Firstly, high heels were worn as a form of riding footwear, for MEN! We are going back to the16th century here. "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."
A men's 17th Century Persian shoe, covered in shagreen - horse-hide with pressed mustard seeds
When heeled shoes were worn by people of all ranks in Western Europe, the aristocracy responded by dramatically increasing the height of their shoes - and the high heel was born. The higher your heels, the higher your status. These high heels served no purpose to the working community of the 17th century. Only those of the upper class could afford to wear them.
"In the 1670s, Louis XIV issued an edict that only members of his court were allowed to wear red heels. In theory, all anyone in French society had to do to check whether someone was in favour with the king was to glance downwards. In practice, unauthorised, imitation heels were available."
"The 17th Century shoe on the left, which may have been French, was for a child - its stacked leather heel was painted red to suggest privilege"
Christian Louboutin's red sole (right) is today one of the most immediate and recognisable status symbols.
Only when women started to masculinise their outfits did they adopt heels and this was in the 1630s.
For the rest of the article, you can read it here.
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