Why do heels exist? (2023)

What was the original purpose for heels?

History. The original Heal's firm was established in 1810 as a feather-dressing business by John Harris Heal and his son. In 1818, the business moved to Tottenham Court Road, London and expanded into bedding, bedstead and furniture manufacture and into retailing.

The earliest known example of high heels comes from ancient Iran in the 10th century CE. At that time, Iran was known as Persia. And it was the Persian army that had the honor of wearing the first high heels. The Persians were excellent horsemen and the cavalry formed an important part of the Persian army.

Stilettos, like all similar high-heeled shoes, give the optical illusion of a longer, slimmer leg, a smaller foot, and overall greater height. They alter the wearer's posture and gait, flexing the calf muscles and making the bust and buttocks more prominent.

By adopting footwear that has become such an iconic representation of feminine fashion, their choice is often dubbed “ground-breaking” or “gender-bending.” Funnily enough, the origination of high heels began specifically for men. King Louis XIV. The earliest known style of heels dates back to 10th-century Persia.

Nowadays, stilettoes and heels are broadly associated with female style and female sexuality. However, men used to wear heels long before women started wearing them. High-heeled shoes were first worn by Persian soldiers in 10th century to elevate their feet, giving them stability while shooting their bows and arrows.

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.

Men in heels date as far back as the 10th century, but the style rose in popularity in the 16th century, when men in Asian and Persian cavalries wore them. They were also worn by French royalty and upper-class men later in the 17th century.

The skin on your heels has less elasticity than other skin on your body, especially when it gets dry. Since the skin doesn't expand as easily, it causes cracks or fissures (really deep cracks).

Heeled shoes also offer more support for the tendons in the feet, reducing the need to over stretch them as with flat shoes.

Myth #1: High Heels Will Make Your Calves Bigger

High heels do have the ability to stretch your legs and make your calves more prominent, along with your thighs, but they aren't going to increase the size of your calves just by wearing them.

Why are high heels attractive?

Previous research has shown that men find a woman's walk as more attractive when she's wearing heels, due to the heels changing lumbar curvature, exaggerating the chest and hips, and increasing pelvic tilt. Wearing heels can also signal health, due to the “cost” of wearing them, which is the discomfort.

When did women start wearing heels? Women did not begin wearing heels until the mid-1500's. The first recorded high heel on a woman was worn by Catherine de Medici. Previous to this, woman had only worn platform shoes.

"All people living in very cold climates had to wear some kind of thermal protection on their feet, including Neanderthals and their predecessors," says Trinkaus. "[Supportive footwear] was part of a major explosion in human technology and cultural complexity, especially after 30,000 years ago."

The origin of high heels can be traced all the way back to 10th Century Iran. Persian soldiers would wear heels whilst riding horseback, as they helped keep their feet secure in the stirrups while they stood up in the saddle to fire their arrows and throw their spears.

For practical purposes, Egyptian butchers wore high heels. By wearing elevated shoes, Egyptian butchers were able to safely walk over the carcasses of dead animals.

The study, published in the academic journal 'Evolution and Human Behavior', found that for all walkers, attractiveness was rated much higher in heels compared with the flat shoes condition.

Cue a collective sigh from women everywhere: a new study in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior proves that men really do find women in high heels significantly sexier.

Severe cracked heels will often be painful as the cracks have deepened into the healthy skin beneath the hard, dry skin.

During the winter months, our feet are hidden in warm boots and cozy socks, making it easy to forget to moisturize our feet. In combination with the decreased humidity in the air, the lack of moisturizing causes dryness and cracking of the heels.

Cracked heels, also known as fissures, can be a nuisance but can occasionally lead to more serious problems if left untreated. Treat them by giving your feet a little more attention, beginning with moisturizing them at least twice a day. Look for thick moisturizers (Eucerin, Cetaphil, others).

What are the disadvantages of heels?

If you wear high heels every day, over time they could cause toe deformities such as hammertoes or claw toes, bunions, corns and calluses and ingrown toenails. “Excess or abnormal stress on the joints due to the altered position and gait can lead to arthritis and pain,” Dr. Jensen said.

High heels may add a lovely, long line to an outfit, but they can wreak havoc on your body. Not only can they cause painful problems in your feet and ankles, but they can harm your knees, hips and spine, as well. “High heels aren't going anywhere,” says Eric Baskin, DPM, a podiatrist at Southern Ocean Medical Center.

Thicker calves can be due to one of the following reasons: Genetics – Your height, your muscle mass, your fat ratio will affect the size of your calves. Look at your family members to see if they have naturally big calves, this will give you an idea whether this is related to your genetic makeup.

This gives a stronger definition to the hips and thighs which gives the misconception that heels increase hip size. They only improve your posture and the way you walk which gives the illusion of wider hips.