What? High heels were invented for men!

I believe that every girl had a wish when she was a child: to have a pair of high heels of her own, with gorgeous colors and gorgeous shapes. Just thinking about the picture is full of pink bubbles.

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When they grow up, they no longer have to secretly covet the high heels in their mother's shoe cabinet. So they excitedly put on the beautiful shoes that fit their own size. After breathing fresh air for a whole day in a space that is several centimeters higher than usual, the girls can't help but start cursing: Who invented these torturous shoes...

High heels western fashion

There are several theories about the origin of high heels: farmers in ancient Egypt invented shoes with elevated heels to make it easier to walk on loose soil; also in ancient Egypt, butchers raised the heels of their shoes to prevent blood from staining the uppers when slaughtering livestock; in the Middle Ages, people had to walk on dirty and messy streets full of feces, so they came up with the idea of ​​raising the soles of their shoes; and the most mainstream theory is that people invented "knight boot heels" to make it easier to hold the stirrups when riding horses.

It seems that it is not easy to find the "culprit" who invented high heels. However, there is no doubt that high heels originated from men's shoes, and high heels for women first appeared in Europe in the 16th century. In 1533, the noble lady Catherine de Medici married King Henry II of France. At the wedding, the petite lady wore a pair of fashionable high heels specially made by a shoemaker, which successfully caused a sensation. Soon, women all over Europe were fascinated by this beautiful shoe.

In the 17th century, Louis XIV of France was particularly fond of high heels. It is said that the king was only 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 meters) tall, so he asked the shoemaker to install 4-inch (10 cm) heels for him to make himself look taller, more majestic and authoritative. He also painted the heels red to show his noble status. The dignitaries in the court also followed suit and became loyal fans of high heels.

In the 18th century, against the backdrop of the French Revolution, both men and women lost interest in high heels and began to wear flat shoes or sandals instead. It was not until the late 18th century that high heels made a comeback in the fashion world as a women's exclusive product.

By the 19th century, high heels had become popular again and could be made of different materials such as satin, silk, and leather. The styles became more diverse, and people began to pay more attention to the design of the uppers, heels, buckles, etc.

In the 1920s, designers were more open-minded, and evening heels that combined "naked" sandals with high heels began to appear. In the 1930s and 1940s, bold open-toed and open-heeled high heels gradually became popular. In the 1950s, due to the development of steel nail technology, heels underwent a key reform, and finally the pointed heels that women love and hate today appeared among the heels that lacked beautiful lines.

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Today, hundreds of years have passed, and people's fascination with all kinds of high-heeled shoes has not diminished. We have to admire these friends who have been tortured by high heels thousands of times but still regard them as their first love. In order to stay on the road of fashion, they are also very hardworking.

High heels invented by the Chinese

"Clogs are made of wood and have two teeth that can splash mud." According to historical records, clogs appeared in my country during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. These shoes made of wood are considered to be the prototype of high heels in China.

In order to facilitate horse riding, people in the northern ethnic groups invented boots with tubes. During the Warring States Period, for the same purpose, a high-heeled Hulu with a longer and higher heel was developed. The high heel can be tightly pressed against the stirrup, and the effect of lengthening the heel is that the shoe is not easy to slip off the stirrup.

In the Han Dynasty, double-soled shoes with a wooden sole underneath appeared. It is said that this was to prevent the soles of people's shoes from getting wet due to standing on wet ground for too long during sacrifices.

During the Three Kingdoms period, people had already widely used clogs and high heels. By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, this type of high heels was also quite popular. According to records, the Southern Dynasty poet Xie Lingyun improved the clogs of his ancestors and invented self-detachable climbing clogs (it also has a fun name called "Xie Gong clogs"). When climbing up the mountain, only the back teeth are installed, and when going down the mountain, only the front teeth are installed, so as to maintain body balance and walk as if walking on flat ground.

The Tang Dynasty was a relatively open dynasty in history. At that time, the practical function of shoes gradually decreased, and people paid more attention to appearance, so wedge high heels and back high heels, which are similar to modern shoes, appeared. The heels of these shoes are obviously protruding, and the height of the back heel is higher than the thickness of the front sole.

During the Song Dynasty, high-heeled clogs with textile uppers appeared, called "high-toothed silk clogs". In the Yuan Dynasty, the northern ethnic groups entered the Central Plains and brought advanced leather making technology, and the uppers were replaced with more advanced leather.

In the Qing Dynasty, Manchu women did not have the habit of foot binding. They usually wore Manchu shoes, which came in two types: high-soled and flat-soled. The soles of high-soled Manchu shoes were in different shapes, such as horse hooves, flower pots, and ingots. They were relatively sturdy, and often the uppers were damaged while the soles remained intact, so the soles could be recycled. Most of the people who wore these high-soled shoes were noble women over 13 or 14 years old.

The price of beauty

In modern times, high heels have almost become one of the must-have items for women who love beauty. There is no doubt that high heels can greatly enhance the beauty of women's posture and make their lower limbs more slender visually. However, any beauty has a price to pay. Wearing high heels for a long time will also have a certain impact on human health.

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First, it affects the feet. When wearing high heels, the heel is lifted, and the weight is borne by the joints of the toes and soles, which will increase the degeneration of the joints in the forefoot. At the same time, because high heels are often tight at the toe, they will squeeze the toes inward. Over time, chronic foot pain such as bunions, hallux valgus, and plantar fasciitis may occur.

The second is the impact on the ankle joint and calf. In addition to being prone to sprains, long-term wearing of high heels can cause fatigue in the calf muscles, which can easily lead to chronic strain, and in severe cases, calf muscle atrophy or stiffness. The Achilles tendon that has been stretched tight may also develop Achilles tendinitis due to lack of adequate rest.

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At the same time, wearing high heels will also put pressure on the knee joint, and excessive flexion and extension activities will increase the wear of the patellar cartilage.

In order to balance the body's center of gravity, the spine will also be greatly affected when wearing high heels. The lumbar and thoracic vertebrae must bend adaptively, and this curvature, which is different from the physiological state, will accelerate the degeneration of the spine and may cause diseases such as intervertebral disc herniation, lumbar vertebrae hyperplasia, and lumbar muscle strain.

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Therefore, it is recommended that you choose high heels with correct size, wide mouth and soft surface. At the same time, adopt the correct walking posture, try to stretch your toes forward, squeeze your buttocks, straighten your upper body, and make the feet and legs bear the force evenly. You can also prepare a pair of flat shoes for replacement. Try to avoid wearing high heels for a long time. While making yourself beautiful, don't ignore your health.

About the Author

Mao Ying is an editor of a popular science magazine and a member of the Chongqing Science Writers Association.

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Editor: Ren Yalin

The article is owned by Chongqing Science and Technology Museum. Please indicate the source when reprinting it.