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Sexy Footwear
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Published: September 25, 2006
They have been fetishized, idealized and demonized. They are the object of affection by both the women who wear them and the men who admire them. They are high heels. There are lots of women in the world in lieu of a more sensible pair of shoes; yet they are instinctually drawn to whatever beautiful designer heels catch their eye.
But high heels were not originally intended as fashionable footwear.
The history of high-heels begins with horse riders in Europe, circa late 1400s. Horse riders often wore flat shoes, making it difficult to mount. Flat shoes would continually slide through the stirrups, and when the rider finally mounted his steed, it was difficult to stay on. There was nothing with which to grip the stirrups. Riders and cobblers got together and added a heel to the shoe and created a rider's heel. At 1.5 inches, the riders' heel gripped the stirrup better.
This pragmatic invention soon gave way to more fashionable heels. The heels became thinner and higher. While these were no longer useful for riding, they evolved into a status symbol for men, especially within the French noble court. It was Catherine de Medici, wife of the Duke d'Orleans, who had a cobbler make her a pair of high heels to increase her stature and to become more fashionable.
Though men and women continued to wear high heels throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, they briefly went out of fashion before resurfacing in the 1800s, where they were worn only by women.
Stilettos debuted in 1947 by Christian Dior. Dior's New Look campaign made the wasp waist fashionable again and added a more streamlined shoe to match the modern woman of the 1940s and 1950s.
Roger Vivier invented the stiletto. If modern stilettos bear any resemblance to weaponry, it is because of provenance; the word stiletto is taken from the thin switchblade of the same name. In reference to shoes, stiletto is the thin metal pin running down the length of the heel. Soon after the stiletto was invented, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield were prancing on screen in these high heels. There was a new and powerful sex appeal associated with stilettos to which many women were drawn.
Some women hate stilettos and high heels. As feminists, they claim the shoes are a tool of male oppression and question why a woman would forsake physical comfort for physical appeal. The answer is mired beneath science and psychology. While second-wave feminism saw stilettos as physically harmful, third-wave feminists applaud the embrace of femininity. Wearing high heels can increase sex appeal, confidence and posture.
In fact, there are many reasons women choose to wear high heels:
1. They change a woman's posture – her chest is up and out and her back arches. Ever notice how difficult and uncomfortable it is to slouch when sporting three-inch heels?
2. They make the woman taller. Anyone shorter than 5' 4 will appreciate the extra height.
3. The lower leg is elongated and the calves are accentuated. Legs appear more attractive.
4. Stride changes. The wearer's gait is noticeably more concentrated, the hips sway and the butt is thrust outwards and up.
Types of Heels
Stilettos are not appealing to everyone. Thankfully, there are a plethora of high heels on the market today. Other popular styles include the wedge, espadrille, platform and kitten heels. If you want to cover the entire foot and part of the leg, try a pair of boots, a la, Nancy Sinatra.
Boots
Like high heels, boots were originally designed as durable work shoes and in some industries they are still used as such. Now they are an important closet staple for any woman.
There are plenty of styles to suit the mood. If a woman wants boots made for walking, she can go for a pair black, thigh-high leather boots, or she can go the practical route and get a pair of fashionable rain boots to wear in a downpour. High-fashion boots are available with stiletto, wedge or platform heels, pointed or rounded toes and in different heights along the leg, ranging from booties to the dangerously sexy thigh-highs.
Sources:
Boot. 15 September 2006. Wikipedia. 22 September 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/boot/
High-heeled shoe. 20 September 2006. Wikipedia. 22 September 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/high_heels/
What are Stilletos? Wisegeek. 22 September 2006. http://wisegeek.com/what-are-stilletos.htm/
But high heels were not originally intended as fashionable footwear.
The history of high-heels begins with horse riders in Europe, circa late 1400s. Horse riders often wore flat shoes, making it difficult to mount. Flat shoes would continually slide through the stirrups, and when the rider finally mounted his steed, it was difficult to stay on. There was nothing with which to grip the stirrups. Riders and cobblers got together and added a heel to the shoe and created a rider's heel. At 1.5 inches, the riders' heel gripped the stirrup better.
This pragmatic invention soon gave way to more fashionable heels. The heels became thinner and higher. While these were no longer useful for riding, they evolved into a status symbol for men, especially within the French noble court. It was Catherine de Medici, wife of the Duke d'Orleans, who had a cobbler make her a pair of high heels to increase her stature and to become more fashionable.
Though men and women continued to wear high heels throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, they briefly went out of fashion before resurfacing in the 1800s, where they were worn only by women.
Stilettos debuted in 1947 by Christian Dior. Dior's New Look campaign made the wasp waist fashionable again and added a more streamlined shoe to match the modern woman of the 1940s and 1950s.
Roger Vivier invented the stiletto. If modern stilettos bear any resemblance to weaponry, it is because of provenance; the word stiletto is taken from the thin switchblade of the same name. In reference to shoes, stiletto is the thin metal pin running down the length of the heel. Soon after the stiletto was invented, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield were prancing on screen in these high heels. There was a new and powerful sex appeal associated with stilettos to which many women were drawn.
Some women hate stilettos and high heels. As feminists, they claim the shoes are a tool of male oppression and question why a woman would forsake physical comfort for physical appeal. The answer is mired beneath science and psychology. While second-wave feminism saw stilettos as physically harmful, third-wave feminists applaud the embrace of femininity. Wearing high heels can increase sex appeal, confidence and posture.
In fact, there are many reasons women choose to wear high heels:
1. They change a woman's posture – her chest is up and out and her back arches. Ever notice how difficult and uncomfortable it is to slouch when sporting three-inch heels?
2. They make the woman taller. Anyone shorter than 5' 4 will appreciate the extra height.
3. The lower leg is elongated and the calves are accentuated. Legs appear more attractive.
4. Stride changes. The wearer's gait is noticeably more concentrated, the hips sway and the butt is thrust outwards and up.
Types of Heels
Stilettos are not appealing to everyone. Thankfully, there are a plethora of high heels on the market today. Other popular styles include the wedge, espadrille, platform and kitten heels. If you want to cover the entire foot and part of the leg, try a pair of boots, a la, Nancy Sinatra.
Boots
Like high heels, boots were originally designed as durable work shoes and in some industries they are still used as such. Now they are an important closet staple for any woman.
There are plenty of styles to suit the mood. If a woman wants boots made for walking, she can go for a pair black, thigh-high leather boots, or she can go the practical route and get a pair of fashionable rain boots to wear in a downpour. High-fashion boots are available with stiletto, wedge or platform heels, pointed or rounded toes and in different heights along the leg, ranging from booties to the dangerously sexy thigh-highs.
Sources:
Boot. 15 September 2006. Wikipedia. 22 September 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/boot/
High-heeled shoe. 20 September 2006. Wikipedia. 22 September 2006. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/high_heels/
What are Stilletos? Wisegeek. 22 September 2006. http://wisegeek.com/what-are-stilletos.htm/
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