Pretty dangerous: shoes come under scrutiny for their potential to damage feet
By Susan Langenhennig, The Times-Picayune
May 24, 2010, 5:00AM
Cigarettes, once upon a time, were thought of as a glamorous addiction. Today, they come with a health warning.

Could it be that certain shoes may one day face a similar fate? Leora Tanenbaum hopes so.

“In all seriousness, I suggest that pointy-toed, high-heeled shoes should come with a warning printed on the shoe box,” said Tanenbaum, author of the new book, “Bad Shoes and the Women Who Love Them” (Seven Stories Press, May 2010). “These shoes are a health hazard. Wearing them for prolonged periods on a regular basis may lead to deformity, pain and ugly feet. Your Achilles tendons may shorten, making it impossible to wear flats even if you want to. Wear with caution.”

Over the past few years, shoes — those things that humans have laced up, slipped into and strapped on for centuries — are coming under new scrutiny for their potential to do us bodily harm.

Tanenbaum’s focus is primarily on those towering, platform, high-heeled torture chambers that have been all the rage for the past five years or so — think Christian Louboutin’s red-soled beauties or just about any pair of shoes worn by Victoria Beckham.

But more innocent-appearing footwear, the kind we turn to when our feet ache — ballet flats, flip-flops, even running shoes — also have come under assault.
Tanenbaum’s book — an amusing as well as eye-opening read that traces women’s abuse of their feet all the way back to biblical times — cites a litany of medical research about the unpleasant and downright ugly dangers of wearing heels higher than 2-1/2 inches. Corns and callouses are mild compared to bunions, bloody blisters, hammer toes and plantar fasciitis (inflammation on the bottom of the feet).

But skyscraper heels may not be the only offenders. A study published in December found that some running shoes can put more strain on joints than a pair of stilettos. Ugg boots and flip-flops also have been cited by the American Podiatric Medical Society for their lack of support, potentially leading to sprained ankles and ligament injuries.

Dr. Casey Kerrigan, a specialist in biomechanics and human gait, examined 68 subjects running on a treadmill both barefoot and wearing running shoes. The shoes increased the torque — or twisting — of joints by more than 30 percent, more than the torque increase typically shown in women wearing high heels.

The study has added fuel to a micro-trend of joggers, walkers and even marathoners forsaking footwear all together and opting instead to go barefoot when they hit the track.
So what’s up with all this focus on the feet?
Dr. Kathleen Stone, president of the American Podiatric Medical Association and a podiatrist in Glendale, Ariz., attributes it to the “aging of the active baby boomers. This is the generation that is coming into more middle age and still attempting to do things and stay physically fit and now their feet are hurting, and they’re asking questions. It’s part of the aging process. The joints and, in particular, the feet take so much abuse.”
Americans’ obsession with wellness also has trickled down to our toes, said Meghan Cleary, author of “The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You,” and a frequent TV commentator and blogger about footwear and fashion.
“Shoes have always been an interesting indicator of what’s going on in society,” she said. “Right now there’s a real focus on wellness across the board, and that’s leading to the attention on shoes.”
Cleary pointed to the growing genre of footwear designed to give legs a workout while you’re walking, such as Reebok Easy Tone, Skechers Shape Ups, FitFlops and MBTs.
“They’ve become best-sellers,” she said of the various tone-up trainers. “What’s interesting is that FitFlops specifically put you off balance so your muscles work harder. Basically the same thing happens when you wear stilettos. They force you to pull in on your stomach and you use your legs in a different way.”
Heel heights also have been inching skyward over the past decade. Today, it’s common to see professionals in business suits hobbling to work on 3- and 4-inch heels. Such footwear once was the exclusive style for women who worked not in offices, but in strip clubs and on street corners.
Christian Louboutin, the shoe designer beloved by Carrie Bradshaw acolytes everywhere, gets some of the credit for starting this trend, with his Hyper Prive wrapped platform pumps.
“Louboutin changed the shoe landscape,” Cleary said. “When he introduced five-inch stilettos, all hell broke loose. Other designers started going higher and higher.”
With shoes like these, the first jolt of pain may come from the steep designer price tag.
After that, it could be the toes or the heels that start to ache.

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Featured Christian Louboutins (the very same pair Heidi Klum wore to globes last year), Rene Caovillas, and Jerome Rousseaus — three shoe designers who continue to innovate and go where no shoe designer has gone before.

I wore Peter Soronen dress, Ippolita jewelry and my Miss Meghan ankle booties just for fun!

It was about 110 degrees and I do not exaggerate.

The stars were out in full force, and true to my predictions donned sky high platform stilettos and lots of bold color in their shoe selections.

Check out all the photos here.

Ciao!
Meg

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Once inside, Lana decided on the Sergio Rossi’s and then I was sorted.  Two TV interviews analyzing Croatian celebs later, I was sorted with a little medizca and the party began. Lots of dancing, drinks and book signing at the Club Ritz right in the center of Zagreb. I came home and for some reason became obsessed with MTV Deutscheland which I stayed up watching wayyy tooo long.

This morning the glam squad Martina and Ana arrived — I was so tired I fell asleep while Martina was drying my hair but I ordered some more Jana water which I have decided is the cure for jet lag, and then was off to Transport’s main store for book signing where I met the loveliest high heel lady who had worn high heels since she was sixteen for more than 50 years of high heel wearing.  I gave her a stiletto salute.  The we hit the schpiza — this is the main square where every saturday all the who’s who from politicians to music stars to DJ’s and actresses hang out and talk and have cappuccino and drinks and relax.  It was a gorgeous day of sun under the umbrellas, and then we went around the square with my camera crew and asked people about their shoes.  We zipped by Radio Antennae where I met Ivan the DJ there and Barbara, talked to a bit water polo star about his Converse chucks, a music producer about his shiny wingtips and a whole Stiletto posse of girls hanging out, a famous jazz singer and her daughter and a bunch of interesting characters.

Next we hit the Profil bookstore where I signed my book and met a very cute little girl with roller skate shoes on! Sondra came by to hi as well as the PR and marketing managers.  Then to Atlanta where we the lovliest lingering long lunch of veal and fish and salad and soup on Tkalciceva street — which is this gorgeous quaint street in the old part of Zagreb with sorbet colored buildings. Meow.

Back to Transport where Brigita and Dario generously gifted me a gorgeous pair of Miss Sixty black suede D’orsay sandals with mirrors on the toe strap and a matching purse — I feel like I have very own disco ball when I wear them.

After a quick nap we headed to Takenoko for some amazing sushi. Now I am watching MTV Deustche again and packing — EIGHT pairs of shoes to pack on my way home! This is a record for even me — I am a shoe packing genius I tell you.  I will be sad to leave Croatia — so many wonderful, lovely warm people.  But they have convinced to come back this summer to the coast where there are 1200 islands to explore and clear blue water to swim in and flip flops to wear . . .

xoxo

Meg

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My seven pairs of shoes are all lined up and ready to go in this order: Rene Caovilla Gold Sequined stiletto slingbacks with electroplated gold heels, Sergio Rossi taupe plaform mary jane pumps with gold link detailing, taupe patent Giusepp Zanotti stilettos with architectural heel, Christian Louboutin white satin ‘maragrita” stilettos, Jerome Rousseau black strapped sandals, Jerome Rousseau multi color suede purpler, red gold and blck pumps, and last not least, the ever handy grey python platform pump Azzedine Alaias.

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I went over today to get my photo credentials, and the place was abuzz already. All the valets were giving me the weather forecast for Sunday (78 degrees! hello!) and the place was abustle with old school Hollywood glamour in the lobby and new school high tech photo ID and security devices in the credential room.

So! What am I wearing? I can’t show you what exactly but I CAN say am wearing a Pamela Roland dress, Rene Caovilla stilettos (we love our Made in Italy footwear), and some Seedhouse bling from Ellen Carey as well as diamonds! hello! from Michael Greene. Oh! and Spanx. Musn’t forget Spanx. The lazy girls workout. Even though I have been hiking Runyan like a fiend, a girl can always use some Spanx.

So tune in to TV Guide Channel Sunday, January 11 (my dad’s and AMS bday!), from 4-6 pm Eastern Time, 1-3 pm Pacific. Meow!

xo
Meg

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Check out this wonderful multimedia montage below — and keep a close eye on the women who deploy one of my favorite Stiletto Strategies(C) — keeping a pair of flats in your bag and swapping out. Me-ow!

It’s all about the shoe Groundswell On the Street with Bill Cunningham.

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Give it a listen and you will hear us talk Giuseppe Zanotti and why I prescribed Shoe Therapy Prozac (aka Christian Louboutins) to the girls.

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Joining the ranks of Matthew Williamson, Anya Hindmarch and Alice Temperley, Louboutin is adding a line of espadrilles to the fashion mix at the luxury resorts. Ranging from a 12-cm mule wedge with straps of Indian ribbon laced with gold threading, to a 7-cm version in bright two-tone grosgrain ribbon, to a flat espadrille sandal with ankle ribbons, the shoes add a pop of color to the style collection, while the signature red soles lend a stamp of high-fashion authenticity. A must-have for in-the-know travelers seeking a chic alternative to the flip-flop.”

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