walking are of a much higher quality than those that are used primarily for fetish wear. Ballet boots of low quality are not intended for prolonged standing or walking, often they cannot be used for standing at all, nor are they functional for dancing. Instead, they act as a fetish object for sexual gratification, heightening the erotic appeal with the elements of bondage and submission. They are thus sometimes used in BDSM play. The boots, however, can cause enough discomfort by themselves: shortly after they are donned, the calves often begin to cramp and sting from overexertion if the wearer is not used to them. Beginners often find momentary walking or standing in them to be difficult and painful, which may also appeal to masochists. Arch-training devices and techniques are sometimes used to increase the wearer's instep in order to fit high heels such as these. See also Boot fetishism References Barringer, Janice, and Sarah Schlesinger. The Pointe Book: shoes, training & technique. Hightstown, NJ: Princeton Book Company, 2004. L.L. Bean's Daybreak Scuffs are the perfect slipper for lounging: L.L. Bean Daybreak Scuffs:The Benefits of Wearing Slippers Steele, Valerie. Fetish: Fashion, Sex and Power. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. Trasko, Mary. Heavenly Soles: Extraordinary Twentieth-Century Shoes. New York: Abbeville Press, 1989. Fetish clothing Boots High-heeled footwear