A brief history of heels

Shoes with heels make us feel more feminine and attractive. They give us a few centimeters of height, but also self-confidence and sex appeal. Our legs become longer and the silhouette itself becomes slimmer. Today they are associated with the attribute of femininity, but have they always been?

For millennia, we have been without heels. The shoes of the ancient Greeks and Romans are nothing more than a flat leather sole, which stayed on the feet thanks to the straps around the ankles. High heels and wedges were only worn by actors so that audiences in amphitheaters could see them better. In the Middle Ages, clogs with thick, fairly high heels were worn and fastened to the feet with a thick leather belt. Such shoes were worn by both women and men. However, they had nothing to do with elegance, their job was to keep the robes from getting muddy.
A heel similar to the one we know today appeared only in the 16th century, and all thanks to Venetian shoes. These too were invented for protection. Ladies going to the city flooded by the waters of the lagoon, had to protect their feet and silk dresses. Their high-heeled clogs, called Chopin's, were supported by a post, located approximately in the middle of the foot. These posts were very high, sometimes even 75 cm.

In the 17th century, the heel became commonplace ... for men. It turned out that the heels are perfect for horse riding, especially in battle, because they perfectly blocked the rider's foot. Thanks to this, he stood firmly in the stirrups and could attack the enemy.
Unfortunately, the heel had to suspend its career during the Great Revolution. He was an attribute of aristocrats, so wearing high heels could end up hitting the guillotine. Consequently, it disappeared from the history of fashion in France and later throughout Europe.

At the end of the 19th century, heels were close to their final form. They went to the edge of the shoe, under the heel, and the padding rested on a wooden or metal part of the sole. In turn, at the beginning of the 20th century, heels finally became an attribute of women.