Van Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 Hi guys, I came accross this site. Have a look and spot the guys in stilettos. http://www.style.com/w/feat_story/090804/popup/slideshow1.html Vanessa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicole Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 Hi guys, I came accross this site. Have a look and spot the guys in stilettos. http://www.style.com/w/feat_story/090804/popup/slideshow1.html Vanessa Oh her- lots of expensive stuff. On him- Ellie shoes. I like it. the truth shall make you fret Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nova Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 What the heck happened to fashion photography? Nice photos, don't get me wrong. Nice lighting and all that, but this is almost soft porn. I'm not even trying to condemn them for that, either. The problem I have is that you can't see the freaking clothes! They expect people to buy the clothes when the models aren't even wearing or displaying them properly, and many of them are so far off that you can't even tell what they're wearing! Again, thanks for pointing out the nice photos, but I sure wouldn't want my designs advertised that way! The one thing that I found very strange about the models is that some of the women looked masculine, while many of the men looked feminine. I think these photos were more about gender identity than the clothing. Any thoughts? Jen (steps off the soapbox) If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba136 Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 Are we sure it's a "him" sitting in that chair with legs folded? Just because the caption identifies the model as a "him" doesn't make it true. Perhaps if he stood up, faced the camera with his hands on his hips, we'd be more convinced. Being mentally comfortable in your own mind is the key to wearing heels in public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefox Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 It's one of those arty type shoots to draw attention. I couldn't tell the gender of most of the models apart from some had boobs and some didn't. All in all I think it was creative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genebujold Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 About time!!! Now if the designers can get it through their thick heads that heel-wearing does not equivocate to full-fledged transvestism/crossdressing/transexualism.... Or that when men wear heels it must be some shiny black patent leather fetish statement. How about Charlie Daniels wearing a pair of 4" cowboy boots with his regular garb? I can hear the fashion boards begin to creak and moan with another "ewww..." They are so brain-washed into what's an appropriate image and what's not! And as with most fashion layouts these days, not at all what you'd see at your local nightclub, on either the guys or the girls. Speaking of which, I saw two guys the other evening walking down the strip in heels. One wore a pair of medium-heeled blade boots, and the other a chunk-heel boot. Both heights were at least 3 inches, probably closer to 4 inches. They were with what appeared to be their dates, so I didn't approach them, but when my wife and I walked by, one of the girls said, "I like your footwear - very stylish!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 I've viewed the slideshow. Most interesting indeed. The androgynous look of the male models was probably no accident so it would hard to tell from a passing glance if there were men in those shots. As for whether other designers will get the hint, well, I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen. I don't want to LOOK like a woman, I just want to DRESS like a woman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefox Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 I don't think designers have ever been against this kind of concept. There have been many other examples of male models on catwalks wearing heels and the full gear. Actually there is probably a better supply of males who meet the strict body demands of these shoots. Very tall, very slim, long legs, thin striking faces with angular cheekbones etc. But I think one must draw the distinction between what is on the shoots and what goes out into general retail. The shoots are like those concept cars at motor shows. Lots of new angles, lots of unusual ideas, but will never go on sale like that. It's more a question of grabbing peoples attention and arousing general interest among fashion buyers for a particular brand. It worked with me in this case. I'd only heard of Ellie shoes once before, but I will certainly be looking out for more of their styles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genebujold Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 I don't think designers have ever been against this kind of concept. There have been many other examples of male models on catwalks wearing heels and the full gear. Sorry, Firefox, but one has to ask the question, "why did those designers do that?" Did any of them ever follow it up with a line of clothing in Sears, or even some of the more progressive outlets? No. Then why? To guage the mass audience reaction? Perhaps, but I think not. I submit it's to show off their range and "creativity" as a designer, to "push the envelope." I know a local fashion reviewer who has attended a few of the shoes that actually make their way out here, and she laughed when I asked her when the designers would float the line into the stores. Her comment was basically that'll never happen for two reasons. First, they don't float anything unless the stores choose to float it. After all, it's the outlets that front all the money. Second, the designers don't float but a very small percentage of what they show. They have "show clothing" and "retail clothing," and unless the stores bite off on a particular piece of "show clothing," it's history. Having said that, there's about a decade lag between show and go, so we should see heels on men as mainstream items around 2014... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefox Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 Absolutely right, there is show clothing and retail clothing. If designers/buyers thought they could sell these fashions in a retail setting they'd be doing it believe me. They've no prejudice against anyone wearing anything. If it will sell they'll float it. The dollars are all the same colour when they're in the till. Schuh for example pushed out a range of higher heels and platforms for men around the year 2000. It was a retail experiment which they thought might work in the new millenium. They didn't sell very well and it probably cost them a lot of cash. If you were the head buyer at Schuh, would you then put your job on the line promoting a new range of stilettos for guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genebujold Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 Absolutely right, there is show clothing and retail clothing. If designers/buyers thought they could sell these fashions in a retail setting they'd be doing it believe me. They've no prejudice against anyone wearing anything. If it will sell they'll float it. The dollars are all the same colour when they're in the till. Schuh for example pushed out a range of higher heels and platforms for men around the year 2000. It was a retail experiment which they thought might work in the new millenium. They didn't sell very well and it probably cost them a lot of cash. If you were the head buyer at Schuh, would you then put your job on the line promoting a new range of stilettos for guys? I'm not so sure... One of my wife's friends is a fashion reviewer who's covered most of the shows here in town over the last several years, as well as a few elsewhere, including a few in Europe. I asked my wife if she'd ask her about it, and she did. Here is her opinion: 1. The shows are far less about the fashion designer's showing what lines will be released in the stores than it is about showcasing key elements of the designer's style preferences, as well as their ability to expand the envelope, shock the audience, but in a way that invites attention and interest crossing the boundary and creating a sense of repulsion in the audience, who, by the way, represent the majority of the designer's retailers. 2. Although she's yet to hear of any male models wearing heels during a show, the concept of men wearing skirts and/or heels on a runway strip isn't to show the potential for that design, but rather, to show the designer's versatility, his ability to push the limits while still creating an appreciative response from the audience. 3. The online showcase got away with it because all of the males have fairly feminine musculoskeletal structures so that except for breasts, their bodies appear feminine, and as for their faces, makeup transformed into feminine images. 4. It wouldn't have worked on more masculine faces or bodies. Having said all that, I still strongly believe the designers are missing something! Your average male in decent shape wearing decent styles and heels blends in very well with the local populace, and done right, can actually be quite striking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 1. The shows are far less about the fashion designer's showing what lines will be released in the stores than it is about showcasing key elements of the designer's style preferences, as well as their ability to expand the envelope, shock the audience, but in a way that invites attention and interest crossing the boundary and creating a sense of repulsion in the audience, who, by the way, represent the majority of the designer's retailers. I would agree with that. Most of the stuff seen on runway shows will never see the light of day at your local department store. Not even high end stores like Saks or Neiman Marcus (used to work there) would grace floor space with that extravagant stuff. Having said all that, I still strongly believe the designers are missing something! Your average male in decent shape wearing decent styles and heels blends in very well with the local populace, and done right, can actually be quite striking. Well, while no one will ever mistake me for being striking (more like struck, like in the face! HA!), I like to believe that I've presented a tasteful and stylish look in appropriate clothing and heels. So, yes, it CAN be done! I don't want to LOOK like a woman, I just want to DRESS like a woman! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipflop klipklop Posted October 13, 2004 Share Posted October 13, 2004 Pretty much what genebujold posted is correct. The style of photography and advertising appeals to the Avant Garde crowd. The men tend to be very feminine, highly fashion conscious, secure in their sexual preference and generally not gay. That crowd has no problems dropping a few hundred dollars on some pumps or other article of clothing. Their line of clothing would usually be found in the specialty boutiques. The way the upper market shops is different as well. They shop to feel better, and they would remember a concept better than the actual items. Yes, it's beautiful isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobHH Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I saw the latest copy of W magazine today, with the feature on guys in heels (and other feminine clothes). The main photo is on the cover, and the spread covers quite a few pages. It will be interesting to see the reaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genebujold Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I saw the latest copy of W magazine today, with the feature on guys in heels (and other feminine clothes). The main photo is on the cover, and the spread covers quite a few pages. It will be interesting to see the reaction. What's the date/edition? It's not appearing in the online version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobHH Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 It's the October issue of W, and just came in the mail yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genebujold Posted October 16, 2004 Share Posted October 16, 2004 I checked a couple of the newstands and the library, but no go. Oh, well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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