Recently I had this discussion with a friend on wheter or not a guy should wear heels. She said no, simple because ''Men don't wear heels.'' But that's not a valid argument..
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| Fashion Darling Jean Paul Paula |
When you would have asked someone, only a hundred years ago, why women didn't wear pants he'd answer the same thing. ''Simply, because they don't.'' -for the record; women began wearing pants during World War II when they took over their husband's work- But look around now. EVERY women wears pants. So is it only a matter of time until heels for man will be socially accepted? I don't think it's that simple. There are two main reasons;
Firstly; during the years following the war, the spirit of the nations was one of progression, evolution. Change was good, old was bad. People tried to make sure this wouldn't happen again, by changing the world that made this possible in the first place. It was an age of endless new inventions and exciting perspectives. Nowadays people appear to become more conservative. For example; Whereas in the nineties the majority of people approved of gay relationships, these days that's no longer true. The youth of the new millenium is turning more and more negative towards the open-minded ideas of the nineties, according to several researches. Young parents are planning to raise their children more strictly than they were raised themselves. And that's only logic, knowing that every generation on its own is a reaction against the one before. The open-mindness is reducing.
Firstly; during the years following the war, the spirit of the nations was one of progression, evolution. Change was good, old was bad. People tried to make sure this wouldn't happen again, by changing the world that made this possible in the first place. It was an age of endless new inventions and exciting perspectives. Nowadays people appear to become more conservative. For example; Whereas in the nineties the majority of people approved of gay relationships, these days that's no longer true. The youth of the new millenium is turning more and more negative towards the open-minded ideas of the nineties, according to several researches. Young parents are planning to raise their children more strictly than they were raised themselves. And that's only logic, knowing that every generation on its own is a reaction against the one before. The open-mindness is reducing.
Secondly, there's the fact that our society thinks it still more acceptable for women to want to look like men, and not for men to look like women. Even though the right of women to vote was obtained in 1948 in Belgium, and equality between men and women was included in our constitution from the very beginning, we still seem to think it's degrading for a man to look like a woman. If my little boy wanted to wear dresses and heels, I would let him. (I'd just make sure they were Prada dresses and Louboutin heels). People think by raising their children conform society's gender-roles they make the lifes of their children easier. ''If they fit in, they won't experience much troubles''. But no. You just raise a blind generation. Let your children decide who they wan't to be, what they want to wear, who they want to become.
''Men just don't wear heels''
Honestly, very honestly, I don't get that.
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| High-heeled gent |
Men In Heels. Your thoughts?
Interesting discussion. I don't really have a strong opinion about this subject, because I would find it to be very unattractive if my boyfriend would wear heels. "It's not the way it's supposed to be": that is something both men and women have learned and it goes back to our most early youth. On the other hand: why not? We'll see what happens in the very near future.
ReplyDeleteI'm not implying here that every boy should wear heels ;) Just saying that if one wanted too, he should be able to. Without other people judging it. x
ReplyDeleteYou forget an economic factor.
ReplyDeleteWomen had to to men's jobs in factories during WW I. And pants are more preactical than skirts for the job. Then came bicycles, motorcycles, cars. Pants are practical for work. Fashion evolves from non-practical to practical.
High heels are not.
I just bought Barefoot Tess heeled laceup pumps. Awesome! Will be going to functions with my wife in them with bootcut jeans
ReplyDeleteThough women wear them daily. x
ReplyDeleteYes but it is / was an existing item. To adopt something new is a different level.
ReplyDeletePlus, men's fashion hasn't changed fundamentally since the 1900s
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Leave the heels to women! Men already have high percentage on muscle weight, and women has small blather and all... its a No NO!
ReplyDeletehttp://sepatuholig.blogspot.com
I believe that heels has to fit the person you are. It has to match your style
ReplyDeleteKAIIWONG
I completely agree, men should wear whatever they want just like women should. Sometimes I may think a man doesn't look good in heels - but is that just because it's not what I'm used to/social conditioning? If you like it, wear it. I'm so bored of these pathetic gender stereotypes and also the obsession with looking attractive to the opposite/same sex. Most of the time I am not dressing to appear attractive to other people...
ReplyDeleteFashion evolves from non-practical to practical? Hmm... So why did people start wearing platform shoes in the 70s, the most unpractical of clothing items? Or why do people carry clutches much more frequently than they did 10 or 20 years ago, despite them making it harder to do anything in day-to-day life because you're holding all your items in your hands?
ReplyDeleteIt's because society still thinks, on some level, that been female or feminine is degrading.
ReplyDeleteAre you serious on this? ;) Women have way more advantages compared to men!
ReplyDeleteThere are always exceptions :-P. And nowadays one has to carry more in his/hers pockets than 10-20 years ago. Mobile phone, ... it used to be wallet and keys. Hence the clutch.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing we can do, is be the on the frontline of fashion. Change the way people think by making them used to what they're not used to. Glad you agree with me on this! :)x
ReplyDeleteLike I do, you dress a certain way because it makes you you. It would be a pity to dress like other people want you to.. A lost opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI actually meant women carrying clutches much more frequently now, who have always had a lot of junk to carry...
ReplyDeleteSo they carry less, which is more practical ;-)
ReplyDeleteTwo words: double clutching.
ReplyDeletehttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4002588575741675515 like this? ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I remain convinced the overall evolution for every day wear and even for formal wear, fashion evolves from less to more practical.
More like... http://21arrondissement.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Le-21eme-Arrondissement-Paris-Fashion-Week-Paris-France-New-York-Street-Style-Fashion-Blog-18.jpg
ReplyDeleteIt's all about what you're used to I guess. We are being forced into those stereotypical and solid gender roles. It makes lots of things easier of course. You're labeled, up to the next thing. I think people think that it's easier when things are already set. And this starts with your birth: a boy, give it cars and dinosaurs to play with. A girl, give it pink pastel dolls. Maybe I'm creating a utopia but we should give people more space to unfold their gender, personality and style,
ReplyDeletehttp://fashionmaniaatlarge.blogspot.com/
Still, clothes get more practical. Fabrics are more practical, cuts are. Maybe not from one season to another, even not a decade to another. But it does when you look at bigger trends in history. We don't wear tailcoats, culottes and stockings as Lord Nelson did. Zippers were invented, velcro, fabrics you don't need to iron as much...
ReplyDeleteSecond no, first yay! I think men should wear heels if they want to and feel comfortable. A lot of people find it disgusting because it's a stereotype for women. However, years ago handbags were considered to be for women only. Nowadays a lot of men wear handbags. I
ReplyDeleteStyle is about individual expression, so if that means men wearing heels then why do we second guess it? Women wear men's blazer, jeans and sweaters, so why is it deemed inappropriate should a man wear traditionally women's pieces? Interesting topic and great post!! :)
ReplyDeleteI get you. There are so many things this could apply to, really, this one might just be a bit more 'controversial'. I've always thought the idea of men and women 'borrowing' from each others styles in fashion so to speak was wonderful. It doesn't really make sense that a woman can wear a tee shirt, jeans, and basketball shoes the same as a guy, but a guy can't wear heels? No sense at all.
ReplyDelete