fun fact: heels were originally men’s fashion, originally functioning as something on a shoe that can grab and hold onto the stirrup of a horse’s saddle.
I find the whole history fascinating. European aristocracy adopted heeled shoes from the Mongols, and drastically increased the height of them. The whole point was that they were poorly adapted to everyday life, and signaled that the wearer had enough wealth and status to be idle and wear impractical things. Women adopted the fashion, and the heels on their shoes got slimmer, and the shoes got curvier. Then men stopped wearing heels, which were by then seen as delicate, fragile, and effete. Y’know, feminine traits.
The women-as-beauty-objects theme came back when early, 19th century photographers had the models wear heeled shoes in the erotica / pornography they started producing. Those shoes weren’t practical at all for standing or walking, but the models, uh, didn’t need to stand up. It wasn’t until the advent of cheap steel in the 20th century that the stiletto heel became structurally sound enough to walk on.
I just find it so bizarre that the high-heeled shoe is practically a torture device, and a historical symbol of female disempowerment and status as merely a sex object, and so many women adore them! It’s also strange how they made the transition from porn to office wear.
Nah but even Beau Brummell’s outfit looks cute and fruity compared to modern day men’s fashion, so whoever came after him and made it even worse is equally to blame
fun fact: heels were originally men’s fashion, originally functioning as something on a shoe that can grab and hold onto the stirrup of a horse’s saddle.
I find the whole history fascinating. European aristocracy adopted heeled shoes from the Mongols, and drastically increased the height of them. The whole point was that they were poorly adapted to everyday life, and signaled that the wearer had enough wealth and status to be idle and wear impractical things. Women adopted the fashion, and the heels on their shoes got slimmer, and the shoes got curvier. Then men stopped wearing heels, which were by then seen as delicate, fragile, and effete. Y’know, feminine traits.
The women-as-beauty-objects theme came back when early, 19th century photographers had the models wear heeled shoes in the erotica / pornography they started producing. Those shoes weren’t practical at all for standing or walking, but the models, uh, didn’t need to stand up. It wasn’t until the advent of cheap steel in the 20th century that the stiletto heel became structurally sound enough to walk on.
I just find it so bizarre that the high-heeled shoe is practically a torture device, and a historical symbol of female disempowerment and status as merely a sex object, and so many women adore them! It’s also strange how they made the transition from porn to office wear.
Give me a Paduka any day
And then Beau Brummell came and ruined everything.
Nah but even Beau Brummell’s outfit looks cute and fruity compared to modern day men’s fashion, so whoever came after him and made it even worse is equally to blame
But he started the trend.
If all it takes is one man for all men to decide “let’s dress boring now,” what does it say about those men?