Yes, high heels were originally introduced for men. Its origin can be traced back to 10th Century Persia when soldiers used them to ensure their feet remained firmly in the stirrups while riding horses. When the trend reached Europe men in aristocratic families started wearing high heels as they made them look more powerful and signified their affluent status.
In the 17th century, men started abandoning bright colour clothes, jewellery, exquisite fabrics to practical and sober clothing. They started to emphasized on practical and rationality over luxury and fashion which was known as the Great Male Renunciation. Since then, distinguishing between men and women through their appearance has been a dominant trend.
The intellectual movement has started to stereotype men as rational and practical, while women as sentimental and foolish. By 1740, men stopped wearing heel-shoes. The demand for sophistication, practical and to put on simple dresses have stopped the high heeled shoe fashion among men.
Heels came back in the mid-19th century, where men wear low heeled cowboy boots and platform shoes. Moreover, the era of men wearing high heels is long gone. Men on heels used to symbolize power, wealth and masculinity but it was pushed to the gender biases in today’s world.
Picture Credit : Google
