Superhero Shoes – Are Knee High Boots the Secret to Heroism?*

We all know of a world of superheroes, and their power comes in many forms. Both LM and I partial to a bit of power. I’m a sucker for Spider-Man and Iron Man, and of course Little Miss loves the animated kind both Big Hero 6 and The Incredibles and their array of feats that we see on the silver screen is always impressive.

We sometimes over look just how hard their life is, running to and from crime scenes, protecting loved ones and fighting villains because we’re all so wrapped up in their heroic antics and flashy powers. But do we ever stop and think about what kind of shoes they wear?

Imagine The Flash, my nephew’s current favourite superhero, in a pair of summer sandals? Flip flops and his speed wouldn’t end well, would it? No.  Superheroes wear footwear that aids their abilities.  Footwear retailer Brantano has gathered some of their favourites;

Wonder Woman’s Battle Boots
One of the longest serving female superheroes is of course Wonder Woman who made her début back in 1941 and is now back in the public eye thanks to Gal Gadot and the DC cinematic universe, complete with a brand new look. Has anyone looked at what’s on her her feet yet? Armoured knee high boots that have a sandal style strap and a wedge heel.. hard practical but definitely stylish, thank goodness she has a demigod status otherwise they would just not work.

However her classic look is definitely one of much more confidence and colour. Along side her famous cape and tiara, she dons those red knee high boots however many of her comic book illustrations have eschewed high heels in favour of flat boots, much more practical in my opinion. But that could just be the mother in me talking..

Star Lord’s Rocket Boots (Guardians of the Galaxy)
I’m a bit of a sucker for Peter Quill, or Star Lord as he’s know in Guardians of the Galaxy.. His guile and charisma helped lead a team of misfits against supervillain Ronan, whose forces were threatening the galaxy. Anyone else really looking forward to Volume 2? I know I am!

While doing so, he stays on-trend thanks to a space cowboy inspired look — a pair of reddish-brown walking shoes that are topped with knee-high greaves. The best part though? These boots have rocket boosters in them, enabling him to cross large crevasses and rocket through space. He rather suits his name of Star Lord, right?

Superman’s Iconic Red Boots
Lets face it, when you have to dress up as a superhero you always picture the bright red pants over a pair of tights and we can all thank Superman for that. As his current incarnation in the DC cinematic universe he’s portrayed by Henry Cavill and those briefs are long gone. However he still rocks those bright red boots. Proof you need to stick with your signature style.

The Power Rangers
I was a huge huge fan of The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers when they became a TV phenomenon in the 90s. In fact I desperately wanted to be Kimberly the pink range, so much so that I used to practice gymnastics on the grass in front of my parents house and always wear something pink. I think a lot of it was due to the fact she was played by Amy Jo Johnson and you didn’t get any famous people called Amy.

This year the Power Rangers are set to launch themselves back into the public eye as they’re restyled for the new 2017 film and I for one cannot wait! Their colourful style is definitely one that’s remembered, even while incognito they still usually wore a token that let you know which ranger they morphed into. And of course, lets not forget those memorable knee high boots, for both genders.

Captain America’s Combat Boots
Can’t say I’ve ever been a Captain America fan, even while he’s being played by the dishy Chris Evans. However there is not denying Captain America is dressed for the job. His costume is a firm mix of military patriotism and that ever so superhero style jumpsuit and of course his footwear is designed for the dirty job he does. Utility combat boots with a thick sole, perfect for pursuing crime on foot or on that motorcycle.

The Joker’s Knife Boot (The Dark Knight)
Taking darker turn now, because what would a hero be without a villain? Possibly one of the most famous on-screen villain of our time is Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight. There was no doubt about it that The Joker is one of Batman’s ultimate arch enemies in this movie and the way he was stylised not just from his fashion but from Ledger’s iconic performance seals the deal on him being a truly dark villain. Although it was his iconic purple suit and crazy green hair that caught the eye of the movie watcher, it was the hidden knife in his brogues that surprised Batman. They looked awesome with the brightly-checked socks.

Ultimately, there’s a lot to be learned from superhero fashion. A longer length pair like knee high boots must grant some sort of secret super power – considering almost every superhero there is confidently sporting such footwear and only the villain favours something different. Maybe the real secret to heroism and fame is a pair of knee highs? I need to get me some so I can really kick 2017 into shape!