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The Heel In The History

Posted on 24 August 2009

The history of heels and their evolution is interesting and fascinating. It is full of unexpected facts and events. Today we review some of them.

The ancient world
In Ancient Egypt footwear was made of papyrus. It wonders that then only Pharaoh and his confidants could wear it. Those sandals cost pretty much. At the same time Pharaoh’s wife wasn’t included in the group of confidants and went barefoot. Once Gerodot wrote that for manufacturing of a pair of sandals for Pharaoh a year income of an average city was necessary.
It was precisely in Egypt where the first heel was invented. The difference is heels were carried not by Pharaohs and priests, but by ploughmen for whom heels were necessary as a support to move easier on friable terrain.

Baroque
It wonders, but the trendsetter then was a French officer who carried jack boots — heavy leather high boots with heels.
High heels were necessary for them so that the foot was better fixed in a stirrup while riding. However, not only military but also secular boots were in a fashion. It remained so till the end of 17th century when knitted stockings fitting a foot appeared. In 1680 came into fashion high-heeled shoes. The heels were so high that women could go only leaning against a cane. Gentlemen wanted not to lag behind ladies, so the fashion for heels became general.

Age of revolutions
The French revolution of 1789 deprived ladies of high heels for almost 50 years. Women’s shoes of the times of Napoleon reminded modern flats. Europe was captured by the idea of simplification of the lifestyle. Everybody seemed to oppose unhealthy corsets, narrow high-heeled shoes. In the streets of Paris appeared women with a short hairstyle, wearing in flat sandals. But a new emperor Napoleon Bonaparte didn’t approve such a tendency. In the result the fashion returned but the heels remained unpopular. The thing is at that times it was obligatory to dance well, and high heels were bad for that.

Modern times
The previous and present centuries were full of opportunities for shoe designers. Appeared lots of new styles, bold thoughts were fulfilled. Designers have turned into sorcerers making dreams come true. Nowadays we live in the epoch of freedom and style. Everybody can choose something especial according to own taste. Let’s take advantage of it, let’s be free and stylish.