Suffering for fashion
August 27th 2009 05:32
Why it is that when it comes to working out, getting fit, or the nation’s fascination with the biggest loser, the adage ‘no pain no gain’ is not only accepted but whole heartedly embraced? We’re encouraged to practically torture ourselves in the name of getting fit, often can’t move for days at a time afterwards, and are told sore muscles are a good thing. So why then when it comes to fashion does everyone get up in arms about those of us who embrace the same no pain no gain mentality?
The saying goes that we suffer for our fashion, and I believe it’s in the same way as those of us who exercise suffer for our physiques. Both are self inflicted pain in order to look good, and often the pain is similar – sore muscles, trouble breathing – so what a ridiculous idea it is that stilettos and clothes that stifle your breathing just a little should be outlawed in favour of comfort? That’s like saying, “skip the gym and go have a pie.” Sure it might feel better, but it’s not going to give you the outcome you want, is it?
Yes over time there have been elements of fashion that have been less than ideal when it comes to health. Foot binding and those crazy corsets that broke ribs and squashed internal organs for example, but these practices have since ceased and even when we do suffer for fashion I highly doubt it can be considered suffering to the same extent. So you might come home with sore feet after spending Saturday night tottering about on 3 inch Manolos, but I tell you, after I’ve done the Bondi to Coogee trek in my “comfortable” sneakers, my feet still hurt! Same outcome! But at least the Saturday night shoes look good.
Truth be told, I think a lot of us would rather suffer for our fashion than suffer through bad fashion.
The saying goes that we suffer for our fashion, and I believe it’s in the same way as those of us who exercise suffer for our physiques. Both are self inflicted pain in order to look good, and often the pain is similar – sore muscles, trouble breathing – so what a ridiculous idea it is that stilettos and clothes that stifle your breathing just a little should be outlawed in favour of comfort? That’s like saying, “skip the gym and go have a pie.” Sure it might feel better, but it’s not going to give you the outcome you want, is it?
Yes over time there have been elements of fashion that have been less than ideal when it comes to health. Foot binding and those crazy corsets that broke ribs and squashed internal organs for example, but these practices have since ceased and even when we do suffer for fashion I highly doubt it can be considered suffering to the same extent. So you might come home with sore feet after spending Saturday night tottering about on 3 inch Manolos, but I tell you, after I’ve done the Bondi to Coogee trek in my “comfortable” sneakers, my feet still hurt! Same outcome! But at least the Saturday night shoes look good.
Truth be told, I think a lot of us would rather suffer for our fashion than suffer through bad fashion.
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Comment by Julie Vaux
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I dont think we should suffer for fashion or style.
Shoes should not be a NON functional form of sculpture but great and beautiful designs that both flatter and support our feet regardless of what shape or style they are or your feet are!
About the gym. If you're feeling pain EVERY time you work out and you work out regularly you are either OVERdoing it or doing something wrong and need to see a physio.
I added Pilates stretches recommended by my physio to my mat warmups and switched from aerobics to hand weights and instea dof doing the heavier weights or a longer time on the treadmill I do more repetitions with lighter weights and I built up to higher gradients and speeds over a year.
I think people make the mistake of overdoing excerise hoping for fast results instead of focusing on fitness.
My sciaitica has been much better this year cos I stopped OVERDOING the excerise and fouced on fitness instea dof weight loss ... and the results less hip and joint pain and I lost weight anyway without being a gym junkie.
Likewise for clothes we need to use commonsense as a criteria and find looks we can wear with comfort and style.
Finally a point about high heels. You can realise one of the original reasons for shoes with high heels was to get womens' hemlines up and away from the mud and filth in streets with no pavements or regular street cleaning?
Masochism is not a healthy ideal and before people sya they have to right to choose cos its thier lives may I remind them nicotine and other junkies use the same or similar excuses.
Dont be addicts! Think about commonsense and comfort when you choose a style and be a mistress or master of style and not a victim!