Do I have to wear only the shoes provided by the club during the photo shoot? The shoes they always prepare for me are insanely high, and it’s difficult even to stand straight during the shoot. When a man showed me the photos, I saw that I hadn’t been able to stand straight and was leaning to one side. On top of that, they’re so high that my calves look bulky, which isn’t attractive at all. But since the shoot is indoors, can’t I wear my own shoes? Is there really nothing that can be done about those ridiculously high heels? Why are they even that high in the first place?

I’m Fuu, a column writer. It would have been better to ask the club staff right there during the photo shoot. The club probably makes heels the default because they make women’s legs look longer and more attractive in photos. Men shouldn’t show their photos, though.

Our staff member Dan will answer as well. If you have shoes prepared for the photo shoot, we’ll use the shoes you bring with you. If you’re able to bring a pair, please let a staff member know.

I’m Nana Ayase ☆ Your own heels are perfectly fine. I also wore my own heels for the photoshoot. I feel a little uncomfortable wearing shoes that everyone else has worn.

Maezawa from the President’s Office here with an answer as well. As Marika mentioned, some women bring an extra pair of their own shoes for the photo shoot, in addition to the shoes they’re wearing. Some even bring them from their very first interview—not just for a reshoot—so I sometimes wonder who taught them the ins and outs. If they bring shoes with them, we can take photos wearing those shoes. As for the shoes they arrive in, if they ask, “Can I be photographed in these shoes?” we may let them, after wiping the soles clean. However, they may also be refused with a “We can’t have outdoor shoes on the floor,” so it depends on the branch. (I think branches in Tokyo were relatively accommodating.) Some women also bring clothes and change into them for the shoot. But if they happen to come during a particularly busy time, there may not be enough time to change, and they might be told, “Let’s take the photos in what you’re wearing now.” That depends on how busy things are, but if you say, “I can change quickly,” I feel like they probably won’t refuse, since you went to the trouble of bringing the clothes. > Can’t you do something about those ridiculously high heels? Why are they so high in the first place? Because they’re high heels. (Laughs) If they weren’t high, I don’t think you could call them high heels. They’re chosen because that height makes the legs look their best. If your legs are so long that everything below your chest looks like legs, then I don’t think you need high heels. But for most people, wearing high heels makes their legs look longer and more attractive. That said, there may only be one full-body photo—or sometimes none at all. So if the question is, “What’s the point of wearing those high heels?” in that sense, then I have to agree… They should take a full-body shot that includes the shoes, too. Fortunately, it sounds like the person who asked the question did have a proper full-body photo.

I’ve been bringing a brand-new pair of shoes to change into ever since my first shoot. Marika