How low can you go and still make a statement?
Statement heels are back. Which would be silly if they were the teetering 11cm knitting needles that constituted statement heels last time round.
But the new SH is a different beast. It has presence but height would get in its way, because the new heel has much else with which to contend. Such as its composition, which could be metal, Plexiglas (a posh sounding name for plastic), Lucite (another posh name for plastic), resin (these days, usually plastic) and its shape, which could be round, oval, or, if you’re Dolce & Gabbana, a miniature harp or a classical Greek column. Or they could simply be in a contrasting colour.
This is far better news than it initially sounds. If you want a snapshot of how women are faring in any given society, you should probably take a look at education stats, birth control access and whether or not they’re legally permitted to drive/have control of their own reproductive organs… but this is a fashion page, so let’s inspect the heel situation. Are they comfortable or are they not?
The new statement heels generally come in at under three inches (8cm). Some are almost flat – consequence of the trainer craze that has dominated footwear in recent years (one of those
moments when normcore and catwalk-core overlapped). We’re categorically not ready yet – or ever, I hope – to go back to the bad old days of spinecrunching, toe-crushing footwear.
So many shoe addicts have been inculcated with the idea that height = power. Cheesy terms such as Killer Heels and Power Dressing crossed the Rubicon and came to be seen as irrefutable facts. But as no less a designer than Gianni Versace once told me, “there’s nothing powerful or killer about any item of attire. It’s the attitude of the person wearing it that makes it sexy or strong.”
I’d add that comfort, movement and ease do the same. So if you’re looking for a single purchase to elevate your go-to outfits this season, consider the sculptured heel. Look for something solid and chunky (it will still seem delicate). Road test it extensively before buying, because the positioning of some statement heels is far more balanced than others, and it’s deeply personal. You might prefer a heel that sits right at the back of the sole,
whereas I could feel more secure with something further forward. If you’re trying to rein in your consumption, statement heels are the way to go – a lot of impact for one buy, which is why The Fold has launched its debut shoe collection with a group of sculpted heels. I particularly like its velvet pumps. Good statement heels should last. A year ago, I invested in a pair of tan Rejina Pyo slingbacks with gold heels (she’s done similar ones with white heels for autumn/ winter), wore them endlessly and plan to do so this season and beyond. They’re a fast track to glamour, whether you wear them with prim librarian skirts and 7/8 trousers or, later on, some woolly tights.
‘There’s nothing powerful or killer about any item of attire’