Heels are the New “Power Ties” in PR
Have you noticed how much higher heels are these days? When I shop for shoes now, I’m gasping in awe at the towering heights to choose from. Could this possibly help me go from 5′5″ to 5′9″? What a sense of power!
This is a far cry from the mannish suits we all wore in the 80s. John Molloy’s “Dress for Success” look meant low heels, closed toe shoes, pantyhose, a bow tie, and a business suit. Just as men use their ties for power, I see women now using heels as a power weapon. Think of Sarah Palin and her outfits – probably one of the first female candidates I can think of who used heels to her advantage.
Here’s the history, from the Fashion Era website: The aim of female devotees was to rise the corporate ladder. John Molloy promoted the idea that the simple tailored wool suit in neutral navy or slate blue grey, worn with non sexual blouses, imitated uniform of rank, which by design was authoritative.
From research he did with specific social groupings, he maintained that inferiors and clients accepted the word of a female dressed in a suit with better grace than if she were wearing a fashion outfit in an exotic fashion colour that highlighted her sexual allure. In other words sober dressing enabled a women to be taken seriously like a suited man might be and helped her shine in the workplace enough to get promotion rapidly.
Time have changed, it appears. I bought some new red shoes that are probably the highest heels I’ve ever owned. They’ve got straps on them so that I don’t go catapulting myself into a manhole on my way to a meeting. I’ll have to wear them the next time I make a presentation and see how I do – will it be the equivalent of a power tie? Or will I look like Bambi trying out her first new legs?
Will my clients think I can do a better job at PR if I tower above them? Am I selling out or just being competitive?
Heels are the New “Power Ties” in PR
Add your Comment
Want Your Picture Icon? Go to gravatar.com and set a picture up to your email address for free. It also works on thousands of other websites, too!
Categories
Recent Comments
That MBA is REALLY paying off for Mr. Wool....
Linda, thanks for the informative book review. This...
Thanks for the shout out, Len. My “great product...
As newsrooms dwindle in size and reporters pickup more...
While he may not be directly pitching to the press,...
Blogroll
- Acme Photography
- Brain Matter
- Brian Shaler
- Convince & Convert
- Cut Me Some Flack
- Espresso Pundit
- HMA Time
- Hoi Polloi Report
- It's About The Work
- Linda VandeVrede
- Liquis Design Blog
- Mighty Interactive
- Off Madison Ave
- Park & Co.
- Park Howell
- PR Advice
- Random Tuesday Morning Ramblings
- SoCal PR Blog
- Stealthmode Blog
- Take Three
- tdhurst
- Team Forty
- The Marketing Journalist
- The One to Go To
- The PR Practitioner
- The Right Point
- Think Fast
- What I DO Know is…
Comments
April 9th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Great post. I have noticed this trend, too, and find it incredibly sexist, not to mention frustrating (and painful, although I refuse to buy into this). Sex kitten shoes as the new power tie? Might have worked for Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda in NYC but here in the desert, working woman — no pun intended, unite and take a stand!
April 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Oops. Got “Carried” away. Meant to write “women” instead.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
could wear those 4″ heels in my younger days, not so sure now. Wonder where I put those stilettos?
April 9th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I’m sorry if I don’t subtly sense a woman’s power when she wears heels, I’m too busy wondering how the hell she walks in those things!
April 9th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
The move to higher heels is a marketing ploy to sell shoes just as women’s clothing moved to the F**K ME look when classic clothing purchases slowed trendy clothing sales to a near stop. Those who get “power” this market manipulation aren’t the end users.
April 9th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I’m glad that we are no longer expected to pretend we’re not women just to be taken seriously… but truly, it has a lot more to do with how we carry ourselves than specifically what we wear, doesn’t it?
Either way, I’d give anything to see Abbie sporting some 4″ stilettos!
April 9th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Great article! I don’t miss the bland, mini-man dress-for-success days. But I refuse to be uncomfortable in stilettos and panty hose. Here in Florida, I go for the ultra comfortable high heeled Croc sandles combined with a nice pedicure. It will get you around three inches in stature and light, airy all day comfort.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Well, to say the least, your blog was very interesting since we named our PR agency, Red Shoes PR! For me, personally, I love wearing red shoes but more than that: It’s being able to confidently wear a pair of red shoes when I am wearing turquoise, yellow, coral, pink, you get the idea. And, the kicker? I am 5′10″ and frequently wear a pair that are 4 inches high. Here’s to women in heels!
April 10th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I think it’s about wearing anything that makes you feel confident. When you feel like you look good it’s reflected in your confidence – man or woman.
I’m rocking some seriously hot (if I do say so myself) gladiator sandals today, and there’s some extra pep in my step, even if I’m not a centimeter above 5′4. See no heels required to get the same effect
April 10th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Linda, you’ve obviously started a riot! I went to reply because this article moved me and look at your response! I heart the high heels, but I like to be realistic about them and not sacrifice my comfort. I think we women channel the movie “In Her Shoes” when we choose a pair of 4-inchers out. It makes us feel feminine and you really can’t go wrong with good shoes, unlike an overly tight power suit or in my instance, a little girl who dresses up in women’s clothing.
April 10th, 2009 at 11:53 am
i had this annoying former coworker who used to brag that he got better jobs and better salary because he was very tall. guess it has to be true b/c the guy was an idiot.
April 10th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Just to allay any of your fears, the shoes are amazingly more comfortable than they look, and the straps will prevent my ankles from turning…I also do NOT wear them driving or shopping at Safeway.
Lisa – love the name of your agency!
Theresa – I’m with you on the pantyhose.
And Deb, I too would like to see Abbie in 4″ stiletto heels…
Are a pair of high heels the new power tie? « PR Campaigns - The blog Says:
April 13th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
[...] workforce dress code So I came across this post on Valley PR Blog by Linda Vandeverde called Heels are the new “Power Ties” in PR that I would love to share with [...]
What’s wrong with heels? « PR Campaigns - The blog Says:
April 13th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
[...] pm Tags: appearance, fashion, PR In a recent blog post on the Valley PR Blog Linda Vendevrede questions whether or not wearing “the highest of high” heels is beneficial in the PR field. She [...]
April 17th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I agree with Felice. I think this new, highly encouraged trend is incredibly sexist. You don’t see men expected to walk around the office and meet with clients in 4 inch heels. Good for the women who enjoy wearing fun, sexy shoes; they can now feel appropriate and acceptable around their co-workers. But this new trend is keeping women who dress a little more conservatively and comfortably at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to opportunities for promotion. In a perfect world, fashion would not be a consideration.
June 14th, 2009 at 1:57 am
I don’t think the trend is sexist. Women can be sexy and feel powerful without high heels, so I disagree with that. However, I love wearing sky high heels and boots, for me, it’s a power thing. I put on a pair of heels and I strut, knowing I can take on anything. I think heels are a secret weapon, but only because of how they make the wearer feel. I don’t think heels themselves give any women an added advantage when it comes to gaining a promotion. Women don’t need heels to feel powerful.