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Stars: They're Nothing Like Us (A Point/Counter-Point on Celeb Shoes)

Shoes. They're a woman's best friend. They can make or break an outfit. But rarely are they the source of conflict. That is, until now. Several weeks ago, a picture came out in some tabloid of adorable toddler Suri Cruise wearing baby heels. Of course, because I have a strange attachment to the lives of famous people I don't know and a need to judge them, I immediately engaged Brigitte in an argument over Suri's new footwear. She found it appalling that a little girl would be allowed to wear heels and I didn't see what the big deal was. So I did a little research and came up with the following, moderately schizophrenic point/counterpoint conversation to help work out the moral/ethical implications of little girls' shoes:

Point: She's too young for those shoes! Not only are they "big girl shoes," they are suggestive on a little girl her age.

Counterpoint: How can anything be suggestive on a 3-year-old? Unless you're attracted to 3-year-olds...are you attracted to 3-year-olds?

Point: High Heels are bad for anyone, especially toddlers. She's going to ruin her feet and have to either get surgery or wear grandma shoes for the rest of her life. She's learning bad habits now that will be bad for her future foot health.

Counterpoint: High heels, as bad for you as they may be, are a fact of life in the high-fashioned Hollywood society. Suri Cruise is a fashion icon. Pre-schoolers everywhere look to her for advice on what to wear on their first day of school.

Counter-Counterpoint: How can Suri Cruise be a fashion icon? She's only 3! She probably doesn't even pick out her own clothes, much less color-coordinate or deliberately set fashion trends.

Point: Those shoes are too tall for her. She's bound to sprain an ankle.

Counterpoint: Nah. Kids are indestructible. Their bones are softer so they don't break or sprain as easily. Plus, it will toughen them up for later in life.
So after all that, I'm not sure that I've come to any kind of conclusion. Should a toddler be able to wear high heels? Certainly, no one complains about the heels they include in dress-up kits or the horrible princess makeover places for kids' birthday parties. So why do we get so worked up when a celeb's kid does it? Because they are celebrities, damn it! They should know better and set a good example because how else will I know not to let my kid ruin her feet or dress slutty? What do you think, blog community?

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  1. Blogger Papa Thor | 7:55 AM |  

    I completely agree with Brigitte.
    There are reasonable, arbitrary rules about when kids do "grown-up" things:
    - no drinking before age 16
    - no smoking before age 22
    - no tattoos before age 25, unless you've killed someone in a legal war.
    - can't quit going to church before age 13
    - no affairs with an Italian before age 29
    - no beards before age 15
    - and no high-heels before your Quinceañera!

  2. Blogger Brigitte | 10:13 AM |  

    I was mostly upset because I would think that would ruin her tiny feet...but she probably doesn't really do much walking, since she's almost always being carried...I dunno. She has the rest of her adult life to wear uncomfortable footwear and risk her own health/safety (since high heals can be linked to foot, knee, even back problems) in order to look prettier...why start now? On the other hand...so adorable!!

  3. Blogger chris | 11:40 AM |  

    I don't necessarily agree with Amy, but to back her up on the counter-counterpoint argument of "she can't be a fashion icon, she doesn't even pick out her own clothes," I must retort that most adult fashion icons probably don't pick out their own clothes. They have people that do that for them. So in this sense, Katie Holmes is just Suri's help, which I think rings true because she has more of a career ahead of her than Ms. Katie ever did.

  4. Blogger Brigitte | 11:47 AM |  

    i just want to point out that this was not a real point/counterpoint argument...Amy is supplying both the point and the counterpoint here. So really, Chris and Papa Thor, whoever you agree with, you're agreeing with Amy.

    And Suri is totally a fashion icon. The tiny high heels just creep me out. But after I saw Suri wearing them, did I push my feelings aside and run out to buy an even tinier pair for Nico? You bet I did.

  5. Blogger Brigitte | 11:48 AM |  

    When I said "not a real point/counterpoint argument" I just meant, not an actual argument that Amy and I had...she's such a good arguer that she can provide both sides by herself. And THAT'S what they call journalism.

  6. Blogger chris | 11:49 AM |  

    Haha aw damn I was hoping this was an actual email or live conversation the two of you had.

  7. Blogger Brigitte | 11:50 AM |  

    We did sort of have an argument about this...but it was at the gym, on the elipital trainers, and not nearly so well thought out. I think my "point" during that argument was just "ew, that creeps me out."

  8. Blogger Papa Thor | 12:02 PM |  

    So I suppose I'm not a fashion icon since I pick out my own clothes?

  9. Blogger Papa Thor | 12:03 PM |  

    And I suppose this whole thing was a trick to get me to agree with Lady Amy?

  10. Blogger Unknown | 1:49 PM |  

    So, what you're saying is, this is akin to the arguments I have with no one in particular about things like, why the Twins are actually a good team despite what the non-existent skeptics say? I love debating with myself, because I always win!

    BTW, dressing a toddler up like a grown-up with tiny clothes that usually only grown-ups wear is ALWAYS ADORABLE!

  11. Blogger Papa Thor | 2:41 PM |  

    What I didn't notice before is the picture on the right it looks like they are having a parade, notice the gawkers in the background as they walk down the middle of the street, it's like one of those parades that small towns put on (the town of Cruiseville?), right behind them (off camera) are their servants doing a synchronized flag twirling.
    "What do you want to wear in the parade, honey? Well, you're wearing this! And you're bringing Elly the Elephant! Now practice your coy look." I can't zoom in but I suppose Elly has little high heels on also.

  12. Blogger Lane | 3:36 PM |  

    No...enough said as a mom of a toddler girl.

    In the other breath I really want her skirt....and Milli will be wearing high heels tomorrow after I just made such a firm argument.

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