You are old if you are wearing heels to the club. Here's why

The previously considered ‘ugly shoe’ has its share of the spotlight.

This is because the younger generations are now prioritising comfort over style.

Gone are the days when high heels and boots were chic footwear.

However, according to a viral video, Gen Z considers high heels outdated for going out.

Let’s take a closer look.

Gen Z’s new style statement

As per The New York Post, the video, filmed on Friday night at a local bar, showed a venue filled with young women dressed in jeans, a stylish top and comfy sneakers.

The clip, according to Indy100, has been viewed 6.3 million times and has been met with a mixed reaction.

While a section of users yearned for the past, others embraced the idea of comfort.

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“Omg I would have hated this when I was in my 20s lol. The best part of going out was getting all dolled up!” a user argued, while another one chipped in, “When I was clubbing you couldn’t enter wearing jeans or sneakers.”

A third one added, “Fashion has definitely changed, I’m 35 and when we used to go out clubbing it was mini dresses and the tallest heels going even when it was snowing outside," the fourth one argued, “Way better than heels and a dress."

One person commented, “And all of them look cute, confident, and comfortable.”

Firstpost couldn’t independently verify the comments.

While jeans and tops have been wardrobe staples for many years, the choice of flat footwear is seen as a radical departure from the fashion norms of yesteryear.

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Death of high heels

High heels, once a requisite for dancing and pub hopping, have come to symbolise the old age.

For the woman who grew up before the era of social media and smartphones, ending the party holding their heels was a kind of ritual.

However, Gen Z has put an end to the tradition and has chosen practical, best-suited footwear for themselves.

This shift in footwear preferences is partly because of the global pandemic.

According to the most recent data, cited by NDTV, sales in flats and low-heels have increased while interest in high-heels has dropped.

However, several style experts feel otherwise.

Australian stylist to the stars, Donny Galella, believes this might not be the end of high heels.

“Everything works in cycles. So without a doubt, heels will definitely make a comeback. Having styled thousands of women over the years, yes my clients love the comfort of sneakers, but many of them feel most confident when they wear heels,” he told news.com.au.

He added, “Heels can elongate your body, they make you look taller, longer, you maintain good posture, you feel powerful. So there will always be a major place for heels in most women’s wardrobes.”

Similar trends across the world

Well, the trend of functionality over form is not just limited to the US.

In March this year, a trend called “gross pajamas” emerged in China, where Gen Z employees embraced comfortable and casual attire, such as pajamas, according to The Economic Times.

This was a statement against workplace norms of formal wear.

The trend also aligned with the “lying flat” movement, challenging stereotypes and emphasises that professionalism transcends attire.

Several posts with the hashtag “gross outfits at work” trended on Xiaohongshu, the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, featuring young workers embracing more casual style of clothing.

Comfort over style

According to research by Censuswide in the UK, 62 per cent of shoppers prioritised comfort when it came to shopping for new clothes.

With 57 per cent and 31 per cent, price and quality of clothing came in second and third as priorities, according to UK-based The Industry.

However, the findings showed that priorities varied among age demographics.

About 31 per cent of participants in 16-24 age category, 26 per cent of those aged 25-34, and 18 per cent of those aged 35-44, prioritised how fashionable clothing is when they buy new clothes.

Comfort was the biggest priority for 73 per cent of those aged 55+.

In India, too, comfort clothing is growing.

Pooja Nagakoti, a student of the Army Institute of Fashion and Design, told the Deccan Herald, “The sportswear meets streetwear is a big rage but a tricky one; one has to strike the right balance between the two. It came into limelight only recently and is certainly representing a bigger and perhaps a permanent sea of change in the fashion industry.”

With inputs from agencies