mood I'm in it quickly changes to a very happy mood once I get the chance to wear heels. Very interesting thread as is something I keep trying to get an answer for.
roniheels Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 I agree with you so much on the confidence and especially peace of mind. And the more I wear high heels, especially in public, the happier, freer, confident, and I excited I feel about being out in high heels. It is almost too hard to describe the feeling.
Gudulitooo Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 Shafted, I agree with your point on the "buried instinct", and I think a title like this would best support your point. I understand your story about the feet of preys and predators is only an example, and a one that does not fit exactly its purpose. Now I thought the high heels fashion for women was born somewhere in China where there is this obsession that small feet are key towards women's beauty. (ok it does not fit for pointed toes heels, but who said theories were able to explain human tastes)
Shafted Posted March 8, 2012 Author Posted March 8, 2012 Just food for thought. Just another potential way of looking at high heels. Shafted, the boots that is! View my gallery here http://www.hhplace.o...afteds-gallery/ or view my heeling thread here http://www.hhplace.org/topic/3850-new-pair-of-boots-starts-me-serious-street-heeling/ - Pm me if you want fashion advice or just need someone to talk to.
Rei Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 Well that was a great read. I think you pretty much nailed the part about the primitive instinct on the head there, Shafted. There are many things about our brains that we do not understand, or at least not yet. I did find it sorta funny how you said that all animals that walk on there toes are built for speed when heels definitely don't help us move any quicker. ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛABΕ
Shafted Posted March 8, 2012 Author Posted March 8, 2012 I did find it sorta funny how you said that all animals that walk on there toes are built for speed when heels definitely don't help us move any quicker. Speak for yourself, I've surprised a lot of people over the years just how fast I can move in stilettos. My mobility isn't the least bit hindered until I go over 5 inches. When you have good strong arches its easy to run and even bound about on just the ball of your feet. Shafted, the boots that is! View my gallery here http://www.hhplace.o...afteds-gallery/ or view my heeling thread here http://www.hhplace.org/topic/3850-new-pair-of-boots-starts-me-serious-street-heeling/ - Pm me if you want fashion advice or just need someone to talk to.
Rei Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 My mobility isn't the least bit hindered until I go over 5 inches. Oh, well, there's my problem. I've just never seen anyone able to run in high heels. I sit in my computer chair corrected. 1 ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛABΕ
Shafted Posted March 8, 2012 Author Posted March 8, 2012 After years of near daily wearing outside over various terrain and weather conditions one does become quite good. Second nature really. Walking backwards in heels is even easier than going forwards. Shafted, the boots that is! View my gallery here http://www.hhplace.o...afteds-gallery/ or view my heeling thread here http://www.hhplace.org/topic/3850-new-pair-of-boots-starts-me-serious-street-heeling/ - Pm me if you want fashion advice or just need someone to talk to.
Gudulitooo Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 Animals that walk on their toes are build for speed... it's relative, isn't it ? Cats walk on their toes, yet the ones I had were not running fast at all... I have never seen a mule running. And what to say about Camels and elefants ??
Shafted Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 Animals that walk on their toes are build for speed... it's relative, isn't it ? Of course it is relative to size as well. Shafted, the boots that is! View my gallery here http://www.hhplace.o...afteds-gallery/ or view my heeling thread here http://www.hhplace.org/topic/3850-new-pair-of-boots-starts-me-serious-street-heeling/ - Pm me if you want fashion advice or just need someone to talk to.
newheeler Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 I don't have problems yet with 5" heels either, however i havent been outside yet Oh, well, there's my problem. I've just never seen anyone able to run in high heels. I sit in my computer chair corrected. Running in heels : Don't worry, be happy - in heels!
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