Articles tagged with "Persian Cavalry"

It's not easy to get a complete timeline for the history of heels in a single article because many writers selectively pick only the points in history that suit their narrative or headline. We're reliant therefore on reading multiple articles and joining the dots ourselves. That said, key elements like the fact that they were used by Egyptian butchers, so they could keep their feet clean of any blood while slaughtering animals often get missed. This is one such article from "the tab" which does include that fact, though it's not clear from the article whether it was them or Persian soldiers that first used heels.

Written in 2017, the article concludes that in the 20th Century, men’s heels have largely fallen out of fashion. It's a fact easily missed through poor research that men never stopped wearing heels. In 2023 heels for men are on the rise once again, though this time, not so much as a fashion trend, but more of a movement.

Original URL: https://thetab.com/uk/2017/05/02/know-high-heels-originally-invented-men-kinda-wish-theyd-kept-39250

Posted: 19 February 2023


Fashion retail spin-off of The Fact Site gives us another historical perspective on the origin of high heels.

From the article:

"The high heel did not originate to be worn by women as they are now, but rather as a man’s shoe.

They were most popular with kings and other noble and wealthy men long before they were ever adorned on women’s feet."

"Women did not begin wearing heels until the mid-1500’s. The first recorded high heel on a woman was worn by Catherine de Medici."

"King Louis XIV re-popularized the high heel during his reign in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s."

"The 1940’s and 1950’s saw the increased stability of the heel.

Wartime technology helped popularize the modern day stiletto heel during this time by allowing fabricators to utilize their metal in heels. The use of steel allowed the shapes of heels to change."

"With fashion trends changing from season to season, the high heel is a closet staple that has truly stood the test of time."

Original URL: https://www.thefactshop.com/fashion-facts/history-of-high-heels/

Posted: 14 December 2022


Lillian Stone (@originalspinstr) writes for Mel Magazine on the rise of men in heels on social media and how some women are falling in love with the growing trend.

From the article:

"Mesmerized by their confidence and how their heeled shoes make their ass look like marble, women are falling head over heels for guys who dare to don a pair of pumps"

"Wearers are posting their videos to Instagram and, increasingly, TikTok, where videos with the hashtag #meninheels currently have more than 82 million views. Someone’s grandfather even went viral for pairing masculine silhouettes with a tasteful pump.".

"Seeing a man wear heels without a hint of irony confirms what we’ve always known, if only subconsciously — that heeled footwear is sexy, no matter the wearer’s gender. It speaks to a simple truth: If you find a pair of shoes that make your ass look like it’s made of steel, you should wear those shoes."

Men appearing to have more confidence comes across as one of the key attractions to women. Having greater confidence is often a reason stated by women as to why they wear high heels, but it's still interesting to see this coming across when the roles are reversed.

Original URL: https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/men-wearing-high-heels

Posted: 29 September 2022


The Vou takes stock of where we are at in the heels for men arena and highlights 38 selections from what's on offer with options to suit all tastes, styles and budgets. There has clearly been a great deal of research put into this piece by Aiden Russell, and if they are anything like me, probably one or two personal purchases along the way!

From the article:

"the number of men reclaiming their space in the high heel fashion world by making profound statements of confidence and style is on the rise."

"Inspired by top fashion brands such as Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin, Tom Ford, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Maison Margiela, Celine, Amina Muaddi, YSL, Manolo Blahnik, Versace, and Bottega Veneta, these heels for men will make anyone look stunning, regardless of gender, style, or taste."

Original URL: https://thevou.com/fashion/mens-high-heels/

Posted: 2 August 2022


Zoom brings us another write-up of the history of men in heels.

"When one thinks of heels, all one can imagine is glamour, style, and elegance. However, even though this kind of footwear is now mainly associated with women and femininity, it was once the go-to footwear option for men."

"not many know that heels originally found their place on the feet of male soldiers, aristocrats, and even royals in different parts of the world, including Persia. Persian men in the 10th century wore heels not just as a style statement but mainly because of the 'practicality' factor"

Original URL: https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/lifestyle/fashion/did-you-know-high-heels-were-first-worn-by-men-in-persia-during-the-10th-century-article-90588269

Posted: 30 July 2022



This article from The Irish Examiner (@irish_examiner) reflects on the Spring/Summer 2022 runway shows at Paris Fashion Week and the rise of heels for men. It's not a new concept, just reinvented somewhat, as Jimmy Choo puts it "High-heeled shoes for men are unlike stilettos. The heel shape is adapted from the basic Cuban heel into a special shape that will bring out the best in the masculinity of the man wearing it.".

This is a great read for getting yourself up-to-speed with what's current on the catwalk.

Original URL: https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/fashionandbeauty/arid-40343159.html

Posted: 31 January 2022



Vice magazine reports on how men expressing themselves by wearing items normally regarded for women is nothing new. "It's a bit of a middle finger to societal norms" says Alex Ringler, who interviewed for the piece. Another interviewee, Marcus Territory says "The primary purpose of the heels is to be just another piece of an unambiguously masculine outfit... a way to explore new aesthetics and styles." a view shared by many.

Original URL: https://www.vice.com/en/article/4av9km/men-high-heels-non-binary-fashion

Posted: 8 December 2021