It’s a universal truth that women love shoes. Okay, we love accessories, in general, but shoes fall into a category all of their own. As the character Rose Feller stated in the movie In Her Shoes, “Clothes never look any good… food just makes me fatter… shoes always fit” – and I think that pretty much sums up the essence of why shoes are so wonderful.
In addition, you can tell a lot about a person from their shoes, as every shoe tells a tale. Just think about it… A person’s shoes are often a reflection of their status, culture, profession, gender and even their age. From tiny baby booties and mini Nikes for tots to ballet shoes, running shoes, clogs, geta, mules, loafers, moccasins, boots, dress shoes, high heels, sandals, flip-flops, orthopaedic shoes and even slippers (which are apparently very fashionable to wear when you go shopping these days – not that you would ever catch me wearing my slippers in a public place)!
The history of shoes is equally fascinating, especially when it comes to high heels. This glamorous footwear can be traced all the way back to the ancient Egyptians and – surprisingly – high heels weren’t even initially invented for women. Go figure! Of course, high heels were originally used for more practical purposes and as a status symbol. For instance:
- In the tenth century, Persian men wore high-heeled shoes, so that their feet would fit better into the stirrups when horse riding and high-heeled riding boots were also popular in Europe in the sixteenth century.
- In ancient Egypt and in Europe during the sixteenth century, high heels were worn by both men and women and they became a symbol of wealth and power that distinguished the nobility.
- Apparently ancient Egyptian butchers also wore high-heeled shoes to keep their feet out of the blood when slaughtering animals. (Now there’s a sight I’d rather not see – a butcher in high heels. Eek! That just gives a whole new interpretation to shoes with red soles.)
Most notably, though, if you do some quick research into the history of shoes, you will see that royalty played a leading role in the use of heels. Catherine de Medici and Queen Mary I both started wearing high heels to make them look taller and they are the potential pioneers behind wearing heels as a fashion statement. King Louis XIV later followed in their footsteps and is renowned for wearing red-heeled shoes, which were elaborately decorated and often depicted battle scenes.
It’s clear that the functionality, style and use of shoes have evolved considerably over the years, although their versatility and individual appeal are as boundless as ever. There’s no denying that while shoes typically serve a very practical purpose, they can also be funky and fun – and no one has more fun with shoes than a group of women…
My colleague, Sally, recently ordered several pairs of shoes online, which were then delivered to our offices. Naturally, this resulted in a lot of excitement among the ladies and we were all very interested to see her purchases when they arrived. As Sally opened box after box, the beautifully adorned footwear was carefully passed around with many exclamations of approval and sighs of wonder. One colleague even asked if she could try on Sally’s shoes with the express purpose of potentially making her own purchases. Sally’s taste in shoes is excellent after all, so it’s not surprising that this colleague couldn’t resist the temptation. One pair of pearl adorned sandals looked particularly pretty on her feet and Sally couldn’t help remarking:
“Oh, they look beautiful on your feet! I have such ugly feet. My foot will just look like a vetkoek with pearls on it.”
Poor Sally! Although, I must say, I completely disagreed. Those pearl adorned sandals would look good on anyone’s feet, which is why new shoes are the perfect addition to any wardrobe. They are versatile, colourful, practical, decorative and allow you to express your individuality – without ever making you feel fat or frumpy. So, all you really need to put your best foot forward is a new pair of shoes.
Audrey Whyte 
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