High heeled shoes or high heels are specific types of shoe features tall or raised heels. In the high heels shoe, the wearer feels a bit higher off the ground than the wearer’s toe which makes you feel taller. The heels were not used as a fashion statement in the past. men wear the heels with stirrups for horse riding in 10th-century Persia today’s Iran. The Persian soldiers wore specific boots with heels to ensure a firm grip in the stirrups so they could easily do archery and horse riding while fighting.
Modern high heels were introduced in Europe by Persian emissaries in the early 17th century. It became a fashion trend in upper-class status to show their rich status. King Louis XIV and his predecessor King Louis XIV wore the heel and introduced the red heel to the court of French nobility.
High heels become a symbol of elegance and style statement for women in the present time. If you want to go to a party or for an event then heels shoes are the best option for a voguish look. Heels are widely used by women in fashionable and professional attire. It is recommended to wear heels with a pants suit for a graceful look. There are many variants of high heels in terms of colors, materials, and style. You can decorate your wardrobe with various types of shoe heels. You just need to have a little bit of understanding of style preference so you can easily wear the right pair of heels on your feet.
Have you ever wondered how many types of heels are available in the market? There are plenty of heel shoes that come in high mid and low heels. Let’s take a detailed look at the different types of Heels Shoes. We will guide you in each detail which will help you to make your choice easy while dealing with high heels.
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Different Types of Heels Shoes
1. Stacked Heel/Block Heels
The stacked heel is also known as block heels. The heel consists of leather and wood layers. There are different types of block heels that you can wear as per your attire. Cut out Stacked Heel, closed Toe Stacked Heel, and Pointed Toe Stacked heel are the different types of block heels.
These mid-heel shoes are so comfortable and stylish that you can walk around easily. The stacked heel shoe helps you to distribute extra pressure from the front of your foot. The Stacked style shoes can be worn with dresses such as Skirts, Denim, and shorts. The Block heel shoes are suitable for office, shopping, party, club, and vacation. These shoes are designed in a versatile way that the Pair perfectly suits your everyday outfits.
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The stacked heel shoes are usually made of suede and from different types of leather such as Faux Leather or Vegan Leather and are available in various shades and styles.
2. Wedge Heel Boots / Sandals / Wedgies
This design goes back to ancient Greece where the Greek actors wear these shoes to signify status to symbolize their superiority. In the modern age, the design was introduced in the Italian market by Salvatore Ferragamo in the 1930s who was a famous Italian shoe designer and the founder of luxury high-end retailer Salvatore Ferragamo. The time period from the 1970s-1990s is considered to be the evolution of wedge heels in which wedge heels became more colorful and flashy.
Wedge boots are also known as Wedgies or Lifties are shoes with a solid block that extends from the back to the front of the shank. A wedge features a much thicker sole at the back and at the front that makes them high-heeled shoes. Wedge heels come in two major styles which are boots and sandals.
The wedge heel provides stable support than the other skinny heels and eliminates the risk of slippage and tripping while walking. Wedges are considered good for your feet’ health as per a certified podiatrist. The wedges are helpful in evenly distributing the pressure throughout the foot. If you need arch support then wedges are the best option to wear because it will help to avoid the risk of knee, hip, back, and break in shoes that rub your heel problems.
It is also a perfect choice for the person who wants to elevate their height without the pain. You can easily wear both styles for shopping, parties, club, and vacation.
3. Spool Heel
Wider top and bottom and the narrower middle is a significant style in spool heels. The Spool heels were a trendy style statement in Europe during the early 17th century Baroque and Rococo periods. Spool Heels has been popularized by Canadian shoe designer John Fluevog.
There are two types of spool heels. One is a low spool heel and the other is High spool heels. A low spool heel features a particularly small flare at the heel bottom while the higher spool also features a flare at the bottom but resembles a stiletto heel.
The Spool Heel shoes are available in various styles such as pumps and Sandals that you can wear on special occasions. Spool Heel shoes or Sandals can be worn for shopping and wedding.
4. Cuban Heel
Cuban Heels shoes are slightly curved back with a medium-high heel. The shoe’s design elevates your height and provides a stylish look to your feet. You can wear them in your casual and formal routine. The Cuban Heels footwear is comfy for all-day wear. These shoes are available in various shades. You can wear these shoes with formal and casual attire.
5. Flare Heel
The Flared Heels features a thick and curved Style that gives you more support and stability while walking. The Flared heel is a perfect match with everything from jeans to mini dresses. It comes in various styles, shapes and shades so you can easily match one with your casual attire.
6. Stiletto Heel
Stiletto heels, also known as stilettos, are a type of long, thin high-heeled shoes that get their name from the stiletto dagger. Stiletto heels come in different lengths that can be from 1 inch to 10 inches. Salvatore Ferragamo, an Italian shoe designer, introduced a steel arch for stilettos but there is a conflict between who actually invented the Stiletto.
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Some chroniclers give credit to Salvatore Ferragamo inventing the stiletto heel while some other historians give credit to French designer Charles Jourdan. The shoes became popular in the 1950s which were popularized by French designers Roger Vivier and André Perugia.
The Stiletto heels help you to flex your calf muscles and make your posture more prominent. It can be a little bit challenging to wear stilettos for the first time but it adds grace and elegance once you get used to wearing stilettos.
7. Kitten Heel
Looking for a comfortable walk on a heel then there is nothing better than a Kitten heel. A kitten heel, also termed a short stiletto heel features a thin tapered heel that can be from 2.5 to 5 centimeters / 1–2 inches. The style was advocated by British entertainer and compassionate Audrey Hepburn.
In the late 1950s, Kitten heels were used as an alternative against high heels for young teenage girls so they don’t have to face any difficulty in walking. It became a fashion trend for all ages of women in the early 1960s.
Kitten heels shoes may be worn at offices, weddings, and parties. You can wear Kitten heels with your Jeans and Skirt. Kitten heels are a good alternative for those who don’t feel comfortable in high heels. Kitten heels are available in various types such as pumps, sandals, mules, and boots.
8. Slingback Heel
A Slingback consists of an ankle strap that is covered only around the back and sides of the ankle and heel. Slingback straps can be easily adjustable with the help of a buckle or an elastic segment that allows the wearer to easily slip into the Shoes without making any adjustment to the strap or buckle.
Slingback heels come in pump-style shoes that are a good option for offices and casual occasions. Slingback heels can be high or low with pointed, close, and open toe style. The Slingback Heel is a perfect match with your midi dresses -wrap-skirt- Jeans and pants.
9. Clear Platform Heels
Have you ever heard about Clear Heel? The transparent high-heeled shoes are made of transparent material. Clear heels or stripper shoes are high-heeled footwear constructed from a limpid material. Clear Heels comes with new creative things such as sparkle lights and colored liquid. The heel is made of different materials such as polycarbonate, PVC, Lucite, and acrylic resin. Clear Heels come in various types of shoe styles. You can wear these shoes to parties and clubs. Jeans are the best thing to match with clear heels.
10. Cone Heels
Cone Heel gets its name from the ice cream cone. Cones Heel comes in a Triangular structure. These heels are wider and easy to manage than a stiletto. Cone Heel comes in various styles and types such as Cone Heel Knee-High Boots,Mid Cone Heel Ankle Bootie, Pointed Toe Cone High Heels, Peep Toe Cone Heel pumps, Round Toe Cone Heel Mary Janes Dress Pumps, Ankle Strap Cone Heels and Cone Heel Pointed Toe Slide Mules. The Cone Heels can be worn at the office or at parties.
11. Removable Heel
Want to convert your heel into flat shoes? Removable heel is the solution for your feet. The convertible and removable heel gives instant relief to your feet. You can wear the heel at the parties and after that; you can easily remove it for comfortable walk-in flat shoes. These comfortable and versatile heels can be used for any occasion. French shoe designer André Perugia is the mind behind removable heel imagination. Now several brands are manufacturing and selling removable heels such as Tanya Heath Paris and Pashion Footwear.
Types of Heels for Beginners/Comfortable Heels for Beginners
Do you want a comfortable walk-in heel without the pain? There are different types and styles of heels that prove beneficial for your feet. If you are a beginner or don’t wear heels often then below are the heels that you can easily wear.
- Stacked Heel/Block Heels
- Wedge Heel Boots / Sandals/Wedgies
- Cuban Heel
- Kitten Heel
If you need comfort in walking then try to avoid high heel shoes with a thinner and higher heel and narrower toe. First of all, we have to understand what height the heel should be worn to avoid foot injuries. All high heels disturb the natural functionality of the foot. High heels can cause skeletal and muscular problems due to excessive wear. Wearing a heel with a narrow toe can also cause foot deformities such as bunions, corns, and calluses.
The Stacked, Wedges, Cuban, and Kitten Heels are the best solution for your feet’ instant relief. These low and mid heels give you more support and a better posture. These heels don’t put stress on your feet and give you a comfortable experience.
The low and mid-heel from 1 to 3 inches are considered an ideal heel to wear that you can wear easily without any pain. A five or six-inch stiletto is not a good choice to start walking.
If you want to avoid several feet problems like Back Pain, Sore Calves, Ankle Sprains, Achilles tendon, and other health-related issues then avoid a Stiletto. The convertible and removable heels are also a good choice for your feet. You can wear the high heel on any occasion and after that you can remove the same heel.
Pros and Cons of Wearing High Heels
Do you ever think before wearing high heels about its pros and Cons that can affect your health in a good or bad manner? Women love to wear high heels to make a fashion style statement but there are some pros and cons of wearing high ankle shoes. Let’s have a look at the below-mentioned Pros and Cons for better understanding.
- High Heels adds additional height which makes you look taller.
- A high heel helps to strengthen your leg muscles.
- High Heels draw more attention of people than other shoes.
- Women feel more powerful and confident in High Heels.
- High Heels Gives you a more elegant and Stylish look at Parties and Weddings.
- High Heels can cause lower back pain due to lack of support to your feet.
- In high heels you may face an imbalance in your walking posture.
- Sore Calves are also a risk factor due to wearing high heels.
- High Heels may look stylish and appealing but wearing them for a long time can cause pain in your heel, toes, sole, or arch.
- High Heels may cause Morton’s neuroma that gives you sharp, burning pain in the ball of your foot.
- High heels put immense pressure on the ball of the foot which can cause corns, hammertoe, bunions, Morton’s neuroma, arthritis and plantar fasciitis.
FAQ’s
What is the most comfortable high heel shoe brand?
- DREAM PAIRS
- Louis Vuitton
- L.K. Bennett
- Cape Robbin
- Calvin Klein
- Richealnana
- Tanya Heath
- Clarks
- Nine West
- Reindee Lusion
What is the most comfortable heel to walk in?
- Wedges Heel
- Stacked Heel
- Block Heel
- Cuban Heel
How much heel is safe?
The Heel between 1 to 3 Inch is relatively safe then a Stiletto. Low and Mid Heels come in 1 to 3 inch height which gives you a comfortable experience and avoids health risks.
What are the disadvantages of high heels?
There is always a risk of pain and injuries with high heels. If you are wearing high heels for a long time then it can cause Arthritis, hammer toes, Achilles tendon, Spinal Curve Issues and severe foot pain.
Are there any benefits to wearing high heels?
High Heels add some inches to your height. High heels add additional height, boost your confidence and draw more attention.
Is it good to wear high heels every day?
No, it is not good to wear heels in everyday routine. High Heels may look attractive but excessive use of high heels may lead you to foot related issues such as Arthritis, hammer toes, Achilles tendon and also affect your body posture and spinal curve.
Are 4 inch heels high?
Yes. Any heel size above from 3 inches is considered a high heel. It can be a bit difficult to walk in a 4 inch high heel. The high thin heels are the worst enemy of your feet.
Do heel insoles work?
Heel insoles are helpful to reduce the pain of your feet. Heel insoles are specifically designed to provide arch support and shift pressure off your ball of the foot. Heel insoles give you Superior comfort, cushioning, and support while wearing high heels throughout the day.
Conclusion
We have mentioned all the details about types of heels that help you to find the suitable heel for you. Be an attraction at every party by wearing different types of heel styles. Everyone has a unique style but only a few know the right way to showcase their style. With the help of the above information, you can easily showcase an elegant style in heels. Let us know if you want to share your valuable feed and suggestions.