My question to you is… do you torture yourself in heels everyday because you are self conscious about being short? Or do you clomp around in flats everyday so you don’t appear like a giant? Is height really a legitimate body quirk to get hung up over?
This is a rather personal question because at 5’8, I’m unusually tall and I do sometimes find myself avoiding wearing heels because I don’t want to look like a big foot. Which is ridiculous because being tall isn’t unattractive. Neither is being short. It’s just come to my attention recently that this is rather an odd thing to be uncomfortable with… especially seeing as it’s the one thing about your body that you can do nothing about.
What do you think?
Please let us know your height as well. I have a feeling the extreme gals will have a bit to say about this matter…
Love Lady Smaggle
xxx
47 Comments
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I’m about 5’8″ and I would by no means call that unusually tall, in fact I would happily be a bit taller.
I wear heels when it suits an outfit or outing, simple as that. I’ve never thought I should or shouldn’t wear heels or flats because of the impact it will have on my stature.
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I still find it amusing that you think you’re unusually tall. I’d say you’re just on the tall side of average.
I don’t wear heels every day but I do prefer them and yes it’s because I’m short, but not because I don’t like being short (I love it). The real reason is that my legs are disproportionately short from the knee down, so wearing high heels helps to balance me out and put me back in proportion. I don’t think it’s any different to wearing something that nips in at the waist to give you a shapelier figure.
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And just to clarify for people who don’t know me, I’m just a smidge over 5′.
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Well firstly, I think it’s ‘self-conscious’. Yep.
I’m short. I hate high heels. I have a reeally tall husband, too. I’m short and I don’t care, I’d MUCH rather be able to move/walk/run around freely. Sometimes I don’t even like the way high heels LOOK. (Sometimes they look stupid!)
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Oh yeah, sorry, I’m 5′ 4.
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I’m 5’7″ and I wear both heels and flats without giving it a second thought, and I have worn heels when dating men my height or shorter than me, too.
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Nadist – Whoa. Total mind blank. That’s love. That’ll teach me to proof read better!
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I wear heels because a. of how they make me feel, I am on fire when I wear heels maybe this is because b. they remind me to square my shoulders and lift my head and c. I love that they make an outfit dressy in an instant, it is like cheating almost how easy it is to transform an outfit just by a pair of heels. . That they make my legs look longer is plesant bonus.
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I’m 5’8″ and I usually avoid heels because I feel like a giant when I wear them. Especially when I was with my ex, we were the same height and I hated being taller than him to I stuck to flats. I would kinda like to be short, but no. I am a decent sized, robust girl, as my grandmother once told me.
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I’m with you, but I think it’s because I’m tall-ish ( about 5’7.5” ) and fat-ish. I feel like people will be worried I will crush them like some kind of terrifying lady ogre. Like I could leap their house in a single bound, and then turn round and eat it. You get the idea…
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5’8″ is definitely not tall! I am 6′ in the old scale and tend to avoid heels – mostly because they would make me taller than my husband who is also 6′. If I were a bit shorter I wouldn’t care but I do feel like a giant in heels(with great legs, however).
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I’m 5’5”, and recently started dating a guy who is also 5’5″.
I’ve always been someone who almost never ever wears heels, because I prefer comfort, and also like my sneakers, and brogues, and flat pixie boots better then a pair of platform wedges in terms of asthetics.
But since I started dating this guy, I’m finding I want to wear heels, just to show everyone that I don’t mind that he is short, because I’m actually over compensating for the fact that I kinda do. But I’m getting used to it. Kissing someone shorter is actually really fun, and when I wear them we joke around that I’m chanelling Julia Child or he is Tom Cruising it. -
You think 5’8 is unusually tall? I am 5’10.5! And I still see girls that are taller than me around.
I’d say I am just tall though. I think it’s generally who you hang out with, if your friends are all short you are going to feel tall. My friends are pretty tall obvs.
I wear heels and flats, I do try and go for a lower heel at a wedding as my boyfriend is exactly the same height as me and I don’t want to look too much taller than him.
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I’m about 5’8 and a halfish (about 175cm) and it took me ages to be confident enough to wear heels…when I was in high school and early uni I avoided them because I hated being taller than all my friends.
I’ve started to care less I suppose — and even though I do have friends (even guys) that tell me not to wear/buy heels because I end up ‘a giant’…I just stopped caring and wear what I want =D
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I’m 5’10” and love, love, love being tall. I wear heels but not very tall ones – simply because they hurt my feet. My husband is 6’2” and my best friend is 6 foot though so I’m never the tallest one even when wearing heels – maybe I’d feel different if wearing heels made me the tallest…
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I’m 5’10 and 15, and the majority of my close friends are TINY (5 foot – 5’3ish) so I naturally tower over them. They’re not very big heel wearers though – so if I steal a pair from my mum that I adore and go out with them I look like a giant. Hence my wearing flats when I’m with them. Usually I wear low heels on special occasions. 🙂
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I’m short-ish – about 5’4″ and don’t wear flats at all.
That said, I very rarely wear super high heels – Only because I find the stilettos are annoying to walk in all day and get damaged much too easily.So I am forever on the hunt for mid-heels that are a little bit chunky but still graceful looking. A hard thing to find I tell you!
The reason I don’t wear flats (only runners when I need to)? My legs are proportionally short and I look awfully stumpy in flats. So for the same reasons The Mumma wears heels really 😀
And I do like being short so it’s not a self conscious thing. It’s about aesthetics.As for the taller girls, I have a very tall friend and I always encourage her to wear heels even though she doesn’t wear them too much. I think tall chicks should flaunt their height too 😀
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At 5’11’ I feel self consious wearing heels, althought I do have some not really high pairs.. I like wearing heels when I dress up, but most of my friends (even men) are shorter than me, so it’s pretty uncomfortable. I have bought a pair with 4” heels because I really liked them but I’ve never worn them out of my room!!
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I’m a little over 5’7 and wear both heels and flats. Not wanting to seem taller isn’t something I really ever think about, it’s more a matter of what I feel like wearing/what looks cute/what is comfortable at the time.
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I’m 5’11 and don’t really wear heels at all. I do suppose it is a way to not draw attention to myself as ever since I was an (unusually tall) child I have always been called ‘the big girl’ or my height has been a topic of discussion. I enjoy my height, but going out with my smaller, petite friends always leaves me feeling like the big gangly giant. I don’t really have many friends who are taller than me either, so I think that is one of the reasons I don’t bother – I already tower over most people, so why draw more attention to it? I’d love to have the confidence to carry off a killer pair of heels, but the bottom line is, I’m too self concious 🙁
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I’m 5’6″, and my ex was the same height as me. I didn’t like to wear heels around him because I always felt weird being taller than him.
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I’m suprised you say you’re unusually tall at 5’8″. I’m the same height as you and compared to some of my friends, I often refer to myself as the short one. Two of my gorgeous friends are both a little over 6′ tall and they both love wearing heels, totally not self conscious about their height at all. I have noticed though that random strangers will give them both a bit of “WHOA YOU’RE TALL” which is weird, I think. It’s kind of like saying to someone “WHOA, YOU’RE A BRUNETTE” um, yes, thanks for that Captain Obvious!
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^ Diana – me too! well I’m only about 5’3″ I think but yeah my boyfriend is only the tiniest bit taller than me so I don’t like wearing high high heels around him. anything under about 6cm is ok though!
I’m a big fan of comfort though and I really like being little so I don’t wear heels much anyway.
actually, while we’re on the topic, I hate wearing shoes altogether! EVERY style of shoe gives me blisters and my feet get too hot wearing shoes and socks. I wish it was socially acceptable to go barefoot everywhere.
ps I’m not a bogan, I do wear shoes. I just don’t enjoy it! -
I’m 5″11 and would happily wear heals, but I’m awkward. I’ve fallen. In church. In front of about 200 people. Ya… I usually shy away from them now. Haha.
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I’m 5’7″ and used to routinely wear 4″ + heels until my infernal leg mashing meant I couldn’t do heels any more. I will do extreme wedges, or heels if I have a companion willing to act as a handrail. I do love the shoes tho and will still buy them for crooning at purposes. Ahem.
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I’m 6′, and I’m a dedicated flats wearer. Not because of the height, but just because of my own preferences. However, on the rare occasions I do wear heels, all the compliments I get are on how people love that I’m wearing heels even though I’m so tall. People like the Amazon look!
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i’m about 5’5 and only really wear heels when i want to feel a bit fan-cay, whether i’m going to the grocery store, school, or out to dinner. my height doesn’t come into my choices, even though i am constantly told i look about 17 (i’m 25) and often feel teensy next to my partner and friends with more height.
unfortunately height does seem to be just another thing that is seen to embody beauty in our society. it’s lovely to seen that most of the commenters here do what they ‘damn well please’, rather than what is considered desirable. go laydees!!
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I’m 6’3 and I love to wear heels. Depending on where I am going, I will also wear not just moderate heels, but also very high heels and platforms. While I think this is all a matter of personal taste and preference, I am a little shocked that some commenters use words like ogre or giant to describe themselves. I sometimes have bad days and growing up I was teased a lot about my height, but I never would have thought of myself as an ogre.
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I’m not good in heels – I will wear them with a “going – out” outfit but as long as I don’t have to walk too far. Most wedding I go to I end up in barefeet as soon as possiable.
I could NEVER wear heels to work as all of my jobs involving being on my feet most of the day and having covered shoes to protect me from chemicals should I drop them on my self.As the name implies I am on the short side (5′ 1/2″) and have a 6’5″ boyfriend so I would like to wear heels more.
But is my lovely giant has pointed out I would have to be wearing heels and standing on a box for us to dance cheek to cheek so there isn’t a lot of point suffereing through pain to be two inchs taller.
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ditto to gini’s comment, are people that say “gee you’re short” retards?
Do they think I haven’t noticed over the last 30 years…
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i am 5’1 and wore 4” high heels for years (mostly platforms). my bf was 6’2” and i couldn’t bear to wear flats around him. and i figured i was saving gobs of $$$ on hemming. now that i’ve switched to skinny jeans i can wear flats or mid heels. i still wearing high shoes, just not everyday.
and yes, for years i think i was extremely uncomfortable with my height.
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I’m exactly 5’8 too and I think I’m tall-ish. Certainly not unusually tall. Slightly taller than most of my girlfriends.
When I wear heels, if my short friends aren’t, yes I tower over them. But I make a point of it, I stand out because of it, and have a laugh about it. It’s funny – “me giant, you tiny”
It also means I can look tall guys eye to eye having a conversation which is great!
I would never feel uncomfortable about it. I can understand how petite ladies might hate the difference though and wear lots of heels.
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I’m a perfectly average 5’6, and love wearing heels just because I think they look hugely sexy (it might also be worth noting that I’m a size 12 and I feel like being taller somehow balances my weight out).
Also, for the last year or so I’ve found it really attractive when I see women who are taller than their partners. I don’t know why, but I just feel really sexy when I’m a bit taller than a guy – not by much, but you know, an inch or two. Enough that when the heels come off I’m the same height (or even slightly less).
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I do feel uncomfortable with my height in my context: nearly all of my friends are ridiculously short. Shop in the kids’ section for pants, come up to my shoulder kind of short.
So, if we all go out, I feel like a bit of a gargantuan monster, especially because I am sucker for ridiculously tall high heels, and a lot of my friends can’t walk in heels.
But, I suppose it doesn’t bother me that much, it’s just mildly uncomfortabe, especially in photos! I normally have to bend down and lean over shoulders to even get in them!
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Oh my there are some tall ladies commenting here!
I’m 5’1.25″ (when you’re this short the 1/4 inch counts!) and I wear heels … a lot of the time. Not all the time, but a lot.
I wear heels most of the time when I’m at work as they make me feel fancy and bad ass. I wear flats, sometimes, to get to and from work if the heels I want to wear at the office are a little too too much for the striding around I do from the car to the office, or on the streets at lunch time.
I wear flats in the weekends if I’m planning on doing a lot of walking (which I ususally do), but sometimes wear my comfier pairs of heels as, well, I just like wearing them!
I love the way they make my legs look with my office-y skirts, and with skinny jeans.
My husband is 6’2″ so even in my highest heels I’m still markedly shorter than him.I used to feel self conscious about my (lack of) height but I’ve come to terms with it. I like being short. I also like wearing heels!
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I’m nearly 5’1″ and I wear heels or flats without thinking about it, whichever goes best with my outfit. It doesn’t bother me being the shortest person around (which I so often am). My partner is a giant compared to me at 6’4″ so when in heels I’m still nowhere near as tall as him, maybe I would feel different if heels made me tower over everyone?
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5’7 & 5’8 are tall? Really? I thought that would be an average height…
I’m 6’0 in flats and around 6’3 in heels, and maybe that’s ‘unusually tall’??
I find it’s only other people who freak out about my height, not me. It’s normal for me, and everyone has only ever had positive comments about it. I think it’s fabulous to be tall and/or Amazonian! It means I stand out; it means I have a long, slim torso and great legs – both of which can carry a few extra kilos quite easily without looking chunky; it means I had a the opportunity to work as a fashion model; it means that when I now perform (burlesque) I stand out more than anyone, and get to do a hilarious Attack of the 50ft Woman routine; it means I’m not at armpit level at festivals… I can go on…
On the downside, you do get big feet. So nota fan of my size 10 feet, or ‘flippers’. Still, I’d look pretty dumb and probably fall over with size 5s! Luckily my man is taller than me, but admittedly my height has created problems in the past when it comes to dating men. I’ve dated a few guys who were shorter than me, and although I didn’t really care, they used to get a little insecure. Says a lot about them, huh?
I also don’t think being tall means you’re less feminine or girly, an ‘ogre’ or a ‘giant’ – for real?? If you have a feminine figure, dress and behave like a lady (most of the time, anyway!) there’s no reason to feel otherwise. Is a short dude any less of a man?? Plus, I’ve seen plenty of shorter women who far more masculine than I will ever be.
I love wearing heels, and do so whenever I like! I usually stick at around a three inch heel, but that’s just my preference. I think, regardless of your height, the real issue is whether or not you can actually walk in heels! I see so many girls, of all heights, teetering/clomping along in horrific high heels, with no idea how to manage their weight distribution as they strut, or hold themselves properly. I personally don’t want to wear the stupidly skyscraper and of-the-minute heels anyway, because they are so damn painful, but I’ll give props if I ever see a girl who can walk properly in them…
Anyway, enough ranting from moi..
Thanks Lady,
xo -
I’m five foot nothing, so I’m certainly on the petite side. I can honestly say that I am 100% happy with my height. I often wear heels, but only because I love shoes and so many of my favorite pairs happen to be heels! It has nothing to do with wanting to look taller.
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Yes! and it’s fitting you have a photo of Marilyn here because we are the same exact height 5’5 1/2″ not super tall, mind you, but add 3 to 4 inches to that and I sometimes feel like everyone thinks I’m a giant (especially given that I work in an place where there are several short dudes running around who always comment when I have my heels on!). My BF is 5’10” so I’m a lot closer to his height in heels but he doesn’t seem to care – as long as I’m not uncomfortable (ie: complaining that my tootsies are killing me!)
Lately, though, I’ve been really into wearing them…I have some on right now, in fact!
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I’m 5’7″ and I always feel too tall when I wear heels (which I rarely even do). Most of my friends are 5’5″ or shorter and my boyfriend is 5’9″ so if I wear heels I tower over everyone. Although, I do wish I was either a bit taller or a bit shorter. What a ridiculous thing to wish, right? haha
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Hi there! I’m 5’10” and very easily over 6 feet in heels. I was teased when I was younger about being ‘too tall’ but it’s not like I can do anything about it so one must ignore the haters! Height does not prevent me from loving/buying/wearing shoes of all sorts (the only thing that prevents me from owning more heels is my (US) size 11 foot!), but I do tend more toward flats for the sake of comfort. There are so many cute flats options now, moreso than when I was in my teens. I do get that ‘geez I’m a giant!’ feeling in photos sometimes, many of my girlfriends are much shorter. I do feel more authoritative in professional situations when being on eye-level with nearly every manager/director at my company. Also, my jerk boss is a tiny little Napoleon and I enjoy looking down my nose at him!
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I’m 5’8″ also, and while I know I’m not remarkebly tall (infact I’ve always wanted to be taller), I have had many moments in my life where I’ve been made to feel odd for my height.
I went to formal with my friend because she was still attending the school and I had since moved on to Tafe. Anyway, she’s about 5′ and begged me not to wear heels. It ruined my outfit, but figured I owed it to her to make her feel comfortable. Then I was a bridesmaid in my brother’s wedding and the bride, along with the three other bridesmaids were around 5′ aswell, the photographer constantly had me bending over to fit in the shots.
I guess those occasions, aswell as many others means I don’t wear high heels that often. Being that I’m not skinny, I imagine myself as this mammoth monstrosity that draws way too much negative attention to itself. If I do wear heels, it’s usually around my brothers or my husband who are mostly over 6′. -
I barely scrape in over 5 ft, so I’m well on the short side as well, and I agree with a lot of the other girls that it rarely concerns me. I have a friend who’s 6ft, however, and she is very self conscious about her height. She always felt that the difference was that people always fawn over you if you’re a girl and short, whereas tallness they find more difficult to “cutify” and would instead just stare at her and remark on her height. So I guess whether it’s an issue for you, just as so many other self confidence issues are, is an experience thing and depends on how people have reacted to your height in the past.
When it comes to heels, I rarely wear them. I don’t know whether it’s because of this lack of experience wearing them, but I find heeled shoes soooo painful to wear for long periods! I did do a lot of practice when I was younger to walk confidently in heels, however, so when I do wear them I feel like the most confident, sexy thing in town. But yeah..it’s not really a height issue for me either.
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I’m 5’9 with a size 11 shoe size, and I feel like wearing heels would draw to much attention to me. They’re sexy, and that’s like saying “Hey, I feel like I’m sexy enough to where these!” and people would think “Er, no!”
So it’s self confidence issues, and others shouldn’t feel like that’s true for them. Maybe, MAYBE I’ll try it out and see how it feels.
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hi there! I have been 6’1″ since fourth grade. Honestly I don’t realize my height unless someone points it out. My aunt (also 6ft) as told me to stand tall, but don’t loom over people. And yes I wear heels. Usually not taller than three inches(for my safety). Same Aunt informed me I was already tall, why not go taller.
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I don’t wear them because I am clumsy and have little balance as it is. So I end up hurting myself. Nothing to do with my height.
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