Articles tagged with "Men In Heels"

The 1960s saw a huge shift in men's fashion, as the standard template of the tailored suit gave way to more flamboyant styles.

Before the 1960s, men's fashion generally followed a conservative template that nobody thought to question: shirt, tie, plain hand-made suit etc. A new, confident youth culture demanded fresh styles and the Mods (short for 'Modernists') ushered in a new style with colourful Italian slimline suits, short jackets.

The 1960s saw the trend gather pace and more colourful and unapologetic patterned shirts made an appearance, popularised by groups like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. New retail opportunities appeared, supporting this new style, bringing it to the masses. High heeled boots replaced shoes as the footwear of choice for men.

By the mid 60s, fashion conscious Londoners were challenging male etiquette, unashamed to wear frills, velvet and other elements, now stereotyped through movie characters like Austin Powers.

New fashion boutiques sprang up along London's Kings Road, 'Mr Fish' in particular sold a range of "Peacock" Styles which were highly individual: wide ties, colourful suits and culturally influenced separates.

Towards the end of the 60s, military style also became popular and once again driven by groups like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, reflecting a new desire for something fresh and new.

The new flamboyance of men’s fashion during the 1960s lead to the name “The Peacock Revolution”.

We now have male music artists, film stars and other people in the public eye who are wearing more flamboyant clothes and occasionally a pair of heeled shoes too. There is a move towards more individuality and self expression.

It does appear that we are heading in a similar direction.

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

From the MasterClass website's Design & Style section, this is a great piece entirely focused on the origins of the Cuban Heel.

Often feared by many men for the higher heel profile compared to most men's shoes, the Cuban Heel is an easy, risk-free start for anyone who wants to start wearing higher heeled shoes, men and women alike, but don't take our word for it, read the MasterClass article and hear from their style experts.

From the Article:

"You’ll often find Cuban heels on lace-less boots, such as side-zip boots, men’s dress shoes, Chelsea boots, and some styles of cowboy boots. Cuban heels are a staple in flamenco and Latin ballroom dancing, as male dancers wear Cuban heels when dancing the tango, cha-cha, samba, and rumba."

"Early forms of the Cuban heel date to the ninth century, when Persian soldiers wore shoes with a rounded heel for stability while riding horses. The Cuban heel also appeared in men’s fashion during seventeenth-century France. In twentieth-century England, a shorter Cuban heel became what is now the modern Cuban heel style."

Original URL: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cuban-heel

I do get looks and people's expressions are often puzzled, but then they are seeing something that they are not used to seeing so that is going to take some thought to process how they feel about it. You are breaking social stereotypes and to a lot of people this will be something new and can feel threatening to them.

If you are different, and let's face it, it's not hard to be different when you're a man wearing high heeled shoes or boots, then you are going to stand out from the crowd a little and attract some attention. The vast majority of men wearing heels don't actually want any attention, we just want to live authentically and wear the clothes and shoes which we like.

The key here is confidence. When you feel good about what you are wearing before you go out, that will show through. Express yourself authentically and you will have the rock solid belief in what you are doing. Go about your business as normal and remember that you are not responsible for the version of you that is in someone else's head - that's on them.

Think about the times when you've seen something out of the ordinary when you've been out and about. Do you look longer at it? Does your face express your confusion about what you're seeing? It's not unusual to process new things in this way.

In the countless times I've worn heels in public, I have yet to have anyone make a negative comment about them, but yes I do get people looking at them. From many other men who wear heels, the comments they receive are almost always positive. In any case, I want them to look, we need them to look, we need this to be normalised for any men who want to wear heels. That needs every one of us to be wearing heels in public every day that we can.

If you're struggling for the confidence to wear higher heels more than you would normally do in public, use some of the strategies I've provided in these Q&A posts to help. Start out with Cuban/block heels and work your way up. Once higher Cuban/block heels are more commonplace, heels for men will get slimmer and taller and before long we may well see a day when men in stilettos won't seem so unusual at all.

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

British Daily Mail newspaper, reports on Romeo Beckham's modelling assignment for a YSL campaign. Romeo, 19 at the time, exemplifies a new generation of fashion forward men who are not afraid to push gender boundaries.

From the article:

"The son of Victoria and David Beckham , 19, who has done his fair share of modelling already, posed up a storm in a Playboy jumper and wide legged jeans"

"Romeo wowed in a pair of patent leather boots which boasted a slim kitten heel, while also rocking an eye-catching gold manicure for the photoshoot"

"Romeo's famous family went wild for the snaps, as they took to the comments section of the post to applaud his latest work"

"His proud father David, wrote: 'Wow @romeobeckham', while Victoria said: 'Wow!! Amazing!! [shocked face]'"

Original URL: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10987135/amp/Romeo-Beckham-pushes-gender-boundaries-new-YSL-campaign.html

A gender stereotype is defined as an overgeneralisation of characteristics, differences and attributes of a certain group based on their gender. Typically this is most widely understood in the context of the gender binary of men and women. For example, women are often portrayed as being emotional, caring, nurturing and in need of protection. Men are often characterised as being leaders, rational, career driven and strong. However, a gender stereotype is harmful when it limits the group’s capacity to develop their personal abilities, pursue professional careers and/or make choices about their lives.

Other examples are where assertive women are called “bitches” and “whores”, while men who don’t appear or act masculine are called “sissies” or “wimps” or assumed to be gay, which is a very offensive stereotype in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Gender stereotypes are complex and originate from local culture and traditions. Children learn what constitutes female and male behaviour from their family and friends, the media and institutions including schools and religious bodies. Gender stereotypes can have an adverse effect on all genders, as young people find themselves regularly exposed to messages about how boys and girls should look, behave and play. These socially accepted and often unconscious ideas start to form in infancy.

Gender stereotyping results from unconscious biases held by all of us. Unconscious bias happens when our subconscious makes assumptions about people based on their background or perceived background.

Everyone has unconscious biases. An individual can be unconsciously influenced by a stereotype even if they do not rationally subscribe to it. Becoming aware of our biases and working to counter them is an important way to combat the negative effects of gender stereotypes.

Unconscious bias arises because we have to process vast amounts of information every second. In order to avoid being overwhelmed, our brains have to make assumptions based on previous experience and find patterns to speed up decision making.

However, these assumptions tend to be based on simple characterisations of people such as their age, race or gender. They are communicated through micro-messages such as body language and choice of words. This is more likely to happen when we are stressed or tired, and can cause problems by affecting our beliefs and treatment of others.

As our society moves to a broader construct of what “gender” means, individuals who are stuck in this binary idea of gender have a difficult time wrapping their brains around individuals who do not fit into a strict gender dichotomy, or do not identify with any gender at all.

We are easily thrown in terms of our interactions with others for whom our brain has not been programmed to stereotype to some degree. This is because stereotyping enables us to make sense of the world – at least sometimes. Someone who considers themselves “Gender Fluid,” or “Gender non-conforming,” threatens the stereotypes we are familiar with and for that reason can seem is weird and/or threatening because we can’t even stereotype them.

Mainstream media & advertising have a powerful role to play in defining the gender stereotypes that we perceive, so much so that in June 2019 the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK banned "gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm, or serious or widespread offence" following a review.

The ASA said the review had found evidence suggesting that harmful stereotypes could "restrict the choices, aspirations and opportunities of children, young people and adults and these stereotypes can be reinforced by some advertising, which plays a part in unequal gender outcomes".

"Our evidence shows how harmful gender stereotypes in ads can contribute to inequality in society, with costs for all of us. Put simply, we found that some portrayals in ads can, over time, play a part in limiting people's potential," said ASA chief executive Guy Parker.

Media defines culture, and culture defines change. Individuals may see thousands of advertising messages a day in social media, TV, movies, newspapers or magazines. Those messages matter, because they influence our perceptions of gender.

When it comes to the portrayal of men in media, the fact is that harmful stereotypes do exist about what it means to be masculine, focusing on power dynamics, domination of other men, subjugation of women, violence and aggression. When this gender inequality occurs in the background of gender stereotyping, this is in the most basic sense sexism.

We’ve written new scripts for our daughters about strength and leadership, which are slowly starting to gain representation in media, but what about our sons? What do we want to redefine about their future manhood? New definitions can emerge, though they are often in conflict of our understanding of the world through existing stereotypes. The quantity and quality of advertising messages will largely determine how quickly and how well new roles are defined and adopted by men.

We need to stop seeing challenges to rigid gender roles as a threat, and instead question what’s working for us now and what’s no longer working. The truth is that some gender stereotypes can hold both men and women back from being the best that they can be - and impact our mental health.

Take some time to evaluate the gender stereotypes you frequently encounter and ask yourself whether they truly work to elevate your potential equally alongside others or at their expense because of their gender. Are they genuinely a threat to you or are you simply unconsciously obeying gender stereotype programming which you’ve received since you were born?

When we see a gender non-conforming person in our daily life experience, men in heels being only one example, we should recognise not only the privileges we have in our own position, but the background of inequality within which they have risen through with the mental strength and courage to step outside in the face of gender stereotyping. We may judge them for being "weird", within our own limited experience, or we can regard them as a strong, courageous and individual blueprint for new and positive role models.

1. Be visible

The single most effective thing each and every one of us can do is to be visible. The more people see men in heels, the more it will be normalised.

Every time you venture out you have an opportunity to educate more people and give them a different perspective on how they look at men in what they would normally consider women's clothes. Many people are still unaware of gender issues. Some may find it un-settling at first as we're challenging the status quo... Be kind.

2. Socialise your visibility

Being active regularly on social media is helpful in getting our message about men in heels to "cross-over" into mainstream life. YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook can all be effective and it's often possible to repurpose content created for one platform on another. Learn about hashtags and use them properly - they are vital to getting noticed. Make hashtags relevant to your post and make them unique to each post. Keep your content focused and on-topic, make it predominantly about your style in heels. Creating a new heels-focussed account is often a good idea if you have pictures of your pet/holidays/what you ate for dinner on your account now. Focus drives follower engagement and retention. If you're not getting (and keeping) the followers you want, make sure you're only posting about topics relevant to their interest.

We can all play our part in social media and in addition to going out there and doing it every day, our community needs us to share our shoe collections, our outfits, our public experiences with whatever level of personal expression we feel comfortable with. Being visible, loud and proud on social media is the key to effecting real change. Resist the temptation to make critical comments when your own profile is empty or has very little content - your voice will be heard louder iand more objectively if you can clearly demonstrate that you walk your talk.

3. Blog it!

Creating a blog website to blog about wearing heels and boots will reach a wider audience than Instagram alone. It can also funnel traffic to your other social media accounts.

You'll probably already have a great deal of content from your social media account (your photos etc), all you need is a little narrative to tell a good story and your website will work well in attracting visitors. Regularly promote your blog on social media.

Some great blogs on high heels and boots can be found at:

• Wearboots
• www.be-a-rebel.cz
• High Heel Place
• Cross Sword Fashion

4. Ally, don't alienate

Support and ally with other minority groups. Align yourself alongside LGBTQIA+, Feminists and anyone actively gender bending and de-gendering fashion.

5. Support the community

Support each other by making positive, constructive comments on social media, cross-posting and promoting other people's posts and profiles. We'll all achieve more, faster by pulling together as a community.

6. Be gender aware

Be alert to gender-labelling of non-gendered items and call people out on it! The less gendered our world becomes, the better it will be for everyone, us heeled shoe wearers included.

7. Know your history

Educate yourself on men's heel history, fashion and gender issues, it will give you more confidence in yourself and help you develop your style.

8. The fine line between fashion & fetish

Be mindful of sexualisation - don't confuse fashion and fetish. If you have a fetish for anything, that is fine, but keep it private and keep it separate from anything fashion related.

Some things that would also be helpful, but are largely out of our control are

1. Seeing more men in heels in mass-media Movies, TV series, newspapers and magazines and not just because they are wearing heels, but as matter of fact every day fashion. It's time to change-up the narrative from men in heels being there for shits-and-giggles, because frankly that's getting boring.

2. Older generations appreciating that the norms that they live by are not the norms that WE live by. We're going to break your norms because they don't have the same value to us as they did for you.

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, from both men and women...

"I feel the only way to that is to bring back Cuban heels to mainstream men’s fashion like skinny jeans. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but unless we start with mainstream Cuban heels, high heels will have no chance in men’s mainstream fashion."

"Sadly society have stereotypes about this and wants to quietly shame us for this." ...and we say "Thanks, but we say to hell with gender stereotypes! they are just an out-dated product of the patriarchal society that we live in. The shame is on the people who perpetuate them!!"

"Lead by example. I live in a small town, but still wear heels and/or boots - and dresses or skirts - almost every day. And reactions are almost only positive! ❤️ Even the few, that gave me strange looks, in the beginning are now used to it, and see it as a natural thing, that I dress the way I prefer! 🙏"

"Be confident. And be visible. That makes it fit the norm."

"The more men wear them, the more normal it becomes!"

"Same as guys wearing any formerly masculine style that got appropriated by women...guys just have to get out in them as men, even if "looking" feminine. Clothing does not change one's sex."

"You just do it. I make it normal for myself"

"It will take companies to start making more larger sizes. And market, market, market to men too. Just like Birkenstock big buckle sandals. They stop at size 11. They need to at least go up to 16. I would love to get several of them but no size 14. I wear a size 12 in men's. So that's what it's going to take. We can't wear drag heels and boots all the time. 'Even though I love them' 🙂"

"Normal is majority... more the merrier scenario. Acceptance will return if retail label some high heels as MEN'S. It will take the major retailers to sell them and then the men with the balls to wear them. It will become normal again. If the mullet haircut can return... anything is possible if enough embrace the trend and the trend is marketed"

"As far as I’m concerned it already is, I do it and I consider myself to be normal lol 😂"

"Honestly try to avoid anger when people make comments or laugh. We have to stand tall shoulders back and be proud. No matter what and where your background is."

"You never will, what is normal to one person will not be to the next. You just have to do what feels right for you and if it doesn't please some people that's their problem and if they get over it then that's up to them. You can't truly define normal."

"The behaviour and style of the mainstream is the 'normal'. But minority groups with a goal have the chance for change something. For example women in trousers. For men in skirts, heels, leggings or anything else of female clothing it's the same. We have the right to wear it and we can do. Without Instagram or other platforms in the web, every man in 'wrong' clothes was the only person who do this. With the visibility in the web, every man can see there are any other man doing the same. And the mainstream also see that there more men doing this. And while these men doing and connecting, the trend hunter of the big companies seeing it too. For an example, three years ago ASOS didn't sell swim thongs for men. Actually the do and not only normal thongs, tie side thongs and bikinis for men. Buy what you want, wear what you want with confidence and write reviews at the retailer websites. If the companies see the communication from the customer, they think about developing and offer products for men. ASOS started to sell their shoes in the women department in bigger sizes. They well spotted the trend. It's a crosslinked evolutions starting with our steps which need a little bit self-confidence: 1. Buy the item, with the mindset "it's normal what I'm doing here." 2. Wear/use the item with the mindset "It's normal what I'm doing here." 3. React to weird views or dumb comments/question with the attitude and mindset "I really don't understand you because it's normal what I'm doing here." 4. Ask the employees in the store for assistance when you need and act normal when trying on with the attitude/mindset "It's normal what I'm doing here, so why should I not or should I hide." Sounds easier than it is, but it works and brings you in a positive mood/vibes. Let us start it."

Footwear News reports on Madonna's Son, David Banda's appearance at a New York City Roller Disco party in heeled Chelsea Boots.

David Banda is certainly one to watch for style inspiration and his mother, also known for her style has some serious competition for the limelight...

From the article:

Madonna has made it clear if there’s one person whose fashion sense she envies, it’s her son David. On her recent appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” she discussed his fashion sense, telling Fallon, “He can put on any outfit and look swag as you know what. It’s really irritating. He wears my clothes and looks better in them. He can even wear a dress and look butch.”

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2022/fashion/celebrity-style/madonna-son-david-banda-blue-suit-boots-roller-skating-1203322135/

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.

NSS (Naples Street Style) Magazine explores the growing trend of genderless fashion and how it has been influenced by glam rock icons of our recent past.

From the article:

"Harry (Styles) has proven to be the right man at the right time. But his sought-after way of dressing has well-founded roots within the British music scene: in fact, the former One Direction man is the prom king and queen at a college where only glam rock is played."

"there is no denying, in fashion history there is a before and an after David Bowie: his flashy outfits and ambiguous attitude were the solid foundation on which the fluid fashion of our century was built."

"the pinnacle of transgression was reached with the cry of Freddie Mercury, the most charismatic frontman in music history, a timeless glam and queer icon. With his transformative looks that migrated from white tank tops and jeans to bodysuits and wrap-around capes, the British rock star asserted his sexual freedom through brash and casual clothing."

Original URL: https://www.nssmag.com/en/fashion/30364/glam-rock-harry-styles

When it comes to wearing heels or boots there are generally two types of men - the ones who are already out there doing it, because they just decided one day to wear them, and there are the others, like you, dear reader, who need more confidence and perhaps a different approach.

1. Buy in-store or order online?

   Get your shoes delivered to your door. Actually getting heels or boots in the first place can be a problem if you're not comfortable trying them on in a shop, though that will come in time. There are plenty of sources on the web to buy from. Just check their returns policy carefully before you buy so that if they don't fit well, you will be able to return them for a refund. Many retailers now even offer free delivery and free returns, so it really couldn't be easier.

2. Start low

   The higher the heel and the brighter and more colourful the footwear, the more attention you're going to get, so start with a pair of dark coloured low heeled boots or shoes. Initially you might feel that EVERYONE is going to look at you. That is just in your head. Wear heels made for men in the first instance if that helps it may just give you the faith to step outside and then you can build your confidence. In any case, just remember that gender is a social construct and that clothes and shoes have no gender.

3. Go out with a purpose

   Having a purpose to going out in your heels or boots will give you something to focus on other than the fact you have some different footwear on. Quick shopping trips can be useful and will get you used to being outside in heels or boots.

4. Take a short trip

   While you're still finding your feet, so to speak, you may want to avoid bumping into someone you know while trying your shoes in public. To vastly reduce this as a possibility, take a short trip outside of your local area and wear your heels or boots there. Take them with you in bag and change into them when you get there if you have to. Being able to do this will give you lots more confidence quickly.

5. Don't over-think it

   Before you step outside you'll likely be running through so many scenarios of what MIGHT happen... almost all of it won't happen and if you've already built up your confidence by the time it does happen, you will be ready to handle it. As Susan Jeffers, Author of 'Feel the Fear (and do it anyway)' says "the only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it".

6. Be yourself & act normally

   You are doing something normal, it's just not normal to you... yet, so that may feel a little odd at first. Just go about your business "as if" you have always worn the heels you have on, even if you have not. If someone does mention your shoes (it's quite unlikely actually), then just say you've always worn heels, that it's just your style and you like to be individual.

You're stronger thank you think you are. You've got this!

Footwear News reports on Billy Porter's appearance at the BET Awards in an eye-catching outfit including a pair of Rick Owens' Kiss boots, now one of the definitive styles in the men's heels world.

From the article:

"The “Cinderella” actor’s asymmetrical skirt gave way to platform boots in the same shade of gray that featured a chunky clear heel and a futuristic square toe design. He completed the look with some rings, an updo and dark eye makeup."

"Porter has a history of hitting the red carpet in vibrant colors, vivid prints and fun hats. He’s also known for his collaboration with Jimmy Choo, which offers extended sizing."

Billy Porter has long been a champion of heels for men since his starring role as Lola in the broadway production of Kinky Boots and while the association with boots being Kinky doesn't hold up for everyone, we applaud Billy's ground breaking, flamboyant style.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2022/fashion/red-carpet/billy-porter-bet-awards-red-carpet-2022-gray-outfit-heels-1203305458/

Vogue magazine reports on the growing trend of male celebrities wearing platform heels.

Red carpet events present a great opportunity for celebrities to get themselves into the media. One way to get noticed is to push the boundaries of what's normally expected and for some stars, they achieve that in what they wear. The outfits in general are not what we would call "traditional" red carpet wear, but many of them are now also including heels in various flavours.

There's some new faces in town too, bucking the trend for men in heels such as musicians Troye Sivan, Conan Gray and Maneskin front-man Damiano David. It's also great to see a consistent style commitment including heels from others like Lil Nas X and Timothee Chalamet.

There's some great photos in this article and it's well worth a quick read.

Original URL: https://www.vogue.com/article/mens-platform-heels-trend

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

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:

From 2021, Free Press Journal brings us this article covering the twitter-storm around Indian Actor, Ranveer Singh's heels which he wore for a photo shoot. It seems the trolls came out in force and once again demonstrated their lack of intolerance and engrained social conditioning.

From the article:

"If you ask someone why a man shouldn’t wear a skirt, there is no real reason. It’s just something we have learned from childhood and never questioned because we believed what was told to us by our parents/society was the rule. The conflict starts only when we see different things happening in another society and wonder why that is, because either they are not following the ‘rules’ or there are ‘no rules’. Now, if someone wants to break the norm, it becomes uncomfortable for others because it defies a longstanding belief system for a culture or a community."

"I just feel everybody has the freedom of wearing what they want. Nowadays, fashion has changed as per generational choices and we should also move with the times. I don’t feel it’s something that should be trolled."

"I think people feel threatened when others are confident about their sexuality and are able to express themselves freely. It is very sad to see such intolerance."

Thankfully, people are starting to open up to the idea that men can be more expressive with what they wear, whatever that is.

Original URL: https://www.freepressjournal.in/weekend/ranveer-singhs-heels-lead-to-twitter-meltdown

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

There are two aspects to this question, first a bio-mechanical one and secondly a more sociological one.

Let's get the bio-mechanics out of the way first. I'll use the biological sex male and female here for clarity. A human male foot (on average) is wider than a female foot, which also means that some male feet are the same width as female feet. The length of a male foot (on average) is longer than that of a female, though again there are a number of males who have feet which are the same length as female feet. The consequence of some male feet being as wide and as long as a female foot is that they can comfortably wear shoes which were intended for wear by females. The consequence of male feet being generally larger than females feet is that they can, comfortably accommodate heels which are higher than would normally be worn by females, especially as the length of the foot increases.

So from a bio-mechanical point of view, it's largely a question of how big your foot is and the condition/flexibility of your muscles & tendons as to what shoe and heel height is right for you. In the end you'll find that a process of trial and error will get you to the point where you find out what the maximum height is that you can comfortably wear. Everything in-between that and flat heels are what are right for you (from a bio-mechanical point of view anyway). We're ignoring, for the sake of positivity and fashion all of the medical reasons why high heels are bad for you (sorry doc)!

If you want to get scientific about it you can use the Perfect Heel Height (PHH) Calculator which offers a mathematical way to figure out what your maximum comfortable heel height should be.

From a sociological perspective, it's a whole other ball-game. It's a simple fact... you can't please everyone with what you wear, or don't wear. It's always either too much, or not enough for someone. The same applies to what heels you wear. For some they are too high, too much (fetishy/stripper) for others, not high enough, the wrong style, or the heels are not slim enough.

For many men who wear heels they do it out of rebellion against outdated social norms which want us to conform to given stereotypes. If we try and accommodate the too much/not enough judgement, we're simply swapping one type of conformity for another. That just doesn't make sense. You can keep your judgement, thank you.

As the proverb says... "Judge not, lest ye be judged". Give yourself a self-check here. Do you openly judge other people for what they wear? Would you want that same judgement cast back in your direction? I'd guess not. It's time to stop judging other people for what they wear.

It is true that in the movement to degender fashion we throw around the mantra of "Clothes and shoes have no gender", but it can also be argued that clothes are imbued with gendered, raced and classed cultural meaning (Lipton et al), though we can see from historical records that this meaning is flexible and has changed frequently over time. Women were judged and ridiculed for wearing pants towards the start of the 20th century, but they are now socially normalised. It's not beyond our imagination to see a world in which all clothing is more normalised between the sexes, it just needs open minds.

What is right for you from a sociological perspective? It largely comes down to what you personally feel comfortable and confident with wearing on any given day. Some of that might be influenced by your current mood, what you have planned for your day, what the weather is doing and who you'll meet. Your comfort zone may be tested here, but that's ok. You might find that being in a comfort zone is not the best thing for you anyway. Are you too much or not enough? Women in particular (yes, and "some men") unjustly live with this dichotomy constantly and can guide us as a good measure of what can be considered too much or not enough when it comes to what we wear in any given situation. As always, those boundaries can be tested and expanded, but we can also use women's fashion and style as a guide for men for avoiding any potential judgement or criticism whether it's warranted or not. There's plenty of style inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest

So, in summary, what is right for you is what you're comfortable and confident in, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

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

It's not the first time that Johannes Radebe (@johannesradebe) has slayed in heels on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show, though it was arguably his best performance in heels yet! Here's a peek...

From the article:

"the party truly started when Johannes, who is dancing with comedian Ellie Taylor this year, stormed out in a pair of killer red boots, pleather trousers, and a Prince-style wig."

"Not only did he strut down that stage like the runway model he deserves to be, but he proceeded to give us some chair action with high kicks and sassy facial expressions."

featuring these reactions from Twitter fans: "Johannes dancing in heels is one of my favourite things in the world."

"Oh my – Johannes in an Afro wig and high heeled boots. I am SO here for that."

"Johannes is in red stiletto boots. Something has gone right in the world for once."

Let's hope there's more like this on Strictly in the future!

Original URL: https://metro.co.uk/2022/10/02/strictly-pro-johannes-radebe-gives-viewers-life-with-heels-routine-17489798/

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

Jo Kwon (@kwon_jo), South Korean KPop star from the band 2AM, often wears heels as part of his genderless look. Whether you're a 2AM fan or not, you may still be a fan of the fact that Jo Kwon is obliterating gender stereotypes and offering up a new narrative on how we dress.

Check out their Instagram page for many more shots of him in heels.

Original URL: https://www.allkpop.com/article/2022/04/jo-kwon-gives-an-update-on-his-genderless-look-on-instagram-and-fans-are-saying-he-looks-good

Jo Kwon (@kwon_jo), South Korean KPop star from the band 2AM, often wears heels as part of his genderless look. Whether you're a 2AM fan or not, you may still be a fan of the fact that Jo Kwon is obliterating gender stereotypes and offering up a new narrative on how we dress.

Check out their Instagram page for many more shots of him in heels.

Original URL: https://www.allkpop.com/article/2022/04/jo-kwon-gives-an-update-on-his-genderless-look-on-instagram-and-fans-are-saying-he-looks-good

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/

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

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!

Footwear News reports on Jared Leto's appearance on James Cordon's "The Late Late Show", while wearing a pair of White Patent stacked heel boots from Gucci, and talking about his role in the movie "The House of Gucci". It would have been odd if he'd been wearing anything else!

"The Thirty Seconds to Mars musician opted for the same shoe style when he attended the “Spider-Man: No Way Home” premiere in Los Angeles in December."

"When it comes to fashion, Leto could be considered a stylish savior as he continues to exemplify versatility. He is never one to shy away from risks. Hollywood’s Renaissance man continues to cycle through a lot of memorable style moments from his bleached eyebrows to his iconic Jesus-like locks, rock n’ roll stage style and extravagant Gucci ensembles."

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2022/fashion/celebrity-style/jared-leto-james-corden-star-suit-white-boots-gucci-1203236913/

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/

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

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

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/

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."

Footwear News reports on the latest Jacqeumus campaign, featuring Bad Bunny (@badbunnypr) in a Pink Dress and heels. The multi-talented Puerto Rican is often seen in gender fluid fashion, so it was no surprise to many to see him fronting the Spring 2022 campaign for Jacquemus.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2022/fashion/marketing/bad-bunny-jacquemus-pink-dress-heels-spring-campaign-2022-1203240776/

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/

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

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

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

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

Footwear News reports on Jared Leto's red carpet style at the Spider-Man: No Way Home premiere.

Original URL: https://footwearnews.com/2021/fashion/celebrity-style/jared-leto-spider-man-sheer-top-red-pants-heeled-boots-1203220844/

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

L’Officiel delves into the history of high heels for men. From Persia to Pop-culture and the current trend of men wearing heels they present a brief explaination of the origins of the Man Heel.

Original URL: https://www.lofficielmalaysia.com/hommes/men-in-heels-is-a-trend-from-the-past-until-now

It's a good question and not as stereotypical an answer as you might expect...

There may be a number of reasons why men would want to wear high heels. To many women who regularly wear high heels and endure pain and discomfort from wearing heels, the idea may seem absurd, until you also consider the many women who still endure that pain and discomfort for the obvious attractions that heels bring. Many men have similar reasons for wanting to wear heels as women do.

A growing number of people believe that clothes and shoes should not dictate a persons sexual orientation or gender and for that reason alone they will wear whatever they want, regardless of which (usually binary) gender label has been attached to the clothing or shoes. It's a refreshing idea if you've always stuck to social norms around gender stereotypes. It ultimately means, if you like it, wear it and for many men, dressing like this is liberating and provides an outlet for self expression. More recently this idea has been expressed by high profile stars such as Harry Styles and Justin Bieber, though it has been the case for many years with stars such as Prince and David Bowie wearing clothes labelled for different genders.

For some men an extra height boost is one reason. This can bring additional confidence and especially when your partner is also wearing heels it can restore the height differential which male and female partners often desire.

For more fashion conscious men, the reason may be to be just be different from the crowd, more fashion forward, and they will often be more adventurous with the rest of their clothing choices, seeking more distinctive fabrics, colours, textures and patterns. Many men are simply bored with the same old re-cycled options on offer in the mens section and want something different. With this dissatisfaction often comes a desire to change the aesthetic of their outfits by mixing and matching from all the options on offer and higher heels can instantly change the look of an outfit.

Some men want to express outwardly how they feel about their gender. More recent publicity of gender and how it's expressed in almost limitless terms when you consider gender as non-binary, can help some men feel like they have way of explaining why they want to wear heels.

Sometimes men are simply just curious about what it's like to walk in heels and may capitalise on any suitable opportunity to try it out. We've often heard the expression "to walk a mile in someone else's shoes" as a metaphor for understanding someone's experience, however in literal terms, men can also fully experience a flavour of what it's like for a woman to wear heels.

Diversion is another reason why men wear heels. Some men enjoy playing with that taboo that comes with gender boundaries and the experience can either be a form of mockery or great reverence for women or social constructs around gender standards.

A more stereotypical view of a man in heels is the practice of cross-dressing. Where a man, typically heterosexual, will dress entirely in women's clothing. The same term also applies to women who dress in men's clothes, though the term is seldom used when women cross-dress. Cross-dressers may derive a sense of peace or euphoria from dressing entirely in women's clothing, some may also derive sexual pleasure from it. Synonymous with "cross-dresser" is the term "Transvestite" although this is outdated and often viewed as offensive, as is the "Tranny" slang version.

Transgender people may wear high heels for any of the reasons above, though more usually to help affirm their gender identity. Most transgender people seek to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. This is called transition. Some men realise that their biological sex and gender are fundamentally misaligned and for them, this is a way for them to express their true gender. Like all people, many transgender women will want to wear high heels, though this is not always the case. Their gender is every bit as valid as everyone else's and is often reflected in how they express themselves.

In conclusion, there are many reasons why a man would want to wear high heels, or anything else for that matter. All are valid reasons and are perfectly fine. As awareness of this trend increases, you're likely to see more men expressing themselves in this way. For men's fashion, breaking these long-standing gender stereotypes is perhaps long over-due!

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, from both men and women...

"Totally agree with this! I think shoes and heels should be for anyone and everyone! Same with all types of clothing. On a basic level, it's just material that covers your body, on a complex level it's how you want to feel and for me wearing heels feels amazing!! And it's not necessarily about attraction... But I have to say a liberated confident man in heels is very sexy to me 😉 xox"

"Because they look so sexy"

"I like to wear high heels just because I love how they look, and I love how I look in them, so why not wear them. Besides fighting with toxic masculinity, I might say that I also find somehow challenging to find everything I like in my size (women's size 13). Things are much better than ten years ago, there are many brands that offer these sizes, but most common and commercial brands still have to realize that there is a growing demand they could serve. Hopefully soon."

"About 40 years ago Marks & Spencer actually sold riding boots for men, I bought a pair, the main part were ox-blood in colour with a black ridge at the top and a small wedge heel, sadly I sold them a few years later, I'm also at an age when platform boots were on trend, mine were red and yellow with a beautiful chunky heel, and also of course I had the multi coloured flowered shirt with same matching tie, and thin brown leather pants, oh to have that 28 inch waist again"

"In the animal world , especially birds, it is the male that has the brightest plumage, so why do guys have to be in dark and boring clothing, I always love to wear ladies coloured gloves, at first I was not confident, I always imagined that everyone would be staring at me, In most cases people just don't care what you wear"

"Why are we doing this? Because we do not only like to see high-heeled shoes on women, but also like to wear them ourselves. We feel good in high heels! They give us and our gait quite grace, but also strength. There is also a sense of self-confidence when we walk in high heels. As a man, in particular, you need more courage and skill, but also the strength and charisma to express this in a positive way."

"Hi, I just came across your page and I absolutely love that there are guys who enjoy wearing heels, flats, boots, etc... Me personally for some time have a strong belief that clothes/shoes have no gender and that it's for everyone! I am a 21 year old gay male who enjoys wearing heels and flats as well as makeup and accessories because I want to express my personality and be my own person that is different from everyone else."

"I have legs, feet and thighs that I would truly find hot in any woman but I am a man. Therefore I look better with nylons, skirts and heels. That’s just body and I accept it. Why can’t I show myself at my best without being labelled with a gender or sexual orientation that is really not correct?"

"I wear women’s boots because they make me feel complete"

"Because we can 🤷🏻‍♂️"

"When I go into a department store for men's gloves, the gloves are functional but lack any style or fit, so always head for the ladies gloves, so many colours and really a nice tight fit"

"I wear high heels 👠 and women’s clothes despite being 6’2” for a few reasons. One is because men’s clothes are (for the most part) boring and pedestrian. I’m a little different from a lot of Xdressers in that I don’t desire to be or impersonate a woman. I have no desire to appear female. I’m a straight man who is into fashion, and I look hot as hell in a miniskirt and heels. And lastly, there’s some internal drive, be it a past life remnant or a genetic punctuation, or anything, that gifts me the super power to live life outside the box. I exercise this super power to help other men learn that they too can grow this super power. As I say on my page, the first time a “Dude Bro” sees a man in heels and a skirt, he sees a gay alien 👽 who has come to abduct and convert him. By the third time he sees this, he sees a human being. That’s why I do it. It only takes three times to normalize it."

"You're absolutely right!! Men's everyday wear is so pedestrian and dull. I always bitch about how women's clothing has more color, style and design. I hate when I see a great shirt and its a women's small and they don't have it in men's sizes. And the shoes... I'm crazy about stiletto's and boots."

"It's very simple, have you seen them? They are just beautiful! 😁 My only reason haha."

"I would love to wear heels all the time I just feel more comfortable wearing them. Men’s shoes suck and I don’t own any"

"Never judge a book by it's cover, the same could equally be said when it comes to meeting other people, whatever their gender is"

"Wear what you want!"

"Because a pair of heels changes an average outfit to a much nicer one. So as not so many women still wear heels, then I do it myself."

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/

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

The Cut reports on Lenny Kravitz’ stunning Red Carpet outfit for the 2022 Grammy Awards where he wore knee length leather heeled boots. He also wore two other pairs of heeled boots on the day elevating him to our modern-day high heel hero.

Original URL: https://www.thecut.com/2022/04/lenny-kravitz-grammys-red-carpet-2022.html

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/

Just Jared reports on Tom’s great outfit at the Team GB Ball 2021.

Original URL: https://www.justjared.com/2021/11/26/tom-daley-rocks-a-red-suit-platform-heels-for-2021-team-gb-ball/

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!

@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

Google Arts and Culture gives us a virtual tour around the many of the exhibits from the 2015 exhibition at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada. Produced in 2017 the slide-show ends with a hint about the forthcoming trend that we are now seeing for men’s heels with a shot of the Rad Hourani unisex boots made in 2015.

Original URL: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/BQJSZR_j5AhtLA

The BBC Radio 4 series on history - You’re Dead To Me brings us The History of High Heels. Elizabeth Semmelhack, Curator & Creative Director of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada, along with Comedian Lauren Pattison discuss high-heeled shoes and their many uses through history with their host Greg Jenner. An entertaining an amusing trip through history, with some notable high points for men in heels.

Original URL: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-history-of-high-heels/id1479973402?i=1000535612931

Hollywood's Top Stylists say that Cowboy Boots & High Heels are must have fashion items for EVERY man.

Original URL: https://www.eonline.com/news/1314515/22-fashion-items-every-man-needs-for-2022-according-to-hollywoods-top-stylists

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/

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

This article from Fashion United reports on the results of a panel discussion organised by the Hetrick-Martin Institute and how the fashion industry needs to adapt to accommodate a rapidly growing demand by the gender non-conforming demographic. How can the shopping experience be enhanced and growth managed in a sustainable way? The article explores the options.

Original URL: https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/the-future-of-gender-non-conforming-fashion/2019032742414

Mens Style Fashion magazine asks whether we will see more feminine fashion in 2021. Women have forever been adopting men’s fashion in attempt to add some elements of masculinity, and we’re now seeing fashion move in the other direction with more feminine items introduced to men’s fashion options. Many men are now reinterpreting themselves, letting more of their vulnerabilities become visible through self-expressive dressing.

In answer to the question, and drawing close to the end of 2021, here at Men’s Heels Revolution we feel that the answer has been an emphatic YES!

Original URL: https://www.menstylefashion.com/will-we-see-more-feminine-fashion-trends-for-men-in-2021/

This great is a great article by @LandonPeoples for @Refinery29, which quite rightly points out that if you have an issue with men in heels, you really need to take a good hard look in the mirror as maybe that's "a you problem". I can't paraphrase any better, so I'm going to tempt you with a few of the best bits...

"The inquiry has become more of a reflection of the insecurities of those asking it than the actual subjects who wear them."

"A man's interest in style, no matter the color of their shirt or the height of their heel, should not be a litmus test for their masculinity"... "The feat of wearing heels, even a chelsea boot, should be celebrated as an act of bravery."

Great article. Well worth a read.

Original URL: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/08/166952/harry-styles-history-men-in-heels-photos

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

@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

This article from Teen Vogue, published in 2017, highlights an exhibition on shoes at Savannah College of Art and Design and delves into the origin of the high heeled shoe. By now, many of us know the origin of high heels, but for the uninitiated, take a look at this interesting article on where they came from.

Original URL: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/heels-history-men

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

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!