It's a pretty popular stereotype that women love shoes, but really, can you blame us? They can make us look taller, bring a great outfit to the next level, and most importantly, help us feel beautiful and confident. However, rocking a hot pair of heels often means that we're sacrificing comfort for style.
Both ladies and men alike have dealt with the blisters, sore feet, and swollen ankles that often come with ill-fitting shoes. While there are some easy and painless ways to break in a stiff new pair of kicks, like this method that only requires a plastic bag and water, many of us will just have to accept that our pair of shoes that looks the best won't ever feel the best.
Of course, there are lots of ways to prevent all these issues, too. This guy showed us what a big difference it makes to spend some extra cash on a pair of running shoes instead of buying the cheapest option, and it completely changed the way I look at footwear! But even if you're willing to empty your piggy bank for a trendy new set of heels, you might have to prepare yourself for having some sore toes.
Normal heels are extreme enough, but they're nothing in comparison to these unbelievable shoes. Check out these havoc-wreaking heels, but be warned — just looking at them might convince you to go barefoot for the rest of your life!
Which shoe do you think is the craziest? Let us know in the comments, and SHARE this post with all your friends!
1. These chopstick kickers
Inspired by the Chinese dragon (and of course, Chinese table utensils), these heels were created by the famously out-of-the-box footwear designed Kobi Levi. While definitely a cute look, I can only imagine that it's even harder to walk with chopsticks than it is to eat with them!
2. These worrisome wedges
Just looking at these shoes makes me feel like I can already hear my ankles breaking. The Fahrenheit women's Lucite wedges can be bought for less than $45, but the only (one-star) review of the shoe says that the buyer never wore them and "would be ashamed to donate them." Yikes.
3. These heels from hell
If you think these shoes would feel painful to you, just imagine how they'd feel to your enemies. The "Zetta" from Hades (the shoe company, not the god of the underworld…I think) is covered in metal spikes, making it perfect for keeping creepy men away from you.
4. These LEGO-steppers
Our fond childhood memories of playing with LEGOs are peppered with not-so-fond memories of stepping on LEGOs, so don't feel bad if your first reaction upon seeing these heels was to flinch. They were created by artist Finn Stone probably more as a fun art piece than actual functional footwear (though they're certainly wearable), but even though the LEGOs aren't in the shoes, just the idea of accidentally stepping on them in the middle of the night is enough to make me say "no thanks" to these heels.
5. These stabby sci-fi shoes
In a sci-fi movie or video game, these shoes designed by Peter Popps would probably give you special powers, like super speed. In real life, though, the only place they'd get you is the back of an ambulance.
6. These bold ballet shoes
If you get the feeling you've seen these shoes before, you're probably a Lady Gaga fan. Designer Noritaka Tatehana teamed up with the pop star to create these 18-inch wedges that put the singer on her tip-toes for her music video, "Marry the Night." Between the steep angle and ridiculous height, I don't know how Lady Gaga is still walking after that experience.
7. These cliffhangers
Believe it or not, designer Jan Taminiau actually created these shoes for people to wear. Crazy, right? But Beyoncé herself actually worse these terrifying heels for a magazine photoshoot once, so we know for sure that however uncomfortable it might be to stand in these, it is somehow possible.
8. These sadistic slippers
What happens when you take uncomfortable sky-high heels and pair them with uncomfortable vertical ballet slippers? Anyone else might say "unbearable pain," but Christian Louboutin said, "fashion." These shoes were designed for an auction to benefit the English National Ballet, but photos of models actually wearing them prove that they are, in fact, designed for feet.
9. These wheely heels
Another design by Peter Popps, these bizarre shoes are supposed to give off a sort of vintage sci-fi vibe. But all they give me is anxiety.
10. These real-life Cinderella slippers
In the Disney movie, Cinderella's glass slippers looked both beautiful and comfortable. These real glass heels by designer Maison Margiela don't look nearly as appropriate for dancing the night away. They're sold individually to further carry on the Disney charm (and to make it easier to get a new one if you lose one at midnight), but I wouldn't recommend actually wearing them unless you have bandages and a doctor nearby.
11. These soleless shoes
We've already shown you heelless shoes, but if that didn't seem bad enough, just check out these soleless shoes created by Aminaka Wilmont. They seem to pretty much defeat the purpose of wearing shoes, but that didn't stop them from finding their way onto a model's feet and then the runway at London Fashion Week.
12. These backwards heels
Thankfully, designer Leanie van der Vyer doesn't actually want you to wear these shoes, which were part of a project she called "Scary Beautiful." Her aim was to highlight the ridiculous beauty and fashion standards in today's society and question at what point our crazy high heels cross the line between sexy and scary. Her backwards shoes really highlight the backwards world of fashion we all live in today.
Please SHARE these shoes with all your friends!
