| High-heeled shoes have always been an object of | | | | in place. This riding heel became a style |
| pleasure for women, and equally of desire for | | | | statement, especially in courts. |
| men. They are considered a reflection of | | | | However, real high heels originated from the |
| elegance, style and sexuality world-wide. This is | | | | Italian 'chapiney' or 'chopine' style, and were shoes |
| partly because wearing heels give a lady the | | | | mounted on platforms 15 to 42 cm high! They |
| appearance of longer, toned and slimmer legs. | | | | were made fashionable and functional by |
| Wearing heels also tends to shorten the extent of | | | | Catherine de Medici, in Paris in the 16th Century, |
| your step, projecting an impression of a speedy, | | | | who used them to increase her short stature. |
| confident walk, commonly known as strutting | | | | During the 17th century, women wearing high |
| your stuff! | | | | heels were punished by the English Parliament as it |
| The fact that high heels are harder to walk in also | | | | was considered a way of attracting men. And |
| makes the lady more conscious of how they are | | | | Napoleon banished heels to bring in equality among |
| walking, with a heightened awareness in holding | | | | all people in the 18th Century. In 1860, high-heeled |
| their posture upright and at least looking | | | | shoes gained popularity again and were worn |
| comfortable! The way heels make you walk also | | | | extensively in the late Nineteenth Century. |
| encourages the shoulders to drop back and the | | | | Although many women in the early Twentieth |
| hips to wiggle a little; the other main reason heels | | | | Century began to opt for a more comfortable |
| are historically the sexiest type of shoe for a | | | | style, with the popularity of flat-soled shoes now |
| women. Think of the phrase 'catwalk confidence' | | | | growing, the infamous Stiletto came onto the |
| – which relates to how models strut down the | | | | scene around the 1950s, and has been here to |
| catwalk; one of the most famous being Naomi | | | | stay ever since. They were embraced in the |
| Campbell who famously fell over on the catwalk | | | | 1960’s as partner in crime to the mini skirt, |
| whilst sporting a pair of huge Vivienne Westwood | | | | before the platform heel took over in the 70's. |
| heels. Ladies heels come in wide range of shapes | | | | Since then high heels have stuck firmly on the |
| including including stiletto, pump (court shoe), block, | | | | feet of women across the globe, and are often |
| tapered, blade, and wedge. | | | | worn everyday, including for work, by many. |
| Heeled shoes are not a recent invention. They | | | | It seams the power of the heel wins over |
| were worn by upper classes in Egypt around | | | | comfort any day, for women everywhere, even |
| 3500 B.C. Platform sandals known as 'Kothorni', | | | | as high heels have faced major controversies in |
| were in vogue amongst actors in Rome and | | | | the medical field as regular wearing can cause |
| Greece. They wore shoes with high soles made | | | | foot pain, deformities, and a multitude of |
| of wood or cork of varying heights to portray | | | | accidents caused by unsteady steps! A girls |
| different characters or variable social status. | | | | relationship with her shoes is probably only second |
| Around 1500 AD, European aristocrats used heels | | | | to that of a diamond(!) so we can pretty much |
| measuring 4cm as an add-on to their shoes to | | | | guarantee we will be tottering around on sky high |
| get a firm grip of the stirrup and keep their feet | | | | heels till the end of time. |