by 26 people |
Stupid Shoes: Why do We Wear Them...Much Less Buy Them?
A Gallery of Horrible Footwear- Past & Present
They're ridiculous, they're impractical, they're.....downright stupid! And let's be honest, most of us have owned at least one pair of stupid shoes in our life.
Stupid Shoes...
We sqeeze our feet into ill-fitting housing that doesn't even vaguely resemble the natural shape of the normal, healthy human foot just to be up with fashion or to satisfy a vanity of shape or size. Shoes that are strange, bizarre, painful (to see or wear) and downright dangerous.
Platformed, pointy-toed, stiletto-spiked, flip-flop, plastic croc menaces to society!
Check out the Polls (3)
1. Your Opinion- Worst Shoe Trend
2. "What do you look for in a shoe?"
3. Rate your experience here.
This Lens is a WORK IN PROGRESS. We'll start with Platform Shoes and just see where it goes... Come back and watch it grow!
Your Opinion, Please
There are no wrong answers!
Based on fashion and/or function!
If we missed something, you can share it in the guest book below!
___
Platform Stiletto Pump: Vivienne Westwood, 1994
National Museum of Australia
Leather with red & white calico print.Seriously, where could you wear these and how long could you stand to have them on?
Artistically speaking, very interesting design, but clearly low on functionality.
'Super-elevated Ghillie' Platform Shoes...
...and a Supermodel's Fall from Grace
Wearing a tartan ensemble and slippery cream rubber stockings, supermodel Naomi Campbell fell from this pair of 'mock croc' platforms at the Anglomania A/W 1993 show.Currently housed in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England, it is part of one of the most popular exhibits.
Purely from a design standpoint, they are lovely, but entirely nightmarish to wear!
Nab a bargain on Vivienne Westwood Shoes & Boots at eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Platform Video "Foot"age
Platforms in Action!
Platform Guy
Watch a dude walk about in cork-soled platform shoes.
Falls on the Fashion Runway
Watch models trip and fall on the runway in shoes with ridiculously high heels that weigh more than they do.
Vote for your favorite!
Start the New Year on the Right Foot...
Shoe Calendars for 2008
No Fish Were Harmed
Men's Platform Boot with Fishtank Heel
"I'm Gonna Get You Sucka"Just like in the movie- acrylic water-filled "fishtank", cruelty-free plastic fish essential to any respectable 1970's Pimp's wardrobe.
Platform Shoes in Germany, 1970's
Get ready for crazy shoes, wild fashions and really, really bad hair!
A Fascinating History of the Platform Shoe
And you thought it all started in the 1970's...
- Platform Diva
- A History of the Platform Shoe
From the 1600's to the Present Day.
"I'm Gonna Get You Sucka"
Fly Guy the Pimp & the Fish Tank Shoes
Men's Irridescent Platform Shoe
Play that Funky Music...
Tequila Dance Scene from Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Featuring Men's Platform Shoes
Pick Up Some Funky Retro Disco Platform Shoes
"This ain't no party. This ain't no Disco. This ain't no foolin' around!" Talking Heads
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byWhat do you look for in a shoe?
Be sure to read ALL options before making your choice!
Please be honest, this is an anonymous poll!
No one will know that you are the Label Slave or Shoestring Shopper. Well, actually, if they know you, they probably already are aware of this fact. The only person you're fooling is yourself. Remember- "Denial" ain't a river in Egypt!
Come on, 'fess up!
Shoes, Glorious Shoes!
Picture Books on Shoes
Shoes: A History From Sandals to Sneakers
Amazon Price: $37.92 (as of 01/04/2010) 
Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More
Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 01/04/2010)
Heavenly Soles: Extraordinary Twentieth Century Shoes
Amazon Price: (as of 01/04/2010)
Shoes: The Complete Sourcebook
Shoe lovers will salivate over this comprehensive pictorial guide to fabulous footwear through the ages. Peacock, a former costume designer for BBC Television in London, illustrates every possible shoe imaginable, starting with an array of skimpy sandals from Ancient Egypt and moving chronologically up to a French high-top sneaker from 2003. The book is almost entirely visual, including over 2,000 colorful drawings of men's and women's boots, slippers and heels.
Amazon Price: $29.20 (as of 01/04/2010)
A Crock o' Crocs, Flip-Flops & Mock Crocs
Nobody Does Ugly Better...
There is no middle ground here. People either love them or hate them. Entire families can be spotted sporting these in a spectrum of colors and looking like they just came from the nearest clown convention.These ugly resin shoes have become a huge fad. People are attracted to these unisex shoes because they are comfortable, cheap, lightweight, come in a rainbow of drab to obnoxious colors and sizes for both adults & children and are easy to clean.
You can even sterilize them in bleach. Additionally Crocs provide a much wider footbed so they are very comfortable as compared to most shoes available in the mainstream US retail market. Tempting, right?
Crocs and their mock knock-offs are really are intended to be worn in the garden, at the beach, on the boat, or at the lake. They are a souped-up, ventilated version of the old rubber gardening clog. The problem occurs when they are used as every-day footwear.
These shoes have actually been shown to be downright DANGEROUS for CHILDREN. News reports, online message boards and chatrooms are full of how many ER visits by children were directly related to wearing these shoes at the time of injury.
The biggest danger: ESCALATORS.
Kids are still learning coordination and they aren't really aware of, or alert to many potential dangers that surround them. By the time a child notices what is happening, it is usally too late.
The soft material of Crocs, Flip-Flops and other foam, rubber or resin footwear easily gets caught in the metal teeth of escalators. This has caused numerous injuries and trips to the Emergency Room for Children. It is not just the top & bottom of the escalator, it is usually the sides that will suck these shoes in. Kids don't ride escalators like adults do, they lean on them and press their little bodies, faces and feet to the sides like it is some kind of moving playground equipment. They just don't understand that this is dangrerous. It is up to the adult present to be alert.
Please remember to use these shoes with care, they belong outdoors in situations where other urban footwear might be ruined by water, muck or mud and not in a mall, airport or other indoor place where escalators may be encountered.
The Official "I Hate Crocs" Website
Put Old Crocs to Good Use
Donate them to a Crocs Recycling Program!
Maybe yours are worn out. Maybe you've decided they're no longer the "fashion statement" you want to make. Now you can give them a second life...Lensmaster SusanVillasLewis shows us how we can make a difference with those worn-out old Crocs in a special program to recycle and redistribute to those in need.
(Definitely better than burning them!)
-
Soles United: Recycle Your Used Crocs
-
My baby blue Crocs has been through it all in the two years since I bought them. Traipsing through the sand on a Mexican beach, clomping around my local mall, squelching through the mud in Sudan. As a result, they're starting to look a bit battered a...
Warning: Crocs Chew Feet on Escalators / Flip Flops: Walking Toxic
Crocs + Escalator = Danger
The hidden dangers of Crocs, Flip Flops and other shoes made of soft, light-weight synthetics.
- Crocs Pose Danger on Escalators
- ABC News report on the danger of Crocs, Flip-Flops and other shoes made of soft materials (rubber, foam, plastic, resin) on escalators.
. - Flip-Flops Road Hazard & Toxic Chemicals
- ROAD HAZARD
Flip-Flops (a.k.a. Thongs -- the footwear) are proving dangerous for driving a car.
WALKING ON TOXINS
Studies in Germany show that many synthetic "flops" contain TOXIC chemicals that reduce sperm count in men and that assult the kidneys, liver and reproductive organs.
Still think those cheap $3 flops are so great?
Crocopalooza!
Featuring Crocs Shoes
Vote for your favorite video!
Croc Love and Croc Loathe
Dorcs!
A parody commercial for (and to) Mock Crocs.
The Burning of Crocs
Fire! Heh, heh, heh...Fire! Burn, Crocs, burn!
Please do NOT try this at home. From the I Hate Crocs website.
Cuttin' Crocs
A sequal to "Burning of Crocs", cutting them with shears and shredding them in a blender.
Wallstrip COROX
Hilarious! You just have to see it.
Red Crocs
Video with music about someone's beloved red crocs.
CROCS
Crocs on a tropical beach.
Shoe Charms
As if it were possible to make Crocs charming!
Click on the image for details - or to see other styles available.
Get the logo for your favorite sports team!
Oh, I think I may barf...
Dopies: The New "Crocs"?
The latest craze from the UK
WHAT THE...?
Dopie - the name says it all.
They look fine for the shower or the beach but, sadly, this appears to be another escalator disaster waiting to happen...
Honestly, I'd rather wear these than a pair of Crocs.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byStuck on Shoes
Decals & Bumper Stickers about Shoes
Click on the image for a closer look and description.
Dorothy, hate Oz, taking the shoes, find your own way home
Dorothy, Hate Oz, taking the shoes, find your own way home. -Toto
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: (as of 01/04/2010)
Before you criticize someone walk a mile in his shoes
-If he's angry, he'll be a mile away without shoes.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $3.00 (as of 01/04/2010)
The Golden Lotus
Misunderstaning leads to mutilation
Lotus Shoes were made of fine silk and hand embroidered and beaded with delicate designs.Everyone wants to be like the ruling class. And, just like today, people of financial means, high social or celebrity status aren't always guided by wisdom or common sense when it comes to fashion, fads and ideals of beauty. Yet the masses often follow this lead without question, in a desire to emulate the "ruling class" of the day.
For 1,000 years, China had a special version of this called the "Lotus Foot".
The Emperor had a favorite concubine. It was said that she had very small feet and she'd wrap them up in long scarves during their trysts and this greatly delighted him.
Word of this got outside the palace walls and, as it usually goes, the story became distorted and misinterpreted. The practice started in northern China with Noble families began wrapping their child and infant daughters' feet so tightly that they would not grow properly. The four smaller toes were broken (small wonder that opium was so poplular) to fold them under the foot. Eventually this practice spread to then entire population- even poor families would mutilate their daughters' feet in the hopes of them marrying into wealthy families.
A small foot on a woman was considered very desirable and was a symbol of high status. The Ideal foot lenght was 3, but not more than 4, inches, the size and shape of a Lotus Bud. This was the measure of a woman's beauty.
Obvioulsy these women had greatly limited mobility and were not able to do much. Most could walk, but not very far or very fast. Infection, paralysis and muscle atrophy were just a few of problems that plagued these women, which only became more acute in old age.
Foot binding was outlawed in China in 1911. It is estimated today that around 25% of elderly Chinese women in their 80's and upward have the "Golden Lotus Foot".
Golden Lotus Shoes
Golden Lotus Slipper
China
. Brief History of China
Cultural Gifts and Problems
Chinese Golden Lotus Library
The Three-Inch Golden Lotus: A Novel on Foot Binding (Fiction from Modern China)
Avg. Customer Rating: 
3 Inch Golden Lotus Shoes
Upward curling toe. Golden Lotus Slippers
China, Late 19th Century, Shanxi Region
Golden Lotus Shoe
These have a back flap or wing to support the ankle that often swelled from the binding. Golden Lotus Shoes
China
History of Chinese Footbinding on Film and On the Web
- Chinese Footbinding: The Vanishing Lotus
- A film by Tang Yuen Mei Joani and Fung Wing Chuen Tely
- FootBinding: Search for the Three Inch Golden Loutus
- A film by Yue-Qing Yang / East-West Film Enterprise.
- A History of Foot Binding
- From the San Francisco Museum
- Antique Golden Lotus Shoes
- For Sale
Antique Golden Lotus Shoes for Your Collection
Bargains galore at eBay!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byManolo's Shoe Blog
Daily Rants & Raves from Manolo Blahnik, Shoe Designer
Manolo Loves (or Hates) the Shoes!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGet Your Blahnik Fix at Amazon.com
Good for the Sole
Shoe Selection & Safety
Never get stuck with a pair of "Stupid Shoes" again!
- Shoe Overview
- Purpose of Shoes
Shoe Anatomy
Footwear Reccomendations
General Overview of:
Childrens's Shoes
Men's Shoes
Women's Shoes
Work Shoes
Athletic Shoes - Footwear Guide
- How to select a good pair of shoes.
- 10 Points of a Proper Shoe Fit
- If you're serious about a good fit, here's a checklist.
- Smart Tips for Wearing High-Heeled Shoes
- If you've just gotta do it, here are some good-sense tips.
- Shoe Safety: Footwear & Falls
- Article on reducing risk of falling though use of proper footcare, footwear and fit.
- Lacing Techniques for a Proper Fit
- Not just stringing you along...
- Athletic Feats
- Selecting Athletic Footwear & Orthotic inserts.
- Protective Footwear
- 10 Points for Selecting Protective Footwear
- Children's Shoes
- Selecting children's shoes.
Shoe Therapy & Shoe Fiction
Why Men Don't Have a Clue and Women Always Need More Shoes: The Ultimate Guide to the Opposite Sex
Amazon Price: $10.08 (as of 01/04/2010)
Chicken Soup for the Shopper's Soul: Celebrating Bargains, Boutiques and the Never-Ending Quest for the Perfect Pair of Shoes (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
Amazon Price: $11.21 (as of 01/04/2010)
Blahnik by Boman: Shoes, Photographs, Conversation
Big, gorgeous coffee table book.
Amazon Price: $53.55 (as of 01/04/2010)
In Her Shoes : A Novel
Amazon Price: $10.80 (as of 01/04/2010)
Cruel Shoes
A collection of short stories, not for the priggish type. If you don't like bathroom humor, pass this one by. I just thought the title was a perfect fit!
Amazon Price: (as of 01/04/2010)
Ballet "Pointe Shoes"
Another form of foot torture
Ballet is a beautiful, graceful artform that requires a great level of atheletic skill and strength. It also utilizes hideous, nightmarish footwear: the "Pointe Shoe".These really belong in a museum. Part of the problem is the ridiculous task the shoes are made to accomplish: bearing the entire weight of a person on a tiny point at the tip of the toes. To make matters worse, there is no difference in left and right shoe! Traditionally they are made of a wooden "sole" and toe-box with a silk sheath and ribbons to secure them around the ankles. Cotton or wool is stuffed into the toe-box to cushion the toes. Modern advances have brought limited improvements. A dancer can actually wear out a pair of pointe shoes in a single performance. Then there are the other injuries- tendonitis, ankle and lower leg injuries that also occur.
Many foot maladies can be traced to the use and misues of this shoe. Corns, callouses, black toe, blisters and bunions are not unusual.
On the upside, these are clearly intended for a very specific purpose and are not your every-day shoes. It takes years to perfect the art of dancing "en pointe", so very few people will ever wear these shoes, and those that do only have them on to rehearse and perform.
Video: "The Red Shoes" by Kate Bush
Taken from the feature-length film "The Line, The Cross & The Curve".
Be careful what you wish for...
(You'll have to CLICK TWICE on the video and, depending on your browser's settings, it will open either in a new tab or window. For some reson the video owner won't allow this video to be viewed remotely.)
Read "The Red Shoes"
The Red Shoes
Barbara Bazilion's story, loosely based on the original Children's Classic by Hans Christian Anderson.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Red Dancing Shoes
Ages 4-8
"A little African-American girl loves her new shoes so much that she is compelled to dance through her neighborhood, showing them off to her friends and family. When she trips and gets the shoes dirty, she thinks they are ruined, but her favorite aunt restores their 'magic.'...An emotionally convincing slice of life."--Horn Book.
Avg. Customer Rating:
The Red Shoes Video Library
The Red Shoes (1948)
Genre: Drama / Romance / Music Won 2 Oscars(1949). more...1 point
The Red Shoes - Criterion Collection
# Tagline: Dance she did, and dance she must - bet more...0 points
Kate Bush: The Line, the Cross & The Curve
VHS Format Plot Synopsis: A singer struggles to da more...0 points
Shoe would like to hear from You!
Groan...
Say hello, share a comment...
-
Reply
- Mixalis Mixalis Sep 19, 2008 @ 7:44 am
- Like your lens, had a good laugh. I actually saw those Westwood shoes made extra famous by Naomi's fall in a Vivienne Westwood exhibition in Shanghai. She had quite the fashion sense!
-
Reply
- Ener-G Ener-G Aug 7, 2008 @ 11:21 pm
- Who knew there were so many great photos of bad shoes? Join my monkey brain debate CROCS versus Your Favorite Shoes and let everyone know which shoes you DO like!
-
Reply
- cannedguds cannedguds Apr 15, 2008 @ 2:52 am
- It's really insane how people are going gaga over platform boots, stupid shoes and other weird footwear. Would you believe there are even other people who wear ballet pointe shoes wherever they go and to think only men in tights and flying women wear shoes like these & only during recitals or whenever they feel like doing the ballet en pointe! Anyway, awesome lens and I'm looking forward to seeing more about stupid shoes for _______ people ( you fill in the blanks! hehehe)5 star for your lens! cute & funny & weird! 5 STARS!!!
-
Reply
- SusanVillasLewis SusanVillasLewis Mar 6, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
- Hah!! Found this off my lens on the new Crocs recycling program. Agree that they're about the ugliest shoes known to man and should have their use limited. But I do love mine!
-
Reply
- KCStargazer KCStargazer Feb 16, 2008 @ 11:02 am
- Waffle Shoes? I'll have to check that out. Not familiar with them but suddenly I'm hungry! I do recall the Waffle Stompers the lumberjack style hiking boots with the big waffle-like tread. There was a certain look that was made popular in the late 1970's - wearing these boots with bell-bottom jeans and a tube-top and feathered hair. I didn't say it was a "good" or even a "sensible" look! It was seriously unbalanced and about as tacky as you could get. If it is so hot that you need to wear a tube-top, how can you stand having your feet trapped inside of hot, heavy boots? No, these boots were made to go with flannel shirts.
- Load More
Blast From the Past: Do you remember these?
Just a sweet transvestite...
Think Midnight Matinees at the MoviesTwo kids in a car that breaks down in a thunderstorm find a creepy old mansion with strange goings-ons inside. They're looking for the owner when the open-air gridwork elevator descends behind them. Your first glimpse of the owner are the heels of a pair of rhine-stone encrusted platform shoes emerging from the bottom of a long black cape...
If you know these shoes, you're at least a late 30-something, or you've raided your parents' old video collection.
Give up?
Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter
a la cult-classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show", 1975
Show Your Love for Shoes!
Shoe Addict Mug
Price: 14.99
Will Cook For Shoes BBQ Apron
Price: 23.49
Will Work For Shoes Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt
Price: 20.99
If the Shoe Fits ... Jr. Raglan
Price: 19.50
Grand Finale: Dragging Our Heels
Nobody knows platforms better than a Professional Drag Queen
The boots featured here are actually brilliant pieces of theatre costuming and amazing works of art and engineering. They truly belong in a museum somewhere.
Don't be alarmed by the rather provocative picture at the start- all you will see in the video is some guy prancing about in crazy boots. (Eat your heart out Dr. Frank-N-Furter!)
What do you think?
Was it fun? Did you learn something?
And before you go-
give us a little "Love up Above" in the Stars up top, if you please!
Thanks for visiting!
Smart Shoes - Never again be stuck with another pair of "Stupid Shoes"!
Yes, there are some VERY smart shoe designs out there.-
Smart Shoes
-
Let's face it, there are a lot of choices out there when it comes to footwear. It can be confusing and downright overwhelming. Isn't it great when you just "find the right thing"? In my many adventures with shoes & footwear, I've found a...
Explore related pages
High Heels- Fashionable accessories...
Ellie Shoes Best Price Sale | Discount Ellie Platforms Shoes- If you're on the hunt for sexy footwear, look no further than Ellie Shoes. The w...
Crocs Shoes- Crocs Shoes have taken the world by storm! Initally nobody could even remotely i...
Baby Phat Shoes
- Baby Phat was created by Kimora Lee Simmons nearly a decade ago. Since that time...
Crocs Shoes: Healthy Footwear For Diabetics- Crocs! You've seen 'em. Those colorful, goofy, clunky, some might even say, home...
Best deals on sandals and flip flops- We all want to look and stay cool for the summer so why not make your feet happy...
