Articles tagged with "Heels"

Style magazine Luxuo sizes up heels for men and how the fashion industry is adapting to more inclusive, genderless fashion.

From the article:

“People who are buying status footwear want to be recognisable,” said Bruce Pask, men’s fashion director at Neiman Marcus. “We’ve been moving in that direction of having more statement-making footwear. That means making bigger, higher and thicker shoes.”

“When I strut down the street in my heels, every part of my being feels right.” Shaobo Han, co-founder of Syro stated. “Wearing heels allows me to connect and embrace my femininity and explore the limits of fashion. I don’t believe that heels should have a gender, it belongs to everyone.”

"Similar to apparel, the declassification of heels as a “woman’s” shoe continues to unfold as clothing become less tied to one’s gender identity and sexuality. As men hit red carpets and magazine covers in gowns, there’s no reason they shouldn’t have a nice pair of heels to accompany them."

Original URL: https://www.luxuo.com/style/inch-up-your-footwear.html

Hungry for more profiles about men in heels and boots? Look no further...

(Numbers are followers as at 11 February 2023)

Criteria for selection:

1. More than 500 followers, but less than 1,000
2. Post frequently with their own content
3. Consistently promote a variety of mainstream fashion for men in heels or boots
4. Profile is free of adult themes, underwear, fetish and sexualisation of footwear

These are just the profiles which we have found while looking for men in heels and boots. If you know of more (that meet the criteria above), please let us know!

Josh Sims writing for Sphere magazine explores the topic of gender and how it's re-shaping the fashion industry as we once knew it.

From the article:

"Recent years have seen the progressive fashion world look to break away from the age-old binary paradigm of clothing for men and clothing for women, one which shapes how clothing is designed, made, marketed and sold, and which in turn can shape how people think about themselves."

"The shift, of course, has come in parallel with an often-controversial discussion in the wider culture about gender identity."

"in seeking to deconstruct the gender bias of its products, the fashion industry is also following in the footsteps of other huge industries: toys, bedding and cosmetics, for example. It’s an ethical, intellectual and, perhaps above all, an experimental exercise: just why do we continue to define certain products by gender? Should clothing be without gender, or, conversely, even seek to cater to a multiplicity of genders?"

Original URL: https://www.spherelife.com/gender-fluid-fashion-brands-uk

Entertainment news website Pinkvilla reports on NCT's Jeno's opening of the New York Fashion Week runway, the first time a K-Pop artist has done so.

Fashion runways have seen plenty of men in heels in recent years and Jeno was no exception on this occasion. Wearing a black and white suit with slits at the back and a pair of black chunky heels he did not disappoint his fans. One said, “Congratulations to JENO for being the FIRST K-POP IDOL to open a New York Fashion Week show! May this open new doors for you, you did amazing and we're very proud.” Another said, “as always.. the most handsome in the entire universe. JENO OPENS NYFW RUNWAY”.

A number of K-Pop stars have embraced gender non-conforming clothing choices including heels, notably GOT7's Mark Tuan @MarkTuan, Eric Nam @EricNam and 2AM's Jo Kwon @kwon_jo.

Original URL: https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/ncts-jeno-displays-his-charming-visuals-as-the-first-k-pop-idol-to-open-the-new-york-fashion-week-runway-1190082

Fashion retail spin-off of The Fact Site gives us another historical perspective on the origin of high heels.

From the article:

"The high heel did not originate to be worn by women as they are now, but rather as a man’s shoe.

They were most popular with kings and other noble and wealthy men long before they were ever adorned on women’s feet."

"Women did not begin wearing heels until the mid-1500’s. The first recorded high heel on a woman was worn by Catherine de Medici."

"King Louis XIV re-popularized the high heel during his reign in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s."

"The 1940’s and 1950’s saw the increased stability of the heel.

Wartime technology helped popularize the modern day stiletto heel during this time by allowing fabricators to utilize their metal in heels. The use of steel allowed the shapes of heels to change."

"With fashion trends changing from season to season, the high heel is a closet staple that has truly stood the test of time."

Original URL: https://www.thefactshop.com/fashion-facts/history-of-high-heels/

Mydroll.com covers Lenny Kravitz's 2022 Grammy Awards appearance in knee length black leather boots.

It's great to see another article covering Lenny's stunning outfit of chain mail, leather pants and knee length heeled leather boots.

As editor of Men's Heels Revolution my personal opinion is that we should share all articles we find on men in heels and boots to amplify the effect of those articles, even when the content of those articles may be quite small, as it is in this case. It's more the fact that someone else is talking about men in heels and boots and bringing men's heeled fashion to a wider audience, breaking down gender stereotypes and social norms. We generally try to link to articles when they've been published in the 12 months prior to when we post them. We don't always find them just after publication, though if you do find something of interest which I've not posted, please do get in touch and let us know!

Original URL: https://mydroll.com/lenny-kravitzs-2022-grammys-look-achieves-great-new-heights-thanks-to-his-heels/

Where can we buy shoes & boots in larger sizes?

Finding shoes to fit larger feet can be a problem, so we've compiled a list of retailers that supply sizes of footwear larger than EU42/UK8/US10.5.

Now with over 80 different retailers from around the world, finding that special pair of large sized shoes, high heels or boots should be easier than ever!

Head on over to our Retailer Directory now, or use the Retailers option in the main menu on your next visit.

Kidspot Australia reports on the teacher using Tik Tok to highlight the need and results from creating queer safe spaces in schools.

From the article:

The veteran teacher, who posts under the username 'Just a queer teacher', chooses to strap his heels on each morning despite the fact that they make him nearly two metres tall – and wears them as he walks the best part of 5km around the classroom every day.

“The reason I do it is so it is so we can create an explicitly queer space for all of my students,” the TikTokker shared in a recent video, showing off photos of his favourite pair of stilettos.

“That way they know this a place for them, by them - because I never had one of those (teachers) growing up - so yeah, I'm a bit of a beast.”

Many people thanked the teacher for choosing to wear heels to school, with one grateful parent writing: “as a mum of a queer teenager, thank you for creating this safe space”.

“Wish I had this growing up! I'm not crying I just have something in my eye - it's tears, I have tears in my eye,” someone else gushed.

Original URL: https://www.kidspot.com.au/news/im-a-male-high-school-teacher-and-i-wear-stilettos-to-class-most-days/news-story/e3844a25c0b7fed7f4fe0a48821b466d

Queerty reports on Mark Bryan's Interview with Avi Jakobs on German television channel Das Erste for the Beyond Fashion programme, the response from the LGBTQIA+ Community and his apology.

From the article:

Comments like “they’ve made it made difficult for themselves just being more flamboyant” and “they made it worse for me, being straight, because now I’m assumed to be gay” straight to this trans woman’s face set the internet all the way off.

Now, the model has taken to his Instagram Story to try to clarify his statements. Mostly, he apologized for his phrasing rather than his sentiments.

MB: “I understand what I said is misleading and maybe not have been the best choice of words, and for that I’m really sorry that it came out wrong. That was not my intention.”

Addressing his comments that “he wanted to be seen separately from the queer community”, Bryan stated that he’d simply meant he had a different experience than the community.

MB: “That was what I wanted to express, but did poorly by the words that were chosen.”

Following the airing of the interview and publication of a number of subsequent articles, Mark Bryan issued the following apology on his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17935312523346197/

Original URL: https://www.queerty.com/straight-stiletto-strutting-influencer-clarifies-homophobic-comments-almost-apology-20221108

Absolutely not... but of course you absolutely can if you want to!

That goes for all different types of shoes too. Flats, stilettos, Cuban heels, kitten heels, wedges, block heels and the rest. What matters is not what else you wear with them but that you feel happy and confident wearing them. Putting on a pair of heels does not make you a crossdresser (a term often used predominantly for men, though rarely applied to women) and many regular guys of all sexual orientations have worn heels throughout history. Many celebrities have recently brought about a renaissance for men wearing heels, skirts, dresses, leggings or make-up, though you don't have to be a celebrity to still have fun with what you wear.

The same really goes for other things you'd not normally considered as men's fashion. You don't have to wear heels if you wear a skirt or dress. You don't have to wear a skirt, dress or heels if you wear make-up.

Have fun and experiment with your style. Be bold but consciously pick items that you would definitely wear repeatedly, with confidence outside your home. If you're un-sure, buy pre-loved items as if you change your mind after wearing them you can always sell them on again for around the same value as what you paid for them, and it's also more environmentally sustainable.

What have you worn (in public) recently that you would not normally consider to be menswear? What was your experience? Head to our Instagram page to post your comments.

Original URL:

It's often a simple notion in your own head... "I like to wear heels and would like to wear them all the time". Ultimately you don't care what others think. You could be gender nonconforming. But what does that mean? This article from Psych Central unravels the meaning and puts it into context with other terms such as non-binary, genderqueer and genderfluid.

"Gender nonconformity is a way of expressing rejection of societal gender roles and expectations.

It isn’t automatically connected to a person’s gender identity or sexuality. Anyone of any gender identity can be gender nonconforming.

It’s best to inquire about how a person identifies and what pronouns they use rather than making any assumptions."

Original URL: https://psychcentral.com/health/gender-nonconforming

Bellatory presents this short article, along with a brief video, which should help not only men, but anyone who wants to improve their ability to walk in heels.

Walking in heels is not necessarily something that comes naturally to everyone, so it makes sense to get some pointers in the right direction so that you look cool, calm and confident in heels and reduce the risk of giving yourself some sort of injury or condition from poor posture.

Original URL: https://bellatory.com/clothing/How-To-Walk-In-Heels-Man

While many curious men explore their gender identity at home, often with items of clothing they've acquired by mail order services, they may consider showing up at their workplace in those items as an unattainable dream. There is however some serious research being done in this area by many people to determine the sociological effect of workplace attire and how people who are gender nonconforming, non-binary, genderqueer and so forth are challenging the norm in the workplace.

From the Gender Sexuality at Work Conference 2022, Dr Briony Lipton gives this compelling presentation of her work on "Men In Heels And Workplace Attire" which forms part of a larger project "Invisibilities Of Gendered Inequality In The Age Of Remote And Hybrid Work". Her research on gender equality and changes in professional attire is particularly interesting as it addresses a fundamental shift in our pandemic and post-pandemic work lives where many of us now regularly work from home, or have a hybrid home/office arrangement with who we work for.

She explores "Queer Heterosexuality" and whether there are ways in which straight men can disrupt the dominant paradigm of the straight-masculine and whether this can help to communicate, challenge and influence organisations and individuals perceptions of gender and sexual identities and their perceptions of equality and inclusion in the workplace.

With notable mentions of @MarkBryan911, @The_Heads_Count, @AlokVMenon, @TheeBillyPorter, @GentlemanHeels and @Mens.Heels.Revolution there are a number of other Instagram accounts featured in the video which we'll leave you to discover for yourselves.

Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UCe441EoYI&list=PLhOObpoQndRlSrCjtoprhSRUWCa_qqZ8h&t=4s

As you're no doubt aware, whenever you step out in public in a pair of heels there can be an annoying voice inside your head reminding you of all the potential judgement that you may encounter while you are out. It can sometimes feel like a constant stream of "what if?" questions. Not everyone gets this new trend quite like you do, so what can you do?

In reality, during the daytime, most people are so wrapped in doing what they’re out to get done, but during the evening people often have a little more time on their hands and are often more observant about the people around them.

It can help to be prepared for interactions with other people and a possible conversation about your heels. Most of the time, these conversations will be positive but if you are unfortunate enough to encounter someone who is less open-minded it can help to be prepared to have a conversation about your heels. We’ve prepared a simple 5 point strategy to help…

• Firstly, do your History homework. History has clearly documented the many times that men have worn heels, from 10th Century Persian Cavalrymen to King Louis XIV to David Bowie, Prince and now you, me, Harry Styles, Lenny Kravitz and Billy Porter and the other thousands of men around the world.

• Next is Education. You know that you and MANY other men are wearing heels, but the person you are talking to make be either completely ignorant of current fashion trends or might need reminding of times when it was more common than now. It’s up to you to educate them on it. Show them the hundreds of posts on the Articles page from Men’s Heels Revolution. Tell them where you got your heels from, show them the website and any marketing of men in heels that you can.

• Next is Empathise. Really, deep down they’d probably love to accept men wearing heels, and love themselves more in the process, but while they are complying with social norms, they will feel compelled to maintain the status quo. It can help to let them know you originally felt the same way as them, but then your mind was opened when you saw so many other men in heels and the acceptance that was given by the majority of people.

• Next is Leadership. You’re bringing it back and you’re at the front that also means you’re in the firing line. You need to keep your head, keep calm, be positive and firm about your courage and convictions. What you do out there shapes the future for all men in heels (and other gender non-conformity) so the image you present to the world is important. Leadership is also knowing which battles to fight and to know when you’re not going to win. It’s ok to agree to disagree and walk away.

• Finally, Style. Do whatever you do with style. With men’s heels easily available in many different styles from established retailers like Alessandro Vasini, Asos, Christian Louboutin, Cross Sword Fashion, Daniela Uribe, Feraggio, Harry Halim, Jimmy Choo, Lidia Talavera, Onlymaker Heels For Men, Patricia Henriques, Steve Madden, Syro, Utilitarian Gender Neutral, Yves Saint Laurent and many more there’s something to suit everyone’s taste and budget (See our Retailer Directory for even more options). Become a style student, draw influences from what others are doing and experiment with your outfits, not everything will work, but that’s ok! Style starts from the shoes upwards and when you love shoes, that’s a great start.

So there you have it, our simple strategy to keep you fashion forward and standing tall. Can’t remember the 5 points? Maybe this will help…

H - History
E - Education
E - Empathise
L - Leadership
S - Style

Collective Culture features this article on how the high heel is being re-imagined by men as a new symbol of empowerment, breaking down cultural norms in the process.

From the article:

"17th-century noblemen used to wear heels as a sign of power and virility. Little by little, these accessories are regaining that power!"

"We are talking about dresses and skirts embroidered with gold, details everywhere, exuberant wigs; nothing could be left empty. At this time, women also began to wear heels because the trend was to imitate men's fashion."

"Nowadays this is changing. Today clothes are getting a new branding, and that is that they have no gender. Under this ideal, fashion stigmas carried over from the last century are being broken one day at a time."

"In this genderless fashion initiative, heels have become more and more gender-neutral elements of empowerment."

Original URL: https://culturacolectiva.com/fashion/heels-history-masculinity-men-accessories/

In this article the Bright Side website highlights the growing confidence of men in heels and explores the possible reasons why.

"It’s not known by everybody, but men did wear heels in the past, long before women started wearing them. High heels were originally designed for men, but this faded over the past centuries. However, surprisingly, heels seem to be breaking their way back into men’s fashion again, as more and more celebs have started to embrace their feminine side by wearing their favourite pair of heels."

"statistics show that the sales of heeled men’s shoes have been on an upturn since 2017. More and more men are embracing their femininity and showing off their beloved heels more confidently than ever."

"High heels are still associated with women’s fashion in the modern day, though more and more celebrities, like pop icons and rock stars, are keeping this trend alive for men. The expansion of heels in the male section at stores has gone beyond the stiletto.

Many different types of heeled shoes have become available. Designer brands, like Gucci, Maison Margiela, and Saint Laurent, knew that heeled shoes would break into men’s fashion again and took the opportunity to develop new models in this category."

While the article presumes that all men that wear heels are getting more in touch with their feminine side, which is somewhat stereotypical, it's generally a positive perspective and worth a read.

Original URL: https://brightside.me/wonder-curiosities/why-men-are-more-confident-about-wearing-high-heels-today-808517/

Lillian Stone (@originalspinstr) writes for Mel Magazine on the rise of men in heels on social media and how some women are falling in love with the growing trend.

From the article:

"Mesmerized by their confidence and how their heeled shoes make their ass look like marble, women are falling head over heels for guys who dare to don a pair of pumps"

"Wearers are posting their videos to Instagram and, increasingly, TikTok, where videos with the hashtag #meninheels currently have more than 82 million views. Someone’s grandfather even went viral for pairing masculine silhouettes with a tasteful pump.".

"Seeing a man wear heels without a hint of irony confirms what we’ve always known, if only subconsciously — that heeled footwear is sexy, no matter the wearer’s gender. It speaks to a simple truth: If you find a pair of shoes that make your ass look like it’s made of steel, you should wear those shoes."

Men appearing to have more confidence comes across as one of the key attractions to women. Having greater confidence is often a reason stated by women as to why they wear high heels, but it's still interesting to see this coming across when the roles are reversed.

Original URL: https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/men-wearing-high-heels

This article from the Catawiki website, reminds us of the history of men and high heels.

Heels have long been a symbol of status, style and femininity but once upon a time they were synonymous with masculinity too. Dating back to ancient Egypt, walking in raised shoes was at first a practical choice for working men that was quickly adopted by the men and women of upper classes as a sign of nobility and status. Since then, high heels have continued to feature in men's fashion throughout the ages from King Louis XIV to the late David Bowie. Fashion experts Fleur Feijen and Stefania Jesi help unpack the long history of men and high heels and why heels are still a statement shoe for men today.

You will see many articles on Men's Heels Revolution about the history of heels. It's important to know where heels came from and how changes in our society have affected the way people wear them. We are once again in a societal shift where people are re-evaluating gender norms. Heels, skirts, dresses, make-up and more are all returning as options for men to wear. Similar societal reactions can be observed, we're not doing anything new here, just doing what we used to do.

Original URL: https://www.catawiki.com/en/stories/753-the-forgotten-history-of-men-and-high-heels

Power of Leather blog post by Deni (@d.e.n.i_c), takes us on a brief history of the high heel, how they are loved by men and women alike.

Deni highlights a great point from The Age of Enlightenment that "Males were stereotyped as practical and rational, whereas women were seen as sentimental, making them better suited for heels than men", and adds a great quote about stereotypes...

"The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story." - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

It's certainly great to see a growing number of people blogging about men wearing heels and boots.

Original URL: https://www.powerofleather.com/post/heels-heels-heels

Hungry for more profiles about men in heels and boots? Look no further...

(Numbers are followers as at 19 July 2022)

Criteria for selection:

1. More than 500 followers, but less than 1,000
2. Post frequently with their own content
3. Consistently promote a variety of mainstream fashion for men in heels or boots
4. Profile is free of adult themes, underwear, fetish and sexualisation of footwear

These are just the profiles which we have found while looking for men in heels and boots. If you know of more (that meet the criteria above), please let us know!

Stylus Media Group, an industry think-tank founded in 2009, reports on the collaboration between Jimmy Choo (@jimmychoo) and Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) to create heels for men in sizes up to US 15.

"While drag performers can find well-fitting footwear at specialised stores and retailers, many others including transgender women can often struggle to find appropriate heels in larger sizes. Reuters reports that transgender women can often be forced to “choose between more masculine styles and the hyper-sexualised designs of specialist retailers – with nothing in between.” Jimmy Choo and Porter’s collaboration taps into this market gap, providing more versatility in terms of sizing as well as everyday options, like classic heeled boots and suede pumps."

It is surely now only a question of time before the mainstream designers and retailers follow suit.

Original URL: https://www.stylus.com/unisex-heel-line-backs-fashions-blurred-binary

See It Live reports on the exceptional performance of the Men in Heels group on the prime-time show "Britain's Got Talent". Men in Heels are three men from Paris, France by the names of Yanis Marshall, Arnaud and Mehd.

"It’s a rare occurrence to see men wearing high heels in the first place, but these men were about to change that by rocking their signature black stilettos into their audition and absolutely own every moment of it."

“That was 10 times better than any female dancer we’ve seen on stage tonight.” -Alesha Dixon

It's great to see representation in any form on mainstream media, so for that we applaud their efforts in making onto the show and for doing so well with their performance.

Original URL: https://seeitlive.co/men-heels-spice-girls-routine/

If you're new to Instagram, or even if you've been around a while and you love wearing heels and boots, this is the post to get you off to a flying start with who to follow. It's a "who's who" of the movers and shakers in men's heel wearing in 2022.

Congratulations to all of the people on this list. You are true leaders the world of men in heels and boots. I for one have been inspired by many of you who gave me the courage to wear heels so much more frequently in public and to start this website and spread the news about the movement for men wearing heels and boots.

(Numbers are followers as at 19 July 2022)

Criteria for selection:

1. More than 1,000 followers
2. Post frequently with their own content
3. Consistently promote a variety of mainstream fashion for men in heels or boots
4. Profile is free of adult themes, underwear, fetish and sexualisation of footwear

These are just the profiles which we have found while looking for men in heels and boots. If you know of more (that meet the criteria above), please let us know!

The Vou takes stock of where we are at in the heels for men arena and highlights 38 selections from what's on offer with options to suit all tastes, styles and budgets. There has clearly been a great deal of research put into this piece by Aiden Russell, and if they are anything like me, probably one or two personal purchases along the way!

From the article:

"the number of men reclaiming their space in the high heel fashion world by making profound statements of confidence and style is on the rise."

"Inspired by top fashion brands such as Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin, Tom Ford, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Maison Margiela, Celine, Amina Muaddi, YSL, Manolo Blahnik, Versace, and Bottega Veneta, these heels for men will make anyone look stunning, regardless of gender, style, or taste."

Original URL: https://thevou.com/fashion/mens-high-heels/

Footwear news reports on Lenny Kravitz' multiple appearances at the 2022 Grammy Awards in two different pairs of heeled leather boots. Firstly on the Red Carpet in a pair of black knee length boots, then later on stage in a metallic silver pair. This of course is not a new thing for Lenny, who has been a fan of heeled footwear and boots for many years.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2022/fashion/red-carpet/lenny-kravitz-mesh-top-heels-grammy-awards-2022-red-carpet-1203269896/

Footwear Magazine takes a look at the new "Our Angels" Inclusive sized collection from Christian Louboutin and poses the question "Is it finally time to stop separating men's and women's fashion?".

The fashion industry has followed social gender norms since the dawn of what we now call fashion, though when now considered through egalitarian eyes there are huge differences between fashion offered for men and women. The fashion industry is reflecting on these imbalances and tentatively adjusting what's on offer one high heeled step after another.

In heels for men (or indeed genderless), with big names like Louboutin taking an interest and with real-world wear visible by celebrities on the Red Carpet and key social media influencers there is certainly more on offer now. It may take some time, but generally in the fashion world those trends will start to trickle down into the mainstream.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2022/fashion/opinion-analysis/gender-neutral-fashion-trends-1203233685/

Opposing Views reports this story on @MarkBryan911 to raise awareness of gender neutral fashion. It's a brief, but interesting story on Mark and his views on wearing high heels to work every day.

Original URL: https://www.opposingviews.com/society/straight-married-father-of-three-says-hes-been-wearing-skirts-and-heels-to-work-for-years

GenZ Social Media sensation, Noah Beck caused a stir when he appeared on the front of VMan magazine in Fishnet Tights and Stiletto Heels. As with many features of men in heels, this one also comes with the usual brief, but important history of men in heels.

Also checkout the post of the cover on @NoahBeck's Instagram profile... https://www.instagram.com/p/CL-CCUiHGHR/

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2021/fashion/mens/noah-beck-heels-fishnet-tights-jeans-makeup-vman-magazine-1203114717/

Hypebae introduces Stixx (@StixxInTheCity), Wisdom Kaye (@Wisdm) and Henry Bae (@HenryBae), three men who are helping to re-define how we think about fashion today and in particular how heels are crossing the gender divide once again.

Original URL: https://hypebae.com/2022/4/men-heels-inclusive-fashion-gender-lgbtq-rick-owens

Dazed magazine features the SS21 campaign for Amsterdam based fashion house Ninamounah which included Viral high heel wearing sensation, Mark Bryan (@MarkBryan911) as a "Special Species".

Original URL: https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/52137/1/mark-bryan-instagram-ninamounah-ss21-campaign-taxidermy-amsterdam

Fashion magazine celebrates Tom Holland's (@TomHolland2013) red carpet outfit for the premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home and highlights Tom's calling out of Misogynistic comments made about his height in relation to his taller partner Zendaya and how he regrets not wearing heels for his rendition of Rhianna's "Umbrella" in 2017.

Original URL: https://fashionmagazine.com/style/celebrity-style/tom-holland-heels-spiderman-premiere/

Footwear News reports on Harry Styles (@HarryStyles) appearance at the Sony Brit Awards in 2020 in a "Women's" Suit and heels "for men". Setting aside the gendering of the clothing items, it's a positive thing that we're seeing these red carpet events publicised like they are, but surely it's just a suit and heels? After all, we wouldn't say "Dua Lipa appeared in Men's trousers and heels for women" would we?!

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2020/fashion/celebrity-style/harry-styles-marc-jacobs-womens-suit-mens-heels-1202928555/

You've possibly already heard of Mark Bryan (@MarkBryan911), though many outside of Instagram won't know that this sixty-something man regularly wears a skirt and heels to the office. He believes, like many more now do, that clothes and shoes have no gender. This interview for Harpers Bazaar brings us up to date with what Mark has been doing recently.

Original URL: https://harpersbazaar.com.au/mark-bryan-interview/

The Irish Times reports on “The Beautiful Collection” and exhibition at Paisley Park which showcases many of Prince’s legendary high heeled shoes and boots.

“Constructing dangerously high heels that were embellished enough for Prince’s taste yet secure enough for his talent required ingenuity and engineering”

Original URL: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/let-s-go-crazy-prince-s-most-eye-catching-custom-heels-from-his-3-000-pair-collection-1.4642904

Hungry for more profiles about men in heels and boots? Look no further...

(Numbers are followers as at time of writing)

Criteria for selection:

1. More than 500 followers, but less than 1,000
2. Post frequently with their own content
3. Consistently promote a variety of mainstream fashion for men in heels or boots
4. Profile is free of adult themes, underwear, fetish and sexualisation of footwear

These are just the profiles which we have found while looking for men in heels and boots. If you know of more (that meet the criteria above), please let us know!

x

Original URL: https://www.ruetir.com/2021/11/20/men-who-wear-a-dress-or-use-nail-polish-should-we-applaud-that/

From 2018, Quartz magazine delves into the history of the high heel through the research of Elizabeth Semmelhack (@elizabeth_semmelhack) at the Bata Shoe Museum, recounting how women borrowed heels from the male wardrobe to look more masculine. Enlightenment put an end to men wearing heels at the end of the 17th century. Though as Elizabeth says “Heels are just things. They can be given any meaning we decide they have”. When asked, “So could men start wearing heels once more?” she concluded... “anything’s possible.”

Four years on and it seems it’s not only possible, but happening at a pace!

Original URL: https://qz.com/quartzy/1317090/its-enlightenment-philosophys-fault-that-women-wear-high-heels-instead-of-men/

If you're new to Instagram, or even if you've been around a while and you love wearing heels and boots, this is the post to get you off to a flying start with who to follow. It's a "who's who" of the movers and shakers in men's heel wearing in 2022.

Congratulations to all of the people on this list. You are true leaders the world of men in heels and boots. I for one have been inspired by many of you who gave me the courage to wear heels so much more frequently in public and to start this website and spread the news about the movement for men wearing heels and boots.

(Numbers are followers as at time of writing)

Criteria for selection:

1. More than 1,000 followers
2. Post frequently with their own content
3. Consistently promote a variety of mainstream fashion for men in heels or boots
4. Profile is free of adult themes, underwear, fetish and sexualisation of footwear

These are just the profiles which we have found while looking for men in heels and boots. If you know of more (that meet the criteria above), please let us know!

Bruzz interviews Mark Bryan.

“Most people assume that clothes say something about their sexual orientation, and they don’t want to put a label on them that doesn’t fit them.”

“The battle will only have been won when people stop seeing a skirt as uniquely feminine”

Original URL: https://www.bruzz.be/en/culture/culture/mark-bryan-man-high-heels-2021-11-03

W magazine explores footwear for larger sizes and while there are still some challenges to overcome, the outlook is getter better...

"Retailers still consider more inclusive sizing a financial gamble, especially when it comes to expensive-to-produce runway pieces"

"Fashion is and should always be for all"

“I find each time the heel re-emerges in fashion really very interesting,” says Semmelhack. “Often, when quote-unquote women’s heels have been worn by men, it is in ways that are lampooning of women. When I started to see some men wear what are coded female shoes in non-ironic ways, I find a great deal of hope in these moments.”

Original URL: https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/genderless-high-heels-in-larger-sizes

@PrettyBusinessWorld introduces Ashley Maxwell-Lam, an insurance company worker who wears stiletto heels to work every day. He describes it as feeling comfortable, invincible, powerful and in control. As the article says, he didn't ask for permission, though he did say up-front what his intentions were. He "finds it ridiculous that in society it is only acceptable for women to wear high heels".

Original URL: https://prettybusinessworld.com/man-in-a-suit-and-stiletto-heels-at-work/

This article from The Irish Examiner (@irish_examiner) reflects on the Spring/Summer 2022 runway shows at Paris Fashion Week and the rise of heels for men. It's not a new concept, just reinvented somewhat, as Jimmy Choo puts it "High-heeled shoes for men are unlike stilettos. The heel shape is adapted from the basic Cuban heel into a special shape that will bring out the best in the masculinity of the man wearing it.".

This is a great read for getting yourself up-to-speed with what's current on the catwalk.

Original URL: https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/fashionandbeauty/arid-40343159.html

Vogue Magazine looks back on how men’s fashion changed for the better in 2021.

The article has the full detail, but in summary...

• Hollywood stars took risks
• so did regular men
• The runways delivered exciting clothes
• and the stores reflected that
• The momentum isn’t going to stop!

Original URL: https://www.vogue.com/article/mens-fashion-recap-red-carpet-style

Vogue Czechoslovakia interviews Mark Bryan (@MarkBryan911), 62 year old cis family man with a passion for Porsches, American Football and... high heels. If you’ve been looking for profiles of men in high heels and not yet encountered Mark’s profile, you soon will. Having amassed a huge following, his matter-of-fact talking about men wearing high heels and skirts is inspiring. In particular, Mark relays a thought on “Fashion Apartheid”.

Original URL: https://www.vogue.cz/clanek/vogue-cs-in-english/martin-vasa/the-higher-the-heels-the-closer-to-god

DailyArt magazine looks back in time to explore the origins of High Heels. Often a surprise for many people, heels originated in Persia in the 10th Century and were worn by men until the 18th Century. Enlightenment put and end to that 800 year reign, but started making a comeback in the latter half of the 20th Century. The article ends on a positive note for all.

Original URL: https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/men-in-heels/

Footwear News is hot on the heels of Billy Porter’s (@theebillyporter) hosting of the Fashion Awards 2021 in London with this brief summary of the stunning outfit and 6-inch heels he wore.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2021/fashion/red-carpet/billy-porter-fashion-awards-red-carpet-dress-platform-boots-1203215253/

Vice magazine reports on how men expressing themselves by wearing items normally regarded for women is nothing new. "It's a bit of a middle finger to societal norms" says Alex Ringler, who interviewed for the piece. Another interviewee, Marcus Territory says "The primary purpose of the heels is to be just another piece of an unambiguously masculine outfit... a way to explore new aesthetics and styles." a view shared by many.

Original URL: https://www.vice.com/en/article/4av9km/men-high-heels-non-binary-fashion

The GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2019 saw British singer Sam Smith step out onto the red carpet for the first time in high heels. Their black Gucci patent leather heeled boots clearly caught the attention they demanded, but for Sam this was clearly a euphoric moment for them as this short, but very sweet article shows.

Interestingly, the article uses the pronouns He/Him, though Sam now uses They/Them.

Original URL: https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fashion/Sam-Smith-at-GQ-Men-of-the-Year-Awards-in-Gucci-Heels-2019-46580958?utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=US:GB&utm_source=www.google.com

Footwear News reports on how the fashion world a is now starting accept that men's heels are actually a thing (though for many they have never not been a thing!). Led by the major fashion houses of Paris and Milan other designers will in course follow suit.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2020/fashion/designers/mens-heels-fashion-weeks-fall-2020-jimmy-choo-louboutin-1202903728/

MyBest ranks the top 10 best heels for men in the UK in 2021. Written in March of this year we can now look back and ask whether higher heels for men have been delivered. The trend is definitely moving in the right direction, and with many styles selling out fast, we can say they have delivered for sure. For some potential buyers though heel heights have still to reach the heights they desire to achieve the fashion aesthetic they desire. Independent shoe creators are still crucial in this area, but the higher heels go in the mainstream, the marginal styles will be sure to follow.

Original URL: https://mybest-gb.uk/10651

British newspaper The Independent reports on changing time and how Vogue magazine has decreed that heels for men and now in vogue, literally. @KanyeWest, @HarryStyles and @JustinBieber are leading the way with small heels, but the trend is definitely towards higher heels specifically for men. Gender lines are blurring and men in heels are now a sign of the times.

Original URL: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/heels-for-men-back-in-fashion-harry-styles-kanye-west-justin-bieber-russell-brand-marco-rubio-a7794591.html

When High Heels are an Icon of Femininity how does that fit into a world where our culture says “that’s for women”? Huff Post takes a look at the history of men in heels and features modern day trail blazers, @ShopSyro (@HenryBae & @ShaoboHan), who highlight some of the cultural issues for men wearing heels, but also the up-sides too.

Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG2K7_g7Sgs

Footwear News highlights the trend in rising heel heights for mens footwear. Led by top fashion houses, such as Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy, this article from a few years ago underlines the fact that this is a trend that won’t be going away any time soon.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2016/fashion/designers/mens-heels-boots-spring-2016-shoes-trends-218704/

Metro Newspaper Interviews John Benge (@johnbengemodel). John, unrepentant, quite rightly points out that he's an adult and can wear whatever he wants, regardless of what anyone else says.

Original URL: https://metro.co.uk/2017/08/30/i-dont-need-vogues-permission-to-wear-stilettos-men-in-heels-is-and-has-always-been-ok-6878051/