As Indians, we are always blamed for aping the west. If we choose trousers over the ethnic churidars, it is a western influence, if we opt for a chic handbag instead of the Jholas we are influenced by the west, if we like pasta over pav bhaji it is the fault of the west! It is almost as if being Indian is a test. You will have an influx of global brands setting up awesome showrooms across the malls of the nation, but you are not allowed to buy the wares because .. wait.. you are getting enamored by the west! Resist the temptation. Flock to the street vendors who are selling the desi wares because therein lies your true Indian spirit.
For a woman it just gets worse. We get lessons on culture every time we shimmy into a dress which makes us feel good. I remember being lectured by a maternal aunt on how Indian bodies are not designed to wear western clothes. How I would look much prettier if I traded in my black cowl neck for a beaded Kurti! My body. My Choice. While seven out of ten times I might feel inclined to dress to impress people. Ten out ten times I dress up because it makes me feel good about myself, makes me confident of who I am and for those moments I really feel beautiful. I do not care whether my dressing is eastern or western or south Indian.
Ditto for shoes! I don’t own forty pairs of shoes because Carrie Bradshaw owned them in SATC. I own them because I want to. Ridiculously enough an Indian woman’s want or craving for shoes is also often blamed on a western influence. I can’t imagine wearing mojris or Kolhapuris for the rest of my life! And it is not just about fashion or style.
Heels Inspire Confidence
It is not just a woman’s excuse to want to own heels – heels actually give you confidence. In a patriarchal society like India, where the testosterone levels are on a forever high, a woman needs that little bit of extra boost to hold her head high.
Have you ever tried to walk into a room filled with men, clicking you smart heels in confidence? Eight out of ten with ‘look up’ out of sheer curiosity and at least four will take notice of what you have to say? Why?
Because men are primal. Their animal instincts make them associate height with power. So before the rational or logical part of their brain kicks in, a tall woman equates to a powerful woman in their brains. And as far as first impressions go, this is one impression which will definitely work in your favor.
Heels are your secret
Heels talk. And I am not just saying this out of some misguided love for high heels. Heels help you make your own personal statement. They help you express your feelings towards the situation you are walking into.
For a lot of women, it is their shoes who carry their secrets at the butt of their heels and the tip of their toes. Wear your secrets. Share your own private joke. Those toe pinching heels which dig into the back of your foot? They will tell you how nervous you are about the meeting, while the people present see a tall, confident woman walk into the room.
The slightly taller heels which make your legs look longer and your posture smarter? They will assure you that you are wearing them to impress the guy you have a crush on. You want him to take notice.
In a society loaded with taboos, having heels is like having a best friend. You can’t talk about how you feel because it is indecent to be verbose about your feelings but heels help you walk your mood.
In a time and age in this nation when women have the illusion of freedom, but not the right to enjoy it, when women are shown the path to equality but are still paying the price to walk down that path, heels are the companions who will not only help you click your way in style, but make sure you get noticed every step of the way!
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