Where Do High Heels Come from?

This is a blog to help you find Jessica Simpson on sale, but I thought you might like to read some interesting facts about where the high heeled shoe came from in the first place.

Although high-heel shoes date all the way back to ancient Egypt, they really came into popularity as a fashion statement in the 15th and 16th century. The trend began as a practical measure – soft leather, satin, or wool shoes would get ruined walking on the ground, and so an attachment was created to elevate the person and keep the shoes clean and in good shape. However, largely thanks to Queen Catherine de Medici, eventually the removable hard under-sole was attached to the soft upper part of the shoe, and shoes were redesigned with some flexibility so the wearer’s foot could move more easily.

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The high heeled shoe grew as a fashion statement throughout the 1500’s, with everyone from actors to kings sporting them, and eventually became seen as a status symbol. As high heel shoes were more expensive and elaborate than ordinary shoes, both men and women of the upper class enjoyed wearing them as a means to show off their wealth, status, and sophisticated fashion-consciousness.

Through the 16th and 17th centuries, it was mostly the French who continued to elaborate on high-heels, making them more decorated, higher, and really bringing them into importance as a fashion statement.  Shoes were often adorned with precious metals, jewels, pearls, ribbons, feathers, and the best leathers  from around the world. High-heels went in and out of fashion through the 17th and 18th centuries, before re-emerging in the 1800’s as a fashionable item. Although, ever since then they have been designed largely for women.

On the other side of the world, cultures in Asia show high-heeled shoe trends for the wealthy for hundreds of years as well. Famously, the Geisha, actors, and dancers of Japan wore towering platform and high-heeled shoes. However, these shoes were only worn for performances or outdoors, not for everyday use as in Europe.  Women the world over enjoy high-heels, and the way it looks, they’ll continue to be popular for a long time.