A pain in the...

Suffering tremendous amounts of pain in the name of fashion is definitely not a new concept. The victorian era was all about the long balloon skirts, and tight bodices. It was not uncommon for women to force themselves to squeeze into too small corsets. Chinese women used to practice the "art" of foot binding, ensuring that their feet remain tiny and dainty- desirable to men. Even renowned fashion designers such as Schiapparelli (more famously known as Chanel's rival) designed outfit after outfit in which women could barely walk.

Although fashion has become relatively more practical in recent times, a few designers continue to create designs going to the highest extents of discomfort. One of these culprits is The Virtual Shoe Museum.

Peep toes have been all the rage during the past couple of years, but the Virtual Shoe Museum took this to an altogether different level. Their designs form the epitome of impracticality. The designers have chosen to incorporate all the downsides of a tall shoe, while providing absolutely no protection to the foot.

You'd think that nobody would resort to these painful concoctions but you'd be wrong. Pop singer Lady Gaga, known for her outrageous ensembles fell flat on her face at the Heathrow Airport this June, thanks to her Noritaka Tatehana platform heel-less boots. Although posh spice Victoria Beckham developed bunion problems due to constant wear of skyscraper heels, this did not deter her from returning to wearing her beloved heels as soon as she recovered.

Everything comes at a price. Fashion included. But when it starts pinching beyond one's pocket, one cannot help but wonder whether this is indeed high fashion or a masochistic addiction, a modern day version of self inflicted torture.