In England almost all young women are wearing ballet shoes/pumps.

Americans might have a different word for them but they're those very flat shoes shaped like ballet shoes with a very hard and very thin sole so you feel like your walking around in bare feet and the thud of your foot meeting the pavement seems to go right through your body. They can't be good for your body or your bones!

What ever happened to bouncy, supportive, soft and comfortable soles? Men have higher heels these days!! It seems that most of the shops round here in South London have only either these ballet shoes or very very , ridiculously flat against the ground sandals OR really old fashioned grannyish style sandals.

I find it ironic and ludicrous that in an age where we are so advanced in some ways fashionable shoe design is so backward!

Why is this do you think???

Is it the same in America??