Driving in high heels: fashion over safety?

The other day I decided to get back to wearing heels, jumped into my car and drove to work. In my quest for fashion, was I bypassing safety?

According to AOL Autos, I wasn't alone. Up to 40 percent of women wear heels behind the wheel, according to a study of UK women. Experts say heels prevent a good feel of the pedals, making it harder to react quickly. While woman have been wearing heels for years, the recent sky-height heights and platforms are exasperating the problem.

And law makers are starting to take notice. According to the local, France's Supreme Court ruled that driving in heels violates the country's highway code. The case they ruled on was whether a woman who was driving in heels when she was injured in a car crash deserved insurance money. The court found that insurance was not liable due to her wearing heels.

Wear Comfortable Shoes for the Long Superstorm Sandy Recovery

Over 3 months have passed since Superstorm Sandy hit the New York-New Jersey area. From my viewpoint in coastal Staten Island, I have seen the outpouring of support and am grateful to everyone who volunteered and who donated time, goods, and money. Much progress has been made but unfortunately, more work is needed. Recovery is still taking place.

In my last blog post, I discussed living through the storm and showed pictures from before and during the storm. 

As the waters began to recede, I made my way out into the surrounding blocks to see the damage.  Houses were off their foundations, cars were left scattered blocks from where their owners parked them, wind ripped off roofs and siding, and there was mud and debris almost everywhere.

  

The first time I tried to venture out, water was still thigh-high.

These pictures were taken in the first days after the storm. Some water remained along with extensive damage to homes and cars.

Right after the storm, there were calls for help. Government action took a long time and the Sandy Recovery bill in Congress was not passed until January. Most of that money has yet to be used.

One neighbor posted this sign asking Obama and FEMA for help.

With so many people needing places to live and basic necessities, the generosity of strangers was much called upon and greatly appreciated. 

I went to a help center at Miller Field in New Dorp, Staten Island, and saw young children asking for necessities like underwear. Luckily, a stranger handed them a new package. Food and other supplies were also given. Insurance companies were also on hand, although in my family's experience they did more to cause aggravation and stress than to help.

These pictures show the aid being given out at Miller Field.

In Defense of Fashion: The Stock Price Raising Influence of Michelle Obama

Fashion is often criticized for being frivolous, but a recent study from New York University found that fashion can play an important role in the economy.

The study used the example of Michelle Obama, who has recently become a fashion icon, with blogs like Mrs. O  following her ever choice.

The study found that not only does the first lady’s clothing choices increase sales of items she wore, but also increases their stock prices. David Yermack, professor of finance and business at New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, performed a year-long analysis of the economic impact of Obama's apparel selections (Oliver & Yeo, 2010).

What shoes do you wear to vote on Election Day? Any type you want!

Its Election Day 2010, the time for the midterm elections, and the chance to decide who will control the House and Senate. You should be making many decisions today on who to vote for, if you have not already done so.

However, there is one decision today that doesn’t matter, what shoes you wear. You can wear sexy high-heels, sneakers, flats, or even slippers. Just make sure you got out and vote! Let you’re voice be heard.

What shoes do you wear to the Rally to Restore Sanity? Sane Ones!

A view of the crowd and the stage before the rally began.

This post is a bit of stretch for a shoe blog, but I went to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert’s Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the National Mall yesterday, and wanted to share the experience.

As for my shoes, I wore comfortable and supportive sneakers, which was a very sane decision. I was one my feet for close to 5 hours straight, most of the time just standing. In the crowd, I must admit high-heels were tempting because I had trouble seeing. I often had to rise to my toes to glimpse the performers. However, my feet would have been in major pain if I wore heels to stand all that time and to talk the 2 miles back to where I am staying.

I had never been to a rally in Washington before, so this was definitely an experience.

Politicians and Shoes: Rent is 2 Damn High Party Will Let You Marry a Shoe

2010 is shaping up to be a quite interesting election year. All sorts of topics have been brought up, like witches. Yet, only recently have shoes entered this election.

At the New York governor candidates’ debate on October 20, all 7 candidates on the ballot were invited, including Jimmy McMillan, of the Rent is 2 Damn High Party (Sicoli, 2010). When asked about gay marriage, he said, “The Rent is 2 Damn High Party feels if you want to marry a shoe, I’ll marry you” (Ngo, 2010). See the end of the above video or click here. 

I understand the point McMillan was trying to make, but I am unsure why he chose a shoe. It’s still interesting to bring up shoes in a political debate. What do you think?

Celebrities and Shoes: Thrifty Mayor Bloomberg only owns two pairs of shoes!

"it’s fair to say he’s not the shoe industry’s best customer" (WCBS 880, 2010)

The 2010 midterm elections are almost here, and things are heating up. Although he’s not running for re-election this November, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is discussing his footwear.

According to CBS New York, Bloomberg only owns two pairs of work shoes. He has owned these two pairs for the past 10 years. The pairs are both black and one is a penny loafer, while the other has tassels. To keep shoes so long, he has had them re-heeled and the soles replaced (WCBS 880).

As the world’s 23 richest person (Daily Mail, 2010), his shoe possessions, or seeming lack thereof, is quite surprising.

Are government funded high-heel lessons necessary?

"Sexy Heels In The City" is a government-funded class at South Thames College in England. The class claims to prepare women “for the business world and their social lives.” It was taught by a back-up singer who claims that not being taught how to walk in high heels caused her misery. She also believes the high number of female shoe-related injuries justifies the class (Telegraph, 2010).  

This class makes two interesting claims-- that wearing heels is culturally important, and that it is how you wear shoes that causes problems.

As previously discussed, no physiological need to wear shoes has been found. Instead, shoes may actually have weakened feet. This suggests that the reason for wearing shoes may be cultural, a way to express individuality. If women need high heels to succeed in business and socially, than in this case, shoes no longer are expressing individuality.