Fashion History; Evolution of the High Heeled Shoe

 Fashion is one of the many facets of gender identity we have today, we use clothes as artistic expression to convey the ways we want to be portrayed as in the world, whether that's masculine or feminine expression or a mix of both, or neither. Throughout History, clothes have been used to set apart genders, with certain items such as heels, or trousers being set specific to either males or females. However, it's clear that despite this classification, fashion is interchangeable and at some point in time, each item belonged to either gender and swapped as many times as it liked. This is why Fashion remains gender fluid. 

Heeled shoes first came about back in 15th century Persia, where soldiers wore them to help keep their feet in stirrups when riding. Thus showing heels were born out of practicality, a vast contrast to the often impractical ways we wear them now, from gravity defying stilettos to shoes with a million straps. Back in the 15th century, heels were worn typically by men, another stark contrast to today where heels are largely associated with femininity. Continuing on from the 15th century all the way to the 17th, heels were then on associated with power, with royalty such a King Louis XIV inventing a shoe with a red sole and red heel he only allowed strict members of his French Courts to wear. Sounds familiar to Christian Louboutins infamous red soles of today. Back then, heels were reserved for nobility, making them taller and more formidable as well as meaning hems were made longer for female royalty, and more fabric required thus showing off money and wealth.  

This isn't too dissimilar from today, with heels being used as a symbol of female sexuality and empowerment, a way for women to regain back the power they lost.  However, it doesn't lose its irony that men founded the heeled shoe. Maybe more people should take it back to the 70s, where for a brief lapse in time, men and women alike owned platforms, and men weren't labelled effeminate. 

Resource used- https://www.teenvogue.com/story/heels-history-men

Teen Vogue is a reliable source because it is in association with Vogue, that is a prestigious fashion magazine that's highly credited within Fashion and Journalism. Teen Vogue is essentially a branch off from this magazine that is more aimed towards younger audiences.