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Thinking about shoes or 'Why fashion f*cks function'

Writer's picture: Robin RudwickRobin Rudwick

22/05/21

Ive spent a lot of time thinking about feet and shoes lately. Mostly because I've been carrying a backpack for a lot of kilometres.

Most shoes aren't really foot shaped. They are usually too narrow and pointy at the toes. That's why they say 'Try new shoes for size in the afternoon'. But why are they that shape?

A quick look at Google confirmed what I knew about heels. They were used by the Persian cavalry to allow them to use stirrups.

Pointy shoes are seen on suits of armour in Europe, possibly to allow knights to get their feet into said stirrups. Mind you it might just have been the nobility wearing shoes which separated them from the'workers'. In other words a fashion statement that was copied by lower classes to emulate the toffs.


Back to heels on shoes. The major wear point is always the outside edge of the heel. It makes sense to have an area that can be repaired or replaced. As a kid I remember using 'Blakey' metal heel protectors to reduce heel wear and make clicking noises when I walked.

All this still doesn't explain why we still have non foot shaped shoes.


It would seem that, when it comes to shoes 'Form follows Function' does not apply. For shoes it is 'Fashion f*cks Function'.


Meanwhile I thought I'd show a picture of some Clarks shoes that I bought in the 70's, when I believe they were still made in the UK - the infamous Clarks Pasty shoes, which I owned...


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