Sometimes they are a pain to walk in, but always such a joy to look at.
High heel shoes are considered to be something associated with females, primarily wanting to add a couple of extra inches to their height and to feel more dressed-up. However, this was not always the purpose of them.
The existence of high heels can be traced back to 15th Century Iran. Persian soldiers would wear them as they were seen to be a practical solution to provide better balance when mounting horses. The heels would be secured in the stirrups whilst the soldiers would stand to fire arrows and spears at their enemies.
Trade between Persia and Europe was strong at the time. And Persian trade brought the shoe trend to Europe, where male aristocrats would wear them to appear taller.
In the 1400s, the women of Spain and Italy began wearing platformed heeled shoes, called 'chopines'. The main purpose of these shoes were for the wearer to be raised high enough from the ground to avoid the dirt that was littered across the medieval streets.
The first record of a woman to wear high heel shoes (and not platforms) was Catherine de Medici in 1533. She was aged 14 years when she married the Duke of Orleans, who was very tall; Catherine was only 4'11" (150 cm). On her wedding day, she wore two inch heels to give her some added height.
Around the year 1658, King Louis XIV of France began wearing heels; he was 20 years old. He was considerably a lot shorter than the average French men. His shoes were four inches high and had the soles painted red or royal blue. The colour represented his high status and dominance in society. King Louis was a prominent figure in making high heels a fashion statement amongst the men of France and the surrounding European countries.
In the 17th Century, the shoes became a symbol of wealth, class and power. Kings and princes would be seen wearing high heel shoes. The shoes would be made from expensive materials such as velvet and satin.
This was a period where men wore heels as a statement of fashion and wealth.
Things changed in the 18th Century. For a period, both men and women wore heels but there was a distinction between the styles. Women's shoes were cheaply made with thinner soles and were often uncomfortable to wear.
When the Renaissance and Enlightenment era began, men considered themselves to be rational beings while women were irrational beings. According to the idea of the time, rational beings would have no need to wear heels and so it was the style was slowly abandoned by men.
In 1780, the French Revolution began. People wanted to hide their wealth, as richer people were more at risk of losing their heads. People from the upper class and working families were not wearing heels.
High heels were losing their popularity in countries such as America and Britain as they were thought of as licentious. It was not allowed for women to wear heels or make up. Anyone caught could face severe punishment.
High heels saw a revival in the 19th century. They were only 2 inches high and made for women. This soon became a staple piece in a woman's wardrobe.
The next milestone for high heels came in the 20th Century. Films and photography were rising in popularity. More and more women began to wear heels. They noticed the ways in which heels were enhancing the female form; legs appeared longer and the buttocks appeared more lifted.
Hollywood icons Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn helped iconise high heels. Pin-up girls were also becoming more popular round this time.
Another poignant time for high heels came during the 1970s and 1980s, when there was a surge of feminism. Celebrities such as Madonna, Freddie Mercury, and David Bowie began wearing heeled shoes and boots as a fashion statement and pieces of art rather than as a way of making people appear taller.
Today's society is much more flexible with fashion and what people choose to wear. Heels are pretty; they can add to an outfit but without it, they do not break the outfit.
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