High Heels: PUMPS and STILETTOS

HIGH HEELS

The high-heeled shoe embodies leisure, sophistication and sexuality. Throughout history shoe fashions have defined its wearers by gender, race, and social class. Murals have depicted upper class men and women wearing heels around 3500 B.C. in Egypt, while lower class citizens went barefoot. There were also several useful reasons for heels: Egyptian butchers would wear heels to avoid the blood of dead animals, while actors in ancient Greece and Rome would wear sandals with heels of different lengths to illustrate social class and importance of characters they portrayed. During the Middle Ages, both men and women would wear wooden soles that are considered to be the predecessor of today’s heels, and were attached to expensive shoes to keep them clean. For women specifically, the Chopine became a popular style to indicate wealth. The Chopine was a tall platform-type shoe that usually was so high that it required 2 servants. The term “high-heeled” meant that someone had lavish wealth. High-heeled shoes actually dropped in popularity through the 17^th and 18^th century for both men and women because high heels became associated with wealth and aristocracy. During the 1800s the high heel resurfaced, but this time the heel was a fashion statement just for women. Today it still appears to be a symbol of social class and wealth.  

 

Today, in hectic cities, you will need to take lots of cabs if you plan on wearing heels all day. It is impossible to walk in those suckers for very long. To get a flavor of being part of a higher social class, you will see many office women carry their heels in a bag while they wear their sports shoes on the subway. Then at work, they quickly change into their lovely heels.

Wearing flat shoes for rushing to work

Why Women Prefer High Heels

- Heels make us taller (anywhere from 5' 6" to 5' 9").

- Heels make our legs look longer and a bit slimmer.

- Heels can add a more sophisticated look to any outfit; so we prefer to wear them  in evenings.

- At work, heels portray confidence and poise. They make us feel empowered when we wear them.

- Heels force our back to arch, pushing the breasts forward and buttocks back. Thus accentuates our figure.

- When you walk with high heels, it makes your buttocks move more. This is something sexy.

- It appears to be a symbol of social class and wealth. Most women desire that upward mobility.

High Heeled Sandals

High-heels force the body to walk differently and use muscles differently. High heels lead the wearer to tilt their center of gravity, which emphasizes a woman’s assets and highlights her sexuality. Heels also emphasize feet, which are often sexualized and part of erotic displays. Even though I believe heels are worn largely as social-status indicators, verbalized reasons for wearing high heels include accentuated calves, being taller, longer legs, and a more seductive gait.

Sexy High Heels

What is a Stiletto Shoe?

A stiletto heel is a long, thin, high heel found on some boots and shoes, usually for women. It is named after the stiletto dagger, the phrase being first recorded in the early 1930s. Stiletto heels may vary in length from 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) to 25 cm (10 inches) or more if a platform sole is used, and are sometimes defined as having a diameter at the ground of less than 1 cm (slightly less than half an inch).

Stiletto Shoes

Stilettos

Stiletto Platform Sandals

Stiletto Shoes

Stiletto Heels/Shoes

What is a Pump?

Pump is a widely-accepted generic word for any high-heeled shoe. Pumps are lower heeled than stiletto shoes. They come in various heel sizes but none of them are very high or very narrow. In their most basic form, pumps have closed backs, and low-cut fronts that hit closer to the toes than they do the top of the foot. Mostly the heel tips are wider and so are the heels. Most pumps have round cut toes or peep-toes. Pumps have a formal appearance when worn in combination with a tuxedo or suit. They can be casual when accessorized with skirts or jeans. Nevertheless, the comfort factor rides high in case of pumps when compared to stilettos. 

Pumps

White Pumps

Pumps

What is the difference between stilettos and pumps?

A stiletto has a higher, thinner, pointier heel, while a pump has a shorter and thicker heel.

How does it feel wearing high heels?

High heels are a part of most women's lives, but they often cause pain.The feeling of wearing high heels is different depending on how high they are, and how thick the heel is. If they're really high with no platform, it's painful. If they're high with a little bit of a platform, they don't feel too different from normal shoes, apart from the fact that you're taller than normally.

The thicker the heel though, the easier it is to keep your balance and not be wobbling around when walking.

Apart from the comfort or the pain,  wearing high heels make you feel great about yourself. It makes your whole body look thinner and we like it :) Heels hurt after a while but you get used to it, and you get things to put in shoes so they don't hurt as much. As long as you pick the the right shoes, it feels sexy!!!

Why do men find high-heels attractive?,

High heels make the legs look longer and make the calf and ankle take on a more feminine appearance and draws more attention.

Men love high heels on a woman because it gives the illusion of having fertile-looking legs. High heels enhance a woman's sexual shape by lengthening her legs, arching her back, forcing her buttocks to protrude, making her feet appear smaller and thrusting her pelvis forward. This is why the shoe with the highest heel — the stiletto - with its bondage straps, is by far the most efficient sex aide on the market.

MY POINT 

It is always your choice to wear heels or not. There are many social benefits to wearing high heels, such as indicating a higher social standing (by increasing your helplessness), and heightened attention to your sexuality. The many physical costs include back problems, knee joint degeneration, and foot deformity and pain. Research has shown that practicing moderation can make a big difference. Wearing heels just a few times a week – instead of every day – can significantly decrease the chances of developing some of the physical consequences. Many stars will attend photo shoots and premieres in high heels, but definitely are smart enough not to wear them every day. Heels are just a status symbol, but don’t necessarily need to be part of your daily look.