From stilettos to kitten heels, high heeled shoes are considered a fashion staple that can be seen everywhere from the workplace to Hollywood award shows. While high heeled shoes are now worn exclusively for style and aesthetic purposes, their ancestors were worn for far more practical and less glamorous reasons. High heel type shoes were first developed for use as protective overshoes in Medieval Europe. They were crafted out of wood and worn over the top of normal shoes in order to elevate their wearer above the horrors of the streets, streets which also served as communal rubbish tips and sewers. Elevated heels were also given a practical use in the early days of horse riding. Riders feet were prone to slipping free of their stirrups, a problem that was countered by wearing high heels. The shape created by the heel's height served to grip the stirrup and prevent the foot from moving around during wear. Modern day cowboy and riding boots still show signs of this function in their respective designs.
Recent History graduate living in Newcastle. I like to travel and experience new things, my favourite place on earth has got to be the Great Barrier Reef. To date my greatest achievements include completing the National Pokedex and mastering how to make cheesy nachos.
