Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 15, 2025

5 Shoe Lovers on Where They Shop for Heels, and Why Wearing Them Is Empowering

5 Shoe Lovers on Where They Shop for Heels, and Why Wearing Them Is Empowering

“I’m not sure why wearing heels and feeling feminine is so important to me, but it feels like a part of who I am.”

When Henry Bae-cofounder of the shoe brand Syro-was younger, they remember wanting to rock heels out in public but being far too ashamed to do so. “I used to trail behind my family on our after-dinner walks, so I could strut on my toes and imagine myself walking on an incline,” Bae says. Flash forward to today, and Bae and their cofounder, Shaobo Han, are now making it their mission to make heels accessible to all. They design heeled styles in a large range of sizes, from men’s 8 to men’s 14. Street style stars, both male or nonbinary, are increasingly sporting heels proudly and stylishly. And it’s about more than just a fashion statement.

Men in heels date as far back as the 10th century, but the style rose in popularity in the 16th century, when men in Asian and Persian cavalries wore them. They were also worn by French royalty and upper-class men later in the 17th century. Along the way, heeled footwear for men fell out of fashion, and was adopted mainly by women. But today, men’s heels are back on the rise, thanks to brands like Rick Owens and Christian Louboutin. Fashion lovers see it as an opportunity to be bold and confident in who they are, many of them saying it’s also a way to display their queer pride. “[Heels] are quintessential to my existence to ‘terrorize’ gender norms,” Han says.

But it’s not just queer people stepping into heels. Mark Bryan-a cis, straight male who works as an engineer-has also gained a cult following on Instagram for his love of skirts and sky-high heels. “Heels should be able to be worn by anyone that wants to,” he says. Vogue reached out to five well-documented heel lovers and asked them not only where they shop, but also what it means to them to rock them on the streets.

Below, explore where these five heel devotees score their shoes.

Mark Bryan
Engineer and Influencer



“I’ve always liked the way women looked in heels-not in a sexual way, but in a fashionable way. Of course, they are sexy as well. But what draws me in is the confidence they give you when you can wear them well. I feel very good when wearing a 10-centimeter heel, because I don’t struggle walking in a heel that high. Plus, I think I have the figure that gets complimented when wearing a pair of heels, and that just adds to the confidence. It feels right because heels should be able to be worn by anyone that wants to, and currently people are more tolerant to things out of what is considered ‘normal’ these days.

Living in a small city [and] shopping for heels is very difficult. Styles are very limited. Even when in a big city, I don’t like to shop much. I feel like the selections most stores have don’t really meet your needs. You end up buying something that you may not wear, because it was close to what you wanted, but not exactly. Thus it doesn’t get worn. Even though, I must say that in all stores I visit, the sales staff has always been professional and very helpful. Most tell me it’s quite common for men to come in and try women’s things on. I feel very comfortable, and I don’t worry what others in the store think. I don’t care if they don’t like me and what I wear. I’ll find a pair that I like, then Google to see if I can find them on sale somewhere. I love Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Kkira, and Feraggio. I’m sure this list will grow!”

Wisdom Kaye
TikTok Star




“I just like heels over flats. Boots look nicer with a lengthier heel, and aesthetically, it just looks better. This doesn’t have to be a five-inch heel by any means, but having a nice shaped heel makes so much of a difference to certain looks. Admittedly, all my heels I’ve purchased online, but I’ve gone to stores to peruse from time to time. One place is the Rick Owens store in SoHo, [New York]. Not only is everyone nice, but everyone has a pair of five-inch heels on, so right away you don’t have to worry about any judgment. Brands that tend to be more avant-garde and experimental are safer spaces from my experience, solely because everyone who shops in those spaces is typically wearing something crazy anyways.

Online, I’ve gotten boots from Saint Laurent, Celine, Patrícia Henriques, and Rick Owens. Patrícia has a great selection of men’s boots with, like, 60-plus millimeter heels; they look awesome. Saint Laurent and Celine had good heeled options too that aren’t crazy high, so they’re wearable for more people and look very nice. My favorite heel absolutely comes from the mind of Rick Owens. I have four pairs of Kiss boots, and I genuinely don’t think it’ll stay at four forever. With a staggering five-inch heel, I sit at six foot nine whenever I have them on. They just look so cool, and they truly make you feel like you own every room you walk into.”

Shaobo Han
Cofounder of Syro




“I wear heels because I can! Because I like to weaponize my fashion. Because it makes me feel powerful, it does wonders for my legs, and it’s quintessential to my existence to ‘terrorize’ gender norms. Wearing heels allows me to claim my femininity on my own terms, which was something that was used against me growing up. So, in many ways, being connected to my femininity is healing to my damaged inner child.

It’s quite difficult to shop for heels in large sizes in real life. While I am ‘lucky enough’ to just be size EU41, most stores don’t have that size stocked! The internet has been a blessing for finding heels that fit me. Obviously, [my brand] Syro, which makes high heels in large sizes, is the best place to find footwear that fits my ‘nonbinary’ feet. But I also love Ssense, where I get to splurge when my wallet is full. I definitely graduated from Zara heels, simply because I prefer to have shoes that last me more than a season. My other favorite labels are Rombaut’s sickening, sneakers-inspired stilettos, Eytys-super-obnoxious, super-fun-and Simon Miller platforms.”

Henry Bae
Cofounder of Syro




“I used to trail behind my family on our after-dinner walks, so I could strut on my toes and imagine myself walking on an incline. It’s a natural desire that I used to hide from the world, but my goal now is to honor my queer fashion perspective. I’m not sure why wearing heels and feeling feminine is so important to me, but it feels like a part of who I am.

Shopping for queer clothing in physical stores is an experience that I power through with tunnel vision. I browse and examine my options, paying no mind to the attention my towering queer body is gathering. When shopping for heels, I certainly only wear [my brand] Syro, because of my large feet. I once scored on size 12 pumps from Nordstrom, but that felt like an anomaly. My big feet will only fit Syro! But I have found that Jeffrey Campbell offers their femme heels in inclusively larger size ranges. Also, a shout-out to high-end designers like Rick Owens (drool), JW Anderson, and Charles Jeffrey for their ‘men’s heels,’ which are stunning. Pleaser USA offers iconic performance heels in an array of sizes, and I’ve always coveted a pair of Lucite platform heels.”

Parker Kit
HillModel and Influencer




“What draws me in the most about wearing heels is that they are derived from men. I think it’s super important these days to tap back into the history of the shoe. Also…it’s superchic. It’s actually impossible to find heels in my size at any store. I find myself dreaming about a certain style, and imagining how I would style the shoe. The only store to truly carry heels in my size is Trash and Vaudeville in the East Village [in New York]. They always have a range of sizes and styles, plus the employees always make me feel so welcome. Online, I shop at Onlymaker and Syro.

If size range weren’t an issue, you’d most likely see me in Versace, Christian Louboutin, YSL, Manolo Blahnik, Tom Ford, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Maison Margiela, Balenciaga, Celine, Amina Muaddi, and Bottega Veneta. I really hope that fashion brands and houses start to tap into the expansion of sizes for their heels. There are so many people who want to wear a powerful shoe. The industry is so far behind.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
×