A Day in the Life of Women in Heels

You can spot them from almost miles away. They sound elegant, they look sexy. They transform every women into a goddess - if you handle the walk.

But do we really, like, wear heels?

Women in heels are majestic and sophisticated. Who wouldn't love to casually click their heels when walking down High Street? Well, for starters, I wouldn't. It's barely 5°C outside and the floor isn't exactly skid-proof. All in all, there is no way in hell I would risk aching palms half way to the first stop to get my morning Cappuccino. Besides, I'm quite tall and I really don't need extra attention when I have to make an effort to keep balance. But as I stand in Pret A Manger waiting, I look around and I see women in heels everywhere.

Blonde 5-inch plateau penny heels in classic black patent leather is standing next to me, ordering a skinny Latte. I low-key check her outfit for a badge or any possible hint to what she does for a living. As I scanned her, I noticed Balenciaga, Red Valentino, Gestuz and classic Tiffany studs layering together a grey pleated skirt with an opulent chiffon blouse and a red coat that added a vibrant accent to the otherwise moody look. On the till, she's got the skinny Latte and a carrot smoothie that probably explained why she's wearing size 6. I tried to figure out where she works but I'm really just wondering:

Are your feet aching? Aren't you cold? How far is your workplace? Is your job sitting down or are you walking a lot? Do you do this every day? How?

And then I'm thinking, the only reason my heels look neat is because I've never actually worn them in public long enough to get scratched or at all dirty. I buy them thinking about imaginary outfits they go perfectly with, but when I'm doing my hair and makeup and it's about time to get dressed I always rearrange my outfit, so I can get away with 2inch-heeled boots (max).

I looked back to skinny Latte and realised that she was irritated by my staring. I smiled sheepishly, hoping she realised that my stiff look meant I was bare impressed. Before I grabbed my Cappuccino, I glanced at her again as she tossed the smoothie into her Balenciaga Tote and clicked away. To be honest, I wasn't the only one looking as she walked away. She attracted pretty much 90% of (male) attention and it seemed like she knew it. Her walk wasn't uncomfortable or rigid. She walked right in the middle of what seemed to be her runway towards the exit of the station where she'd stand and do a double pose if there was any music playing.

Girl's Night out

Awesome! We're all dressing up, straightening our hair... or maybe beach waves?! Our juicy gloss nail polish perfectly matches the dress and the new purse is a nice touch for our outfit. We feel good and we certainly look good, but then it's about the shoes... Yes, we'd take your breath away in those freakishly uncomfortable heels, because they make us feel like the women that inspire our looks: aggressively superior and venomous.

While I changed my outfit long before we're ready to go out, some girls are sticking with their plans and top up their wine glasses. It's just less painful that way.

We're queuing to enter the club and as soon as we get in, we storm the dance floor with more drinks. By now, I would have already struggled bearing the pain, but everyone was still having a great time. It's becoming pretty clear what difference high heels actually make. It's not only about the pictures and how long our legs seem in them. It's about the new balance we get when we stride to the bar. Suddenly our attitude changes, our posture; You know you can't sit with us. My friends transformed into the skinny Latte-lady and even on our walk home, apparently there was some turn-up cheering for them that I couldn't hear.

That's it. Next time, I'm in!