Going To Great Heights- How To Select A Pair Of High Heeled Shoes

There is no denying that although not the best shoe style for women medically (high heeled shoes put pressure on the front part of the foot by pushing it forward and down and bending the toes up in an unnatural position) high heeled shoes are stylish, elegant and can make any women feel sexier.

High heeled shoes have a simple definition; they are “shoes which raise the heel of the wearer’s foot significantly higher than the toes.” High-heeled shoes come in a number of different styles, different materials and can be purchased in almost any color of the rainbow. Most high heeled shoes are one color but some have patterns such as leopard print. High-heeled shoes come in a variety of shapes also, such as block, blade, stiletto, tapered and wedge.

What exactly equals a “high heeled” shoe has been long debated. The norm for most women is a heel between two and three inches because it can be comfortably walked in while still providing some extra height.

It is women in the minority who wear high heeled shoes that are four inches and over and those classed as extremely high heeled tend to be the domain of entertainers and/or are purchased for those harboring shoe fetishes. The higher the heel the less practical it is for wear on a more or less steady basis.

In order to decide whether or not to wear high heeled shoes or to decide what style of high heeled shoes a woman is interested in wearing she must consider her reasons for wearing them. One of the most obvious reasons is height.

Lots of women (especially petite ones) want to appear taller and high heeled shoes make that happen. It is a form of an optical illusion in a sense. Longer legs (much like a Barbie doll’s legs) appear extremely sensuous and this look appeals to most women (and most men). The angle of the foot is altered in respect to the bottom half of the leg when high heeled shoes are worn, which causes it to shorten and also makes the calves of the legs stand out.

Many women wear high heeled shoes for the sexual element inherent in it. One’s body is shifted in a different way, which is very sexy. In other words, high heeled shoes bring about a change in gait and posture that thrusts the derriere further back and brings more of a sway to the hips, which lends itself to an air of eroticism.

Some high heeled shoes (such as strappy sandals in summertime) show off the sole of the foot and many believe that to be very sexual in nature. As well stiletto heels are considered by many men and women alike to be off the charts sexy.

Today most women own a few pairs of high heeled shoes, some geared for business purposes and others for social occasions. Over the past sixty years high heeled shoes have been at times extremely popular and at other times, not as much so.

Lower heeled shoes were all the rage in the late 1960s and early 1970s but then high heeled shoes took over as the “in” shoes in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Then in the late 1990s lower heels and flatties took over as the popular style once again.

With the turn of the century there has become a greater acceptance of a variety of shoes, everything from the high heeled shoe to the lowest heel and everything in between. Different heel shapes have also come in and out of style. During the 1950s and now, post- 2000 stiletto heels are popular while the 1970s saw the block heel as “in” and in the 1990s it was the tapered heel.

In deciding what pair of high heeled shoe is right for the occasion a woman needs some fashion know-how. What is considered to be the “little black dress” of shoes is a low-heeled sophisticated black pump. This is the most responsible of all heels, a pair of pumps that are at home for a business meeting or an early dinner.

The “new black” high heeled shoe is a neutral pump. But don’t think white, think beige, cream or off white instead. A black dressy high heel is a must for all those show stopping social occasions such as a dance, party or elegant dinner extravaganza.

Look for black high heeled shoes that are not too strappy but yet not too clunky- instead for understated charm and elegance, with a touch of sexiness thrown in for good measure! Just as in the basic pumps category, black is great but not enough. When you need something just a little bit more glitzy and glamorous gets noticed wearing a pair of metallic high-heeled dress shoes. Gold or silver never looked so hot!