calm
Contrary to popular belief that European royalty began wearing high heels in the 16th century to make them taller (hence the term “wealthy”), pumps date back to Persian warriors. The heels gave them greater stability on horseback and allowed them to be more accurate when shooting arrows.
Men’s high heels of that era generally measured around 1.5 inches. Think cowboy boots and you’ll get the idea.
As heels evolved, the trend was for chunky heels for men and thin heels for women. As always, the elite tried to maintain their status with taller shoes when the poor and workers began to copy them. Over time, men, except those who wanted to increase their height a bit, stopped wearing high heels, but that doesn’t mean they won’t come back in style at some point.
the ups and downs
High heels have been in and out of style for centuries, but since World War II they have become a runway and office staple for women. A low heel is classified as one that measures between 2.5 cm and 6.4 cm; tall comes in 2.5″ to 3.5″. Anything above that is virtually impossible to get into and slips into fetish or jewelry categories.
According to The Spine Health Institute, 72 percent of women wear high heels at one time or another: special occasions, parties, and dances. And 31 percent of women wear heels to work every day.
types of heels
Like everything else fashion-oriented, heels have their seasons. Names like Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik are shoe gurus to those in the know and their fans look forward to their upcoming collections.
The heels can be pumps, or court shoes, stilettos or platforms. Colors, shapes, and heel forms may come and go, but the basics remain the same. Platforms one year may be all the rage, only to be scrapped the following year in favor of bombs.
Why do women wear heels?
The easy answer is that they are sexy. The higher the heel, the more the hips bend forward. As a result of this imbalance, the calf, hip, and back muscles have to tighten to compensate.
Heels also ensure that a woman walks slower and moves her body more provocatively. Heels are sexy, sneakers are not.
shoe fetishes
The Urban Dictionary defines parphilla, the technical term for shoe fetish, as an unusual fixation on high-heeled shoes and/or boots. Some men develop a shoe fetish and may visit a Dominatrix to live out their high heel fantasies.
The average woman has around 20 pairs of shoes. Others, however, develop an obsession and own hundreds of pairs of shoes that may never make it out of the box or closet. One theory is that while women may gain weight and have to buy larger clothes, their feet generally stay the same size, hence the shoe-shopping compulsion.
crossing the sex gap
One group of men who wear high heels as part of their outfit are cross-dressers and transsexuals.
Carmen Rupe, a well-known drag queen far down the road, always wore heels when working as a snake and belly dancer in the 1960s and 1970s. Later in life, however, she had to ditch her prized shoes for more sensible footwear.
Similarly, Bob/bi, a transvestite from New Zealand, wouldn’t think of going out without heels, although he prefers low to medium heels, rather than stilettos. “Wearing heels is a very important part of feeling feminine. And without them it just doesn’t work. The only thing tragic crossdressers need to learn is how to walk in heels. Women start when they are young and it becomes natural to be able to balance. For men However, it is a skill that needs to be practiced.”
High heels in the developing world
High heels in Africa and Asia are status symbols. Do you remember that Imelda Marcos from the Philippines, for example, it is rumored that she had more than 3000 pairs of shoes?
Unless the women are wealthy enough to own a car and a driver, heels are totally impractical where there are no good sidewalks. When riding a small motorcycle or taking public transportation, some third world women carry their heels in a bag to put themselves in place. That way, they can still look stylish. The quality of high heels tends to be cheap plastic, rather than leather.
heel damage
Dr. Natalie Nevins, an osteopathic physician, warns that prolonged use of high heels can cause damage. Included under this heading are falls, low back pain, nerve damage, bunions, and sciatica.
Pregnant women may also want to wear flat shoes as the altered position of having the hips forward is not good for the fetus.
Sexy or sensitive?
Ultimately, it is up to each woman to make an informed decision about her appearance. A good balance can be sensible during the day and sexy for special occasions.