Welp, Gen Z Thinks It's *Insane* That Millennials Used to Go Out in These

First it was skinny jeans, then it was no-show socks. Now, millennials are apparently showing their age by…wearing heels out?! My inner Carrie Bradshaw is rolling in her Manolos.

I’m a 5-foot-1 millennial woman whose Studio 54-frequenting mother bought me my first fake ID when I was 16 (don’t worry—it was just to get into a 17+ party). Considering both nature and nurture, it’s no surprise that I spent my formative years hitting the town in high heels. From the “indie sleaze” era of Jeffrey Campbell platforms to the shiny stiletto pumps of the (albeit head-scratching) corporate-core club aesthetic of the late 2000s, for me and my peers, a night out wasn’t a night out if sky-high footwear wasn’t involved. Yes, it often meant hobbling home in pain, but such was the cost of fabulosity—at least in our opinion. But for the young adults of Gen Z, that concept is madness.

The latest in a string of generational style divides, there’s now been a shift in what’s considered a party-worthy shoe; not only is Gen Z eschewing stilettos for comfier flats—many are also wearing sneakers to the club. I’ve noticed this on my (admittedly rarer) ventures out recently, and there’s been no shortage of videos documenting the change of the nightlife landscape below the ankle. TikTok user @amandarraine, for one, shared a dispatch from the dance floor overlaid with the text, “POV: Realizing you're old [because] you're the only one wearing heels in the club,” which has racked up over 4 million views since it was posted last December.

Now, I’ll always be a heels gal at heart, but I really can’t say I disagree with the younger generation’s new norm—wearing sneakers with dresses is totally a thing, and why wouldn’t you choose to be more comfortable on the dance floor? While it appears plenty of fellow millennials share my “you do you” sentiment here—after all, my fun is not affected by someone else’s choice of footwear—that hasn’t stopped the heels versus flats/sneakers debate from taking off on TikTok.

This past July, brand coach and millennial TikToker @raechristine___ posted a bit of an admonishment to the younger going-out crowd for their preference for flats. “As a 34-year-old, do we need to come out of retirement and teach the girls how to wear heels, or what heels you need to shop for when going out,” she says in the video. “We gotta bring heel culture back to the clubs…What’s the purpose of going to the club if you’re not gonna dress up?” The post, which has now been viewed over 20 million times, caused quite a stir on the platform.

In the comment section alone, you’ll find members of Gen Z defending their desire for comfort, as well as 30- and 40-somethings applauding the generational shift. One commenter wrote, “I remember the PAIN we suffered through on top of the unrelenting toxic AF beauty standards of the ‘00s, [and I'm so happy] for and proud of the Gen Z girlies for starting to really break that cycle...”

Other anti-heel advocates on social media say they’d rather avoid having foot problems later in life. Indeed, one former PureWow editor was advised by her podiatrist to swap her heels for flats after suffering from bunions. According to Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry, heeled shoes can also cause forefoot injuries, heel and arch strain, posture and gait problems and even increase the risk of developing plantar fasciitis. Clearly, the kids are onto something.

But while Gen Z may favor more sensible shoes for long nights of dancing and barhopping, that’s not to say they’ve given up heels altogether. A number of commenters on @raechristine___’s TikTok have mentioned that they wear higher shoes for sit-down outings like brunch and dinner, especially if there’s an #OOTD photo opportunity involved. “I'll literally wear 6-inch heels, hobble from the car to the restaurant, take a picture and sit my ass down for the rest of the time,” one explained. Meanwhile, self-described zillennial—and PureWow editor—Stephanie Meraz told me that she’ll wear sneakers out on the last leg of an eventful weekend. “If I already went out in heels and my feet are on the brink of breaking into a million pieces, then I’ll opt for comfort and sacrifice my cute heels.” Makes sense to me.

So, fellow millennials, if you’re reading this: Go ahead and hit the town in whatever footwear suits your fancy (I, for one, may start embracing the kitten heel)—but keep in mind that, thanks to Gen Z, comfort is currently all the rage.