Riding as the primary method of moving for the distinguished gentleman came out of fashion some time ago, and high-heeled riding boots were no longer a necessity.
Which does not deter certain American politicians wearing them to appear not as short as they are.
TLDR: Men wore heels to signify military prowess since they were used by solders to keep their feet in stirrups. However, by the early 18th Century, their adoption by women made them seem feminine and they started to fall out of favor in men.
Duuude shoutout to art history! It is a seriously cool subject and I’m so glad I took it in college because of fascinating facts like this, that don’t really ultimately matter but when you learn about it you suddenly see it and it’s like learning a new language almost. Another weird class I took was opera, like reading, listening to, discussing opera. I did not know how impactuful the Mikado was on popular culture but even the simsons have done itTWICE
As I understand it, high heels started out as shoes for riding horses. Considering hardly anyone rides horses anymore, and how uncomfortable walking in high heels is, I kinda have the opposite question: Why do people still wear them?
No one is wearing a heel like that on a horse. Riding boot heels are about 1/2 inch just enough to prevent the foot from slipping through a stirrup. These bad boys were fashion from the get go.
Impracticality and fashion are often interlinked. The affluent traditionally have less of a need for function over form, so styles trend towards the extreme end of inconvenience to convey opulence. Emulating the wealthy is seen as a way to project wealth and status. As styles trickle down, the less sensible elements become associated with elegance.
Condensed, high heels are a way to signal affluence whether or not it exists.
They have also stuck around for women because they increase height and standing on tiptoes makes the leg muscles contract which are both commonly considered attractive even without the association with elegance/wealth.
My best guess is that it’s directly related to the Industrial Revolution somehow. Mass manufacturing methods and a need for practicality in working men’s footwear probably had the largest impact.
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