Women in heels

High heels + bare legged... Respect!

I hold great respect for Chinese women in heels. What they can do in heels I can barely do in flats. Take working out at a step machine at the gym for instance. Add pumps, and you'll get a bum-lift + a bum-workout at once. Impressive. Me, on the other hand, have never been the good looking-girl-at-the-gym. I prefer au natural and comfortable over pumps and looking good (besides, I think my precious ankles, who have been sprained too many times through my basket-ball-dominated-childhood and then broken once because of ice on the ground in Finland, would have cracked under pressure). But nothing wrong with being inspired right? To be able to look good when working out is quite an achievement to me (take this for someone who still hasn't managed) but obviously the Chinese women's style awareness stretches far beyond the gym. Yesterday I was sitting down with a cup of coffee and 60 new Chinese words to learn at a cafe, when two gorgeous Chinese women walked in and sat down at the table next to mine. I couldn't help but starring. They were just so... beautiful, from top to toe. From their faces I could tell they weren't that young (tonnes of make-up can't hide your true number -I guess their over-doing of make-up would have been my only complaint) but they still dressed very chic (one was in shorts, a funky pair of stockings, a long, oversized shirt and pumps -it looked great on her) and then there were the shoes... ahhhh.... those shoes... -with a spiky, high heel that they walked on with such grace that any supermodel would have been jealous.

I wonder if it is part of growing up in China (as a girl) to learn how to walk well in heels. Sure, there are always exceptions, but overall, I think Chinese women are masters when it comes to walking well in high heels. They even run to the bus in them! Due to the fact that my height qualifies me as a 'tall person' in China, I don't often wear heels over here as it just makes me feel more giant-like when I am two heads taller (and a fair bit wider...) than my petite Chinese female friends. But when I sat at the cafe yesterday, dressed as a result of being both lazy and late that very morning (sneakers, jeans, and a comfy sweater) and watched those women, I felt an instant urge to run home and change into something less 'I couldn't be bothered to make an effort' and more feminine and lady like...

As you all might have guessed I am definitely putting on my highest heels today. I just wish I could walk in them as well as the woman outside my window, who is right now chasing after her... son (?) even thought she's wearing what looks like at least a 3-inch heel.

Wow.