Should men wear heeled shoes? Chan Kok Weng, Adrian Ng, Georgia Lee and Michelle Eng share their opinions on the great debate.
Should men wear heeled shoes? Chan Kok Weng, Adrian Ng, Georgia Lee and Michelle Eng share their opinions on the great debate.
Chan Kok Weng
An aesthetics doctor with his own practice, Kok Weng was inducted into Singapore Tatler’s Fashion Hall of Fame this year. He believes that in the 21st century, anyone, man or woman, can experiment with any fashion trend. There’s just one caveat: “As long as you don’t follow fashion blindly, but pick trends that complement your body shape and personality to bring out your best side.”
If a man has the confidence to carry them off, why not? Heeled shoes represent different things on women and men. Ladies in heels personify sexiness and sophistication. On the other hand, on men, they’re a fashion statement. I believe that it’s trendy, daring men who wear heeled shoes, and if and when they do wear them, it should be for style, not to compensate for any height deficiency. A confident man exudes stature and authority, regardless of his height. Heeled shoes for men are appropriate when paired with the right outfit, and when they suit a particular occasion. A woman should certainly let her man slip into a pair. My wife Elaine bought me my first pair when Prada launched its heeled brogue platform shoes some years back. We’re in the 21st century, and I think anyone, man or woman, can choose to see the world from any angle they choose! Society has evolved greatly and we have come so far in fashion. Look at the Fall/Winter ’15 men’s runway trend and you’ll see leopard prints, feminine detailing, one-piece playsuits... The idea of juxtaposition when you mix colors, prints, and soft detailing like ruffles and floral motifs with masculinity is what makes fashion fun.
Adrian Ng
An anaesthetist, Adrian is a familiar face at society events, usually with his wife May-Han. Grateful that men, unlike women, do not have to make too many fashion choices when it comes to getting ready for an event, he reveals that his style philosophy is simple: Be neat, clean and comfortable, and occasionally, subtly playful. “I prefer to let my lady be the star of the show when we walk into a room, as I beam inside when I see her sparkle brightly to the world!” he says.
I look around at my friends and am obviously cognizant of my shorter stature. As a kid, I had always been placed in front; in front of the class when we lined up during school assemblies and in the front row when seated in the classrooms. I never felt that it was an issue growing up, and just accepted that I literally drew the short straw in the lottery of heights! In my opinion, there are possibly two groups of men who will pump for heels. And I feel that they could be on opposing ends of a confidence tug-of-war. The first group consists of the uber fashion-forward and typifies one end of this spectrum. These individuals don fashion that is avant-garde, innovative and occasionally experimental. Heels for them are an extension of their inner selves and a means of exhibiting that daring creative streak. The other group on the opposite end of the spectrum might feel less out of place amongst taller individuals when they are in elevated shoes. Heels in this case are used to raise their stature and may bolster confidence as a result. So, I have to give a qualified yes to these two groups of men; the former for bravely forwarding the frontiers of fashion, and the latter for braving the presumed discomfort to elevate their standing! I likely fall between these two groups. I am not bold or adventurous enough to be experimenting with heels (yet!), and I am comfortable with the physique that I have been blessed with!
Georgia Lee
“Be comfortable in a style that defines you,” says the unapologetically flamboyant Georgia Lee, the medical director of TLC Lifestyle Practice and founder of DrGL Skincare
I’m not one who says no to something that’s provocative or out of the ordinary. So, men in heeled shoes or even high heels? Definitely! Men should be able to dress how they feel and want to as long as it makes them feel good and happy. When I think of men in heeled shoes, iconic names like John Lennon in his Chelsea boots, and David Bowie and Prince in platforms and stilettos immediately come to mind. These are talented and famous men who popularised this look during the ’60s and ’70s, and have them etched in our memories until today.
As I always tell my stylist: “Have fun, break the rules, make brave and daring choices, and bring a whole rack of fashion like it’s 1965 all over again!” I genuinely hope that men will revive this trend again.
Michelle Eng
With fashion, Michelle Eng, a director at LED lighting specialist E-Lume adheres to this mantra by Vivienne Westwood, “Buy less, choose well and do it yourself!”
Most men’s shoes do come with a slight heel, but if it goes beyond 1.5 inches, it tends to conjure a less masculine image. It also suggests to me that the wearer lacks confidence with his height and, in fact, draws more attention to it, or the lack of it.
My husband Adrian and I are about the same height barefooted but I’m half a head taller with four-inch heels on. Despite the height difference, it has never crossed his mind to wear “man heels” as he deems them too feminine—a view I share. A possible alternative could come in the form of insoles or shoe lifts as they are discrete and in this sense, more “socially accepted”.
Of course, if you do not care what others think, then by all means go for it! After all, fashion should be fun and be used to express your individual personality and style.