Articles tagged with "High Heels"

This Readers Digest article urges women to break 25 fashion rules, and yes, it was written for women, though as men we can (and should) always take notice of what women are saying, especially when it comes to fashion. The "rules" in fashion are many, but shouldn't ever be regarded as strict rules, think of them more as guidelines and you'll have a better time navigating the complex world of social dressing, and don't be afraid to do your own thing.

From the article:

“Anyone who tells you that women of a certain age can’t wear certain things probably isn’t comfortable with how they are aging,”

"Confidence is key when it comes to how you dress, so if you’re not comfortable in a certain piece of clothing, you shouldn’t wear it. “Our body shapes are unique and learning how to dress them confidently is one key to an excellent personal style,” says Russo. “You have to have an understanding of what works for you and what you feel great in.” In other words, if you feel good in something, you should wear it—and rock it!"

"Women and men shouldn’t limit themselves to the department associated with their gender. “If you’re a woman, shopping the men’s department will give you so many more options—it’s one of my favorite style secrets,” says Jenny Applegate, a Chicago-based stylist. “Mixing men’s hats, jewelry, bags, and clothing in with feminine pieces creates fun looks.”"

Original URL: https://www.rd.com/list/fashion-rules-you-can-break/

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

UK Newspaper Daily Mail reports on the "unusual" relationship of Maren Butler (@marenn.x) and James Carrington (@jxcx3). The pair met on TikTok, James a feminine presenting man and Maren, a masculine presenting woman. Challenging many social and gender norms in the process the pair have formed a long-lasting relationship.

From the article:

"Maren said: 'I remember seeing James' video and thinking he was so cool.

'It was his confidence and his androgynous look that was so appealing to me.

'I left a comment on his video thinking he wouldn't respond but in less than an hour he replied and we started chatting.

'Before James, I'd only dated girls but I've always been attracted to fem-men because I love the combination of confidence and femininity.

'He has a pretty face and pretty smile, what's not to love! It's an unusual pairing but we're so happy.' "

Original URL: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11481251/Masculine-woman-feminine-boyfriend-discuss-unusual-relationship.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!

It's not easy to get a complete timeline for the history of heels in a single article because many writers selectively pick only the points in history that suit their narrative or headline. We're reliant therefore on reading multiple articles and joining the dots ourselves. That said, key elements like the fact that they were used by Egyptian butchers, so they could keep their feet clean of any blood while slaughtering animals often get missed. This is one such article from "the tab" which does include that fact, though it's not clear from the article whether it was them or Persian soldiers that first used heels.

Written in 2017, the article concludes that in the 20th Century, men’s heels have largely fallen out of fashion. It's a fact easily missed through poor research that men never stopped wearing heels. In 2023 heels for men are on the rise once again, though this time, not so much as a fashion trend, but more of a movement.

Original URL: https://thetab.com/uk/2017/05/02/know-high-heels-originally-invented-men-kinda-wish-theyd-kept-39250

Who What Wear gives us some great advice and tips in this article which apply equally for women and men who wear heels.

From the Article:

"The easiest way to look ungainly in heels is to put your whole foot down at once as if you’re wearing flats. It may seem obvious to many, but when wearing a high shoe, put your heel down first, followed by your toe. This will make your walk look more natural."

"you’ll walk more gracefully if you look at your goal point (the café at the end of the street, for example) and visualise a straight line going toward it rather than staring down at your toes as you walk."

Original URL: https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/how-to-walk-in-heels

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/

Very Well Mind website explores the term "gender expansiveness", looking at its origins, what it means and how it's being used to classify people who cross normal lines of gender expression.

From the article:

"Gender expansiveness is an umbrella term for any expression of gender that falls outside of society's current gender binary standards."

"One person who has made a name for himself just by wearing clothing meant for the opposite gender is Eli Cohen, an author, speaker, fashion advocate, and "self-expression facilitator." He founded an organization called Spacious Human, with the tagline "Experiencing Expansiveness." Cohen is a cisgender man who began wearing dresses and skirts after the age of 50. He now teaches others how to explore their gender and their expressions of it."

"It can be challenging to put yourself out there in a way that makes you appear different than others, and you're opening yourself to judgment just by looking different or noticeable. However, some people feel that it's more important that society sees more than one version of humanity and expression, so they take on that potential judgment."

"Consider doing your research before asking anyone in your life about their gender expression. This saves others from having to perform emotional labor for you. It is considered polite to not ask people questions you could easily find the answers to yourself."

Original URL: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-gender-expansiveness-6362960

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.

All KPop reports on boy band 2AM's Jo Kwon's appearance in a Crop Top, Leggings and High Heels. It's a shame there isn't much substance to it other than a collection of photos from Jo Kwon, so I'm only sharing this article due to the fact that it's reporting on a man in heels, as I feel it's important to amplify the visibility of the subject.

It was rightly called-out by some of the people commenting about their reference in the headline to his "perfect figure". We're not even going to go there as it might just turn into a long rant, but feel free to add your comments on our Instagram post, linked above in the Icons.

Original URL: https://www.allkpop.com/article/2022/03/2ams-jo-kwon-rocks-a-crop-top-with-leggings-showing-off-his-perfect-figure

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

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/

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

Women Working magazine website brings us another report on Mark Bryan (@MarkBryan911), the 61 year old American Robotics Engineer who is legendary for rocking high heels on Instagram. With over 660,000 followers, he conveys a firm sense of his own style for high heels, and certainly provides an inspirational fashion and style narrative which includes the mantra that "Clothes and shoes should not dictate a persons sexual orientation or gender".

Mark comments about how he feels he appears to other people - "You look up and see this person, your mind tells you it’s a person with green hair, you think to yourself, ‘That’s odd or interesting,’ then you go back to do what you were doing and don’t give it another thought"

To Mark, a man in heels and a skirt is normal, and we can all take some inspiration from him. If he can do it, we can all do it!

Original URL: https://her.womenworking.com/straight-married-dad-of-three-wears-skirts-to-prove-clothes-have-no-gender-helps-raise-money

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!

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/

A short, but sweet article from Bellatory on places to find heels for men.

"Men have great legs; it's almost a crime not to show them off in a pair of high heels. There's a catch though. The problem with finding sexy high heels for men is that quite often it is impossible to find them in men's sizes. This goes doubly if you happen to be long and lanky or built on the larger side of the spectrum."

"men who love high heels don't have to suffer under the tyranny of the evil prince and that uppity little kitchen-maid anymore (who did she think she was anyway?) Your prayers are answered with this series of sites all offering pretty shoes for men in sizes they can wear."

It's great that people are writing about heels for men in this way, though I do feel that the research on this piece could have gone much deeper and it would have better reflected the fact that the men's heels renaissance is in fact in full swing.

You can of course find many, many more places for you to find heels via our Retailer Directory which has nearly 100 retailers and designers who sell heels and boots and in large sizes for men.

Original URL: https://bellatory.com/clothing/5-Places-To-Find-Super-Sexy-High-Heels-For-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 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!

Nigerian news website Legit reports on the male Pastor causing a stir with his high heel wearing style.

"Photos of a male pastor who is used to wearing high heels in the church have caused a commotion on the internet"

"The unidentified pastor is seen in one of the photos ministering on a lectern in his feminine footwear"

"Many people have wondered what may have inspired the man's fashion sense, while others found it weird"

Original URL: https://www.legit.ng/people/1454764-male-pastor-wears-high-heels-church-services-goes-viral-photos-spark-debate-social-media/

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/

Zoom brings us another write-up of the history of men in heels.

"When one thinks of heels, all one can imagine is glamour, style, and elegance. However, even though this kind of footwear is now mainly associated with women and femininity, it was once the go-to footwear option for men."

"not many know that heels originally found their place on the feet of male soldiers, aristocrats, and even royals in different parts of the world, including Persia. Persian men in the 10th century wore heels not just as a style statement but mainly because of the 'practicality' factor"

Original URL: https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/lifestyle/fashion/did-you-know-high-heels-were-first-worn-by-men-in-persia-during-the-10th-century-article-90588269

It may be true that people say that, but it’s certainly not true that any item of clothing or footwear can ever change your sexuality when you put it on. To even suggest that is ridiculous.

In talking to various people during my research for this answer it was by no means conclusive that gay men are more likely than anyone else to wear heels and boots. They don’t need anyone’s judgement any more than anyone of any other sexual orientation, straight, bi or otherwise who want to express themselves with their clothing choices, but one thing is certain it’s not clothes that determine any person’s sexual orientation.

Deconstructing gender stereotypes is the key to changing this situation. There are many on Instagram who are behind that movement and call it out. We all need to play a part if we want to freely express ourselves. Raising awareness via Instagram other social media and blogs will help, but we also need open and honest conversations with the people around us. While we may be comfortable, familiar and accepting of the notion that clothes have no gender and don’t dictate your sexual orientation, to most people that will be a new concept, so perhaps it's time for a coffee and a chat...

Thank you again to everyone who contacted me with their perspectives on this topic during my research. Much appreciated.

Comments from our readers

We had some great comments on this question posted on our Instagram page for previous posts of this Q&A issue...

"No, you’re a person who just happens to like them. Nothing about being gay or straight etc. Do women who dress like a man get called gay"

"As a pre op transgender wearing heels comes naturally to me, even driving in 3 inch block heels no problem"

"After all it is simply an item of clothing. And when you go back and look at the history of boots particularly over the knee boots and thigh high boots they were originally designed hundreds of years ago for men all of this stereotyping people has got to stop gender neutral fashions should be everywhere and we should just be allowed to wear what we want wearing a pair of boots that are marketed for women is not a sign of being gay it’s just a freedom of your own expression. I seriously wish all boot Manufacturers would start marketing to men there are so many of us out there they enjoy the pleasure of wearing a pair of boots design for women and are afraid to come out there is no reason to be afraid times are changing but they need to change quicker."

"Speaking as a heterosexual happily married man who has enjoyed a lifelong passion for wearing women’s boots primarily low heeled or up to an inch and a half out in public for many, many years under my jeans. I do not agree that you are a gay man who wears them. I simply feel complete and comfortable wearing boots over normal shoes but that does not make me gay at all I have no desire to make love to someone of the same sex. I am not against that. I believe everybody should have the right to live their life really and express themselves as long as they are not hurting anyone. You’re absolutely right the time has come to do away with a stereotype labels put on people."

"Only a few gay guys appreciate high heels. They even often hate them because it’s woman related."

"Of course everyone is free to wear whatever they like, and should! Speaking purely from my experience, I’d say it is more common to find straight guys who are into traditionally feminine shoes like high heels. Gay guys are often into traditionally masculine boots like motorcycle or combat boots. In other words, if you are attracted to women you like women’s shoes and if you are attracted to men you will prefer men’s shoes. So perhaps which kind of footwear one likes does have something to do with sexual orientation—just not in the way many people think."

As Russia started its "special operation" in Ukraine, the world at large started to try and understand the man at the top spot in Ukraine. As comedian-turned-politician, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has no shortage of video footage of him engaged in various amusing activities, it wasn't long before the previously recorded video reappeared of him dancing in high heels. Along with 3 other men in heels, they performed (admirably I might add) a routine, not too dissimilar to Beyonce's smash hit "Single Ladies" which was released in 2009.

This article from Newsweek, which covers how the video went viral, is brief and worth a read, but also has a link to the video for you to watch.

Original URL: https://www.newsweek.com/volodymyr-zelensky-dancing-high-heels-viral-resurfaced-viral-clip-ukraine-russia-war-1684820

Unfinished Man blog ("not merely a men’s lifestyle and entertainment blog, but a site devoted to the essence of masculinity and becoming a real man") poses the question whether a man can wear "Women's Shoes".

I have to be honest, this article was close to not making the cut for inclusion on Men's Heels Revolution. It was only the fact that it was written by a man and concluded positively that it made it. The article could have benefited from deeper research and often repeats itself, but the intentions are noble.

Many articles written for men's magazines or blogs (and a small number by women), ridicule or make light of the idea of men wearing high heels, or any gender non-conforming style. Contrary to this particular article, here we call them high heels, or just heels as they are not women's shoes, but just shoes with heels. They don't belong to any specific gender any more than your toothbrush does!

Still worth a read if only to appreciate that things are maybe starting to change in how men talk to other men about gender non-conformity.

Original URL: https://www.unfinishedman.com/can-men-wear-womens-shoes-great-shoe-debate/

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

Original featured on Men's Heels Revolution a couple of weeks ago, now we have the full, original interview with Charoline Wenke and Anders Harder Bjerresgaard from ALT for damerne magazine, translated via Google Translate from Danish to English

The article introduces us to the couple and their relationship journey, from their early days exploring Anders' gender fluid fashion style and his passion for high heels to present day, and some of the triumphs and challenges they have encountered along the way. It's not always been easy, but they are both very happy together and want to share their story in the hope that it will inspire others to explore their self-expression too.

Anders: "I could feel people's awkward reactions when I showed interest in clothes, shoes and makeup, and so I very quickly stopped saying it out loud and instead cultivated it in secret. When there was an EVERYTHING for the ladies at home, I looked in it when there were no others nearby, and the same with, for example, Magasin's Christmas catalog, where I looked at the women's clothes. I thought it was the most beautiful. There is not much variation in men's clothes. It is black, white "Blue and maybe green and brown. Whereas women's clothing is available in all colors, patterns and qualities. Everything is allowed in women's clothing that is simply more bling."

Charoline: "He said: 'I really like high shoes, and I really like to walk in them.' When he drove home afterwards, I thought hmmm ... But pretty quickly this sentence came to me:" "Well, it's just shoes." We just had a great time together, we had become really happy with each other, and I thought: We must be able to find out. "

Anders: "Part of the teaching was precisely about inhibiting beliefs, and I had had a belief that the sky would fall if I stood one hundred percent by myself. And suddenly it dawned on me that when I got home and was completely fresh, then it was because, in Copenhagen, I stood by myself and walked in the high shoes.I thought, shut up, I'm really just a puppet in a performance I myself have created based on my own beliefs ? What will happen if I just ARE myself? When I started thinking like that, I almost sensed from one day to the next how much more energy and joy I would get in my life if I started standing by myself all the time. "

Charoline: "Shortly after, we took a trip to Hamburg, and at that time, Anders was still only wearing menswear when others saw him. But when he unpacked in the room, he lined up just 15 pairs of shoes with high heels, and I was like ... well, okay. "

Charoline: "Today I find it very annoying that I have been influenced by the opinions of others. But that says something about how strong it is. I myself come from a very unjudgmental family who have taken so well against Anders. If only I am happy, they are happy, and then the clothes do not matter. But in the face of the reactions of the outside world, I have been surprised. I remember an episode in Berlin, where we stood in line in a store, and behind the clerk there was a mirror so I could see how those standing behind us in the queue were pointing and laughing. It was just too much and I said to Anders "come, now we're just going out, I can not do this" . "

Charoline: "the message we want to convey in this interview is actually that we is only at the finish line when it is no longer interesting how Anders dresses."

Anders: "I have only met support. Or at worst neutrality. The first time I wore heels, my boss said:" You got new boots, Anders ", and then she went on to get coffee. Otherwise I have just been told that “shut up you look sharp” or “wow, you give it gas.” I'm probably well helped by sitting in a creative area of ​​product and marketing development, because that's probably the place in an organization where the ceiling is highest and where you like to think a little crazy. People are very openminded. "

Anders: "I almost never experience this as a problem. I almost never get negative comments from women. They are always very welcoming and often come with comments like" I love your boots "or" what beautiful nails ". Negative comments or shaking of the head usually always come from men, and I think that's because they are challenged in their views on how to be a man. "

Original URL: https://www-alt-dk.translate.goog/artikler/anders-harder-bjerresgaard-og-charoline-wenke-kaerester-om-at-han-gaar-med-dametoej-og-hoeje-haele?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Danish magazine 'BT' brings us an interview with Charoline Wenke and Anders Harder Bjerresgaard, originally published in 'ALT for the ladies' magazine and translated here from Danish via Google Translate.

The article introduces us to the couple and their relationship journey, from their early days exploring Anders' gender fluid fashion style and his passion for high heels to present day, and some of the triumphs and challenges they have encountered along the way. It's not always been easy, but they are both very happy together and want to share their story in the hope that it will inspire others to explore their self-expression too.

Original URL: https://www-bt-dk.translate.goog/samfund/mange-der-ser-mig-gaar-automatisk-ud-fra-at-jeg-er-homoseksuel?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Business Insider magazine reports on a general up-tick in high heel sales as pandemic restrictions lift and we start to socialise and visit the office more. There's a notable mention of how men's high heels sales are also rising.

Original URL: https://www.businessinsider.com/high-heels-history-covid-pandemic-dress-code-2021-12?r=US&IR=T

GQ Magazine looks back upon the style of legendary music artist Prince. Prince will first be remembered for his music, then arguably for his style which was never without a pair of custom made high heels.

Original URL: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/fashion/gallery/prince-style

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!

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/

Billy Porter reveals where his love of heels originated and how the role of Lola in Kinky Boots gave him the power to be himself in heels.

Original URL: https://www.ft.com/content/8da7beec-d827-4d02-86a3-22cc6db1102f

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

@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/

Dapper Confidential (@dapperconfidential) looks at the current trend for Men’s heels, contrasting against previous times when heels for men were popular and offers some great tips for what and how to wear higher heels today.

Original URL: https://www.dapperconfidential.com/feelin-high-mens-heels-are-back/

Koreaboo gives the run-down on the top male artists in K-Pop who love to wear heels.

Featuring:

GOT7

• Mark Tuan - @MarkTuan
• Jackson Wang - @jacksonwang852g7

BTS

• V - @thv
• J-Hope - @uarmyhope
• Jimin - @j.m

SHINee

• Taemin - @lm_____ltm
• Key - @bumkeyk
• Jonghyun - @jonghyun.948

Eric Nam

• @EricNam

N.O.M.

• @n.o.m_official
• B-SIDE - @n.o.m_b_side
• J.K. - @j.k_what
• KOM - @n.o.m_kom

Teen Top

• @official_teentop

NCT

• @nct

The Boyz

• Juyeon - @magijuyeon

EXO

• Kai - @zkdlin

2AM

• Jo Kwon - @kwon_jo

Mentioned in the article are the video for "I Need U"...

• BTS - I Need U

and the feature on BTS in Esquire

Original URL: https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/male-kpop-idols-defy-gender-norms-high-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/

Pink News highlights the partnership between ASOS and designer Taller Than Your Average London (@ttyalondon), bringing larger sized shoes to ASOS. This is great news for those that struggle to find shoes in larger sizes and once again @ASOS demonstrating great support for inclusivity in fashion.

Original URL: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/10/11/asos-ttya-london-collection-footwear-size-inclusive-price/

This article from Czechoslovakian magazine RESPEKT, and translated online here into english, features Vlastimil and Michaela, the couple behind @genderblender1 who share some of their experiences and insights into their ongoing "Sociological Experiment" of gender bending fashion. We gain an appreciation of the experience from Michaela's perspective and what it was like for Vlasta venturing out in alternative fashion choices. Well worth a read!

Original URL: https://www.translatetheweb.com/?from=cs&to=en&dl=en&ref=trb&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.respekt.cz%2Ftydenik%2F2021%2F33%2Fpodle-vlastnich-pravidel%3Fgift%3Dmzxtjptmw0#

When he died, Prince left behind a shoe collection that included more than 1,000 pairs of custom-made shoes, nearly all boots with high heels. Now, for the first time, Paisley Park — where Prince lived and worked in Minnesota — will showcase 300 of the artist's most famous and outrageous pairs.

Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHPXwLg9HrA

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

@eugenerabkin, founder of @stylezeitgeist, gives us his perspective on dressing in women’s clothes as a straight man. He shares his mindset for wearing womens clothes and how, like many men, it’s become more of a position of expanding his options when it comes to what he wears.

Original URL: https://www.sz-mag.com/news/2020/05/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-womens-clothes/

This article from Medium goes looks back at the way we used to dress and how societal norms have changed around the association of certain items of clothing and colour with specific genders. What was normal only 150 years ago is now considered by conservatives to undermine masculinity in today's society. The article concludes that today's genderless and gender-neutral fashion is starting to change the way we think about the clothes we wear and what they mean.

Original URL: https://historyofyesterday.com/yes-men-used-to-wear-dresses-high-heels-and-colour-pink-280dd5fa03bc

Vogue magazine once again, reporting on 5 of Instagram's Top Influencers in the world of high heels for men. Men in heels certainly have the attention of the Fashion world's top magazine and for good reason. Read to to find out why.

Original URL: https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/mens-heels-trend

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/

If you can get past the click-bait title without blowing a blood-vessel, Jill Maurer (@jillmaurerdesigner) presents an honest and entertaining video, explaining why “Men can’t wear heels”... or can they? You’ll have to watch it and find out!

Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YgVuvWc-jCI

Fashion Magazine interviews men in heels at Toronto Fashion week seeking answers to why more men are now wearing high heels.

Original URL: https://fashionmagazine.com/style/they-saidwe-said-apparently-men-are-totally-into-wearing-high-heels-now/

British newspaper The Guardian takes a look at the music and style icon that was Prince. Always more than a musician and singer, Prince spoke about himself through his style, which most notably included his trademark high heeled boots and where Prince led, others followed.

Original URL: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/apr/22/prince-how-his-androgynous-style-influenced-fashion

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/

Interview Magazine (@interviewmag) talk to Mark Bryan (@MarkBryan911), 61 grandfather of four about his love of high heels and how his style of dressing helps people to see things in a different way.

Original URL: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/can-you-walk-a-mile-in-mark-bryans-louboutins

This brief article from Genderjelly introduces UK Footwear brand Roker and how they are satisfying demand for gender-neutral footwear styles.

Original URL: https://www.genderjelly.com/innovationdatabase/2019/07/08/uk-based-footwear-brand-roker-designs-non-binary-shoes-for-all

Meet @henrybae and @shaobohan, the creators of @shopsyro, the gender-nonconforming shoe brand here to cater for the new demographic of men and gender-nonconforming people who want to wear high heels. @evanrosskatz interviews Henry and Shaobo who give us the low-down on the brand that's there for those in search of "something to give them a more cunty experience on the street."

Original URL: https://www.allure.com/story/syro-shoes-high-heels-for-men-gender-nonconforming-people

In their own words... “In today's video, I will be sharing my love for wearing heeled shoes. I will be featuring some fashion labels that brought heeled shoes in the market and the good thing is that they have sizes for men! No need to stretch those women's shoes! Plus these labels aren't as expensive as designer brands like Margiela or Rick Owens so I hope this is helpful if you are a guy who wants to consider adding man-heels into your wardrobe.

Also, I will be featuring the guys I follow on Youtube and Instagram because they wear man heels with attitude. What I wanted to know from them is HOW they do it?”

Original URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euz-NdA4LKo

This article from @FootwearNews honours what would have been David Bowie's 74th birthday by taking a look back at some of his wildest onstage show looks. Bowie was known for his gender bending style and his footwear was no exception.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2021/fashion/celebrity-style/david-bowie-birthday-crazy-onstage-shoes-1202727815/

This is a great set of tips and ideas for anyone starting out with wearing heels, either at home or in public. It's refreshingly frank and reflects changing attitudes towards men wearing heels in the 21st century and covers choosing your heels, buying and trying on your heels, learning how to walk in heels, completing the look and taking your heels for a spin.

Original URL: https://www.wikihow.com/Wear-High-Heels-(for-Men)

This article from respectable UK newspaper The @Guardian, highlights the increase in sales of men's heeled boots and stilettos in the #MeToo era, with a focus on broader publicity created by public figures such as fashion designer @TheMarcJacobs and celebrities such as @SamSmith, @ShawnMendes, @HarryStyles and Timothée Chalamet (@tchalamet). The cowboy boot marks a resurgence in popularity too, perhaps backed by a desire by men for higher heels but with more broader social acceptance than slimmer and higher heels on footwear marketed towards women. However you look at it, the trend is upwards.

Original URL: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/jan/03/high-fashion-the-rise-of-heels-for-men