Follow on from yesterdays Liz Hurley story in Daily Mail

Richy · 18th September 2002, 19:16

You lot obviously don't read the decent papers. Opened page three today, to be hit by another young lady in ballet shoes, doing a follow up to yesterday's story and concentrating solely on the shoes.

Six Inch stilettos, you're welcome to them, Liz

Throughout the ages women have endured agonies in the name of fashion.
Rib-crunching corsets, itchy wigs, and make-up that gave them lead poisoning were just a few of the self-inflicted tortures.
But Liz Huley's decision to wedge her perfect pinkies into a pair of 6in stilettos for a photoshoot is up there with the craziest of them.
I know, because I followed in her footsteps.
Trying out the £180 black PVC shoes was not a happy experience.
Mere discomfort has never put me off in the past. I wore denims two sizes too small when skintight jeans were in vogue, and a flirtation with weighty gold ear-rings during my early teens threatened to leave craters the size of Mars in my earlobes. But nothing came within a whisker of the pain inflicted by the "fetish" shoes.
Even the sight of them brought gasps of anxiety from colleagues. Close up, they look like black ballet pumps that have been impaled on park railings. It occured to me that they'd make nice bookends.
The thought of me trying them on made me queasy - and the physical effort involved in wedging your foot into them is miserable indeed.
Although they were meant to be my size (a six), they nipped in all the wrong places.Just sitting down in them was a feat, for the shoes place the heel and toes at a quite extraordinary 90-degree angle from the floor.
Standing was nigh on impossible. I had to be levered upright by colleagues, and could stay there unsupported for a maximim of 10 seconds.
Once aloft the sensation is akin to wedging an icicle into your heel and trying to perform Swan Lake. All the pressure is on your toes, and it is excruciatingly painful, not to mention dangerous. Tilt by a whisker and you risk an ankle twisting tumble. Even the faintest breeze is a dangerous enemy.
Of course, these shoes are not designed for comfort, nor for practicality. Ace Ace Kritikos of the Little Shoe Box, the North London shop which provided them for Hurley says: "These are the type of shoes people order for the boudoir, not to go shopping."
Even wearing them to bed seems to me an unnecessary ordeal, but the idea is to transform your oins into a pair any supermodel would be envy. Looking at Liz, you'd say they did just that.
In my case, the involuntary muscle spasm that accompanied any attempt to stand rather detracted from the glamour. Let's face it, violently shaking kneecaps are never a good look.
Stepping out in these shoes is, of course, impossible. I didn't even try. Instead, I lurched onto a stool and tentatively lowered myself to the floor, swearing under my breath all the while.
Liz, we are told, did nothing of the sort. She has gone up in my estimation, although it is only fair to point out that she did allow a pair of strategically placed gymnastic hoists to take some of the strain.
Nonetheless, she behaved like a true professional, resolutely cheerful throughout the two day shoot. Three minutes in, and I was wailing like a baby. The prospect of two days in those murderous things defies belief.
What got her through must have been the thought of using those spiky heels to walk all over Steve Bing.
I never thought it owuld be a relief to pull on my own 2in heels, but it was, by comparison, like a foot massage.
Hours later, I still had throbing ankles. The fetish shoes are very far from a fashion to die for, and thy're certainly not for walking - inless like Liz, it's straight onto the cover of a magazine.

The article is accompanied by a full length photo of the writer, stood in the ballet shoes that Liz Hurley used., and doing it quite well considering the comments. If anyone can scan it in, or email it as a scan an I'll edit the post include it.

Dr. Shoe · 18th September 2002, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richy

I never thought it owuld be a relief to pull on my own 2in heels, but it was, by comparison, like a foot massage.

Obviously not a heel wearer then. And she got Kypros's name wrong too.

Francis · 18th September 2002, 22:41

it might be useful to find out which paper you were referring to

Firefox · 18th September 2002, 23:24

I think that was in the Daily Mail. I saw another follow up in today's Sun which I purchased for 20p and can scan the image for you. Similar results. The model couldn't even stand in the shoes this time. I'm pretty sure Ms Hurley couldn't stand in them either, the rings are too much of a coincidence.

hoverfly · 18th September 2002, 23:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firefox

I think that was in the Daily Mail. I saw another follow up in today's Sun which I purchased for 20p and can scan the image for you. Similar results. The model couldn't even stand in the shoes this time. I'm pretty sure Ms Hurley couldn't stand in them either, the rings are too much of a coincidence.

That's what I thought...

Firefox · 18th September 2002, 23:59

Here's the scan from the Sun.

It was entitled "Just Shoe(sic) are you trying to kid Liz?"

It's a little big for a web picture, but I left it larger so you can read the text. The model, Claire couldn't stand in them. It doesn't say if she was used to heels or not, but preumably she was.

http://65.160.96.70/hhplace/images/1032389701.jpg

Trolldeg · 19th September 2002, 09:44

These newspapers should check out: http://www.slinkskin.com

http://www.slinkyskin.com/images/front-page-ballet.jpg

Richy · 19th September 2002, 23:36

I dropped an email to Vidking, the guy who runs Slinkyskin tonight to find out when the vid clips and photos were likely to be up. (I also had a reply in five minutes which was impressive). He found out about these articles this morning and spoke to the journalist from the Mail who ran the follow up, offering another side from the perspective of someone who can walk in them. Sadly they didn't take up the offer.

He's also thinking about the possibility of a full video or dvd of the who he used for this shoot in normal public surroundings (such as the midle of Paris) wearing ballet boots, rubber outfits and other high heels.

He wants to know if such a video would sell. What do you think?

http://212.247.200.186/images/mistre...lie/main-2.jpg

mart-tina · 21st September 2002, 01:10

Yes I saw the pic... and read the follow-up article in the Mail the following day. Personally I think Liz Hurley's overdone the 'slimming-down' a bit, but that's just personal preference and more power to her elbow (instep?) for doing a photo shoot like this.

Two thoughts that immediately crossed my mind after the article were :-

1. Newspaper editors who think anyone can just slip on a pair of ballet heels WITHOUT them hurting like hell knows nothing at all about high-heel fashion - but then that's to be expected I guess.

2. Although there must be people who can walk in these all day (not including me I'm afraid) - he missed the point somewhat. IMHO most people who buy these have NO intention whatever of wearing them further than getting to the bedroom.... or don't get the chance to!!

Look, newspaper people - they're fun, fetish shoes for the broad-minded so get off our case... :x

Oh Ok - I'm just jealous cos I can't get into heels like that

Martin

Firefox · 21st September 2002, 07:32

To be fair, in my clip from the Sun, in that last paragraph under "niche" it features a comment by a ballet heel maker which says that most people who purchase these are those with a thing for feet and they are best restricted to the bedroom.

I think vidking should have tried the Sun or the mirror they may have taken him up. They seem to struggle for content at the best of times so I'm sure an article like:

"Kinky webmaster SHOES how it should be done"

would fill up a page or two :D