It’s been several centuries now that women have been sensuously swaying their hips over sexy high heel shoes. Even today, a woman’s love for high heel shoes continues to enrapture both the heart and feet of the women. In fact the trend is only growing as the years go by, with women experimenting with newer styles and even higher heights in heels. This article tries to unravel the unparalleled and almost hypnotizing charm of high heel shoes that makes women lust, love and max out their credit cards for them.

High heel history

The history of high heels dates back to many centuries ago. Today’s hot couture item is said to have been first used by Egyptian butchers to help them walk above the blood of the dead animals. Around 1500, the approximately 1-1/2 inch (4 cm) high "rider’s heel" was worn by horse riders to prevent their feet from slipping forward in the stirrup. In 1533, the diminutive wife of the Duke of Orleans, Catherine de' Medici, got high heel shoes made for herself both to increase her height and stature. The idea of heels caught on and both men and women continued wearing heels as a matter of noble fashion throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Heels went into decline when the French Revolution drew near, in the late 1700s, and resurfaced in ladies fashion shoes during the late 1800s. High heels continued to sway women until the late nineteenth century. In early 20th century more comfortable flat-soled shoes became popular. However, heels were back in fashion in the roaring twenties when higher hemlines encouraged visible, elaborate, high, slender Louis heels.

Latest high heel trends

High heels underwent a major transformation in the post-war 1950s. The collaboration of French designer Christian Dior and shoe designer Roger Vivier led to the innovation of dagger like stiletto heels - that are still a rage even today.

Nowadays, high heels are available in all sorts of shoes ranging from cowboy to party shoes and office wear to casual shoes. Heel heights may range from 2 inch kitten heels to 8 inch heels in fetish shoes normally worn by women in the adult entertainment industry. Apart from spindly stilettos, one can find heels in the form of platform shoes, wedge heels, stacked and spool heel.

Several shoe designers are now experimenting with the idea of decorated heels. Today you’ll be able to find aesthetically designed high heeled shoes with heels embellished with diamante and crystals or decorated with painting and carving. Celebrated shoe designers like Antonio Berardi and Manolo Blahnik on the other hand are toying with the idea of ‘heel-less shoes’ where the high heel of the shoe is conspicuous by its absence. Recently, Victoria Beckham created quite a stir by walking in heel-less shoes at a red carpet occasion.

Where to wear high heels?

Back in the day, high heels were mostly worn to smart parties but today they have become a part of everyday wear. Women wear heels to the office and even for menial tasks and outings like grocery shopping. Famous for her love of high heels, Ms Beckham was even spotted in five inch high Christian Louboutin heels recently when she spent her day out with her boys at a theme park! Some people may say it is too much, but the point is women have become so accustomed to high heels that they wear them literally anywhere.

Why wear high heels?

Women love to flaunt it in high heels because of the various advantages. Here are a few of the benefits of wearing high heel shoes:

Heels allow women to adopt a more seductive stance as they push the chest and buttocks out in an erotic manner.

High heel shoes make a woman take on a sexier gait, as to maintain balance on heels she sways her hips sensuously.

High heels help improve the height of the women who feel they are too short to be attractive.

High heel shoes elongate the lines of the legs and make them appear slimmer and longer.

The elevation of the heels makes your legs appear several inches longer and also sexier.

A woman in high heel shoes appears more confident, sophisticated and also sexy.

Recently researchers have found wearing high heels improves a woman’s pelvic floor muscles and thereby boosts her sexual desire.

Disadvantages of high heels

Everything comes at a price they say, and high heel shoes are not an exception. If there are so many advantages there are also certain disadvantages of wearing high heel shoes such as -

Heel shoes may cause pain in the foot.

Wearing heels over a period of time causes foot deformities, including hammertoes and bunions

Women who wear high heels frequently develop degenerative joint disease of the knees.

High heel shoes may cause corns in the foot and even damage foot tendons in the long term.

High heels can shorten the wearer's stride and make them unable to run.

High heels can be dangerous as women are more likely to fall when wearing heels as compared to wearing flat shoes.

How to buy high heel shoes online?

High heel shoes are a must have accessory these days. If you’re looking to update your collection of high heel shoes then the best and easiest thing to do is to shop online. There are several advantages when you shop online for shoes. For instance, you can sit at your home and browse through numerous websites spread all over the country and choose from a huge variety of shoes. At the same time, you can also look for discount offers the best prices. Thus online shopping for high heel shoes is cost effective, as you save yourself a trip to the shoe shops and also get the advantages of discounts frequently offered by online shops.

To buy shoes online, you will need to know your shoe size. Most websites carry conversion charts that make it easy for you to order shoes of your specific size. Furthermore, many websites offer you the facility to get high heel shoes customized as per your specifications. Your chosen high heel shoes will reach your doorsteps safely in discreet packaging.