Cannes Shoegate: Festival Apologises But Women Are Still Complaining of Flat Shoe Ban

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Women attendees are still complaining of being turned away from the Cannes red carpet despite a denial and then an apology from festival director Thierry Fremaux.

 

The BBC reports that producer Valeria Richter was barred by red carpet officials, who allegedly pointed to her feet and said, “No, no, this won’t work. You can’t get in like this.” Part of Ms Richter’s left foot is amputated and she said she finds it hard to balance in heels. She was eventually let in.

 

Filmmaker Asif Kapadia, director of the documentary Amy which was screened at Cannes over the weekend, also reported that his wife had been given a hard time over her shoes but was later allowed in. Actress Shabana Azmi, who has served on the Cannes jury in the past, criticized the alleged ban on Twitter:

Shocking report that Cannes bans flats on red carpet!Director of Amy Asif Kapadia says his wife was given rough time 2.Unacceptable surely.

Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) May 20, 2015

 

After Britain’s Screen Daily reported that a group of women were not allowed into the screening of Cate Blanchett’s film Carol, Thierry Fremaux insisted in a tweet:”The rumour that the festival requires high heels for the women on the steps is baseless.”

 

At a dinner on Tuesday night, he told AFP, “We apologise,” adding that “there was perhaps a small moment of over-zealousness,” apparently referring to the security guards.

 

The festival also released an official statement that read: “Regarding the dress code for the red carpet screenings, rules have not changed throughout the years (tuxedo, formal dress for Gala screenings) and there is no specific mention about the height of the women’s heels as well as for men’s.”

 

As the row over high heels erupted, actress Emily Blunt said on Tuesday, “Everyone should wear flats to be honest. We shouldn’t wear high heels anyway. That’s very disappointing. You think there’s these new waves of equality.” Emily’s film Sicario premiered at the film festival on Tuesday evening and her director Denis Villeneuve joked that he and the film’s male co-stars, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin, would climb the ‘stairs in high heels’ in solidarity.

 

Categories: asif kapadia, cannes, festival, heels, high heels, nbsp, red carpet, thierry fremaux, Women

What Everyone Ought to Know About Wearing High Heels

If you wear high heels, you probably do so with a slight guilty feeling, knowing that they are not exactly good for your health or wellbeing. But how bad are high heels for the wellness of your feet?

 

Inside your foot, there are hundreds of thousands of nerves, and also 28 bones (making up a whopping 13.5 percent of the bones in your whole body). These bones and nerves are really important as they hold you upright all day, from morning till night, and they take repetitive stress too, as people take on average 10,000 steps every day. Therefore, shoving them into uncomfortable shoes every day is hardly a good repayment for the service that they do. Around 90 percent of all women who wear high heels suffer from foot pain, fatigue and sore feet as a result.

 

In addition to this, high heels don’t give you proper foot posture, as many a podiatrist will tell you. When you wear a pair of high heels, the arch of your foot becomes higher than is natural, and yet at the same time the profile of the shoe itself is a flat one, that does not follow the natural curves of your foot. High heels can therefore be quite damaging, but there is a surprising addendum to this: small heels can actually be good for you.

 

Many people over-pronate, which means that their ankles and arches collapse inwardly on every step. Slipping on a pair of slight heels turns your ankles out slightly, counteracting this collapse. A small, stable pair of heels can actually help in this way, as well as taking the strain off overly tight calf muscles.

 

Every half inch of extra height that your heels add can actually but 25 percent more body weight onto the front of your foot, leading to tissue damage and pain.

Categories: foot, heels, high, high heels, nbsp, pair, wear high

Six Weeks To A Stronger And Sexy Body

Everyone wants to get a toned body, but it takes too long for most people to stick with it. While you won’t get anywhere without a little determination and a lot of effort, it doesn’t always have to take you years to achieve. You could be on your way to a stronger body in just six weeks. These exercises are great for improving your muscle tone, shedding excess fat and streamlining your body to create that body you’ve always dreamed of. Of course, there are other aspects of creating this body than just exercising – you’ll need to follow a healthy diet and ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle as well. But these toning exercises are fantastic at tightening up your muscles to create a toned physique.

Barbell Hip Thrust

To begin with, sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor, then lean your upper body against the bench. Place a barbell or a body bar across your hips and hold it with both of your hands, then pushing through your heels, raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees. Slowly lower the weight back to the starting position, and that’s one rep. You need to repeat this for 10 to 12 reps.

One-Arm Bent-Over Row

Place your left knee on a bench and your right foot on the floor next to it. Lean forwards to place your left hand on the bench as well, then reach down with your right hand to lift a dumbbell off the ground, with your palm facing in. You need to keep your back flat throughout, then bend your right elbow and squeeze your shoulder blades together as you pull the dumbbell up your side until it reaches your rib cage. Slowly lower back to the start, and that’s one rep. Do eight to ten of these and then repeat on the other side.

Goblet Low-Box Squat

Holding one end of a dumbbell with both hands, with your elbows bent and close to your body, stand facing away from a bench or box which sits at or below knee level, with your feet shoulder-width apart. You need to maintain a tight core as you slowly sit your hips back until you’re seated on the bench, keeping your knees in line with your toes. Pause, then press through your heels to return to the starting position. That’s one rep – do eight to ten. If you want, you can point your toes outward to up to 30 degrees if it helps you keep your heels on the floor throughout the exercise.

Incline Bench Press

Pick up a dumbbell in both hands and lie facing up on a bench, which should be set at a 45 degree incline. Position the weights at your shoulders, elbows bent, and brace your core, then press both weights up until your arms are fully extended. Lower back down to the starting position and that’s one rep. Do five to eight of these and then move on to the next exercise.

Plank

Begin by placing your forearms on the floor, with your elbows directly under your shoulders. Extend your legs to create a straight line from head to your heels, then contract your core, glutes and quads. Hold this position for 30 to 90 seconds then release.This exercise is brilliant for tightening up your core muscles and strengthening your back for a toned body.

Categories: bench, body, exercise, floor, heels, muscles, position, starting position, straight line, toned body, toning

The Perks and Perils of Wearing High Heels: An Overview

Let’s face it ladies. The words “seven-inch stiletto” and “everyday wear” cause even the most daring fashionistas to cringe and curl their toes.We’ve all thought we could do it; that enthusiastic strut and twirl in a fabulous new pair of heels at the start of the day quickly devolves into the agonizing “how-could-I-have-done-this-to-myself” pilgrimage to the closest store for flats. Even a few hours clubbing in height-defying pumps is enough to compel some women to wave their little white flags of surrender as they wince and walk home barefoot. Yes, dramatic high heels can transform an attractive ensemble into a runway ready heart-stopper, but unless you intend on sitting, floating, or being carried around everywhere you go, donning these luxurious death stilts can be a very painful, unhealthy choice.

Christian Louboutin, the esteemed French footwear designer, is openly unapologetic about the subject. In an interview with Grazia, one of U.K’s premiere fashion magazines, he insists that “high heels are pleasure with pain…If you can’twalk in them, don’t wear them.” Let’s be honest. Anyone who can afford a pair of Louboutinswants to wear them no matter how much they hurt.  But for those that believe the temporary pain of wearing high heels is always worth the cost might want to reconsider that perspective.Let’s investigate the true damage of subscribing to the idea that it always “hurts to be beautiful.”

Not only does the design of a high-heeled shoe cause one’s body to tilt haphazardly forward, but this unnatural distribution of weight virtually deforms the foot and shortens the muscles in the calves and lower back. This unhealthy posture places an inordinate amount of pressure on nerves in the back and can cause a painful condition called sciatica, which triggers spasms of pain and numbness. Additionally, a woman who wears high heels for extended periods of time at least three times a week can experience a shortening of her Achilles’ tendon. This can lead to plantar fasciitis: an inflammation or deterioration of the connective tissues in the foot.

Therefore, to be absolutely clear, wearing high heels to the point where it becomes painful to walk can cause irreparable damage to your body. Celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Victoria Beckham, who often flaunt wasp-thin stilettos,have recently disclosed that they must undergo surgery to either restructure bones in their feet or remove unsightly bunions. Parker reveals, “I went to a foot doctor and he said, ‘Your foot does things it shouldn’t be able to do. That bone there…You’ve created that bone. It doesn’t belong there’.”

On a separate but related issue, wearing seven-inch platforms inevitably increases your risk of falling over or into things. A woman who brazenly attempts to wear high heels without knowing how to walk gracefully in them increasesher possibility of falling down a flight of stairs, twisting her ankles, falling into oncoming traffic, and other countless tragedies.

It boils down to this: high heels, like everything else we wish to indulge in, should be worn in moderation.  If you simply cannot give up your glorious pumps, recognize that a shoe of this design should not be worn for extended periods of time while walking.  Here are some tips for women who seek reasonable common ground between seven soaring inches and day-to-day flats:

-Find heels that properly fit your foot shape and distribute weight more evenly.Platforms, and shoes with less dramatic “dips” will place less weight on the front of the foot.

-Many shoes feature pointed fronts that squeeze toes together, leading to corns, hammertoes, blisters and more. There are wider, rounded box-toe alternatives sold by popular brands like Dansko, found here.

-Add cushion inserts like these for comfort. Furthermore, either find footwear with reliable treading or buy shoe traction adhesives.

Marilyn Monroe once stated, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”  Monroe’s keen observation packs a powerful proverbial punch: if it hurts too much to walk, you certainly won’t go very far.  So weigh the risks of your fashion choices ladies, as we’ve got exciting places to go!

*This article has been contributed to Yourwellness by Britany Hoxie

Categories: extended periods, foot, heels, high, high heels, perils, perks, walk, wear, wearing, wearing high

The New Fitness Craze That Has Got Everyone On Their Toes

Nicole Damaris is a New York City girl, who likes to keep fit but understands that the daily grind of finding a way to improve fitness can be a bit of a chore. That’s why she’s started an exciting new fitness craze in NYC: the Daily Stiletto workout.

Women of a certain generation who have ever watched the TV show Sex and the City may have marvelled at the way Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie, is often seen (quite literally) running around town with stiletto heels on, and asked themselves if such a thing could really be possible? This new workout proves that it’s not only possible, it’s actually preferable.

The idea behind the classes is to not only benefit the wellness and wellbeing of the women who attend, but to create some fun and inspiration at the same time – a refreshing change from the usual boring workouts at the gym. Women don high heeled shoes and then take part in a demanding and fun workout whilst wearing the shoes.

The 30 minute class has recently been attended by Bethenny Frankel, a 42 year old single mother who has created a whole new line of dietary supplements. Involving squats, high kicks and lunges, the class is intended to help improve balance and tone up the calf muscles, whilst also improving overall fitness with a good cardiovascular workout.

Wearing stiletto heels adds a bit of fun and glamour to the workout, and the fact that it is only 30 minutes long makes it manageable and helps to maintain the interest. Bethenny is not somebody who usually believes in workouts, but did find this particular workout beneficial and fun.

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The New Fitness Craze That Has Got Everyone On Their Toes

Categories: fitness, heels, stilettos