Beauty is pain, literally, with "front heels"
When it comes to women’s fashion, we've all heard the phrase "beauty is pain."
Well, it appears artist Leanie van der Vyver and Dutch designer Rene van den Berg have unleashed a literal interpretation with the debut of a creation they call front heels.
As one friend of mine said, they make stilettos look like slippers.
The creators say the footwear – which force the wearer to lean forward as she teeters on a heel strapped to her shin, her feet pointing straight down as if dancing en pointe – serve as a commentary on today’s concept of beauty.
"Humans are playing God by physically and metaphorically perfecting themselves," photographer and videographer Lyall Coburn opines in a caption under footage of a hunched-over model precariously perched atop the heels, slowly inching forward.
"Scary Beautiful challenges current beauty ideals by inflicting an unexpected new beauty standard."
The must-see video (which I liken to watching a train wreck: I feared the girl would fall over and break an ankle, yet I couldn’t look away) reminds me of a recent debate among Deal Diva readers about high heels’ fashion value versus their practicality and potential health consequences.
Both Time and Yahoo compared the front heels to Alexander McQueen’s "armadillo" heels, which sparked controversy after several fearful models who refused to wear the 12-inch spikes were booted from a 2010 fashion show.
What are your thoughts on the high heels and today’s beauty standards?
--Deal Diva Keyonna
Photo: Lyall Coburn via Yahoo Shine
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Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or 
Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or 
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