When Men, *Not Women*, Wore High Heels + Why They Stopped

From being a way of warriors to a status symbol

Lioness Rue
Lessons from History

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King Louis XIV of France (the first to be painted with “the red high hills”)— Image by the solemates

High heels are proof of how objects completely evolve in serving different purposes for different people over time. In today’s world, high heels often help women make a fashion statement, mostly representing elegance and class.

Despite all the discomfort that comes with wearing high heels, many women still love them. And, in some professions, they are an obligation.

The History of Using High Heels Takes Us Back to Men, Not Women

In the past, it was men who differentiated themselves from women by wearing high heels. High heels were for men until changes happened over time. With time, high heels switched from being a male accessory to being mostly identifiable with women.

Diving into their history, high heels were first introduced by Persian horseback warriors.

Originally, the whole purpose of inventing high heels had no connection with fashion. High heels are believed to have been invented by Persian horseback warriors around the ninth century. And, their sole purpose was to improve stability as warriors rode their horses.

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