How Ugly Shoes Modeled By Women Who Aren't Models Supposedly "Empower" More Than The Designer's Bank Account
A woman emailed me this press release:
Subject: An honest approach: the brand celebrating the diversity of womenDear Amy,
As magazines and catwalks continue to pressurize women into conforming to unrealistic body images, we are making a stand to celebrate and promote the diversity of women.
I founded Shoes by Shaherazad with the overriding mission of empowering women and as such we make it our priority to be honest in the way that we represent women. That's why all of our brand materials use "real" women, and by this we mean females who do not have their body shapes, textures or appearances altered in any way.
Our philanthropic work benefits women across all continents and enables empowered women to empower more women. Every pair of heels purchased directly inspires girls to stand up for their rights, gain better jobs and give them a chance to reclaim their childhood.
Please let me know if you'd be interested in hearing more about how we are celebrating the diversity of women through our brand.
Thanks very much in advance,
First of all, I love the notion of "unrealistic body images" -- as if it's "unrealistic" to have a body that is, say, thin and topped off by big boobs.
My second thought? "Ugly fucking shoes sold by climbing on Dove's focus grouping years after the fact."
They look like what some matronly older woman would wear to my parents' temple. 
Also, it's female competition -- as in, the need to compete for men -- that causes women to try to top each other in looks. Yes, there are sex differences in what we prioritize in a partner. Male sexuality evolved to be primarily looks driven, much as you might wish a man would want to have sex with you because you bought a homeless man a sandwich.
Getting back to the shoes, I also loved this:
All of our brand materials use "real" women, and by this we mean females who do not have their body shapes, textures or appearances altered in any way.
Don't women alter their appearance the moment they put on clothes, get their hair done, or apply makeup?
These women advertising her shoes on her site appear to be wearing makeup; probably a few are wearing Spanx-type garments, and a few at least have their hair dyed.
Oh, maybe by not having women represent her brand who have their "appearances altered in any way," she means that she uses some women who are a bit plump in her ads.
Riiight.
By the way, I forwarded this press release (with some sneers from me added) to a friend, who wrote:
Your correspondent here is taking ready-made shoes and putting trim on them. Very little creativity, compared to say Louboutin or Blahnik or even Kate Spade.
I wrote her back:
Exactly.If this is female ingenuity, count me out.
Also, I'd rather wear Timberlands and an evening dress than those ugly shoes.
Fashion note to women: Generally guys are taller than you. When he's standing next to you, looking down, he's not looking at your shoes.
Wfjag at August 11, 2016 3:01 AM
These shoes are ugly. Also, advertising is supposed to be aspirational. I don't "aspire" to look like the average woman.
Insufficient Poison at August 11, 2016 4:49 AM
You know, if by "real" they mean, "not photoshopped into something anatomically impossible" I'm ok with that. Here's a link showing what I am referring to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKlVyUJw3TM
If you look at how they distort her neck (and the torso/butt combo), it isn't very realistic. Certainly the 1.5times oversized eyes aren't!
In that sense, using more realistic models, would be a good thing. I don't mind light photo editing (contrast, tone, etc), but Barbie isn't realistic for anyone. 12 inch necks, 14 inch waists and 42 inch busts. It's just franken-body by the end.
Mind, I'm not very girly at all, but I think having an iota of real body would be helpful. Because nobody walks around with photoshop on.
Shannon at August 11, 2016 5:04 AM
In fact, if he's looking at your shoes, you've failed. (Per Wfljag's comment.)
One of my proudest recent moments, at 52 and a half, no, did not involve people marveling at my brain or my writing. Yeah, I get those remarks and I lap those up.
However, at a conference, we were looking for someplace to eat, and this one place had a long wait, so we walked out. My friend Jessica was behind me and she told me that some man fell turning around to stare at my ass. My 52 and a half-year-old ass.
Made my weekend!
Amy Alkon at August 11, 2016 5:23 AM
I have to believe other women when they say they find catcalling offensive or threatening, but I sure don't. I'm like, "Go on. I'm still listening!"
I don't believe the /degree/ of manipulation done in that YouTube video is typical (where the subject ends up looking nothing like herself) in advertising. If it were, there would be no jobs for models.
But even if it is, I have no issues with truly unattainable imagery. The purpose of advertising isn't to make me like my body. It's there to inspire and sell product. Giselle Bundchen is real, and I'm kidding myself if I think I'm going to look like her.
Insufficient Poison at August 11, 2016 5:43 AM
At least she took a shot at getting your endorsement instead of asking for a GoFund donation.
LA, Venice, and such might not be her target audience but I bet fly-over country is.
Bob in Texas at August 11, 2016 5:46 AM
"As magazines and catwalks continue to pressurize women into conforming to unrealistic body images,..."
They're sticking air hoses down women's throats? That would seem to have the opposite of the desired effect...
"...and give them a chance to reclaim their childhood. "
Wait, what? They want adult women to go back to childhood? Where did this come from? It doesn't even fit into the context. What are they really saying and how does it have anything to do with shoes?
Cousin Dave at August 11, 2016 6:35 AM
Don't women alter their appearance the moment they put on clothes, get their hair done, or apply makeup?
Well, actually what is real about any given woman? in the fake category we have:
boobs
eyelashes
nails
eye color
heels
hair (color|extensions)
spray tanning
feel free to mix and match.
In fact, if he's looking at your shoes, you've failed.
Maybe. Depends on the shoes. If a woman is wearing fuck-me boots, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
I R A Darth Aggie at August 11, 2016 6:55 AM
Totally. Few women have the fan-like eyelashes you can acquire from falsies, or perfectly smoothed nails like stilettos, or boobs levitating almost to their clavicle the way a push-up bra renders them. But these enhancements are okay.
"Real" tends to mean "not slender," but cosmetic surgery and extensions get a bad rap too.
I find that the more expensive or challenging an physical improvement is to attain, the angrier women are about it, and the more they want to call it out as fake. I can understand not wanting some of these things for yourself, but if you're angry or jealous, that tells me you're acknowledging that an improvement has occurred. Otherwise the images would't be threatening; they'd be laughable or cautionary.
Insufficient Poison at August 11, 2016 7:26 AM
Rolling Stones said,"the girls all dressed up for each other".
Fred Mallison at August 11, 2016 8:01 AM
"As magazines and catwalks continue to PRESSURIZE women..."
So that's the trouble, women have been over-pressurized! I wonder, what is the room-temperature pressure of an ANSI-standard woman.
bkmale at August 11, 2016 8:49 AM
Insert joke about Ideal Gas Law here...
Cousin Dave at August 11, 2016 9:44 AM
Girls dress up for each other to demonstrate status as it pertains to men--either power to attract them or proof that they have captured one of means.
Insufficient Poison at August 11, 2016 10:09 AM
You would have to demonstrate an available who bought a homeless man a sandwich. In a world where probabilities sufficiently small might as well not exist she is rarer than Solomon's rate for finding a virtuous woman.
ElVerdeLoco at August 11, 2016 10:33 AM
I have no opinion of the shoes, but when I am king the word "empower" will be banned, particularly in relation to advertising or fundraising.
Kevin at August 11, 2016 10:58 AM
Claiming your product is linked to a charity is a cheap trick. If you say "every dollar spent on shoes allows 1 child to be vaccinated" I might accept it. But what does it mean that they "empower" girls? Give them a pep talk? Send out tweets?
This whole "empower" thing just makes me gag. Do you mean confidence? Confidence comes from sleeping in a tent that you carried in miles on a mountain trail, or escaping a herd of cows chasing you out of their field. Confidence comes from actually being able to write code or figure out a corp tax statement. Confidence based on high heels is fake. Every girl can buy them and they make your feet hurt.
Craig Loehle at August 11, 2016 12:44 PM
Loved the comments. At 63 was thrilled when a kinda hunky man chatted me up at Home Depot. And yes, Botox has empowered me for over 20 years. Or cheered me up at least.
another Amy at August 11, 2016 1:28 PM
> when I am king the word "empower"
> will be banned
Kev, we understand your sense of urgency, but before you issue the decree, you should convene a roundtable re: "sustainable."
Crid at August 11, 2016 6:21 PM
"In fact, if he's looking at your shoes, you've failed."
Sigh. You don't notice the setting when you see some girl's big diamond, but the damned thing won't shine if it isn't held right!
Heels are the "setting" for your whole body. They say why you are there and what you intend as they present you to the room. That you may have been able to ignore that does not set that aside at all!
Radwaste at August 11, 2016 10:53 PM
As someone who likes comfy shoes, those do not look comfy
Worst of both worlds I guess...
Nicolek at August 12, 2016 7:50 AM
"Heels are the "setting" for your whole body. They say why you are there and what you intend as they present you to the room. That you may have been able to ignore that does not set that aside at all!"
A world of YES. Heels do a lot for your body. Even my Chucks have hidden heels.
"Kev, we understand your sense of urgency, but before you issue the decree, you should convene a roundtable re: "sustainable."
And re: "roundtable."
Insufficient Poison at August 12, 2016 10:20 AM
Totally agree. Taking other peoples' work and tacking on a bit of your own here and there is definitely not a display of ingenuity.
CSRG at August 12, 2016 10:59 PM
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