What heels?
High heels have long been associated with femininity, but history tells a different story; one where men, not women, were the original wearers of elevated footwear.
Ok, let me break it down. Long before stilettos became a symbol of femininity, heels were a mark of masculine power and status. In 17th-century Europe, aristocrats and military men wore them to signal wealth and superiority. The impracticality of high heels for physical labor meant that only the elite could afford to wear them. For horseback riders, stacked leather heels helped keep their feet secure in stirrups, reinforcing their connection to nobility and control. Meanwhile, in royal courts, men strutted in decorative, covered heels to project authority and refinement.
The higher the heel, the greater the prestige. Kings, like France’s Louis XIV, took this to the extreme, donning bright red heels as a symbol of power, a trend that would later be echoed in luxury fashion. To wear heels was to elevate oneself—literally and socially.
But by the late 18th century, something changed. A shift in men’s fashion, later known as the “Great Male Renunciation,” saw men move toward more practical and sober clothing. Out went the lace, the embroidery, and the vibrant colors. Out went the heels. What had once been a masculine statement of dominance was slowly relegated to women’s fashion. For women, heels became about something entirely different—not power, but delicacy and beauty.
The focus on women’s feet became more pronounced, with heels designed to make feet appear smaller and more graceful. Unlike men’s heels, which were crafted for status, women’s heels were designed to subtly alter movement, reinforcing gendered expectations of elegance and fragility.
Despite this shift, heels never truly lost their original essence. They remained a tool of expression, power, and rebellion. In drag culture, queer fashion, and high-end menswear, heels continue to be reclaimed as a statement of boldness and defiance.
From rock stars like Prince and David Bowie to modern designers breaking gender norms, heels are no longer just a relic of the past—they are a reminder that fashion has never belonged to just one gender.
The stigma remains, but history tells us that heels were never about femininity alone. They were about power, confidence, and the ability to rise above expectations—quite literally.
