I love all the acknowledgement in this episode of history outside of europe: indigenous cultures, indian cultures, african cultures, Islam. thank you Mina 🙏
Long story short, showing off impracticality and opulence is a human trait. "Look how rich I am, I can't do ANYTHING in these shoes. Not that I WOULD, because I'm RICH."
Interesting how it is primarily women who are pressured to endure discomfort and even excruciating pain to show off their status (foot binding, unwalkable heels) . . . it seems like equally high-status men can show off with just a nicely tailored suit and moderately comfortable (though still expensive) footwear.
I would love a recreation sketch of those bathhouse ladies in their hella big shoes being attended to. Like do they really have their noses up to everyone while they’re being carried around. Are they flailing “gracefully”? I need to know!
Fun fact about Cinderella's glass shoes: A lot of people argued how it's not possible for only one girl to fit the shoe. Allegedly, the writer thought the same thing, which is why he chose the glass slippers. The slippers are made in a perfect mould of Cinderella's feet in a material that's not bendable (glass) so nobody could truly fit the slippers except Cinderella. It would also be visible through glass if somebody's feet weren't the exact fit (squished toes, heel etc.) even if they wore the same shoe size.
actually the glass shoes came form a mistake in translation. The author mentioned a "vair"shoe which is a type of velvet material but since glass in french is "verre" and they are both prononced the same, people thought Perrault meant a glass shoes when heh didin't actually. :)
That seems better than the original, where they were golden embroidered shoes, and her sisters feet were so big they cut off part of their heel to fit try to in it. Then some birds were like, “dude check it, there’s blood! She’s not really the girl!” And then they realized they had to keep searching 😂
Once I became a wheelchair user I started getting more into ridiculous shoes for the aesthetic purpose, from satyr hoof platforms to glitzy pink alien looking stilettos, because I can't be on my feet anyway. I was always a workboot or flip flop girlie before. I was just thinking about how shoes are just a statement, while still technically being one of our most practical accessories. Ironic timing to get this video suggested. Fabulous work as always:)
Yes normalize the same fits being used!!! It gives cartoon character (which is a compliment bc they have a few fits and each is usually so tied to their character and not just bc they haven't worn it..bc it's a cartoon) , it gives iconic, it gives sustainable, it's everything
Damn. That last sentence is powerful. I am wearing so many gifts right now and never really thought about it. Now it feels like wearing a hug. Thank you!
i get uncomfortable wearing shoes that are too clean or new looking, they make me feel like i'm 'pretending to be someone i'm not' - having a bit of scuff or age on them makes me feel more comfortable. i'm a messy scattered person with a messy scattered brain, and a messy scattered style. it's wild to see that other people will take that as me having a bad personality.
amicable aggressor. I feel the same way about footwear. I've been a thrifter for over 10 years and always find interesting, comfortable and fashionable shoes for the least price (in some shops they go for $15 - $30US dollars) in their new state most of the shoes their pricing start at $45 and up. So, yeah having a pair of shoes with scuffs, charm and character is important. Personally, I feel like I'm trying too hard to fit into a trend or clique when I used to buy new price-tagged shoes.
Personally i like to clean sometimes my expensive but more practicle (also really warm winter ones) shoes, because i love them, i spent a lot of money on them and i want to carry them longer then i did in my past with 'cheap' shoes (like 20 - 30 Dollars). One year ago i had a little financial space so i could afford them! I'm so thankfull! Good and also practicle shoes were needed! ❤❤❤
The bits about women needing attendants to help them walk reminded me of when I went to see the Wendy Williams show a while back and her heels were so high she needed assistants to help her walk around in between takes. I also feel like I've seen Lady Gaga being helped around in her various insane shoes...seems like that practice is still around to some degree!
Fun fact about Cinderella shoes : In french (the original language of the fairytale), they are called ''les pantoufles de verre'' which is already a mistranslation of ''les pantoufles de vair''. ''Vair'' is the fur from a small rodent which was considered like a royal fur to sew on garments at that time, so the she was actually wearing fur slippers, which sounds way more comfy. I believe as time went on, and since poor people might have never heard of that expensive fur, it just got miswritten into ''verre''. Edit : Thanks to people on the replies. Indeed, this highly debated. I have heard this information when I was younger and didn't look around to confirm this information before commenting. The probability of the shoes actually being in glass could be true, making Cinderella even more mythically unachievable as a beauty standard.
This is a myth. She did indeed have glass slippers in the French version by Charles Perrault. His version isn't the 'original' either if one can even be said to exist. :)
so i actually did come across this info! i decided to not put it in because it's also been a hot debate topic among a lot of scholars. it's very possible that charles mistranslated "vair" to "verre," but other fairytales feature wearing equally uncomfortable shoes. for example, in a chinese version of "cinderella" from 850 ce, the princess wears a pair of pure gold slippers. so there's just no way to know what charles was thinking!
This is, at very least, debated. While it makes sense from a modern perspective, Perrault was specific in his language, glass items are not uncommon in folk tales, there are other Cinderella-type tales with shoes made of weird materials, and vair was an outdated term at the time, except in heraldry (according to first edition of Le Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, released in 1694.) I suspect the two words may have been pronounced differently at the time as well, but I'm not expert in Baroque pronunciation, I just do research in French in the era. Fwiw, at the time, pantoufles were indoor shoes, generally meaning something like mule-style bedroom slippers, according to the same dictionary.
@@mercedesedanen4555 especially hard sole mocs and mukluks. Even as white people started going west, many of them adopted moccasins because they were better for wilderness survival than European shoes of the time.
Learning about the beading on the children's moccasins to indicate how precious the child is even though they will grow out of them gave me heart warming feels.
So I heard the Grimm Version as a child and we have the version where the stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to fit into the shoes. But also in Grimm's Version of Snow White, the evil Queen needs to dance in glowing hot metal shoes until she dies. A lot of uncomfortable shoes in my childhood fairytales. Thank you so much for the video.
I want to appreciate and thank youfor defining the fairytales as "Grimm" and not using the word "original." I've seen so many times when people incorrectly use the word "original" when they mean Grimm, even though a lot of retellings of "classic fairytales" are older than Grimm (Disney is based on Perrault's version which is over a hundred years older than Grimm) and there's no such thing as "original" because fairytales began orally. Sorry for being weird, it's just really really nice to see.
Even before the bead trade, Native Americans would embellish their clothing with quillwork, shells, ivories, copper beads, stones, and other materials! Many of these features have spiritual significance in addition to what you said. The real fancy stuff is mainly for ceremonies and not everyday wear. Thanks for mentioning Indigenous fashion, queen 💅💜
i never even heard of the bead trade, but when she mentioned how the glass beads were brought over by the french, it made me wonder... is beadwork (a practice that is seen as v indigenous american) actually an art that was birthed bc of colonialism? i've seen many of those beautiful clothes made with quills & shells too :) but is it true that the beading wasn't really a thing before the colonizers?
@@shaina8947 I know that my people, the Anishinaabe made copper beads before European contact. Many peoples used gold, silver, bone beads, and gemstones too!
I freaking love your inclusion of all cultures when talking about a broad subject like this one! As a Turk myself, I did not even know the history behind Takunya's before this video! 😊
I have several very impractical pairs of Vivienne Westwood shoes in my closet, my most prized being a pair of black winged rocking horse shoes made to look like the sandals of Hermes. They were THE MOST coveted shoes in the international lolita community in the 2000's - 2010's, and I'm deeply proud to own a pair in my size (it took YEARS to track down a pair of size 10's). They are supremely uncomfortable, but they are beautiful and I cherish them.
Curious thought - if you collect shoes like this that are supremely uncomfortable or impractical, do you need them in your size? I guess it means you always could wear them if you wanted, but if you just wanted to display shoes like a work of art, could you get a different size? I feel like the answer is no, but I can't think why
@@keirahazlewood4223 So I love the fashion from gossip girl, particularly Blair’s, and I’m plus sized. I will never find my favorite pieces in my size, but I can have custom made dupes from a seamstress. I now have two dresses that I adore, with two more on the way, that I’ve dreamed of wearing for years. Having these pieces have made me feel more part of a wider community of gossip girl fans that are particularly drawn to its fashion and curating an intentional collection. And being plus sized it always felt like I was on the sidelines limited to bags or shoes even the people I’ve met through this interest are very inclusive and welcoming (bonded with some over having invisible disabilities), but I had this internal gate keeping going on. I don’t feel that way anymore and what I feel about myself as being part of this community actually matches my experience.
I am a butch lesbian and most everything I wear is practical and comfortable but even I cannot stay away from a cute quirky bag or some platform sandals 😂
What's funny about Naomi's fall is that she was wearing rubber tights which made it uncomfortable to walk so she had trouble literally moving (and I doubt the shoes helped) and then kind of just collapsed/toppled because it the tights made it difficult to put one foot after the other😅
i have a physical impairment that results in me wearing insoles and using a cane a lot. There is nothing more I want in life to be able to wear nice looking shoes whilst still being able to stand up and not just supportive runners everywhere I go. There's a real gap in the market of fashionable shoes that are comfortable I'm surprised no big fashion brands have jumped on to a practical shoe collection.
idk if this is the kind of thing you're talking about, but i have two pairs of insoles. one bigger pair that fit in regular shoes, and one smaller pair that can fit in smaller fancier shoes. they give a little less support so you're not supposed to wear them daily, but they do exist!
just realized i should add, my insoles were made specifically for me by a podiatrist. the store bought ones did nothing to help after like a couple weeks
I feel like shoes are one of the one areas where I love to splurge on quality and craftsmanship. I would say most of my clothes are not very high quality, but quality shoes are extremely important to me. Finding the perfect mix of beauty and comfort is huge
as someone who lives in NYC, loves impractical shoes (in my case, any permutation of a platform boot - tall, flat, heeled, wedge, creepers, etc - many of which are not city walking friendly), have busted more than a couple of pairs by slipping in subway stairs, have put my feet through hellish break-in periods, have spent a small fortune in band-aids and yet remains committed to these style choices, this video speaks directly to me.
I appreciate how you pick seemingly obscure topics and answer questions most people have thought about but, don’t expand on. It keeps me coming back to your channel.
As a women whose feet are 39/40 cm (in Brazil) is almost impossible to find this impractical shoes that fit in me. So I wear flip-flops, sport shoes as adidas/nike or all-stars all the time. 😅
Another Brazilian here! I wear 40 and have the same problem. I have to go out of town to buy shoes. One salesman insisted on showing me the number 38, and even tried to push my foot into the shoe! He said that's fine because "I was only going to wear those shoes on Sunday." When I go to stores, some sellers already warn that they don't have my size. The shoes I like don't fit, and the ones that fit me I don't like. What can I say? I must be the reverse Cinderella. Someday I'm going to find my perfect pair... of shoes. ( Muito obrigada pelas dicas nos comentários! )
if u literally mean 40cm, i can't help u, but if u mean a size 40BR, i do know of a brazillian shoe place that sells up to a size 42BR (so 27cm) !! they're called Cotton Candy Feet :) i'm not sure if they're exactly the brand of impractical that ur looking for, but they sure are something lol. good luck!
Mina bestie, every time I see one of your videos I'm more and more impressed every single time. While your videos are entertaining, they're also ridiculously informative, and I can only imagine the amount of time and labour that would've gone into doing the research for any one of these. You've got historical references, global references, modern pop culture references, and i'm sure all your sources are absolutely reliable!! It's like, i'm watching this and thinking 'holy shit. this could've been a masters dissertation, the amount of research and effort you've put into it!' I'm so proud to see how far you've come, and can't wait to see your future videos!!
I was wondering about her education also when watching this as had a similar thought this bad a real video essay that I’d expect from someone studying fashion history..
Mina, I will never stop being in awe of how much work you put into research. I appreciate so much that you don't just go for the sensational, you always manage to inject history, socialogy, anthropology and art into your videos. Kudos!
Two traumatic occasions where I've been out walking in flats that I thought would be practical for travelling in. Ended up getting blisters which then got cut and bled 😭 it hurt so bad
Mina, if you have shoes that easily get dirty, you can use Scotchgard on them. There is even a Scotchgard made for suede. Definitely use regular cloth SG on your fabric shoes. This does work to keep your shoes looking better and keeping them clean longer. It won't change how they look or feel or anything else about them, it will just protect them. Just a mom tip that a lot of people don't think about doing.
Great video! excited about the podcast! Also benefits of using a wheelchair is that i can wear the prettiest most uncomfortable to walk in shoes and not be bothered by it whatsoever 😎
I was hoping the use of platform heels by SWers would be mentioned! 😭 It’s such an interesting case of taking something that should be VERY impractical and making it practical. They make the wearer taller and harder to miss on stage or walking through a club, they can hook around poles or be grabbed during a hold to make pole performance easier, they can be banged against the ground during floorwork to attract attention and take up space with a loud noise-its really cool stuff!
I wear croc platform shoes religiously but my eyes always turn to the shoes that look like horse hooves. I don’t know why but I’m obsessed with them as they are so funny. One day I will get the money to buy them
i do the exavt same thing and i'm also obsessed! i also love and highly recommend the platform converses! they give that effect but its a closed boot like shoe so its super comfty and versatile.
This whole topic has me thinking about how the transformation of particular types of loungewear from being everyday pieces of clothing that you wear for yourself to high-end luxury brands you see on red carpet. Take for example, the smoking jackets history off and on thought the decades as acceptable for black tie events, or the white T-shirt and jeans in the 80's and 90's to now the luxury sweatpants and hoodie in the 00's and 10's. I hope Mina sees this as a topic to cover. lounge wear to high end event wear!
I wore the Loewe balloon shoes 29:11 for an editorial and they are SOOO HARD TO WALK in, the balloons are long and keep going under your feet so you’re basically tripping over the shoe itself
Thank you for talking about clean sneakers , af1s and even bringing up the scene from paid in full . I grew up in Oakland and even wrote an intro to a film that was a pov of a kid trying to get home to school and all the things he would have to dodge to keep his kicks clean. It was definitely a tough line to walk because I was also a dancer , and local styles of dance here ie: turf, involve a lot of footwork , almost going en pointe and using the side of your foot . We actually use af1s like a pointe shoe because of the thick sole can provide a “box”. So basically, dancers here run their shoes into the ground , so it just created an extra layer of social norms to work thru
@@zkkitty2436 sorry first was trying to see if a link could be posted . That’s a cool old video from market street in the city . I recommend watching rip rich D dancing in the rain if you haven’t also . It can be tricky to track down a lot of stuff from the early 2000s onward because a lot of people didn’t have computers let alone a video camera or something . I wish I had been more of a documentarian all these years , but let’s be in touch , I’d love to send you anything cool I uncover .
@@scarahjolielaide every shoe that provides stiffness at first , definitely has a breaking point, once it creases 😩 so of course be careful . Shell toes (superstars) are a classic dance sneaker though! Whatever works for you , it’s interesting to see how certain sneakers make things look or work differently. I used to honestly like dancing in converse a lot for the flexibility and it took getting used to personally to dance in a chunkier shoe but now that’s my favorite
the amount of research that is done in every video is so so beautiful. would love to see a video how you and your team approach research and writing the script. I assume it's a well oiled system because of how much content you create. lots of love
My mum's podiatrist asked her "why ever would you wear shoes that feel tight around your feet?" About a certain pair she owns and she said back "because they look cool" 😂😅 I still can't get over those Astro boy boots though 😂
hi mina! love ur videos so much! just thought it would be nice to add something: in brazil, during the slavery period (from the 16th century to the 19th century), slaves couldn’t wear shoes, being barefoot was a way of showing their servile condition and shoes were a synonym of civility. rarely some of them could buy their freedom and then they bought shoes to show that they were free. shoes were literally your freedom!! and yeah i’m brazilian! 🫶🏼 this is widely spread during history classes here
Mina, this is extremely well written by far one of your most full of information videos with a well rounded perspective on the history of impractical shoes from all over the world, but still ties in to the modern day like I know you always do so so well! plus wow the video editing colors and pictures are fanstastic! I love this and can't wait to listen to the highbrow podcast!
I’d be curious to see some discourse on how certain shoe styles tie into ableism. You did go into it some in terms of workplace shoes and the class beauty-standards that come with it but there’s more to the status signaling that’s happening with footwear choice. When someone wears heels or other trendy uncomfortable shoes it shows power and style, but what about if someone physically can’t wear them? ‘Dad’ shoes, flatforms, chunky sneakers came into style in recent years and these are more comfortable and accessible for many people who may not be able to wear shoes like heels, flats, etc. Even as these types of shoes reached their peaked trendiness many said they were ugly or showed poor taste. I’m curious to know your thoughts or how this is all plays into shoe choice, how likely a shoe is to become trendy, and that added layer of status signaling that comes with being able to withstand physically uncomfortable and even painful shoes.
I'm Japanese Canadian and wear cheat geta with my yukata in the summer (instead of being wood, they're actually a plastic foam material which is very modern and not traditional at all but much more comfortable) and I still end up with blisters. I used to wear them anyway for the look and accuracy, but at this point I kinda wanna just wear my sketchers from winners.
I only wear comfortable shoes because I hardly drink anymore! In my 20s I used to clubbing a lot at goth clubs and wear heels or heeled boots. Once I started drinking I couldn’t feel my feet so I could dance all night. That’s the trick, drink enough alcohol until the pain in your feet is gone. Not my best coping mechanism, but such is youth.
i just wanted to say that i think mina looks absolutely gorgeous in this video. the bows in her hair are so cute i cant. also i love how diverse the examples were!
This is very nerdy to bring up but in the Dragon Age games (high fantasy) there's a primary character named Leliana who has an obsession with beautiful and impractical shoes because while working as a spy she could gather a lot of information on the nobles she was surrounded by based on the way they showed off their status via their shoes
aaa this video is so good !! i went in thinking "i already know why, but i'll watch anyways" and came out having learned many new things. i really appreciate this look at many cultures & time periods!
I really appreciate these analyses that you put together. They’re creative, thorough and full of information and are actually valuable and worth while. Thank you for putting out content that actually contributes to the online world!
This was fantastic. I am known in my mountain town as "a dresser," when most people are notably not interested in clothes, I very much am. So, I have come to accept the fact that my ridiculously wide troll feet prevent me from wearing high heels and other fashion shoes because it keeps me from being too ridiculously over dressed. I used to jam my feet into beautiful shoes, but my feet demand "ugly" footwear, like uggs, crocs, and birkenstocks, and that's ok because it keeps me from being insanely over dressed for every occasion 😂
I think you should continue to be “a dresser” to the fullest extent. Basic ppl are intimidated by people who have individual style. They can’t comprehend individuality which is why they just copy everyone around them, using the least amount of effort possibly to be clothed. They find safety in the heard and are scared to stand out so they attack ppl with the balls to do so. It’s like small town ppl who see fashion shows and say “who would wear that outrageous crap” when in reality many ppl wear them in cities full of other cool ppl. The person who says that will never walk in those circles and has no taste, so they talk crap instead. An eclectic/fashionable person like yourself shouldn’t dim your light for them, imo as a fellow eclectic dude.
@@maverickbull1909 Thank you so much for that affirmation. I appreciate you! I'm definitely going to keep doing me and dressing wildly for little town standards. I just have to do it in practical footwear these days😌
About Naomi’s infamous fall for Vivienne Westwood she actual fell because her vinyl tight caught each other and not because of the shoe, however it has made such an impact that designers called Naomi and asked her if she would fall on the runway for them
Listened to the first episode of high Brow already! You're crushing it! Love love LOVE the work that you do, really insightful and fun listen. Thank u!
After the misfortune of my ballet flats getting absolutely destroyed when I was working at a stand in a park and it started raining, I swore that I'll never sacrifice cuteness for practicality. The soles of my shoes fell off when I walked to the bus station!
Great deep dive! One thing I've noticed is how, at certain times during trend cycles, the absurdity and "objet d'art" nature of high-fashion shoes swings back to being almost practical - see all the massive, borderline orthopedic puffy soles, track sole/athletic platforms, and boxier shapes. My podiatrist is grateful, at least. (Also, if you ever want to salvage those BEAUTIFUL Simones, the NY flagship can send them to their studio for repair. I lost a pearl on one of mine and they look good as new!)
Really liked this video! There's another interesting video by Nicole Rudolph about why modern heels fit so badly. She compares old shoe models with modern ones. In my opinion, it's worth watching if someone wants to dig deeper into this topic.
Can you do a video on the fascination with expensive, neutral coloured basics and sweats and everyone from Kim Kardashian to UA-camrs creating fashion companies based on this aesthetic.
This video has beautiful production quality, Mina! Love all of your graphics, text, and transitions. You are doing a wonderful job elevating your already great videos.
I was literally thinking about this so much this week bcuz my feet have been HURTING. I walk and use public transit, I love to always serve a look and none of my shoes (even broken in) are comfortable for long periods of time EXCEPT my gym shoes. I think I’ll try those jelly insoles
I truly love how you went through so many different cultures to show the history and meaning. I feel it added so much and it was very informative as well
omg the intro referring to shoes by that kyle person. that's such a throwback 😭 thank you so much for this mina, i'll be enjoying watching this while i think of dessert ideas for a girls night gathering 💗
I learned so much from this video! Plus, I enjoyed the humor of those cartoon shoes and your shoes' plaque in a museum. Cartoon shoes: "When you kick someone, they go boing!" 😆
Also. Thank you for the colossal work you did for the poscast ep on diet colture 🔥 As a survivor of ED and stupid diets in my group of friends as a teenager I still get very trigghered at the way this recoil is soubtly making his way back. I try to explain to people Why this is important but they don’t seem to care as much as the ones Who experienced it in person. My brother for istance. He is booksmart and this kind of content you put out could educate people like him.
When I was a child I thought being obsessed with shoes is ridiculous. Like nobody’s looking down at your feet, you can wear whatever. How foolish I was ahah. Now I am obsessed with shoes myself 😂
I've semi-recently had to start using a wheelchair after deteriorating mobility, and one of the pros I came up with to help me deal with it is that I can wear all the impractical shoes I couldn't before, especially because I have an unsteady gait and messed up joints so my shoes have always had to be really practical. No heels, arch support, holds my foot in place...there's a lot of shoes I love that that doesn't apply to. But now I don't care, so my shoe wardrobe is blooming. Chunky soles like I wanted when I was a kid in the 90s, heels of all sizes, colourful shoes because my feet are rarely going to get dirty... it's wonderful. If you've ever felt sad that you can't wear impractical shoes, I recommend getting a mobility-impairing disability. Apart from all the negatives, it's good for shoes.
I wear sneakers tshirts and jeans most of the time, but my favorite thing in world are a pair of 5" stripper boots/heels! Its my guilty pleasure but I always wondered what drew me to something so impratical, lol. Thank you for this exploration
Mina thank you so much for sharing our cultures use of beading and moccasins 😊😊🧡 Wasn't expecting representation like that wow 🧡🧡 Hiy hiy Edit: and for bringing awareness to the stolen pieces of cultures all across Turtle Island and the world over Ninaskamon 🧡 Double edit: I got to learn about other cultures too this is awesome!!
very informative. The connection between heels lifting one above the dredges and filth of a certain type of messy job transforming into a gesture of elevating oneself above their social betters is fascinating indeed.
Our moccasins are not impractical at all, Actually the most practical because how we made them originally with quillwork from porcupine quills to how we make them and still make them today are actually the most practical. The designs are on top to show our (an individuals artistry) our family designs, colors and show that we are provided for/can survive. They’re made with different leathers and raw hide and in a way that they’re easily cleaned, water proof, protect our feet from all weather and we can easily make them bigger if needed. We also have winter moccasins.
on a somewhat unrelated topic, the cinderella live action remake by disney is one of my absolute favourites! it has such a lovely charm to it, and i honestly felt like i was watching a "disney" movie reminisce of the golden era of disney films. there was something magical about the film that i felt other live action remakes lacked sorely
Fun fact about the padukas: Some Padukas had dangling bell fringes as it was seen as the height of feminine beauty for ancient Indian women to wear jingling anklets with bells that emphasized their footsteps as well as foot rhythms in dance. Also the insides of the Padukas were hollow because of the concept of Ahimsa or Non-violence. It was to avoid squashing for insects while walking as much as possible and to prevent getting burnt while walking on a hot stone temple floor on a sunny day
It would've been cool to see clips of people walking in those historical shoes! Back in the Tumblr-girl fashion era, I bought these platform Mary-Jane-esque Jeffrey Campbells with 8 inches at the heel (I don't remember the name). I was trying to get used to them by walking around my apartment and nearly broke my back when I tripped with a full plate of food in my hands and folded full scorpion into the tile floor. Needless to say, they never saw the light of day again, but it took me years to finally and reluctantly let them go 😩
Omg it's wild how I grew up around sneakerheads that would take SO much pride in taking care of their Air Force Ones, Adidas, Phat Farm/Baby Phat, and Puma sneakers. Then I hung out with skaters who took pride wearing out their sneakers...now I don't wear anything other than Tamara Mellon shoes, heels, and boots 😂💕
that "wearing out their sneakers" is really interesting to me. i think these contrasts also point to the notions of social/economic status that mina mentioned. people that take pride in wearing them out, are probably wealthy/well off & don't even think abt the fact that other ppl want to take care of their shoes so meticulously 👀
@@shaina8947or they’re low income and it’s not a major concern cus they still have soles on their feet; or they oppose displays of social/financial hierarchy; or they’re white and aren’t subjected to respectability politics in their day to day. The skaters I knew growing up who took pride in wearing out sneakers did so because it was “proof” of the time they put into their hobbies and skills. The sneaker heads took pride because it was a status symbol. Realistically, though, most people wear sneakers until the soles are worn out (even sneaker heads have their regular pairs) so maybe we just let people get full use out of their shoes without judging them. I think that’s the most sustainable option.
I’m taking this video as my sign from the universe to for heavens sake STOP buying shoes ! I only have two feet at the end of the day (not missing the educational and informative rich history of footwear presented here , just sayin’) ♥️♥️♥️
Why tho? You only have one stomach but you still put different foods in it. That’s how I see it at least. Fashion is meant to be fun. Don’t break the bank but also just having one pair of shoes in life doesn’t make much sense. Would you only eat one type of food everyday?
There’s this funny expression “the higher the heels, the closer to God.” It’s kind of clever because extreme heel height suggests that you’re further away from the dirty floor (“cleanliness is close to godliness”) and at the same time near death because you would be teetering on them (“close to meeting your maker/god”).
love the corset being kinda assorted with the wall paper!! so excited for the podcast bc i need shit to listen to and also i love the name!! its so u also this reminds me when this american girl swam in the seine in a bikini?? and all of us living in paris were horrified bc why would anyone do that....
I love all the acknowledgement in this episode of history outside of europe: indigenous cultures, indian cultures, african cultures, Islam. thank you Mina 🙏
What she said
The passion 4 fashion is *~universal
I was just coming to say this, I love that global history and culture are mentioned, I learned so much xx
It is!! But it's not always acknowledged!!
Absolutely agree! Great job, Mina!!
Long story short, showing off impracticality and opulence is a human trait. "Look how rich I am, I can't do ANYTHING in these shoes. Not that I WOULD, because I'm RICH."
And then the issue is when you emulate these aesthetics as a middle class person and you try to DO anything in those shoes 😂
Interesting how it is primarily women who are pressured to endure discomfort and even excruciating pain to show off their status (foot binding, unwalkable heels) . . . it seems like equally high-status men can show off with just a nicely tailored suit and moderately comfortable (though still expensive) footwear.
I would love a recreation sketch of those bathhouse ladies in their hella big shoes being attended to. Like do they really have their noses up to everyone while they’re being carried around. Are they flailing “gracefully”? I need to know!
same thing with tiny purses "i don't actually need to carry anything, I'm rich"
They bought such shoes just to flex their wallet lmao
Fun fact about Cinderella's glass shoes:
A lot of people argued how it's not possible for only one girl to fit the shoe. Allegedly, the writer thought the same thing, which is why he chose the glass slippers. The slippers are made in a perfect mould of Cinderella's feet in a material that's not bendable (glass) so nobody could truly fit the slippers except Cinderella. It would also be visible through glass if somebody's feet weren't the exact fit (squished toes, heel etc.) even if they wore the same shoe size.
and yet somehow, they still slipped off 😔😔
No wonder she ran out of there. Her feet were probably screaming in pain and sweat. All that liquid is what popped one of them off haha
I read that the whole “glass” part of cinderellas slippers was a translation error and was actually meant to be skin shoes..
actually the glass shoes came form a mistake in translation. The author mentioned a "vair"shoe which is a type of velvet material but since glass in french is "verre" and they are both prononced the same, people thought Perrault meant a glass shoes when heh didin't actually. :)
That seems better than the original, where they were golden embroidered shoes, and her sisters feet were so big they cut off part of their heel to fit try to in it. Then some birds were like, “dude check it, there’s blood! She’s not really the girl!” And then they realized they had to keep searching 😂
Once I became a wheelchair user I started getting more into ridiculous shoes for the aesthetic purpose, from satyr hoof platforms to glitzy pink alien looking stilettos, because I can't be on my feet anyway. I was always a workboot or flip flop girlie before. I was just thinking about how shoes are just a statement, while still technically being one of our most practical accessories. Ironic timing to get this video suggested.
Fabulous work as always:)
I LOVE THAT 😍 i would love to see you in public with the most ridiculous shoes ever haha!
@@summerdaisyy oh my gosh thank you! I'm inspired to create more fashionable mischief now 😈 😂
@@ItsFreakingGrimmie please do !
I love that Mina’s worn this cute corset top in multiple videos now. It’s refreshing and adds trust to her sustainable fashion beliefs.
Plus it’s gorgeous
Yes normalize the same fits being used!!! It gives cartoon character (which is a compliment bc they have a few fits and each is usually so tied to their character and not just bc they haven't worn it..bc it's a cartoon) , it gives iconic, it gives sustainable, it's everything
I've wanted a cute corset top like that for several years now. Brand?
Mina, please share where you got this corset top and the dress from your 90s "Is Thin Back In" video! Love them both, and you look great in each.🥰😍💘💯
I think she matched it with the wallpaper behind her 💙
a good example of "the love the community has for you" is within the drag community. The best wardrobes are filled with gifts.
Damn. That last sentence is powerful. I am wearing so many gifts right now and never really thought about it. Now it feels like wearing a hug. Thank you!
Wearing a hug is adorable and such a beautiful way to put it :)
Damn that warmed my heart. Specially with how drag is being attacked now 😢❤
As someone who wears docs religiously for work (8+ hours on my feet) I sure do loooove an impractical shoe so damn much 😂
I live and die for docs and I think the platforms have made it worse
i find docs (well, solovairs but same shit) to be really comfy! break in process sucks but they're so good once you get through it
@@ChrisBrooks34 me wearing those dr. martens platform mary janes even tho i cant walk normally even with regular shoes
They're so ugly and make your feet look big and rounded
I love my jadon docs, but as long as I’m working in a kitchen, I’m not going to be wearing mine at work
i get uncomfortable wearing shoes that are too clean or new looking, they make me feel like i'm 'pretending to be someone i'm not' - having a bit of scuff or age on them makes me feel more comfortable. i'm a messy scattered person with a messy scattered brain, and a messy scattered style. it's wild to see that other people will take that as me having a bad personality.
amicable aggressor. I feel the same way about footwear. I've been a thrifter for over 10 years and always find interesting, comfortable and fashionable shoes for the least price (in some shops they go for $15 - $30US dollars) in their new state most of the shoes their pricing start at $45 and up. So, yeah having a pair of shoes with scuffs, charm and character is important. Personally, I feel like I'm trying too hard to fit into a trend or clique when I used to buy new price-tagged shoes.
I feel the same way! Even as a little kid, I took my shoes through the dirt until they looked like they belonged to me.
I’m exactly the same. Beat up shoes 4 life
If anyone thinks they can assess my personality by looking at my shoes, I probably don't want to be friends with them anyway.
Personally i like to clean sometimes my expensive but more practicle (also really warm winter ones) shoes, because i love them, i spent a lot of money on them and i want to carry them longer then i did in my past with 'cheap' shoes (like 20 - 30 Dollars).
One year ago i had a little financial space so i could afford them! I'm so thankfull! Good and also practicle shoes were needed! ❤❤❤
The bits about women needing attendants to help them walk reminded me of when I went to see the Wendy Williams show a while back and her heels were so high she needed assistants to help her walk around in between takes. I also feel like I've seen Lady Gaga being helped around in her various insane shoes...seems like that practice is still around to some degree!
Fun fact about Cinderella shoes :
In french (the original language of the fairytale), they are called ''les pantoufles de verre'' which is already a mistranslation of ''les pantoufles de vair''. ''Vair'' is the fur from a small rodent which was considered like a royal fur to sew on garments at that time, so the she was actually wearing fur slippers, which sounds way more comfy.
I believe as time went on, and since poor people might have never heard of that expensive fur, it just got miswritten into ''verre''.
Edit : Thanks to people on the replies. Indeed, this highly debated. I have heard this information when I was younger and didn't look around to confirm this information before commenting. The probability of the shoes actually being in glass could be true, making Cinderella even more mythically unachievable as a beauty standard.
thats super interesting !!
Wow it's so interesting
This is a myth. She did indeed have glass slippers in the French version by Charles Perrault. His version isn't the 'original' either if one can even be said to exist. :)
so i actually did come across this info! i decided to not put it in because it's also been a hot debate topic among a lot of scholars. it's very possible that charles mistranslated "vair" to "verre," but other fairytales feature wearing equally uncomfortable shoes. for example, in a chinese version of "cinderella" from 850 ce, the princess wears a pair of pure gold slippers. so there's just no way to know what charles was thinking!
This is, at very least, debated. While it makes sense from a modern perspective, Perrault was specific in his language, glass items are not uncommon in folk tales, there are other Cinderella-type tales with shoes made of weird materials, and vair was an outdated term at the time, except in heraldry (according to first edition of Le Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, released in 1694.) I suspect the two words may have been pronounced differently at the time as well, but I'm not expert in Baroque pronunciation, I just do research in French in the era.
Fwiw, at the time, pantoufles were indoor shoes, generally meaning something like mule-style bedroom slippers, according to the same dictionary.
LOOOOVE you showcasing moccasins and their history -- was a delight to see Native American artistry & design covered in a Mina Le video!!! THANK YOU!
Yeah but also our moccasins are not impractical at all, actually the most practical.
@@mercedesedanen4555 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼Exactly what I was thinking!!
@@mercedesedanen4555 especially hard sole mocs and mukluks. Even as white people started going west, many of them adopted moccasins because they were better for wilderness survival than European shoes of the time.
Learning about the beading on the children's moccasins to indicate how precious the child is even though they will grow out of them gave me heart warming feels.
@@trashbaby9000 yupppp its a very common shoe here on treaty one. especially in the winter 🥶
So I heard the Grimm Version as a child and we have the version where the stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to fit into the shoes.
But also in Grimm's Version of Snow White, the evil Queen needs to dance in glowing hot metal shoes until she dies.
A lot of uncomfortable shoes in my childhood fairytales. Thank you so much for the video.
I want to appreciate and thank youfor defining the fairytales as "Grimm" and not using the word "original." I've seen so many times when people incorrectly use the word "original" when they mean Grimm, even though a lot of retellings of "classic fairytales" are older than Grimm (Disney is based on Perrault's version which is over a hundred years older than Grimm) and there's no such thing as "original" because fairytales began orally.
Sorry for being weird, it's just really really nice to see.
The editing in this is fabulous and as a designer I want to acknowledge I can see how hard you work on these videos
I have an editor now! her name is charlee! she's super talented
Even before the bead trade, Native Americans would embellish their clothing with quillwork, shells, ivories, copper beads, stones, and other materials! Many of these features have spiritual significance in addition to what you said. The real fancy stuff is mainly for ceremonies and not everyday wear.
Thanks for mentioning Indigenous fashion, queen 💅💜
i never even heard of the bead trade, but when she mentioned how the glass beads were brought over by the french, it made me wonder... is beadwork (a practice that is seen as v indigenous american) actually an art that was birthed bc of colonialism? i've seen many of those beautiful clothes made with quills & shells too :) but is it true that the beading wasn't really a thing before the colonizers?
@@shaina8947 I know that my people, the Anishinaabe made copper beads before European contact. Many peoples used gold, silver, bone beads, and gemstones too!
I freaking love your inclusion of all cultures when talking about a broad subject like this one! As a Turk myself, I did not even know the history behind Takunya's before this video! 😊
I have several very impractical pairs of Vivienne Westwood shoes in my closet, my most prized being a pair of black winged rocking horse shoes made to look like the sandals of Hermes. They were THE MOST coveted shoes in the international lolita community in the 2000's - 2010's, and I'm deeply proud to own a pair in my size (it took YEARS to track down a pair of size 10's). They are supremely uncomfortable, but they are beautiful and I cherish them.
Curious thought - if you collect shoes like this that are supremely uncomfortable or impractical, do you need them in your size? I guess it means you always could wear them if you wanted, but if you just wanted to display shoes like a work of art, could you get a different size? I feel like the answer is no, but I can't think why
@@keirahazlewood4223 So I love the fashion from gossip girl, particularly Blair’s, and I’m plus sized. I will never find my favorite pieces in my size, but I can have custom made dupes from a seamstress. I now have two dresses that I adore, with two more on the way, that I’ve dreamed of wearing for years. Having these pieces have made me feel more part of a wider community of gossip girl fans that are particularly drawn to its fashion and curating an intentional collection. And being plus sized it always felt like I was on the sidelines limited to bags or shoes even the people I’ve met through this interest are very inclusive and welcoming (bonded with some over having invisible disabilities), but I had this internal gate keeping going on. I don’t feel that way anymore and what I feel about myself as being part of this community actually matches my experience.
I can say confidently that Mina's videos never take the direction I expect
that's my favorite part
I am a butch lesbian and most everything I wear is practical and comfortable but even I cannot stay away from a cute quirky bag or some platform sandals 😂
Platforms are queer culture at this point. Also, where do u get ur platform Sandles from I need a new pair? 🧐
@@lovesplus3879 🙈 I'm a teva stan at heart but really any time I find some good ones anywhere I'll scoop them
I know that’s right fam
@@lovesplus3879 Melissa has some cute ones
What's funny about Naomi's fall is that she was wearing rubber tights which made it uncomfortable to walk so she had trouble literally moving (and I doubt the shoes helped) and then kind of just collapsed/toppled because it the tights made it difficult to put one foot after the other😅
i have a physical impairment that results in me wearing insoles and using a cane a lot. There is nothing more I want in life to be able to wear nice looking shoes whilst still being able to stand up and not just supportive runners everywhere I go. There's a real gap in the market of fashionable shoes that are comfortable I'm surprised no big fashion brands have jumped on to a practical shoe collection.
idk if this is the kind of thing you're talking about, but i have two pairs of insoles. one bigger pair that fit in regular shoes, and one smaller pair that can fit in smaller fancier shoes. they give a little less support so you're not supposed to wear them daily, but they do exist!
just realized i should add, my insoles were made specifically for me by a podiatrist. the store bought ones did nothing to help after like a couple weeks
Fashion is the antithesis of practicality so your confusion is bizarre.
@@maverickbull1909 yeah how dare disabled people want to wear fun clothes
@@marnenotmarnie259 what a stupid take.
I feel like shoes are one of the one areas where I love to splurge on quality and craftsmanship. I would say most of my clothes are not very high quality, but quality shoes are extremely important to me. Finding the perfect mix of beauty and comfort is huge
as someone who lives in NYC, loves impractical shoes (in my case, any permutation of a platform boot - tall, flat, heeled, wedge, creepers, etc - many of which are not city walking friendly), have busted more than a couple of pairs by slipping in subway stairs, have put my feet through hellish break-in periods, have spent a small fortune in band-aids and yet remains committed to these style choices, this video speaks directly to me.
I appreciate how you pick seemingly obscure topics and answer questions most people have thought about but, don’t expand on. It keeps me coming back to your channel.
As a women whose feet are 39/40 cm (in Brazil) is almost impossible to find this impractical shoes that fit in me. So I wear flip-flops, sport shoes as adidas/nike or all-stars all the time. 😅
Another Brazilian here! I wear 40 and have the same problem.
I have to go out of town to buy shoes. One salesman insisted on showing me the number 38, and even tried to push my foot into the shoe! He said that's fine because "I was only going to wear those shoes on Sunday."
When I go to stores, some sellers already warn that they don't have my size.
The shoes I like don't fit, and the ones that fit me I don't like.
What can I say? I must be the reverse Cinderella.
Someday I'm going to find my perfect pair... of shoes.
( Muito obrigada pelas dicas nos comentários! )
Olha em sites de artigo drag que tem vários sapatos diferentes em todos os tamanhos
@@_observado Que maneiro. É que carioca é aquilo um chinelo para cada ocasião (pelo menos para mim)
if u literally mean 40cm, i can't help u, but if u mean a size 40BR, i do know of a brazillian shoe place that sells up to a size 42BR (so 27cm) !! they're called Cotton Candy Feet :) i'm not sure if they're exactly the brand of impractical that ur looking for, but they sure are something lol. good luck!
@@plushdragonteddy Size 40 BR, muita obrigada pela informação.❤
Mina bestie, every time I see one of your videos I'm more and more impressed every single time. While your videos are entertaining, they're also ridiculously informative, and I can only imagine the amount of time and labour that would've gone into doing the research for any one of these. You've got historical references, global references, modern pop culture references, and i'm sure all your sources are absolutely reliable!! It's like, i'm watching this and thinking 'holy shit. this could've been a masters dissertation, the amount of research and effort you've put into it!' I'm so proud to see how far you've come, and can't wait to see your future videos!!
I was wondering about her education also when watching this as had a similar thought this bad a real video essay that I’d expect from someone studying fashion history..
Everything you say is so well spoken and I love how many cultures you’ve researched too
love the corset matching the wallpaper!! exceptional
Ikr?
It looks soooo good 👍
Mina, I will never stop being in awe of how much work you put into research.
I appreciate so much that you don't just go for the sensational, you always manage to inject history, socialogy, anthropology and art into your videos.
Kudos!
Two traumatic occasions where I've been out walking in flats that I thought would be practical for travelling in. Ended up getting blisters which then got cut and bled 😭 it hurt so bad
I feel this pain. I have have had flats dig into my Achilles tendon when I did too much walking in them.
Rothy’s are expensive but much more comfortable than a typical ballet flat!! They are made of a woven material that can be throw in the washer
Mina, if you have shoes that easily get dirty, you can use Scotchgard on them. There is even a Scotchgard made for suede. Definitely use regular cloth SG on your fabric shoes. This does work to keep your shoes looking better and keeping them clean longer. It won't change how they look or feel or anything else about them, it will just protect them.
Just a mom tip that a lot of people don't think about doing.
Great video! excited about the podcast! Also benefits of using a wheelchair is that i can wear the prettiest most uncomfortable to walk in shoes and not be bothered by it whatsoever 😎
As a person who revisits and listens your videos like a podcast, I can’t wait for the shame-free, long form, audio version
Shame? Quelle shame??!!!
I was hoping the use of platform heels by SWers would be mentioned! 😭 It’s such an interesting case of taking something that should be VERY impractical and making it practical. They make the wearer taller and harder to miss on stage or walking through a club, they can hook around poles or be grabbed during a hold to make pole performance easier, they can be banged against the ground during floorwork to attract attention and take up space with a loud noise-its really cool stuff!
If you put out a video detailing this I'm watching!!!!
I wear croc platform shoes religiously but my eyes always turn to the shoes that look like horse hooves. I don’t know why but I’m obsessed with them as they are so funny. One day I will get the money to buy them
Oooh you mean margiela tabis ? Cute ❤
i do the exavt same thing and i'm also obsessed! i also love and highly recommend the platform converses! they give that effect but its a closed boot like shoe so its super comfty and versatile.
This whole topic has me thinking about how the transformation of particular types of loungewear from being everyday pieces of clothing that you wear for yourself to high-end luxury brands you see on red carpet. Take for example, the smoking jackets history off and on thought the decades as acceptable for black tie events, or the white T-shirt and jeans in the 80's and 90's to now the luxury sweatpants and hoodie in the 00's and 10's. I hope Mina sees this as a topic to cover. lounge wear to high end event wear!
I wore the Loewe balloon shoes 29:11 for an editorial and they are SOOO HARD TO WALK in, the balloons are long and keep going under your feet so you’re basically tripping over the shoe itself
i love how mina answers questions like this bcs i never knew i needed it until now
Thank you for talking about clean sneakers , af1s and even bringing up the scene from paid in full . I grew up in Oakland and even wrote an intro to a film that was a pov of a kid trying to get home to school and all the things he would have to dodge to keep his kicks clean. It was definitely a tough line to walk because I was also a dancer , and local styles of dance here ie: turf, involve a lot of footwork , almost going en pointe and using the side of your foot . We actually use af1s like a pointe shoe because of the thick sole can provide a “box”. So basically, dancers here run their shoes into the ground , so it just created an extra layer of social norms to work thru
this is so cool, I'm from the bay but I'm first gen and never knew about this. would you mind if I ask you for resources to learn more?
@@zkkitty2436 ua-cam.com/video/3nTJNsYaPyo/v-deo.html
This is an amazing video to show the market st vibes in the late 2000s ✨
@@zkkitty2436 sorry first was trying to see if a link could be posted . That’s a cool old video from market street in the city . I recommend watching rip rich D dancing in the rain if you haven’t also . It can be tricky to track down a lot of stuff from the early 2000s onward because a lot of people didn’t have computers let alone a video camera or something . I wish I had been more of a documentarian all these years , but let’s be in touch , I’d love to send you anything cool I uncover .
I go up ‘en pointe’ quickly on adidas superstars but they are still pretty squishy so I’m glad to know this about the af1’s…
@@scarahjolielaide every shoe that provides stiffness at first , definitely has a breaking point, once it creases 😩 so of course be careful . Shell toes (superstars) are a classic dance sneaker though! Whatever works for you , it’s interesting to see how certain sneakers make things look or work differently. I used to honestly like dancing in converse a lot for the flexibility and it took getting used to personally to dance in a chunkier shoe but now that’s my favorite
the amount of research that is done in every video is so so beautiful. would love to see a video how you and your team approach research and writing the script. I assume it's a well oiled system because of how much content you create.
lots of love
Thank you SO MUCH for touching on Indigenous beadwork and moccasins! Our deadly aunties/uncles and their Bead-Fu are a class above. ❤
My mum's podiatrist asked her "why ever would you wear shoes that feel tight around your feet?" About a certain pair she owns and she said back "because they look cool" 😂😅
I still can't get over those Astro boy boots though 😂
Mina is blessing us with more content AND a podcast? So freaking excited.
hi mina! love ur videos so much! just thought it would be nice to add something: in brazil, during the slavery period (from the 16th century to the 19th century), slaves couldn’t wear shoes, being barefoot was a way of showing their servile condition and shoes were a synonym of civility. rarely some of them could buy their freedom and then they bought shoes to show that they were free. shoes were literally your freedom!!
and yeah i’m brazilian! 🫶🏼 this is widely spread during history classes here
Mina, this is extremely well written by far one of your most full of information videos with a well rounded perspective on the history of impractical shoes from all over the world, but still ties in to the modern day like I know you always do so so well! plus wow the video editing colors and pictures are fanstastic! I love this and can't wait to listen to the highbrow podcast!
I’d be curious to see some discourse on how certain shoe styles tie into ableism. You did go into it some in terms of workplace shoes and the class beauty-standards that come with it but there’s more to the status signaling that’s happening with footwear choice.
When someone wears heels or other trendy uncomfortable shoes it shows power and style, but what about if someone physically can’t wear them?
‘Dad’ shoes, flatforms, chunky sneakers came into style in recent years and these are more comfortable and accessible for many people who may not be able to wear shoes like heels, flats, etc. Even as these types of shoes reached their peaked trendiness many said they were ugly or showed poor taste. I’m curious to know your thoughts or how this is all plays into shoe choice, how likely a shoe is to become trendy, and that added layer of status signaling that comes with being able to withstand physically uncomfortable and even painful shoes.
I'm Japanese Canadian and wear cheat geta with my yukata in the summer (instead of being wood, they're actually a plastic foam material which is very modern and not traditional at all but much more comfortable) and I still end up with blisters. I used to wear them anyway for the look and accuracy, but at this point I kinda wanna just wear my sketchers from winners.
I only wear comfortable shoes because I hardly drink anymore! In my 20s I used to clubbing a lot at goth clubs and wear heels or heeled boots. Once I started drinking I couldn’t feel my feet so I could dance all night. That’s the trick, drink enough alcohol until the pain in your feet is gone. Not my best coping mechanism, but such is youth.
i just wanted to say that i think mina looks absolutely gorgeous in this video. the bows in her hair are so cute i cant.
also i love how diverse the examples were!
THE HAIR CLIPS ARE AMAZING!! I love the whole 1700s rococo kind of style this outfit and background has.
I feel like Cinderella should watch this video, because those glass slippers cannot be comfortable, no matter how pretty the look ✌️😂
Do it for fashion 😔✌🏻
Risk it all for fashion 😭
Not sure about the comfort. I'm more worried about how safe they are 😂😂
To be fair to her, she probably only had one "going out" pair of shoes 😂
This is very nerdy to bring up but in the Dragon Age games (high fantasy) there's a primary character named Leliana who has an obsession with beautiful and impractical shoes because while working as a spy she could gather a lot of information on the nobles she was surrounded by based on the way they showed off their status via their shoes
I enjoyed how you showed shoes from different times through history across various cultures. Your editing is on point!
aaa this video is so good !! i went in thinking "i already know why, but i'll watch anyways" and came out having learned many new things. i really appreciate this look at many cultures & time periods!
I really appreciate these analyses that you put together. They’re creative, thorough and full of information and are actually valuable and worth while. Thank you for putting out content that actually contributes to the online world!
This was fantastic. I am known in my mountain town as "a dresser," when most people are notably not interested in clothes, I very much am. So, I have come to accept the fact that my ridiculously wide troll feet prevent me from wearing high heels and other fashion shoes because it keeps me from being too ridiculously over dressed. I used to jam my feet into beautiful shoes, but my feet demand "ugly" footwear, like uggs, crocs, and birkenstocks, and that's ok because it keeps me from being insanely over dressed for every occasion 😂
I think you should continue to be “a dresser” to the fullest extent. Basic ppl are intimidated by people who have individual style. They can’t comprehend individuality which is why they just copy everyone around them, using the least amount of effort possibly to be clothed. They find safety in the heard and are scared to stand out so they attack ppl with the balls to do so. It’s like small town ppl who see fashion shows and say “who would wear that outrageous crap” when in reality many ppl wear them in cities full of other cool ppl. The person who says that will never walk in those circles and has no taste, so they talk crap instead. An eclectic/fashionable person like yourself shouldn’t dim your light for them, imo as a fellow eclectic dude.
@@maverickbull1909 Thank you so much for that affirmation. I appreciate you! I'm definitely going to keep doing me and dressing wildly for little town standards. I just have to do it in practical footwear these days😌
About Naomi’s infamous fall for Vivienne Westwood she actual fell because her vinyl tight caught each other and not because of the shoe, however it has made such an impact that designers called Naomi and asked her if she would fall on the runway for them
Listened to the first episode of high Brow already! You're crushing it! Love love LOVE the work that you do, really insightful and fun listen. Thank u!
i love how everything about your videos is so fashionable and high-quality. the editing is so satisfying!
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW PODCAST!
After the misfortune of my ballet flats getting absolutely destroyed when I was working at a stand in a park and it started raining, I swore that I'll never sacrifice cuteness for practicality. The soles of my shoes fell off when I walked to the bus station!
Extravagant yet impractical shoes rly are the epitome of “beauty and fashion is pain”
Comprehensive, entertaining and relevant. This type of content should be required in any fashion school. Thank you.
Fav episode I’ve seen in a minute. Could have been an hour long !! I love all topics that remind me that we’re just weird animals
Great deep dive! One thing I've noticed is how, at certain times during trend cycles, the absurdity and "objet d'art" nature of high-fashion shoes swings back to being almost practical - see all the massive, borderline orthopedic puffy soles, track sole/athletic platforms, and boxier shapes. My podiatrist is grateful, at least.
(Also, if you ever want to salvage those BEAUTIFUL Simones, the NY flagship can send them to their studio for repair. I lost a pearl on one of mine and they look good as new!)
As a fashion nerd myself, i love the history parts of your videos 🙌🏻
Really liked this video! There's another interesting video by Nicole Rudolph about why modern heels fit so badly. She compares old shoe models with modern ones. In my opinion, it's worth watching if someone wants to dig deeper into this topic.
Can you do a video on the fascination with expensive, neutral coloured basics and sweats and everyone from Kim Kardashian to UA-camrs creating fashion companies based on this aesthetic.
This video has beautiful production quality, Mina! Love all of your graphics, text, and transitions. You are doing a wonderful job elevating your already great videos.
I really love how much care you put in your episode, the history and story you provide us are fascinating.
I was literally thinking about this so much this week bcuz my feet have been HURTING. I walk and use public transit, I love to always serve a look and none of my shoes (even broken in) are comfortable for long periods of time EXCEPT my gym shoes. I think I’ll try those jelly insoles
I truly love how you went through so many different cultures to show the history and meaning. I feel it added so much and it was very informative as well
omg the intro referring to shoes by that kyle person. that's such a throwback 😭 thank you so much for this mina, i'll be enjoying watching this while i think of dessert ideas for a girls night gathering 💗
I learned so much from this video! Plus, I enjoyed the humor of those cartoon shoes and your shoes' plaque in a museum.
Cartoon shoes: "When you kick someone, they go boing!" 😆
Also. Thank you for the colossal work you did for the poscast ep on diet colture 🔥 As a survivor of ED and stupid diets in my group of friends as a teenager I still get very trigghered at the way this recoil is soubtly making his way back. I try to explain to people Why this is important but they don’t seem to care as much as the ones Who experienced it in person. My brother for istance. He is booksmart and this kind of content you put out could educate people like him.
this was super interesting! I love how you incorporated history from all around the world. I can always count on you to drop high quality videos
When I was a child I thought being obsessed with shoes is ridiculous. Like nobody’s looking down at your feet, you can wear whatever. How foolish I was ahah. Now I am obsessed with shoes myself 😂
I've semi-recently had to start using a wheelchair after deteriorating mobility, and one of the pros I came up with to help me deal with it is that I can wear all the impractical shoes I couldn't before, especially because I have an unsteady gait and messed up joints so my shoes have always had to be really practical. No heels, arch support, holds my foot in place...there's a lot of shoes I love that that doesn't apply to.
But now I don't care, so my shoe wardrobe is blooming. Chunky soles like I wanted when I was a kid in the 90s, heels of all sizes, colourful shoes because my feet are rarely going to get dirty... it's wonderful. If you've ever felt sad that you can't wear impractical shoes, I recommend getting a mobility-impairing disability. Apart from all the negatives, it's good for shoes.
I wear sneakers tshirts and jeans most of the time, but my favorite thing in world are a pair of 5" stripper boots/heels! Its my guilty pleasure but I always wondered what drew me to something so impratical, lol. Thank you for this exploration
I LLOVEEEEE THE PODCAST IDEA now its ramadan ive been cutting music out and looking for good podcasts so i love
Mina thank you so much for sharing our cultures use of beading and moccasins 😊😊🧡
Wasn't expecting representation like that wow 🧡🧡
Hiy hiy
Edit: and for bringing awareness to the stolen pieces of cultures all across Turtle Island and the world over
Ninaskamon 🧡
Double edit: I got to learn about other cultures too this is awesome!!
very informative. The connection between heels lifting one above the dredges and filth of a certain type of messy job transforming into a gesture of elevating oneself above their social betters is fascinating indeed.
Our moccasins are not impractical at all, Actually the most practical because how we made them originally with quillwork from porcupine quills to how we make them and still make them today are actually the most practical. The designs are on top to show our (an individuals artistry) our family designs, colors and show that we are provided for/can survive. They’re made with different leathers and raw hide and in a way that they’re easily cleaned, water proof, protect our feet from all weather and we can easily make them bigger if needed. We also have winter moccasins.
I would die in the winter without my muks 😭 -25c and they still keep my toes warm
on a somewhat unrelated topic, the cinderella live action remake by disney is one of my absolute favourites! it has such a lovely charm to it, and i honestly felt like i was watching a "disney" movie reminisce of the golden era of disney films.
there was something magical about the film that i felt other live action remakes lacked sorely
It was so interesting even the cat stayed next to you to hear all of it.
Great work as always❤
Fun fact about the padukas: Some Padukas had dangling bell fringes as it was seen as the height of feminine beauty for ancient Indian women to wear jingling anklets with bells that emphasized their footsteps as well as foot rhythms in dance.
Also the insides of the Padukas were hollow because of the concept of Ahimsa or Non-violence. It was to avoid squashing for insects while walking as much as possible and to prevent getting burnt while walking on a hot stone temple floor on a sunny day
It would've been cool to see clips of people walking in those historical shoes! Back in the Tumblr-girl fashion era, I bought these platform Mary-Jane-esque Jeffrey Campbells with 8 inches at the heel (I don't remember the name). I was trying to get used to them by walking around my apartment and nearly broke my back when I tripped with a full plate of food in my hands and folded full scorpion into the tile floor. Needless to say, they never saw the light of day again, but it took me years to finally and reluctantly let them go 😩
“Subway juice” you are so amazing and hilariously honest! I love allll your videos
Omg it's wild how I grew up around sneakerheads that would take SO much pride in taking care of their Air Force Ones, Adidas, Phat Farm/Baby Phat, and Puma sneakers. Then I hung out with skaters who took pride wearing out their sneakers...now I don't wear anything other than Tamara Mellon shoes, heels, and boots 😂💕
that "wearing out their sneakers" is really interesting to me. i think these contrasts also point to the notions of social/economic status that mina mentioned. people that take pride in wearing them out, are probably wealthy/well off & don't even think abt the fact that other ppl want to take care of their shoes so meticulously 👀
@@shaina8947or they’re low income and it’s not a major concern cus they still have soles on their feet; or they oppose displays of social/financial hierarchy; or they’re white and aren’t subjected to respectability politics in their day to day.
The skaters I knew growing up who took pride in wearing out sneakers did so because it was “proof” of the time they put into their hobbies and skills. The sneaker heads took pride because it was a status symbol. Realistically, though, most people wear sneakers until the soles are worn out (even sneaker heads have their regular pairs) so maybe we just let people get full use out of their shoes without judging them. I think that’s the most sustainable option.
I will never understand my love for platform high heel boots but I’ll always love them.
I’m taking this video as my sign from the universe to for heavens sake STOP buying shoes ! I only have two feet at the end of the day (not missing the educational and informative rich history of footwear presented here , just sayin’) ♥️♥️♥️
Why tho? You only have one stomach but you still put different foods in it. That’s how I see it at least. Fashion is meant to be fun. Don’t break the bank but also just having one pair of shoes in life doesn’t make much sense. Would you only eat one type of food everyday?
Mina's description of New York roads had me screaming 😂
I really liked how in depth the podcast went compared to the initial video, def worth a listen!
There’s this funny expression “the higher the heels, the closer to God.” It’s kind of clever because extreme heel height suggests that you’re further away from the dirty floor (“cleanliness is close to godliness”) and at the same time near death because you would be teetering on them (“close to meeting your maker/god”).
mina the blue wallpaper you have behind you is literally an optical illusion. that shit is MOVING
love the corset being kinda assorted with the wall paper!!
so excited for the podcast bc i need shit to listen to and also i love the name!! its so u
also this reminds me when this american girl swam in the seine in a bikini?? and all of us living in paris were horrified bc why would anyone do that....
I'm obsessed with the Gorgeous black panther sitting on her arm chair!! Just lounging, loafing, being Amazing 🤩 Love!! Best supporting actor 🐈⬛
That was an amazing video essay, Mina! Thank you
i’ve been seeing a LOT of crazy shoes around lately, they’re like art pieces
Cinderella is Quentin Tarantino's biggest cinema inspiration. Forever sharing their love for feet.
I was just thinking yesterday how nice it would be to listen to a podcast by Mina! Thank you for all of your efforts :)