History Main / HighHeelHurt

This trope is when high heels are treated as cumbersome or unpleasant and more trouble than they're worth. This can be either through the characters openly complaining about wearing heels or by showing characters being obviously encumbered by them. It is often PlayedForLaughs. The reason for this is that high heels weren't originally supposed to be walked in or ran - they were designed to wear while on horseback as to secure the foot in the stirrup.

This trope is when high heels are treated as cumbersome or unpleasant and more trouble than they're worth. This can be either through the characters openly complaining about wearing heels or by showing characters being obviously encumbered by them. It is often PlayedForLaughs.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': In ''Literature/LordsAndLadies'', when Magrat is hypnotised into being confident, the stiletto glass slippers give her HighHeelPower. As soon as this wears off (WhenTheClockStrikesTwelve, naturally) she stumbles and demands to know how anyone is expected to walk in these things.

* It's because of this trope that many brides opt to wear flats or even sneakers under their FairyTaleWeddingDress, since they'll be standing for most of the day but no one will see their feet, so there's no sense in doing it all in heels. In fact, it's a running joke at bridal shops to have that one punk grrl who proclaims that she'll be wearing Chuck Taylors with her wedding dress instead of high heels, since that's far more common than she realizes.

* In [[Webcomic/SarahsScribbles her scribbles]], Sarah Andersen is [[https://www.gocomics.com/sarahs-scribbles/2015/09/02 happy to share]] the [[SarcasmMode joyful experience]] of wearing high heels for more attractivenes. It's very relatable.

* It's because of this trope that many brides opt to wear flats or even sneakers under their FairyTaleWeddingDress, since they'll be standing for most of the day but no one will see their feet, so there's no sense in doing it all in heels. In fact, it's a running joke at bridal shops to have that one punk grrl who proclaims that she'll be wearing Chuck Taylors with her wedding dress, since it's far more common than she realizes.

* It's because of this trope that many brides opt to wear flats or even sneakers under their FairyTaleWeddingDress, since they'll be standing for most of the day but no one will see their feet, so there's no sense in doing it all in heels. In fact, it's a running joke among wedding stylists to have that one punk grrl who loudly proclaims that she'll be wearing Chuck Taylors or combat boots with her wedding dress, when ''many'' women get married in sensible shoes.

* It's because of this trope that many brides opt to wear flats or even sneakers under their FairyTaleWeddingDress, since they'll be standing for most of the day but no one will see their feet, so there's no sense in doing it all in heels. In fact, it's a running joke among wedding stylists to have that one punk grrl who loudly proclaims that she'll be wearing Chuck Taylors or combat boots with her wedding dress rather than heels, when ''many'' women get married in sensible shoes.

* It's because of this trope that many brides opt to wear flats or even sneakers under their FairyTaleWeddingDress, since they'll be standing for most of the day but no one will see their feet, so there's no sense in doing it all in heels. In fact, it's a running joke among wedding stylists to have that one punk grrl who loudly proclaims that she'll be wearing Chuck Taylors or combat boots with her wedding dress rather than heels, when ''many'' women wear sensible shoes for the big day.

* It's because of this trope that many brides opt to wear flats or even sneakers under their FairyTaleWeddingDress, since they'll be standing for most of the day but no one will see their feet, so there's no sense in doing it all in heels. In fact, it's a running joke among wedding stylists to have that one punk grrl who loudly proclaims that she'll be wearing Chuck Taylors or combat boots with her wedding dress rather than heels to assert her individuality, when ''many'' brides wear sensible shoes for their big day.

* Kate Spade New York has produced a series of online video ads called Miss Adventures. In the episode "The Joy Ride," Creator/AnnaKendrick and Creator/ZosiaMamet meet for the first time when Zosia lets Anna share a cab with her. But when politeness delays their destination decision, the driver (Joshua Safdie) leaves to use the bathroom. Over Kate Spade accessories, they bond during the endless wait for him to get back.

* In WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania:SummerVacation, Murray complains about his human woman disguise, ''especially'' the heels.

* In WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvaniaSummerVacation, Murray complains about his human woman disguise, ''especially'' the heels.

* In WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvaniaAMonsterVacation, Murray complains about his human woman disguise, ''especially'' the heels.

* ''Film/Barbie2023'': The Barbies naturally stand on tiptoes, making it easy for them to wear heels. Stereotypical Barbie's feet flattens as part of her humanization, and she complains that she would never wear heels if her feet were always flat due to how cumbersome they are.

What's ''not'' to love about {{high heel| power}}s? They're stylish, they make you taller, they shape the legs and produce a unique [[SupermodelStrut stride.]]

* Kate Spade New York has produced a series of online-video ads called Miss Adventures. In the episode "The Joy Ride," Creator/AnnaKendrick and Creator/ZosiaMamet meet for the first time when Zosia lets Anna share a cab with her. But when politeness delays their destination decision, the driver (Joshua Safdie) leaves to use the bathroom. Over Kate Spade accessories, they bond during the endless wait for him to get back.

* ''Anime/HugttoPrettyCure'' pulls this off twice within the same episode, when Pappuru twists her ankle during a friendly sprint competition, and again when the MonsterOfTheWeek attacks. What brings this into AmusingInjuries territory is the ComedicSociopathy involved when no one bothers to help her as she gets more comically frustated.
* Mako Sato in ''Manga/InitialD'' usually prefers to wear sneakers for walking (and driving), but when she dresses up for her date with Iketani, she puts on some high-heel sandals to go with the dress she picked. Unfortunately, when he ends up no-showing (he was having doubts about actually dating her, and when he finally decided to go, she'd already left), she takes off the heels after waiting for him for too long, and decides she's never going to wear them again.

* ''ComicBook/{{Excalibur}}'': When Meggan and Phoenix have a FreakyFridayFlip, the usually-barefoot Meggan immediately complains about how Rachel's CombatStilettos hurt.

* In the Literature/{{Discworld}}, Assassin Johanna Smith-Rhodes does not normally "wear girly" and prefers the hardwearing and no-nonsense AdventurerOutfit. Very unwillingly, she has to wear conventional female attire for a mission, and gets a fast crash-course in how to wear dresses and high heels. This is not something she has a great deal of experience in. Her more conventional friends - and an Assassins' School pupil - who are delivering the training are treated to [[FieryRedhead frustrated exasperation]] and comments about the high heels such as:

* ''Film/Barbie2023'': The Barbies naturally stand on tip toes, making it easy for them to wear heels. Stereotypical Barbie's feet flattens as part of her humanization, and she complains that she would never wear heels if her feet were always flat due to how cumbersome they are.

* ''Film/TheWeddingYear:'' When Violet runs out of her wedding, Mara chases after her and yells for Violet not to make her run in high-heels. A little bit later [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome Mara has to take her shoes off, and walks with a limp for the rest of the scene.]]

* ''Literature/AdrianMole'': In ''Cappuccino Years'', Adrian's mother tries to sue Shoe Mania!, after a stiletto heel breaks off when she is meeting Sir Creator/AnthonyHopkins on a mountain. When asked in court why she was wearing heels, she says that she only wore them in the final stages, as she did not want Sir Anthony to see her in hired climbing boots. [[spoiler:She is successful in suing Shoe Mania!, as she shoes did not bear a health warning, and it is ruled that the name Shoe Mania! encouraged women to make unsuitable purchases.]]

* In an episode of ''Boston Legal'' (Still Crazy After All These Years), Lori Colson is attending a formal holiday party in her high heels, but her feet are hurting so badly she sneaks into a side room to find some privacy to give her aching feet a massage. However, Alan Shore finds her and and she laments her choice of footwear. Alan, without provocation, takes Lori's foot and begins massaging it for her. She resists initially, but sighs and moans in relief moments after.
* In an episode of ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' (The Wildebeest Implementation), Amy buys high heels, but feels sore when walking in them.

* ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'' features Sam Wilson dressing up as a proper FashionVictimVillain nicknamed "[[AtrociousAlias Smiling Tiger]]" when he, Bucky and Zemo infiltrate Madripoor. As the ensuing shootout and foot-chase reveals....it's really, really, ''really'' hard for a seasoned soldier to run in heels.

* ''Series/FrontierCircus'': In "Stopover in Paradise", Ben romances the tomboyish owner of a local ranch. She attempts to become more feminine for him, [[FemininityFailure but has trouble]], especially with her high heeled shoes. Ben eventually tells her to take them off so he can teach her to dance properly.

* In an episode of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Lois tries to become a superhero of her own: "Stiletto". Her signature piece of costuming is, of course, a pair of killer heels -- and she spends much of her time complaining about how hard they are to walk in, how much they hurt her feet or both.

* Gaia in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' wears high heel boots, to which she complains about her feet killing her after she and the rest of the party do some running around in the desert. Thancred points out that Gaia should have worn more practical footwear if she was going to walk through a desert.

* In ''Webcomic/MagicalBoy'', protagonist Max is a trans man who has inherited the responsibilities and powers of his former MagicalGirlWarrior mother. Unfortunately for him, this includes a very frilly feminine outfit which includes heels that he cannot walk in. As the comic progresses and Max starts to gain better control of his powers, his outfit slowly starts shifting towards a more masculine form, and the heels are actually the first thing to be replaced -- becoming baseball shoes.

* Something of a RunningGag for ''LetsPlay/GeekRemix'' whenever a character is wearing heels while doing a lot of running is mentioning how painful it must be. Most notably the main character of ''VideoGame/TheMissingJJMacfieldAndTheIslandOfMemories'', who Stacy compared to the one girl who's decided she's committed to a pair of heels on a night out and refuses to take them off.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode, "Yo Leela, Leela", as Leela is approaching the stage after winning a Slurmie at the Young People's Choice Awards, an announcer says, "This is Turanga Leela's first nomination and second time in high heels"; which is immediately followed by her briefly stumbling.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekProdigy'' FreakyFridayFlip episode "[[Recap/StarTrekProdigyS1E18Mindwalk Mindwalk]]" Dal ends up in the body of [[spoiler:Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway]] and finds he cannot even manage the comparatively small heels on her standard issue Starfleet shoes.

* In ''Literature/TheEminenceInShadow'', Gamma wears high heels as befits an elegant, wealthy lady. The issue is that Gamma is also [[CuteClumsyGirl terribly clumsy]] and constantly trips as a result of this, especially on stairs, resulting in many a comical FacePlant and ruining her image of class and elegance something fierce.