Heel Placement - Your Preference?

[genebujold]

By "heel placement," I'm referring to where the heel strikes the ground. A growing trend over the last couple of years has been to move the heel further back.

Up until the 90's, heel placement has always been lined up with the most forward curve of the back of the ankle, found at the top of the heel cup, as in this boot:

But a couple of years ago, we began seeing heels that were much further back, like the ones found on this boot:

One problem I see with this trend is an increased incidence of ankle problems. When the heel is moved that far back, it increases the torque on the ankle, which increases the stress.

How do you feel about this issue?

[TXT-1]

pic 1 = nice pic 2 = someone was :drinking: heavily when they designed those those things! just by the look of that second pic, they look like like they are stressraisers!, pic 1 looks better! later, TXT-1

[raccoon]

Apart from the ergonomy issue, the new heel placement style is ugly. That makes the choice so much easier.

[Arctic]

I'd say it's the same thing as 4"+ heels: not ergonomically justifyable but some insist on wearing them anyway. For me it's the same with heels with alternative than stiletto heel arrangements (most block heels, blades, high heeled biker boots, etc): maybe not optimal for long-term use, but ok for occasions. Personally, I like how these heels look on boots (like the blade heel boots in my avatar!) Bert

[Dr. Shoe]

Both styles have engineering problems associated with them. The "80s" pair will have stresses placed on the heel as you plant your forward foot and the second style has the forces on the heel when standing.

[Anne_Louise]

For me the traditional placing of the heel with a curve in at the top is incomparably more elegant and also much easier to walk in. I've tried those newer 'fashion' heels and they feel clumsy and awkward, and they look it! I suppose designers always feel compelled to try something different.

[Bubba136]

It appears to me that most shoe designers design shoes that are "new and different" in the hopes of starting a new trend that will catch on and become the "fashion of the season." It seems they think "comfort be damned."

However, the first thing I noticed about blade heels, when I got my first pair, was how "vertically" stable they were. Stiletto heels, since their "heel print" is so much smaller, have a tendency to allow your ankles to oscilliate from side to side which to me is part of the pleasure of wearing stiletto heels.

[asdf174]

For me I perfe the heel all the way back. Just for style sake.

[Arctic]

I like the style too, actually. But underslung heel walk better, that's just a fact. Bert

[new_look]

the second pair(heel back) i prefer. I think it looks slicker. Also when walking the heel feels higher, because it actually is, because it is forced through a longer pivot of the ankle than when it is further forward. i have 2 pairs of stiletto boots. one with the heels back, one middle style. the ones at the back feel higher to walk in

[Jaral2]

I haven't tried the new style. Old style look much nicer to the eye.

[larry]

For me the traditional placing of the heel with a curve in at the top is incomparably more elegant and also much easier to walk in. I've tried those newer 'fashion' heels and they feel clumsy and awkward, and they look it!

I suppose designers always feel compelled to try something different.

....Larry Here I have to agree about the elegant look.. Thank You Anne_Louise.

[Trolldeg]

I have always thought that part of the "thing" with high heels is that they make the foot look smaller. When the heel is set at the back, it looks bigger...

[PJ]

The two most important factors that make a high heel shoe look sexy to me include; #1 - that the stiletto heel must be perpendicular to the ground, and, #2 - that the arch be narrow (the spacing between the heel and the foot arch). I love the curve at the rear of the shoes.

[JinxieKat]

I'm not so worried about the mechanics of walking, after all high heels are going to place stress on your body _somewhere_ However the heels further back are just flat out ugly. The curve of the other heels is visually appealing. Jinxie

[genebujold]

For me the traditional placing of the heel with a curve in at the top is incomparably more elegant and also much easier to walk in. I've tried those newer 'fashion' heels and they feel clumsy and awkward, and they look it!

I suppose designers always feel compelled to try something different.

I once tried on a pair of chunky heeled shoes with a heel bottom that curved upwards in back, allowing the wearer to "roll on" to the heel instead of "kerplunk."

Very, smooth!

But I suppose the look wasn't right, because when I went back a week later to buy them, the sales lady said they'd sold out and dropped the line.

Trolldeg - interesting observation about the apparent size of the foot!

[nhoj62]

i have boots with the full range from right back to well forward, an i can say i prefer it in the middle. let me explain, i feel that if the heel is too far back then it is too difficult to walk, but then if the heel is to forward i feel like i am going to snap it off. but as i have both types i must like both, and i think it look good either way. later nhoj62

[chris100575]

I'm not qualified to comment on the mechanics, but the heel on the top pair looks much sexier. Every pair of mine curves inward at the back except for my two pairs of block heels. Chris

[dressboots]

I like the variety of heels that different styles create. The forward placed heel allows for greater sculptural opportunities in the line of the heel. To me the blade heel looks like a cross between the stilleto and the block heel. I personally like the look very much, though have not found a pair of boots (Amercan size 12) with a blade heel. It appears to have evolved from the block heel by paring away the bulk of it toward the rear of the shoe/boot yet not removing any of its width. The blade has the lateral stability of the block heel yet the elegance of the stilleto, particularly when seen from the side. I have seen bladed heels which at first glance appeared to be very slim, tapered high heels. Can't wait to find a pair of blades I can wear to test my intepretation or this styles comfort.

[mk4625]

I don't particularly like it when the heel is too far rearward as in the second photo. However I absolutely can't stand heels that are too far forward so that it looks like one of the cleats of a Japanese clog. I think a lot of Chinese Laundry sandals from a few years ago were like this.