Why Do Women Wear These Crazy High Heels?

The Heelstory
If you think high heels were invented for women, you should know that they actually started with men.

According to the curator of the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, shoes with a pointed heel and a sloping pitch were first worn by men as riding boots in 9th-century Persia.

During the Renaissance period, women wore high platforms stacked heavily at the toe called chopines. They were said to rise about eight inches high and were worn in the sheer delight of displaying family wealth. These chopines later became a trend to prostitutes in Florence and Sicily.

In the 1500s, the high-heeled men's riding boot was revived by Queen Elizabeth who "acted" as a man. In the early 1700s, shorter heels started to become popular with women. By the time of the Second World War, heels started soaring higher with the discovery of using metal rods on shoes to maintain a strong and narrow structure.

Today, heels just keep on evolving as they get higher and more pointed or rounded, according to the crazy trend that echoed their history of glamour, power, oppression, sexiness, and contradiction to accepted morality.

So much was our love for heels so that designers are forever coming up with bold ideas to create high heels that would especially help women feel sexy and liberated.

Lookie at these crazy Alexander McQueen's 10-inches heels, the highest footwear to strut down the Paris runway this season:


With women getting crazy over the latest high heels, it's becoming common to hear shoe designers fighting over trademark issues.

Alexander McQueen is suing Steve Madden for allegedly copying this Faithful bootie:


Women just love to wear shoes that are impossibly high, uncomfortable, difficult, and dangerous to walk in and an economic professor provides this answer: "Taller people earn more, for example, and command greater attention in social settings. And hence the attraction of high heels."

Heels injure our feet, knees, and back but we still wear them. We simply love the way they look and we love to play with our height (and our character) every now and then.

Dita von Teese's Art of Seduction

Dying to seduce the man of your dreams?

Take it from fetish model and burlesque performer Dita von Teese: an effective strategy for seducing men is letting them come to you - after you have set the target.

"I don't have a technique for seducing men because they're all so different. You have to know your victim. It has always worked for me to let them come to me.

"I'm not very aggressive. I don't seduce and destroy. I like to be chased, but I'm not into playing hard to get."

Dita von Teese's art of seduction is pretty simple. Instead of getting aggressive around your "victim" (the man you like, deary), back off and let him come to you.

Men generally love the thrill of the chase so... know your victim, set the stage, and let them do the hunting!

Jennifer Aniston Says New Jersey Smells

From her Thursday appearance on Chelsey Lately, Jennifer Aniston shares some smelly experience in New Jersey while filming The Bounty with Gerard Butler:

"What is with that smell? You know when you drive from Manhattan, and there's that one area?"

Uh-oh, one of Garden State's most famous residents is none too pleased to hear the girl-next-door's comment. Danielle Staub from reality TV's Real Housewives of New Jersey says:

"I would love to hang out with her. I hear she is really fabulous - but she really shouldn't say that. If you land in Newark and leave out of Newark, yeah, you will think NJ smells. But you can't judge it by one part. If it was so bad, I wouldn't be living here for 22 years."

Just to prove that New Jersey does not smell that bad, Danielle Staub, who resides in a $1.5-million home in Wayne, New Jersey (what she calls the "good smelling part"), has an offer for Jennifer Aniston:

"I will personalize a tour and take her to a fabulous lunch on me afterwards. All homemade Italian food, and a tour of all the wonderfully smelling places in New Jersey before I take you to a luncheon, my treat."

Animosity Towards Barack Obama, Due To Racism?

Former US President Jimmy Carter says that much of the opposition to first African-American President Barack Obama is due to racism. He says that many Whites that express disagreement with the president's leadership hold the belief that an African-American is not worthy to be in the White House:

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African American."

Jimmy Carter cites the anti-government demonstrations over healthcare reform which have been almost exclusively White. There is also an increasingly aggressive tone on rightwing talk shows.

While celebrating his 85th birthday on NBC, Jimmy Carter claims:

"I live in the south, and I've seen the south come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shared the south's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans.

"And that racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the south but around the country, that African Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

Meanwhile, the Republican party today issued a denial saying that Carter was "flat-out wrong." According to them, the opposition was not because of Obama's skin colour but of his policies.

Sudanese Court Arrests Women For Wearing Trousers

Recently, we've heard about a Malaysian woman condemned to caning after drinking beer. These days, there's another indecency case that attracts worldwide media attention - a Sudanese woman has been arrested after wearing trousers.


Lubna Hussein has been arrested with 12 other women at a party on July. Deemed indecent for wearing the foreign clothing, they had faced the possibility of 40 lashes. Ten of the other women arrested with her have already pleaded guilty and have been whipped. But Lubna Hussein, a former reporter working for the United Nations at the time of her arrest, has sought the help of the media. With large publicity sorrounding her case, she has been spared from the lashes. Instead, the Sudanese Court charges her to pay a fine of 500 pounds ($209) or spend a month in jail.

Lubna Hussein has argued that her clothes, a pair of green slacks, were respectable and that she did not break the law. Refusing to pay the fine after her verdict, she says "I will not pay the money, and I will go to prison."

Sudan is a country with large cultural gap between the mostly Muslim and Arab-oriented north and the mainly Christian south. Indecency cases like that of Lubna Hussein is common but because of wide publicity, activists are now citing the vagueness of Sudan's Islamic decency regulations specifically on determining what is acceptable clothing for women.

While Islamists call trouser-wearing Lubna Hussein as a prostitute worthy of harsh punishment, supporters praise her for bravely speaking out against the vagueness of indecency laws in her country and giving voice to thousands of girls who have been beaten since the 1990s.


Come to think of it, while most of us are arguing whether the latest pants are sexy or not and if tummy tuck jeans are still in fashion, some people on the other side of the world are debating if they can even wear one.

Jennifer Aniston, No Boyfriend But Having Fun

Jennifer Aniston does not mind being called "the lonely girl."

After her split with husband Brad Pitt in 2005, the 40-year old actress has been dating several men including actor Vince Vaughn, model Paul Sculfor, and musician John Mayer. Unfortunately, none of these relationships worked out and the girl-next-door Jennifer Aniston has been left to herself again.

Currently single, Jennifer Aniston tells in her interview with the New York Post:

"I'm not going to ignore the pink elephant in the living room. It's fine. I can take it. If I'm the emblem for 'this is what it looks like to be the lonely girl getting on with her life' so be it. I can make fun of myself. And I'll bring it up as long as the world is bringing it up."

Jennifer Aniston has always been positive about life. According to the actress, her parents are funny and have always made each other laugh. This is the reason why being happy is very important to her.

"I remember being 7 and asking my mom if I was as pretty as (my best friend) Monique. And with all the love in the world, my mom looked at me and said, 'Oh, honey, you're so funny.' So, she doesn't lie to me... She answers the question by not answering and instead tells me what she thinks is my greatest strength. I put a lot of value in that at a very young age."

Halle Berry Says Yes To Motherhood, No To Marriage

Having a daughter, Nahla, former Bond girl Halle Berry says that her priorities in life has changed from "myself" to "my child." The joy of motherhood has even make her contemplate on having another child with partner Gabriel Aubry, nine years her junior.

But when it comes to marrying the model, the 42-year old actress vows never to walk down the aisle, again. Halle Berry has divorced twice and now comes to a realization that no relationship lasts forever:

"I'm much clearer about what a relationship is, which is why I will never marry again. Gabriel and I have a great partnership and a lovely daughter. But I once was stupid enough to say, in a previous relationship, 'I'm going to be with this person for ever,' and realized, as I grew, that I don't know if forever is possible."

Sorry Gabriel, but Halle Berry seems to anticipate that you and her will soon bid each other goodbye...

"Dickney Spears," Blasted By German Fans

Britney Spears was not able to impress her German fans from her Circus World Tour recently held in O2 World in Berlin.


Angry fans say that the expensive ticket price was unworthy of the lame performance given by the fat Britney Spears. They labeled her "Dickney" and Speckney" which both mean "fat" in German. Some say it got worst when the pop princess snubbed a group of fans gathered outside her hotel by not signing few photographs but sending out her management to give printed autograph cards instead.

This report was according to German tabloid Bild. Photos of a fuller Britney Spears were also featured. Some, however, believed that the photos were photoshopped since other images and videos from the concert shows a shaper Britney.

Hola, Rise Of The Merkins!

Merkins, actually a socially acceptable term for vagina wigs, are gaining mainstream popularity these days as one of the kinkiest fashion accessories for women.

Merkins were originally used as cover ups for genital sores of prostitutes in the 15th Century. Later, they were worn in filming movies to avoid full frontals and yeah, lower MPAA ratings. (FYI: Kate Winslet wore a merkin in The Reader to increase her amount of pubic hair.)

Today, merkins are making a comeback to accessorize that sexy, delicate part of your body. As they say, merkins offer fashionable options when feeling "a bit chilly or need to go all out for a really special occasion."

Says one merkin lover:

"I don't know how we got along without them as an integral part of our wardrobes. In fact, I can think of hundreds of ways to incorporate the merkin into any and all of my outfits. Night out with the girls? Sequined merkin. Day at the park? Turf merkin (000 matchy matchy). Interview? Tweed merkin (perhaps a tad scratchy)."

Mischa Barton On Psychiatric Hold

The OC star Mischa Barton was held under Section 5150 involuntary psychiatric ward at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Under 5150, a person can be held involuntarily in the psychiatric ward when they present a danger to themselves or others, or suffer from a mental disorder.

Police reported that the 23-year old actress called to ask assistance for a "health problem." LAPD Officer April Harding said there were no paramedics involved and they "assisted her with a medical issue and removed her from her home."

Mischa Barton's 5150 psychiatric ward was the same place that Britney Spears went into twice in 2008.

Brad Pitt's Basterd Advice: Don't Talk And Pee

Probably for the promotion of his upcoming Inglourious Basterds movie, Brad Pitt appeared on the cover of Wired magazine this month. Aside from talking about his glam life, Angelina Jolie and the kids, and his charitable efforts, he also provided words of advice through "Ask a Basterd" column.

The life-changing question was, "Is it acceptable to talk on the phone while urinating?"

Brad Pitt advices:

"No, you can't talk on the phone! Do you want the guy next to you to hear your entire conversation? That's why you should only text in the bathroom. Just be sure you don't hit the wrong button and end up putting a photo of your junk on Twitter. Trust me, you don't want those followers."

FYI: Robert Pattinson Is Amazing In Bed!

In this as-crazy-as-it-is-glitzy world of Hollywood, even an ordinary happening in the lives of common people becomes a talk-of-the-town when it has something to do with celebrities. And for most young people out there who just can't get enough of the Twilight drama, this will probably make great news:

Robert Pattinson (aka Edward) is "amazing" in bed!


This was according to the actor's former girlfriend who shared a "very passionate" 2-month relationship with him, just last year.

According to her unnamed ex on National Enquirer, "We just had this chemistry between us that made our kisses amazing. I felt electricity go between us! I'm really passionate, as is he. That's why, no matter how much we fought, it was always amazing in bed! We'd glance at each other throughout the night because it made it more exciting when we got home. The tension was so strong, we couldn't control ourselves. It was amazing!"

Ohhlala. That's some kinky news, Twilight fans. So how do we hook up a man like Robert Pattinson? Click through the link and find out.

Kate Winslet Puts Back Her Breasts

At the age of 33, Kate Winslet becomes the the youngest actor of either sex to receive six Academy Awards nominations. She has already proved her worth as an actress, so to speak.


So now, Kate Winslet has this confidence of not showing her breasts and do nudity in films just to earn an award:

"If people are noticing my boobs in a movie and saying they do what real boobs do, then thats great.

"I'll be 34 in October. I can't keep getting away with (nudity). There was so much of it in The Reader because the story required it, but people have seen enough of my bum and my boobs. I have to put them back."

Yes, acting is more important than showing breasts. But put them back? Some say Kate Winslet is just a little too young to say no-no to nudity.

Angelina Jolie And David Beckham Together

Angelina Jolie has been reported to work with David Beckham and wife Victoria for Armani fashion house.


While the Beckhams will strip together for the Armani underwear line, Angelina Jolie will exude her oh-so-sexy scent as she becomes the face of a new Emporio Armani perfume.

But rumor has it that Angelina Jolie and David Beckham will also pose together for Armani:

"When you have David Beckham and Angelina Jolie signed up to your fashion house it's a no-brainer to link them up. There are a few contract issues to be addressed but marketing experts are being tasked with coming up with clever ideas for a print campaign," says a source for The Insider.

Armani execs reportedly needed to have a big star to help push the fragrance - and they were lucky to have Angelina Jolie, today's most powerful actress, to sign the deal.

"She's giving a lot of input on that stuff already, picking the photographers and directors. The campaign is going to be bold."