Ballet Boots

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

"Ballet boots" are a contemporary style of fetish footwear, which merges (the look of) the pointe shoe with the ultimate high heel. Both ankles and toes are fully extended to match the extreme height of the heel, putting most of the weight bearing on the tips of the toes in stance or locomotion. The idea is that the feet are held nearly vertical by the heel, thus forcing the wearer almost "en pointe" like a ballerina. Some styles are equipped with supports similar to the toe box and shank of pointe shoes, though unlike the pointe shoe, the structural design, construction and integrity provide only limited mobility.

The heel height is typically 7 inches or more, depending on the size of the shoe. The boots may rise to any height on the leg, but most designs stop at about the ankle or the knee. They are often laced up the front so that they may be made as tight as possible. The knee-high and thigh-high versions may also have zips (zippers) to allow them to be donned and removed more easily. There are also dozens of "ballet shoe" designs, including sandals, mules and Mary Janes, many of which have buckles.

Ballerinas began dancing "en pointe" in the Romantic era, with the first recorded performance in 1832 by Marie Taglioni in La Sylphide. The soft satin slippers that were used took many decades to develop into the stiff-tipped pointe shoes we have come to recognize in the 20th and 21st century, which allow for a greater range of virtuosic technique. Aside from the ballet pointe shoe, another common ancestor to these boots and shoes is the Viennese fetish boots (circa 1900), which sported a dramatic 11-inch heel; the heel was actually longer than the sole of the shoe, thus making standing and/or walking impossible. Growing in popularity since the 1980s, ballet boots and shoes are now available world wide and through online shopping.

The ballet boot's function, however, is not meant for prolonged standing or walking. The shoe/boot acts as the fetish object for sexual gratification, heightening the erotic appeal with the elements of bondage and submission, and a heel which can be used for penetration. They are thus sometimes used in BDSM play. For example, someone may be put in predicament bondage by being placed in suspension bondage arranged so that he or she must either hang by the arms or rest all of the body's weight on the toes.

Many foot and/or shoe fetishists also adore this footwear. Beginners often find momentary walking and/or standing in them to be difficult and painful, which may also appeal to masochists. Arch training devices are sometimes used to increase the wearer's instep in order to fit high heels such as these.