The Great Reebok Revelation

[ricohv]

In the thread "London!!!" there's an attached pic of Stevie in the camel platforms of long ago (remember the Stevie RollingStone cover anyone?). I got all excited thinking the platforms were back till Pip pointed out it was only for one song. How sweet that she makes the effort for us( "I don't care how much it hurts my hip-MY PEOPLE will get what they paid for-even if it's only for one song"). Good try, ol' girl.
Then I remembered at the two shows I saw, she changed into black platform-ish boots for one song of the encore. How strange-I mean they looked way more "sensible" (gawd-I hate to use that word in regards to Stevie of all people!) than the platform boots of old . But they were way sexier than the shoes (!) and probably pose no threat to the hip -so why not wear them the whole encore, or go out on a limb: wear them the whole show!
And, is walking around in platforms really that hard? I mean, hers are custom made so they should fit perfect and be comfortable. I would suspect they're a lot easier to move around in than stiletto heels which I notice Debbie Harry is still managing to move her carcass around in. And even in tennis shoes she's not out there having any exorcisms like she used to manage nicely in platforms.
And, do we know this hip injury is 1)causing ongoing pain and 2)the source of her ortho-platform-tennie inspiration, or is it speculation on our part because there is no other logical reason.
Well, what if 10 years from now she reveals that to stay off klonopin she got hooked on some other drug, some drug that numbed the fashion sensories of the brain. And while on this drug she was satisfied choosing 1 black dress and platform reeboks as a tour uniform. And this drug would go on to rob her of her stage fashion for at least 2 tours(TISL & SYW).
Instead of explaining away the shoes because of her hip I think we should find out what she's hooked on now & get to her and have an intervention. I mean- how many of us suspected the Klonopin thing? None. And think about it: back then, as her songwriting and public acclaim slipped, her fashion senses were being overly stimulated. Whether you like the costumes or not-you gotta admit OSOTM & Street Angel Tours had funky/noticeable fashions:satin gloves, corsets/bustiers, Pirates of Pinzance meets Fredericks of Hollywood costumes, and lots of cleavage to boot! (And all this when she was heavy & uncreative?).
Now as she's thin & can sing & write and receive public acclaim, she wants to wear tennis shoes on stage and a little granny button up sweater? Even for the taping of that Boston show?!? Let's learn from the Klonopin experience-something just doesn't add up here. Otherwise, on the next tour she will be wearing: those shoes, elastic waistband pants and her hair cut to a sensible chin length bob! (And she'll probably insist on driving the band from show to show in a mini-van). God help us.
Ricoh
(If it seems like I've got too much time on my hands & that I need to get a life, well it was this or go out job-hunting in the Seattle rain-ughh!)
Ricoh

:rolleyes:

[ricohv]

Ah huh, proving my point. What exactly do you know about this hip? And does one injury create this fashion debilitating condition we know as "the bad hip"?
No really, I'm kidding! I love Stevie, and I like the absurd, and I like to see how defensive/protective people are here. And if any casual fan, or worse yet, a non-fan (foolish mortals!) were to make fun of TheBlackDress or the shoes I would give them a longer diatribe than my original post of this thread on why they needed to have a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t for the Lady: Stevie (Miss Nicks if you're Nasty!).
But I hope there was some humor/irony in there about the Klonopin/over stimulated fashion sensories!?
Ricoh

[gldstwmn]

Here's what I know. Stevie wore platform boots for the entire show in Columbus, Ohio. She moved about three inches from her mic stand the entire evening. :)

[Josh2003]

I love how Stevie thinks that putting those four or five little rhinestones on each shoe is going to make them look nice.

[Johnny Stew]

"They'll be so dazzled by these little rhinestones, they'll never notice the difference!!!"

[Bella Figura]

ricohv...I don't know how old you are but believe me, I'm just pushing 40 and I no longer wear platforms, high heels or anything that hurts my feet for any long period of time. I'm married so who do I have to impress :laugh: But as a special occasion and in sympatico with Stevie...I actually wore some black boots with heels to my FM concert. My feet were killing me for three days and I only "did" one concert.

Stevie's physical problems probably have been caused by years of damage to her feet, hips and back just by wearing platforms and/or high heels during three-four hour concerts but lets not forget usually dancing/twirling in them the whole time. Not to mention the regular usage of youthful vanity. It's been said scientifically that modern shoes cause the same foot damage that the ancient art of Chinese foot binding does and I believe it!!!

just being practical here and I think Stevie is being practical too, she wants to tour, she wants to sing so somethings gotta give ... :wavey:

[diamondsnake]

Why doesn't she just hire someone and pay a crazy amount of money for very comfortable and nice looking shoes. Reeboks are the kind of shoes you would buy at Kmart... Stevie is a star and if she would spend a day searching for the perfect, most comfortable shoe and still made it nice-looking, then everyone would be happy.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I dont mind her not wearing the boots...but like he said there ARE comfortable and attractive orthopedic shoes...I honestly think she believes they are cute..lol...and now ive gotten used to em as well! I really do not think they would look as bad if her dress were a little longer..she were them at the AHI Benefit in 2000...and they just looked like regular black shoes...they didnt look so clunky and out of place with her dress a tad longer

Chris

[strandinthewind]

I have to say I hate them, but understand why she wears them. Peronally, I say if the top heavy Dolly Parton can haul out in heels, Stevie can :laugh:

[DeeGeMe]

Okay folks. For those of you who have been ragging Stevie about her footwear choices, I want you to try something for me. Stand up. Now lift your heels up off the floor and roll your weight onto your toes. Good. Now stay that way for . . . I don't know. . . a couple of hours or so. Now, every so often, I want you to twirl around the room Stevie-style, still on your toes. Now do you understand why Stevie doesn't wear the platforms anymore? I know they look great, but they hurt like hell! And trust me, Reeboks with their rubber soles give a lot more than platform boots do and are a heck of a lot more comfortable. Being in high heels forces pressure & weight onto your knees and hips if you're in good shape and we know that Stevie has a diagnosed hip problem. Wearing the platforms would make it worse. As long as she can still drag herself on stage, I don't care if she wears her pink bunny slippers!

[The Catdancer]

Originally posted by diamondsnake
Why doesn't she just hire someone and pay a crazy amount of money for very comfortable and nice looking shoes. Reeboks are the kind of shoes you would buy at Kmart... Stevie is a star and if she would spend a day searching for the perfect, most comfortable shoe and still made it nice-looking, then everyone would be happy.

Well, I think she likes them very much so there's no reason for her to have something made for her. If she didn't like them, she wouldn't wear them. I don't care what she wears, as long as she's happy, it's fine by me. Besides, she looks great in everything she wears.

Debbie

[ricohv]

*Ok -I know! I know!Some say let the lady be comfortable/she has a bad hip! Which in actuality I don't dispute, it does seem fairly obvious through watching her on tour all these months that something at least occasionally >or probably chronically knowing Stevie!< is bothering her.
:shrug:
*On the other hand, she who has basqued in the fairy princess role and all of the rock'n'roll excesses, extravagancies and excentricities, known as much for her image (clothing, BOOTS) as her songs themselves, somehow suddenly seems strangely pedestrian in Reebok tennis shoes. Reeboks worn with little white footies, the tops rolled down, still clearly visible underneath the pantyhose covering them.:rolleyes: I mean, she could pay to have mock platforms made that looked her part on the outside and were ortho-tennie on the inside.
*It's probably not such travesty on her part as it is this inability on my part to accept that my idol is 1)human, :eek: and therefore succeptible to quirks that might seem silly (hasn't anyone pointed out that they make little white socks that end just before the top of the shoe?) and 2)getting older, and therefore not as agile and capable (or even desiring of) keeping up the twirling dervish, "rock'n'roll ballerina", flowing gossamer image.
:blob1:
But none of that was my real topic. That was all just an excuse to get to my tongue-in-cheek theory about her addictions & whats going on now that will surprise us when we find out 10 years from now.:distress: (did anyone get that?)

[ShangriLaTroubl]

I got your theory...although I for one do not believe she does any hard drugs..shes just older...she has changed..

Chris

[ricohv]

...my point exactly....

[strandinthewind]

Moreover, she was seen in the last year or so buying high heel clog like shoes and she has been photographed off stage wearing high heel shoes. So, why can she can wear them off but not on stage. I say bring on the boots :laugh:

[petep9000]

I don't really see the major improvement in Stevie's stage presence in platform Reeboks. She still is not moving around as much on stage due to 'the hip'. And, have a close look at those platform boots we all long for anyway. Both the toe and heel portion are of a sufficient width and thickness to offer orthopedic support. The center of gravity is evenly dispersed, the toe portion is widely spaced and does not force her toes into an unnatural pointed position that one might expect. They also appear to be made of smooshy soft velvet and not rigid like some of the crazy 'Sex In The City' Manolo Blahnik (sp?) shoes popular today. True, they elevate her higher than a standard shoe- but sorry, in no way do I buy that they are any more dangerous to wear than the monstrosities that she sported this whole tour.

As for Klonopin that someone mentioned (I think the statement was "I mean- how many of us suspected the Klonopin thing? None.") you most certainly COULD tell Stevie was on a serious downer beginning with the '87 FM 'Shake The Cage' tour. I recall when Stevie went into detox/rehab for Klonopin in 1994 it made the AOL boards as a 'rumor' from a very credible poster (who has long since vanished from our online Stevie/FM world, alas) and lots of people blew him off as if this was absolutely impossible and she was fabulous, better than ever blah, blah, etc. Ask any Stevie fan who admires Stevie's live performances from the 'Tusk', 'Mirage', 'Wild Heart' or 'Rock A Little' tours and you will get a whole-hearted agreement that something was very, very wrong with Stevie on stage beginning in 1987.

In short...
boots = not wobbly enough to justify ugly sneakers with a dress.
Klonopin = most definately noticeable.

[ShangriLaTroubl]

She most certainly does move much more in reeboks than in the boots...especially on this tour...she was wearing the boots for the whole show in the beginning of the tour...she was dead to the world...barely moved from her mic...and if u have seen them post August- you will know she has been VERY active onstage...now whether or not its due to her shoes or not...all i can say is she moves a lot more now than she did when she was wearing the boots

CHris

[sparky]

Originally posted by DeeGeMe
Okay folks. For those of you who have been ragging Stevie about her footwear choices, I want you to try something for me. Stand up. Now lift your heels up off the floor and roll your weight onto your toes. Good. Now stay that way for . . . I don't know. . . a couple of hours or so. Now, every so often, I want you to twirl around the room Stevie-style, still on your toes. Now do you understand why Stevie doesn't wear the platforms anymore? I know they look great, but they hurt like hell!

OUCH. That is not a comfortable way to get around. For cripes sake, the only cowboy boots I own that don't hurt are over 10 years old, so I get it. I've never worn platforms, and don't plan on trying any on soon (sparky don't do drag), but I don't know how she wore them as long as she did. Do I still long to see her in them ? Of course I do. But, she's gotta do what she's gotta do. It's her career, her look, and her aching hip and sore little flippers.

[jwd]

Posted by ricohv:

But none of that was my real topic. That was all just an excuse to get to my tongue-in-cheek theory about her addictions & whats going on now that will surprise us when we find out 10 years from now.

Osteoporosis?! :shrug: :laugh:


Joe

[DeeGeMe]

She could simply have arthritis. I was diagnosed when I was 29. I go into flares that leave me barely able to get around--90 year olds move faster than me sometimes. Then it will simply go away for months, even years and I'm fine. . . until it comes back again. There are all types of arthritis and it can range from mild to debilitating. It also is very common for it to set-in after joint injuires. I can't answer why she'd wear high heels in her private life but not on stage. Maybe she just feels more secure in the platform reeboks on stage.

[golden braid]

Sure I love her in boots but that must be so uncomfortable night after night. I wore high heel sandals to the concerts and danced and jumped around a lot and was sore afterwards and I'm only in my twenties. So I totally understand why she wears the Reeboks and I don't really care that much.

[joe]

of course i hate to see the platforms fade away too. they just seem to go so well with her attire....but if she's uncomfortable then she should wear what she needs to....honestly, i don't see her moving any more or less than she has in the past. i just think that maybe she could get a boot style orthopedic shoe...i don't think the shoes would stand out as much. in other words, the platform boot without such a high heel.

[Sugar]

I, for one (and I may be the only one!), am ready to see Stevie give up the whole witchy persona thing, platforms and all. She just seems like a bit of a characature of herself now IMHO. I'm not saying she has to dress like Lindsey in a t-shirt and jeans, but I remember seeing a picture of her in pants and a big black shirt that draped off one shoulder, and I thought that was a real nice look for her. Stevie barefoot would be cute!

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Originally posted by petep9000
I don't really see the major improvement in Stevie's stage presence in platform Reeboks. She still is not moving around as much on stage due to 'the hip'.



I would disagree with that! She was twirling and dancing up a storm last night in Manchester! On this tour I've seen her start to limp once she has the boots on at the end! She definitely has a hip problem - I was told this and I'm sure I read somewhere that she is waiting for a suitable break in the tour to have surgery.

I must admit I have skimmed this thread so can't be certain but it is mostly men that are making the comment that she should wear the boots? If so then you really don't know what you are talking about unless you have worn heels and platforms for any length of time. I couldn't care less what she has on her feet! I've seen her 5 times in the UK in the last week or so and I honestly never thought I would see her over here again! She could wear bunny slippers for all I care! Sheesh!

Pip

[fleetfootmike]

Originally posted by Gypsy-Rhiannon

I must admit I have skimmed this thread so can't be certain but it is mostly men that are making the comment that she should wear the boots? If so then you really don't know what you are talking about unless you have worn heels and platforms for any length of time.

Annie ('our' Stevie) wore platforms (in fact, full 70's Stevie getup) to the NEC gig, was on her feet the whole time, and was heard muttering 'never again'...

And I seem to recall, Pip, some of the Fireflies saying much the same...

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Originally posted by fleetfootmike
Annie ('our' Stevie) wore platforms (in fact, full 70's Stevie getup) to the NEC gig, was on her feet the whole time, and was heard muttering 'never again'...

And I seem to recall, Pip, some of the Fireflies saying much the same...

Yes!! I wore platforms once to a Fleetwood Bac gig and I would never do it again!

Pip

[Sugar]

Originally posted by trackaghost
Maybe she'd wear more colour or even trousers on stage if she didn't think the fans expected her to wear the black witchy clothes.

I say let Stevie wear whatever she wants. She's still amazing regardless!

Amen.

[HejiraNYC]

One should also keep in mind that poor lil' Stevie has had a history of foot problems. I do recall that she had broken her foot at the beginning of the "Other Side of the Mirror" tour in 1989 (where the Frankenboks were first introduced), and again, more recently, perhaps around 2000 or so she had another debilitating foot incident. I am sure her feet have never been quite right ever since. Also, all of those years of dancing around on stage while being borderline obese certainly did not help matters either. Imagine 175 pounds concentrated on the balls of those tiny feet.

Those Frankenboks may appear to be simply a pair of Reeboks with extra soles. But I am sure they are reinforced like Fort Knox. No more foot drama with this lady!

[ivorymorning]

I've worn platforms to a Fleetwood Bac gig too and will never do that again !

At the NEC show I wore boots with a 1" heel and my feet were still in agony after it - even could not bear to walk the short distance back to the parking lot.

So for the Earl's Court show I wore my Reeboks and I danced about all night and walked the best part of a mile back to the car.

IMO no contest. I echo the 'Stevie could wear slippers for all I care' sentiment. Ok the boots are fabulous and we miss them, but I'd rather have Stevie in what she feels comfortable in than no Stevie at all.

Rachel

[princessblair]

When I spotted Stevie wearing her granny shoes at my first Mac concert this year, I laughed...not because it's funny or sad but because Stevie is so cute! She also wears some stylin' glasses in the making of Thrown Down clips :) She's still defining fashion trends and will never loose her touch. Admit it, most of you are wondering where you can get your own Stevie granny shoes :) I love to wear my 3 inch Stevie boots, but I know I can't do it forever because it hurts!. I had a teacher in high school who used to indulge us with stories of her "wild days of the 1960s and '70s." She used to wear high heels all the time and seriously damaged her feet as a result...incitently, she was also a huge Mac fan. Anyway, I don't care what Stevie's wearing (she could make a bathrobe look hot) as long as I get to see her.

[diamondsnake]

Was Stevie really obese? Is there a picture because I have never seen her look that overweight.

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by diamondsnake
Was Stevie really obese? Is there a picture because I have never seen her look that overweight.

By her own words, she went from 100-110 pounds in about 1984 to somewhere around 180 pounds in 1994-95. So an about 80% gain in weight is a pretty significant weight gain by anyone's definition.

Note: I am just stating what I recollect. I am not bashing Stevie - I loved her at 100, I loved her at 180, and I love her now.

[diamondsnake]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
By her own words, she went from 100-110 pounds in about 1984 to somewhere around 180 pounds in 1994-95. So an about 80% gain in weight is a pretty significant weight gain by anyone's definition.

Note: I am just stating what I recollect. I am not bashing Stevie - I loved her at 100, I loved her at 180, and I love her now.

Do you know of any pictures from these years? I was looking for pics of the Street Angel tour and can't find any...

[HejiraNYC]

Originally posted by diamondsnake
Do you know of any pictures from these years? I was looking for pics of the Street Angel tour and can't find any...

Well, I think she was probably at her "daftest" publicly at Clinton's inauguration. She kept herself pretty well hidden underneath various sheets and curtains during the Street Angel tour. But I suspect she really let herself go when she fell from public view during the mid 90s.

Here is a pic from the inauguration in 1993... even here she is almost twice the size of Sally Field.

[strandinthewind]

She was large for that, yet in that pic. I think she looks stunning.

[ricohv]

I know- I don't want to get into that debate again but I will say -it's always very hard for me to tell with her-she always seems to photograph well and it seems like her face never got huge-it some shots you can see its bigger-but she never got that big-head look some people get when they gain weight. And I think she looks great with a little extra weight-but thenI think I'm one of the few who LOVED the OSOTM costumes, hats, gloves and multi layers, It just seemed so romantic and Victorian (?) except with lost of sexy cleavage. I just thought it fit the whole vibe of that album. But then, of course I am one of the few who LOVE that album and "timespace" for her.