I’m convinced high heels are a love-hate relationship for the majority of women. We adore them from afar, but can only keep them on our feet for 15 minutes before we start begging the kind soul next to us for a piggy-back ride to the party. The word stiletto means “dagger” in Italian, which makes perfect sense since they can be considered weapons, especially when worn in large crowds. Heels are the epitome of femininity. Somehow one shoe can encompass class, sex appeal, and power all at once.

But, who’s ridiculous idea was it in the first place to put women in shoes that are a hybrid between stilts and walking on a metal rod?

After some serious historical digging, more like googleing, research shows that we have King Louis XIV to thank for this shoe revolution. You got that right; men embraced the five-inch high heels far before the ladies did.  King Louis XIV was a fashionista and declared that the regal shall wear heels to demonstrate their power. In typical diva style, he did not want to be outdone and made it mandatory that no one should ever wear heels higher then his. Louis XIV even went as far as to paint all his heels red, just in case anyone ever questioned his credibility.

As time went on and fashion progressed, there was a shift in the target market of heels. Perhaps men realized that they looked terribly silly towering over the women, or perhaps they came to the realization how gosh darn uncomfortable those bad boys can be; either way, by the 19th century, heels were only appropriate footwear for women. At this time, they started to become a cultural phenomenon and were worn by celebrities and classic fairytale characters like Cinderella.

Heels are now considered proper footwear for a vast range of occasions, from cocktail parties to corporate careers. The instant a woman slips her foot in a heel her posture and attitude seem to shift. Her inner King Louis XIV comes out, and she can take on the world because she’s wearing a shoe of power.

So here’s to the shoe that can break hearts and toes. Let’s thank the men for not having the spunk or determination to continue wearing them through the centuries.

Cheers!