The Invention of the High Heel

     High heel is undoubtedly one of the most important accessories at the women’s wardrobe. A good pair can make any woman feel great, elegant and very glamorous. Marilyn Monroe was quoted saying: “I don’t know who invented high heels, fellas, but women owe him a lot”. So, I decided to research and write about it. A thing that we use a lot but few people know about its history.

     One version of heels is portrayed in murals in Egypt, dated from 3500 BC. They were used by upper class people which leads us to believe that the height of the heel indicated their social status. In the Orient it had a sensual and sexual connotation. And in ancient Rome prostitutes were also identified by their heels.

     However, the high heels that we know today can attribute its discovery to Catherine de Medici. She was quite short and when she left Florence for went to Paris in 1533 to marry Henry, Duke of Orleans, she packed in her suitcase several types of high heels made by an Italian cobbler so she could look slightly taller on her wedding day. Her footwear was a sensation at the wedding. Suddenly they became really popular in the French Court and became mark of a social which wealthy men and women wore them. Louis XIV, King of France, who was extremely elegant wore very high, decorated heels.

     During the French revolution, when Napoleon became to power, the shoes was banned. This occurred because Napoleon want to people to be equal and the high heel was used only by rich people. At that time high heel was compared to the devil and whoever used them was compared to a witch.

     High heel arrived America by the mid-17th century when a few daring women imported them from Europe. Here they did not have the same success; readily the clergy said that the shoes were "scandalous" and the women used them for trapping men. However they reappeared in the United States around 1800 when a new prostitute under the direction of Madame Kathy, a famous brothel owner in New Orleans, walked with a pair that she brought with her. It was a success with clients.

     In 1900 their image still was not good due to their sensual side. After World War I it began to change. With the development of the economy they were produced more and were more seen in the street. Women had more access to different kinds of heels and they began to be used to dance. Year after year high heels were developing so nowadays women can easily appreciate a lot of different types and be glamorous without prejudice.

Édina Liara Schons