Why I Don’t Love Kitten Heels

Just when I thought I had found my purrfect match…

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So I had a problem. About a year ago, I discovered my absolute adoration of heels of all kinds. You could catch me falling for a stiletto, catching feelings for a pump, or lusting over a new pair of block heels. However, I noticed that I had one issue with all of this that I had left out of the equation — heels can be painful and they’re hard to walk in. These two things combined left me searching for a new solution, one which I could use in my everyday life. After a few weeks of searching, I thought that I had finally found my solution in kitten heels.  However, I was wrong. Here are a few of my gripes with kitten heels. 

1. They’re Even Harder to Walk in Than Regular Heels. 

I don’t know how this is possible, but there’s just something about kitten heels that throws off my balance much more than a regular heel. I don’t know if this is a me problem or a more common problem than I would think, but the way that kitten heels are designed just does not lend itself to walking properly. I think that because the heel is so short, my brain expects to be walking in flats, but the extra inch or so of the heel throws me off. At least with higher heels, I know what sort of shenanigans I’m getting myself into.

2. Kitten Heels are Hard to Style. 

Another problem that I have with kitten heels is that they just don’t know what they want to be. Here’s what I mean. Picture a stiletto. Now, picture what sort of outfit you’d wear with a stiletto. Something very specific comes to mind, right? Now, picture what sort of outfit you’d wear with a heeled bootie. Another specific outfit.  Finally, picture what kind of outfit goes with a kitten heel. Does anything come up for you?  

I know that for me, I can’t for the life of me picture what sort of outfit goes with a kitten heel. Retro glam is as far as I can get — think an “I Love Lucy”-style ’50s dress.  But am I really going to wear that in my everyday life? Not only that, but is this the sort of style that I’m going for?

3. Kitten Heels Just Don’t Know What They Want to Be.

Are they a flat? A heel? It really just depends on who you’re asking. Some people would consider them flats, others would consider them heels. In my opinion, despite the name, I would consider them flats. In the end, the category of which you consider kitten heels to fall into makes a huge difference of how you style them.  After all, you certainly wouldn’t style a flat and a heel the same way, would you?  That’s the main reason why I don’t understand kitten heels. They’re trying to be two things at once, and they’re doing neither justice. That just doesn’t work for me.

What do you think of kitten heels?

Are you a kitten heel fan or are they a hard pass for you? How would you style kitten heels? Do you consider them flats or heels? Let’s talk in the comments; I’d love to hear from you.

7 thoughts on “Why I Don’t Love Kitten Heels”

  1. Kitten heels are perfect for office business wear, ankle length trousers, or skirts. They work just fine for formal attire too. They are perfect when you have to stand for a long time in reception lines, or walk and dance for a long time at occasions. Kitten heels are a dressy alternative for those of us who are past the age or physical ability of stilettoes and still want a sleek and sophisticated look without looking matronly.
    So yes! to all of you “stiletto snobs” who think that Kitten Heels can’t run with the big dogs, Kitten Heels can run faster, and farther than a wobbly stiletto and go with casual as well as formal (versatile) and saves space when packing a suitcase.

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  2. I love kitten heels. Mules are always terrible to walk in. So as long as the shoes have a back, kitten heels are easier to walk in then flats. The reason high heels hurt is the angle of your foot, ane slope. And thicker heels don’t help at all. Kitten heels are dainty, pretty. They are just as fancy as high heels, minus the sily walk factor. I love them.

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  3. I love kitten heels. Mules are always terrible to walk in. So as long as the shoes have a back, kitten heels are easier to walk in then flats. The reason high heels hurt is the angle of your foot, ane slope. And thicker heels don’t help at all. Kitten heels are dainty, pretty. They are just as fancy as high heels, minus the sily walk factor. I love them.

    Reply
  4. I hate kitten heels! They look so dorky. My go to instead is a slightly wedged flat. Not enough that you can even really feel it, comfortable, sturdy (unlike kitten heels wobbly base), and you just wear whatever you would normally wear with flats

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  5. I don’t like the look of kitten heels at all! I feel they are neither glamorous nor practical—just an odd height made in another era. Might as well stick with cute flats or go all the way (with a chunkier heel if stilettos are too hard to walk in) than halfway between two styles that work with everything!

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  6. Kitten heels belong to ankle length trousers. They’re made for each other. Wear with blouse or style with cami and cardigan and find your kitten heel strut. Just as we have to adjust our strides with varying stilleto height same goes for kitten. Last summer my favorites office shoe was a Nine West kitten-esque black sling back. (Not true kitten with the 1/2 inch platform). The sling back variation was perfect for dresses or skirts.

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  7. I have never been a fan of kitten heels either. They have an awkward heel height that I just don’t know what to do with

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