California restaurant lifts heels-only dress code after customer outcry

Restaurants, bars, clubs or events with formal dress codes are nothing new. So why then, is the dress code policy of one particular Riverside, Calif. restaurant causing a stir?

It turns out, flyers for a specific event promoted by the new restaurant ProAbition insisted women must wear high heels unless injured.

"Ladies: No flat shoes or sandals. Must have heels. Exception will be made if injured," reads a flyer for the event.

This one little statement, written about in a local newspaper, has set off an outpour of angry comments by Facebook fans slagging the business for an ill-advised dress code.

Also see: Female university students in Tajikstan required to wear high heels for uniform

As a result of the negative publicity, the restaurant lifted the ban, stating that only sandals and flip flops are banned.

But their retraction came a little too late, as they had already lost a number of Facebook fans and customers.

"Unliked you and will spread the word to all female FB friends about your heels policy. Unbe-f-ing-lievable!" writes commenter Cristi Broach Hendry.

"I have been in your restaurant three times now and I really don't think I will ever go back because of the dress code stating women have to wear heels, are you out of your sexist mind!" writes Helen Zacker.

And then there are those who have taken to defending the event's dress code.

Also see: Bunions are hereditary, not caused by high heels, study says

"You are well within your rights to ask people to adhere to a certain dress code! Men have been asked to wear jackets, collars, ties and proper shoes to different venues for years... so what is wrong with asking women to wear high healed shoes???" writes Beck Roberts.

But perhaps Roberts and other dress code defenders are missing the finer points. What high heels have come to represent carry a lot more weight than jackets and ties.

It's safe to say that part of a modern feminist vision includes the notion that women should be able choose when they want to wear heels. Not only because high heels can lead to a myriad of health problems like calluses, corns, Achilles tendon tension, tight calf muscles and even back pain, but also because they have come to symbolize sexism AND sex all in one little juxtaposing package.

What are your thoughts on a dress code that bans flat shoes for women? Clueless or classy?