The Evolution Of High Heels
By Victoria S
The Origin Of High Heels
Elizabeth Semmelhack, guardian at Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum, follows the high heel to Persian horse riders in the Near East who utilized high heels for usefulness, since they held the rider's foot in stirrups. She expresses that this footwear is delineated on a ninth century artistic dish from Persia. When the soldier stood up in his stirrups, the heel helped him to secure his stance so that he could shoot his bow and arrow more effectively.
Who Wore High Heels First?
High heels were first worn by men. In the 1600's, women began wearing heels to look more masculine, which prompted men to stop wearing them to avoid looking feminine. A group of Persian diplomats visited Europe in 1599 to recruit allies to help Persia defeat the Ottoman Empire. A fashion for Persian culture developed as a result and Persian-style high heeled shoes were adopted enthusiastically by Western European aristocrats.
Christian Louboutin
"Printz" by Christian Louboutin, spring/summer 2013-2014
"Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe," and exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, features more than 160 pairs of what the museum calls "Fashion's Most Stunning Accessory"