Heels: From Battlefield to Fashion

High Heels Weren’t Invented for Women. They weren’t born in fashion houses. They were born on

the battlefield. In the 10th century, Persian cavalry wore heeled shoes to lock their feet

into stirrups. That raised heel kept them steady while firing arrows at full gallop —

a military tool, not a fashion accessory. European travelers saw these riders and were amazed.

Their stance, their accuracy, their command on horseback — it all looked powerful.

Regal. So by the 1600s, European nobles copied the look. Kings and aristocrats

wore heels to project status and warrior-like authority. The higher the heel, the higher the rank.

Only later, as men’s fashion changed, did women adopt the style — and