Stiletto Heel (2016) takes the form of a high-heeled shoe, enlarged and rendered in steel. The work belongs to Lemos’ Tools of Endearment series, in which familiar feminine objects are transformed into monumental steel sculptures. Other works in the series include an enlarged bra and handbag. The series reflects on the expectations placed on women to be attractive, capable and successful, while suggesting the inner strength required to navigate these demands. By transforming forms associated with femininity into monumental structures made from permanent materials such as steel, Lemos reveals a sense of strength and resilience that lies beneath their delicate or familiar appearance. In Stiletto Heel, the heel is replaced by a sharp blade, introducing a striking tension between the seductive and the formidable. The work invites a reconsideration of femininity, vulnerability and power, suggesting that qualities traditionally associated with femininity can also become sources of strength and agency.