Can you wear Killer Heels all day and all night for a week? Lynette Botha rises to the challenge
I’m one of the lucky ones – I’ve mastered the art of walking in very high heels. No hobbling or leaning too far forward trying to balance – I can walk the walk, and I do most days, so being challenged too from day to night in party heels for a week is not something I’m too apprehensive about.
Fashion director Chris Viljoen and I head to Luella to pick out some heels and before we’ve even left the store he makes me pack my department store ankle boots into the now-empty shoebox and slip on the heavenly heels. When I get home I lie to my boyfriend, Luke, and tell him my challenge starts right away – there’s absolutely no way I can leave the shoes boxed in my cupboard until Monday plus. What other excuse would I have to wear high-heeled lace-up snakeskin stilettos to the Waterfront at 9am on Saturday? For their height, the heels are extremely comfortable and I love how they make me feel – I’m already 1.8m tall, but there’s something about being elevated just that little bit more that boosts your confidence. There are wolf whistles from men (I never noticed, but Luke swears he did) and envious stares from women.
On Monday I pair the strappy black snake skins with stirrup leggings, a black vest and a sequined wrap – the look will take me from the day at the office to after work drinks. Because they are party heels, I feel a bit self-conscious as I walk in to Vida at 7am for a coffee – everyone is in gym gear and I get the feeling they think I’ve come straight from a night out – but my concern quickly subsides when a girl walks up to me and says, “I love your shoes! ” After work I go for drinks at Wakame in Green Point and bump into an old friend; “You’re right, you do look better in heels,” he says with a smirk. I’ve been in heels for over 12 hours with absolutely no discomfort – what a pleasure.
On Tuesday it’s a navy coat dress with the tan heels. These are definitely the most comfortable pair; they’re very sturdy. Illustrator and designer Olive, in the office to collect a freelance brief, is very jealous, “I’ve been dying to buy those heels!” she says. Unfortunately I’m a size 8 and she’s a 6, so no sharing. (But a week later she gets two pairs for her birthday.) I’m in no mood to go out, but when I get home I cook dinner wearing tile heels – it is a challenge after all.
Wednesday it’s the pewter cage heels. Although I love the look of them, I find them difficult to pair with just any outfit. They’re quite loose around the ankles, so I slip on some leggings, a black T-shirt dress and a grey blazer. After work I have a drinks party to go to, so I lose the leggings and dare to bare – I think the shoes look better without the leggings and my fellow party-goers agree.
On Thursday I wear the lace-up, snakeskin stilettos – my favourite pair. When I get out of the lift at work a stranger stares at my feet and says, “now those are heels!” But when it’s time for drinks at six in Camps Bay, I must admit, my feet are tired. In bed a few hours later I get painful spasms in my toes for half an hour, but it doesn’t occur to me to blame the heels.
On Friday I feel like throwing on pumps, but it’s the last day of the challenge, so I surrender to the tan heels and a shirtdress.
It’s Saturday and even though my feet are now welcome to wear flats, I’m disappointed that I no longer have an excuse to parade party heels all day, every day. The heels gave me a lift; they made me slimmer. sexier and more confident – what’s not to love? So instead of going to lunch in pumps and jeans, I slip on a summer dress and the black heels! It’s party season, after all, and I plan to make the most of it!
Written by Lynette Botha. Taken from the December ’09 edition of Elle magazine
