High heels for a 3-year-old? Hmmm
December 1st 2009 18:10
Hollywood superstars Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes sparked controversy in October when their young daughter Suri was photographed wearing high heels. Katie has recently defended her daughter's choice in footwear, saying that the beige high heels are actually "supportive dance shoes" and that the public's concerns for her toddler's healthy development are unwarranted.
Holmes said that Suri's, um, advanced choice in footwear was inspired by her own collection of designer heels. “She, like every little girl - she loves my high heels,” Holmes said. The shoes Suri was spotted wearing in Boston, above, "are actually ballroom dancing shoes for kids. I found them for her and she loves them."
That may be so, but I'm still not so sure that high heels belong on a 3-year-old. Not so much for the developmental concerns (back problems and so on) that have been voiced by various parents' groups, but because it's all just a case of too much, too soon. High heels are designed to make the wearer feel sexy; they give that model-esque height and result in the thrusting-out of the derriere. Should a toddler be trying to feel sexy? It's pretty obvious to me that the answer there is a resounding no.
On the other hand, it's true that little girls do covet their mother's high heels: I did myself when I was five or six years old. The difference is that I wore my Mum's smallest kitten heels for a few minutes, not hours, and she certainly didn't let me wear them in public!
So what do you think? Are Suri's high heels perfectly fine for a fashionable, globe-trotting mini-celebrity, or should heels be for bigger girls only?
Katie Holmes and daughter Suri, who is quite possibly the world's most fashionable 3-year-old
Holmes said that Suri's, um, advanced choice in footwear was inspired by her own collection of designer heels. “She, like every little girl - she loves my high heels,” Holmes said. The shoes Suri was spotted wearing in Boston, above, "are actually ballroom dancing shoes for kids. I found them for her and she loves them."
That may be so, but I'm still not so sure that high heels belong on a 3-year-old. Not so much for the developmental concerns (back problems and so on) that have been voiced by various parents' groups, but because it's all just a case of too much, too soon. High heels are designed to make the wearer feel sexy; they give that model-esque height and result in the thrusting-out of the derriere. Should a toddler be trying to feel sexy? It's pretty obvious to me that the answer there is a resounding no.
On the other hand, it's true that little girls do covet their mother's high heels: I did myself when I was five or six years old. The difference is that I wore my Mum's smallest kitten heels for a few minutes, not hours, and she certainly didn't let me wear them in public!
So what do you think? Are Suri's high heels perfectly fine for a fashionable, globe-trotting mini-celebrity, or should heels be for bigger girls only?
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Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
It is ridiculous for young children to wear high heels, I think. It may be OK for dress ups but for everyday wear it borders on appalling.
A three-year-old wearing high heels is really ridiculous in my opinion. Let them be kids because they are kids for too short a time.