Yep, It’s Official: The Pumps Have It
The Results Are In: A couple of weeks ago we ran a letter from “A Shoe-In,” a woman in her mid-30s who insisted that classic high-heeled pumps were the only shoes the male species cares to see on women. “Even I have to admit that some other styles are cute,” she wrote. “But if you want to test my theory, ask your boyfriend, husband or any member of the opposite sex what they prefer.”
We argued that woman does not live by one shoe alone. But far be it for us to speak for the male gender. So we put the question out there: What do men want?
No doubt about it--the pumps won. By a landslide.
Men love pumps on women. They practically write odes about what they do for a woman’s leg, shape, walk, etc.
They have a definite preference for heel height (3 to 4 inches), designers (“The ne plus ultra is clearly Manolo Blahnik”) and style (classic is best, but a slingback here and there is OK).
Surprised? We were, considering most men haven’t a clue when it comes to women’s clothes. (You doubt that? Ask one the difference between stockings, socks, pantyhose, leotards, leggings and tights, and then watch his head explode.)
But when it comes to pumps, men have quite a bit to say. To wit:
* “A business suit with high-heeled tennis shoes. A chiffon and lace cocktail dress with combat boots. Somehow, I don’t think these outfits are quite the class act that they would be with pumps. Please! Let’s give these styles the painful death they deserve and let the female gender return to the elegance only the pump can give a svelte outfit!”
* “The problem today is that most younger women seem either not to want to appeal to men and/or want to live in fashion jail. The clunky, thick, unattractive shoes are like an invasion of locusts.”
* “Well, I just got done polling the guys here at the fire station, and it’s unanimous. Firemen prefer high heels over other footwear. The polls were split, though, on ‘classic’ high heels and the ‘strappy’ high heels that most women are wearing these days.”
* “Somehow, [with classic pumps] women can change the shape of their ankles, the curve of their calves or the line of their legs to express different kinds of emotions, or perhaps attitudes. I don’t know how a woman does it! I don’t even expect any woman to admit she can manipulate men’s minds so readily, but women can and do!”
* “The only time I find pumps are not sexy is on women who teeter when they walk. Luckily my wife is expert in a pair of high-heel pumps and she wears them for me, not for other women.”
* “The day that a pair of 4-inch black pumps worn only with a three-strand pearl choker fails to inspire me is the day I’ll look into getting a prescription for Viagra.”
“Have you ever tried to drink champagne out of a sandal?”
There you have it. So, gals, you know what to do.
Several men thanked us for asking for their input. Said one, “Thank you, Fashion Police, for requesting a gentleman’s opinion. It is not often one gets the opportunity these days.”
Shucks, guys. Your opinion always counts with us.
*
Now, since turnabout is fair play, let’s put the same question to women: What kind of shoes do you prefer to see on men? Loafers? Wing tips? Saddle shoes? Skechers? Flip-flops? (Yikes! Please don’t say you like those.) Do you make snap judgments about a man based upon the kind of shoes he wears? The Fashion Police are waiting to hear from you!
* When reporting or preventing a fashion crime, write to Fashion Police, Life & Style, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or fax to (213) 237-0732. Submissions cannot be returned. No telephone inquiries, please.
