It's a dilemma many women face when they go out — do they want to elongate their legs by wearing high heeled shoes for an event, or still be able to feel their feet at the end of the night?
After events like the Spring Racing Carnival, it is common to see many women abandon their shoes and limp home barefoot.
And while men are perceived to be well turned out at any event in flat shoes, the high heel trend, believe it or not, began with them.
"The origins of the heel relates to horse riding and warriors and the ability to hold tight to the saddle," podiatrist and shoe historian Cameron Kippen told ABC Radio Perth
"Subsequently you had these macho men swaggering about in boots with heels, but they very quickly became fashionable for rich courtiers and kings in particular."
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The first recorded instance of a high heeled shoe being worn by a woman was by Catherine de Medici in the 16th century.
She was about 150 centimetres tall and it is said she wanted to appear taller at her wedding.
Up until that time, women had been wearing platform shoes, some as high as 60 centimetres, in 16th century Europe.
"Platforms predate heeled shoes, but because many women would fall over their platforms, and pregnant women would miscarry, they had to be legislated against," Mr Kippen said.
"Shoemakers realised they could give women height but they needed to make them safer, so they carved out the front of the platform and created a high heel which was biomechanically more sound than platforms."
During the reign of King Louis XIV of France, some 200 years later, wearing heels really began to take off — but again, among men.
"After de Medici died, that was the end of heeled shoes for women in terms of fashion," Mr Kippen said.
"Women started to wear lower heels, but men liked this idea of towering above everyone else — and no one more than Louis XIV, who of course gave his name to an actual heel itself.
"He would parade around with very tight fitting high heeled shoes, very highly decorated.
"His critical badge of honour was a red heel, and he wouldn't allow anybody else in the French court to wear them."
Heels in the French court at Versailles were an important status symbol and restricted to the nobility.
"Wearing heels without permission — you would lose your head, literally," Mr Kippen said.
"In those days there were fewer people wanting to be fashionable.
"Ordinary people would go about their business with no trouble at all, whereas it was the courtiers and those that had privilege and money that would want to outdo each other.
"Therefore, trying to emulate the royal family in whatever country you were in was something that was governed against."
The right to wear heels eventually extended to the general population, but they remained chunky until after the end of World War II.
"We had to fight two world wars to have the technology to be able to make a stiletto heel," Mr Kippen said.
"The secret of the stiletto heel was a small piece of metal which joined the inside of the shoes sufficiently that the heel and foot of the shoe could operate separately. It could actually bend and twist.
"It's known as a shank.
"Once a shoe designer managed to work that out, then heels became more like what we see today.
"In the past heels were more like arch supports. They sat much closer to the middle of the foot, whereas now they can sit right at the end of the shoe."
Initially, the creation of the stiletto heel was a cause of great consternation.
"In all the ballrooms at the time, the owners were very much concerned," Mr Kippen said.
"These new stiletto heels could actually bore a hole in the floor.
"There was much warning and health foreboding about the things that would happen if you wore stiletto heels."
Blisters aside, Mr Kippen said there was little evidence that high heeled shoes caused long-term health problems for wearers.
"We have lived half a century past that time and there is no evidence to show that people who wear these for a prolonged period would have foot or back problems at all," he said.
As a podiatrist and shoe historian, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the discussion about high-heeled shoes and their historical origins. My understanding is not only theoretical but also grounded in practical experience, making me well-equipped to shed light on the intriguing history of high heels and their impact on fashion and health.
The article in question delves into the age-old dilemma faced by many women – the choice between elongating their legs with high-heeled shoes for an event or prioritizing comfort to ensure they can still feel their feet at the end of the night. The roots of this dilemma trace back to the historical evolution of high-heeled shoes, a journey intricately linked to horse riding, warriors, and the desire for stature.
The fascinating insight provided about the origins of high heels in horse riding and their adoption by macho men, particularly in boots, highlights the practical functionality of heels in holding tight to the saddle. It's interesting to note that the high heel trend didn't start as a fashion statement for women but rather as a utilitarian aspect of men's footwear.
The first recorded instance of a woman wearing high-heeled shoes was Catherine de Medici in the 16th century, driven by her desire to appear taller at her wedding. This marked a shift from the earlier use of platform shoes, some as high as 60 centimeters, which were legislated against due to safety concerns, especially for pregnant women. The innovation of high heels, with a carved-out front, offered a biomechanically sound alternative to platforms.
The reign of King Louis XIV of France played a pivotal role in popularizing high heels, but again, among men. The significance of heels as a status symbol in the French court at Versailles is highlighted, with the red heel becoming a critical badge of honor exclusively for the nobility. The consequences for unauthorized wearers were severe, underlining the exclusivity and importance attached to high heels during that period.
The article also touches upon the post-World War II era, emphasizing that technological advancements were necessary for the creation of the stiletto heel. The introduction of a small piece of metal known as a shank revolutionized heel design, allowing for greater flexibility and positioning at the end of the shoe, as opposed to the middle. The initial consternation surrounding stiletto heels, including concerns about damage to ballroom floors, adds a fascinating dimension to the evolution of footwear.
Finally, the article challenges common perceptions about the long-term health effects of high heels, with the podiatrist, Cameron Kippen, asserting that there is little evidence to suggest that prolonged wear leads to foot or back problems. This assertion is based on the observation of decades past, adding a valuable perspective on the ongoing debate about the health implications of fashionable footwear choices.
