Combat Stilettos: Difference between revisions

[[File:Canary_bootsCanary boots.png|frame| Stylish, comfy and excellent for a night of [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown|Crime Fighting]] and a Date, Dinner and Coffee later. Blood Removal sold separately.]]

In comicscomic books this is often [[Depending on the Artist]]: artists A and B will use it in moderation, C will draw normal shoes, but artist D will insist on drawing high heels on all female characters regardless of reason, situation, or even if it's the character's usual style. While this can be part of [[Most Writers Are Male]] trend, this tend to appear equal often with Female Writers as well, [[Rule of Sexy|for]] [[Escapism|various]] [[Author Appeal|reasons]].

== [[Anime]] &and [[Manga]] ==

* ''[[Sailor Moon]]'': Most of the [[Sailor Moon|Sailor Senshi]] have heels on their shoes; Mars, who wears red stilettos, even [[Lampshade Hanging|mentions it]] in the above [[In the Name of the Moon|pre-battle speech]] in the manga. Though [[Naoko Takeuchi|the creator of]] ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' is a straight woman., [[All Women Love Shoes|Sheshe really likes drawing shoes.]]

** Interestingly, Sailor Venus has a tendencetendency to kick her enemies' throathsthroats with her heels: she apparently realized what she could do by weaponizing them...

** Also the tech manual handwaves it as that those are filled with a shock absorbing gel allowing them to still move after harder landings. They are basiclybasically like the boots from ''Portal 2''. See video games example.

** [[Hot Amazon|Boa Hancock]] from ''[[One Piece]]'' sees nothing wrong with kicking people in the face with her high heels in the middle of a warzone. Of course, that's far from the only part of her outfit [[Theiss Titillation Theory| that makes little sense.]]

*** Gold Lion Shiki carries this trope to an absurd extreme in Movie 10, as he's replaced both his feet with his swords. [[media:gold lion shiki 7192.jpg|See?]] Much more justified in Shiki'sthis case, as his powers are basically [[Mind Over Matter]], so he doesn't actually have to walk to get around unless he really feels like it.

* When the new [[Batwoman]] was revealed in ''[[Fifty Two52]]'' she was drawn with a number of impractical costume decisions, including high-heels. When she was transferred to the lead in ''Detective Comics'' the artists made a deliberate decision to have her costume be more practical and, amongst the changes, removed her heels (she also cut her hair and replaced it with a wig, since [[Batman]] [[Lampshade Hanging|points out]] that any [[Mook]] can grab her hair and end the fight).

* In the fanfiction ''Fine Feathers[[Batman]]'' (fanfiction ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20110114072449/http://archiveofourown.org/works/81730) Fine Feathers]'' Damian Wayne is in a situation where he must crossdress. He muses on how high heels would make more effective weapons than footwear, and demands Barbara Gordon teach him how to fight in them.

* In ''[http://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23790/HeatherSin+Dreaming+the+American+Dream.htm Dreaming the American Dream]'', a crossover between the [[Marvel Universe]] and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', Xander (who was [[Gender Bender|gender swapped]]... don't ask) lampshades this when he notices that heroines wear high heels while running and fighting. At first when he got offered some he thought they were joking [[Serious Business|...they weren't]].

* ''[[Eris Game (Fanfic)|Eri's Game]]'' has the titular character's case. Not to mention the scene where she beats up {{spoiler|Reaper Beat}} with it.

== [[Film]] ==

* Averted in the 2010 film ''[[RedRED (film)|RED]]'' when Victoria slips off her dress high heels and trades them for a pair of sensible flat boots before the big operation.

* ''[[Van Helsing]]'': Kate Beckinsale complained about the difficulty she had running about in high heels while filming action sequences.

** ''[[Discworld/Going Postal (Discworld)|Going Postal]]''. Adora Belle Dearheart wears high heels and notes that in pounds per square inch, it's "like being stepped on by a very pointy elephant" and that she can "kick like a mule". Combined with the fact she's not really an [[Action Girl]] (of the combat related type at least) and on a date at the time of first reference, it makes her footwear less impractical. She's also only ever described as kicking while sitting down. To make it simple, she stomps her heel down on the feet of annoying men, which thanks to her high and thin heels, has near armor-piercing qualities. It doesn't work on Trolls, though.

** Lampshaded in ''[[Discworld/Witches Abroad|Witches Abroad]]''. Magrat ends up wearing the high-heeled 'glass' slippers. She slips, loses a slipper, and screams, "How the hell is anybody supposed to walk in these?!" Then she pulls off the other one and runs for it.

* In ''[[The Dresden Files]]'', [[Femme Fatale|Lara]] sprints several blocks in impractical shoes. Harry [[Lampshadeslampshade]]s this. {{spoiler|Several pages ''later'', she hammers the heel through an attacker's head.}}

** Once, she [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|turned her heels into a self-defense weapon by kicking someone in the face while wearing them]].

* ''The [[Bionic Woman]] (2007 series)|''Bionic Woman'' reboot]].

** And Leela who wore calf length moccassinsmoccasins.

* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'': Kira Nery wears (chunky) heels with her uniform. This is, however, almost entirely because [[Nana Visitor]], when stood next to her statuesque co-stars like Terry Farrell, looks almost ridiculously short.

* ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek Voyager]]'' Jeri Ryan actually insisted on this for Seven of Nine's costume. Something about the catsuit seemed to require them, apparently.

* Referred to in the ''[[Myth BustersMythBusters]]'' "Superhero Special". A build team filler segment involved how fast one could change into a superhero costume in a phone booth. After Kari won the competition, she commented that she ''needed'' the head start if she was going to chase down a villain while wearing high-heeled boots.

* Averted In one of those weird ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]'' episodes that take place in modern times. Xena found herself reincarnated as a mousy secretary in a 1940's1940s ''[[Indiana Jones]]'' spoof. When Ares is reawakened, she kicks off her shoes and and proceeds to kick his ass.

* [[She's Got Legs|Miss Parker]] of ''[[The Pretender]]'' likes her high heels.

* Subverted with Sophie on ''[[Leverage]]''. She's a grifter and therefore almost always wearing high heels, but kicks them off if the con goes awry and she needs to leg it, like "The Second David Job" and "The Reunion Job". Also in "The Reunion Job" both her and the female gun for hire kick their heels off before fighting each other. Played straight with Eliot's counterpart in "The Two Live-Crew Job", however.

== [[Professional Wrestling]] ==

* ''Armor Piercing'' is a +1/2 advantage in ''[[Champions]]'' to which the disadvantages ''Only When Kicking'' and ''Obvious, Inaccessible Focus: Stiletto -Heeled Boots'' could be applied to make them quite affordable.

== Toys[[Video Games]] ==

* ''[[Blood RayneBloodRayne]]''. Similar to Bayonetta, the heels are [[Shoe Phone|actual stilettos]].

* In the early ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' games, the women wore flat shoes due to being digitized live actors. Once gaming reached the 3D era though, Midway started adding progressively more [[Fan Service]] with each game. It got particularly bad in ''Mortal Kombat 9'', where Sonya--anSonya—an Army commando who normally dressed relatively sensible--rockedsensible—rocked the heel.

* Ivy Valentine from ''[[Soul Calibur]]'', seeing as she's plainly meant to be a [[Dominatrix]]. Though she does actually make use of them by stamping on opponents while they're lying down and twisting her foot around. Ouch.

** Except in the artwork of ''Final Fantasy Tactics Advance'' and ''A2'', which take place in the same universe as XII, Viera have rather reasonable heels and some even walk flat like the Assassin.

** Another male example with Luso in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics A2]]'', as he has heels in his official artwork. His [[Catgirl]] Adelle sports these as well.

** The official figurine solves this mystery -- yesmystery—yes she has feet, yes she is wearing high heels.

** The opening cutscene of ''[[Resident Evil]] 5'' introduces us to {{spoiler|Jill Valentine}}, who wears high-heeled boots through the entire game.

* In ''[[Dirge of Cerberus]]'', Rosso clicks around in stiletto, thigh-high boots. To say nothing about her butt-cape.

* Evelynn in ''[[League of Legends]]'' sports a pair of noticeable heels, even in the game.

* In ''[[Saints Row the Third]]'', you can wear 5 inch platforms without having difficulty moving. But then again, this is the game which allows you to juggle pedestrians 50 feet in the air using explosive ammo. Realism isn't particularly high on it's list of priorities.

* Shiki's boots in ''[[The World Ends With You]]'' are heeled, but not ridiculously so. The most amusing example of this trope, though, comes in the form of the footwear equipment that, given a high enough Bravery stat, [[Cross DresserCrossdresser|anyone can wear]]. Of these, the best would have to be the Enamel Pumps -- theirPumps—their stats in terms of defense aren't impressive, but the wearer ''keeps their balance when hit by enemy attacks that would otherwise knock them around.'' Oh, irony.

* Averted in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots]]'' when Naomi ditches her heels to run quicker.

* In ''[[Fire Emblem]]: Path of Radiance'', you can see that most of the female characters wear boots with ''heels''! Titania is only somewhat justified since as a cavalry unit, she needs to wear riding boots, but high heels are not necessary. Not to mention that, for Lucia, being a Swordmaster means being one of the fastest and most agile units in the game, and heels--Waitheels—Wait, never mind; that ''might'' explain how she manages it. Princess Elincia, Tanith, and Marcia are all Pegasus Knights and also wear heeled boots. Is it just to impress the boys when they land? Funnily enough, the only girl/woman that ''doesn't'' seem to wear heeled boots is Ike's younger sister Mist. She's a Cleric, and has sturdy hiking boots. How practical.

** {{spoiler|Tela Vasir from the DLC "Lair of The Shadow Broker". The original version of the armor model she wears (it's the hidden "extra heavy armor" from [[Mass Effect 1]]) didn't have [[Combat Stilettos]], but apparently Bioware modified it just for her.}}

* Peach and, to a more practical extent, Zelda in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''. Zelda loses the pumps for some uggs in ''Brawl'', however.

* [[StarcraftStarCraft II|Sarah Kerrigan]]'s infestation somehow resulted in her growing a pair of bone stiletto heels out of her feet.

* Alexa from ''[httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20180114204936/http://shapequest.net/ Shape Quest]''... well, they're high-heels, at least.

* The [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=132973 Jane Gang] from ''[[Everyday Heroes]]''. Somewhat subverted by [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eddurd/everydayheroes/series.php?view=single&ID=85045 Dolly Bird], whose spike heels are actual steel spikes -- sincespikes—since she mostly flies, these are more of a weapon and less of a hindrance.

* At a certain strip of ''[[8-Bit Theater (Webcomic)|Eight Bit Theater]]'', Princess Sara kicks the Dark Warriors' asses, and shoves a heel into the mouth of one. He complains it tastes horribly.

* Sam, Clover and Alex in ''[[Totally Spies!]]'' have high heel boots as part of their standard uniforms. However it doesn't prevent Alex from complaining that an armour she is wearing as a disguise is harder to walk in than her high heel shoes.

** Wonder Woman is probably justified in that ''[[Flying Brick|she can fly]]''. She's already mobile, balance is redundant and walking is practically unnecessary. She's in a win-win situation when it comes to footwear.

* American Maid from ''[[The Tick (animation)|The Tick]]''. With her they really are Combat Stilettos because she uses them as ''throwing weapons''.

* ''[[Re BootReBoot]]'': Whether tormenting Megabyte, flirting with Bob, or just relaxing in her lair, Hexadecimal is never seen without her trademark stiletto-heeled boots, knee-high in some forms, and thigh-high in others.

* [[Green-Skinned Space Babe|Princess Mandie]] on ''[[The Fairly Odd ParentsOddParents]]'' wears high heels all the time, even though she's hunting Mark.

* Female [[Transformers]] are often depicted with built-in [[Combat Stilettos]]. The Transformers Wiki refers to them as [http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Heel_struts "heel struts"] and tries very hard to justify their use.

* If one of the ladies of ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' were working undercover, and their disguise included heeled shoes, they'd become [[Combat Stilettos]] should the need arise (as in the epsiode "Glamour Girls"). Otherwise, they'd would be seen in more tactically appropriate footwear.

* Tossed a [[Lampshade Hanging]] in ''[[Young Justice (animation)|Young Justice]]''. [[Squishy Wizard]] Zatanna's normal costume includes square-heeled boots, which aren't as bad as they could be, but when Harm begins chasing her, she casts a spell to turn them into flats.

== [[Real Life]] ==

* All right, so there was no combat involved, but there was a time after 9/11 that Manolo Blahniks were not allowed on certain airlines. Why? Because the heels came down to such a fine point, they could ''easily'' go through a man's foot with the right amount of pressure.

** In his book ''Coroner'', Medical Examiner Thomas Noguchi detailed an unsolved case involving an apparent gunshot wound to the head. As there was no bullet, there was a mystery as to how the wound could have occuredoccurred. He realized that stilettos, employed with enough force, could have made the wound.

** It's important to remember that the word "stiletto" actually refers to a short knife, often used for surprise attacks or assassination. That stiletto SHOES''shoes'' could be used as a weapon of surprise should be obvious.

* It's also easier to keep your feet in place on motorcycle footpegs if there's some heel to your footwear. Hence, motocyclemotorcycle boots (like cowboy boots) for both men and women generally have heels somewhere between 1 and 2 inches tall. Again, like cowboy boots, they are rarely stilettos although some womenswomen's designs are both higher and skinnier.

[[Category:StripperifficCostume Tropes]]

[[Category:CostumeStandard TropesSuperhero Suits]]

[[Category:CombatUsually StilettosFemale]]