Monday, October 5, 2009

High Heel Shoes - The Feel Good Factor For a Woman

Let's face it! High heel shoes for women are hot, sexy and downright glamorous.

Ok, ok. We all know how high heels are bad for the posture, how we can twist our ankles miserably while tottering on them or how badly it can affect our spines; but, when it comes to the crunch, wearing a pair of high heels for a special occasion, do we really care about what the doomsayers keep harping on about the bad effects on our body?! Most of us don`t, for that occasional foray of madness of teetering on 5-inch heels when it makes us feel oh, so special. Wearing them can make even average people like us feel like a diva! And to the Carping Cassandras, the advice would be to try on high heel shoes just once and experience the transformation!

High heel shoes are mood uplifters. Which women amongst us will not appreciate the way it elongates our body, stretches our legs to infinity and gives us that supremely confident walk (practice, practice, practice!)? Not all of us are blessed with shapely legs and if high heel shoes give us the chance to resort to trickery of creating an illusion of slimmer and shapelier legs, why give it a miss? After all, even supermodels require help!

Short calves suddenly look longer, leaner and meaner when wearing high heels. The position of the derriere and the chest change giving a more sensuous posture and a more graceful walk. Petite women need not be looked down upon by tall, statuesque women; wearing a pair of high heel stilettos will do the trick of bringing them to the same level. They also need not look like midgets besides their tall (if) partners.

Can you imagine a sunshiny summer day without a flirty, summer dress? And what better to complement the dress than a pair of high heel strappy sandals? Whether you are lounging on a yacht (sigh!) or attending a smart luncheon, your high heel shoes are indispensable accessories. Even if you are just grabbing a sandwich in the office break, wearing high-heeled shoes to work occasionally will be a sure-shot antidote to all the office drudgery, unless of course, you are straight out of 'The Devil Wears Prada' movie! Your office uniform, perhaps, consists of pencil skirts or trousers and teaming those with high heels will give you an air of authority, even if you are not the boss! And if you are the boss, so much the better; the power of feminine authority is never more evident than when clacking around in power suits and high heels and feminists can just glower!

Going to a party straight from office and no time to change; don't worry, stash your high heels in your bag in the morning, put them on in the evening and whoa, you are ready to rock! High heel shoes can transform the drabbest of outfits into something personable. There is an aura about high heels and no amount of gloomy prophesies of a doomed health will take that away from them.

Have you ever wondered how those Latino sirens manage to move so gracefully when executing those sensuous dance steps? Besides being fleet-footed and naturally graceful dancers, their high heel shoes definitely contribute to the voluptuousness of their dance movements. But, if you are thinking on those lines, first put in some real practice with the shoes on before hitting the dance floor.

These killer high heel shoes were invented not for concealment but for flaunting as their only purpose are to make women feel good about themselves!


Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?High-Heel-Shoes---The-Feel-Good-Factor-For-a-Woman&id=2765093

Assorted Types of Womens High Heel Shoes




Before heading out to the mall or surfing the net to find yourself a new pair of shoes, there are a few things you need to consider before forking over your hard earned money. First and foremost, know what you're buying. In other words, don't buy a pair of slingbacks if you want thigh-high boots. Here's a bit of information on the different types of shoes that you might just find helpful for your next shopping escapade!

Sandals: The perfect shoe to coordinate with any ensemble, weather permitting, of course. This style of shoe has been around for thousands of years, as the simple, versatile style could be worn while you were building a pyramid or dressed to kill for an evening out at the chariot races. Its simple design of a sole held onto one's foot by straps has made this warm climate shoe a favorite among designers for generations. Rhinestones and other sparkling objects are added to the straps to take this simple shoe to an all-new level.

Pumps: This graceful, yet comfortable shoe was made popular in the 1930's and 1940's when the glamorous ladies of the silver screen wore them for nearly every occasion. They are also referred to as "court shoes", as the thin sole was adapted for walking on the pricier floor coverings such as parquet and carpet, which were common in the elite gathering areas and homes of the day. Nowadays, pumps are worn with everything from suits to wedding gowns to everything in between. The average 3" heel and full-foot enclosure make this shoe a staple item for every wardrobe, no matter what season you plan on wearing them. One popular variation is the "Peep-Toe Pump", which simply has a small hole at the very front of the shoe, usually allowing two toes per foot to "peep" out.

Slingbacks: Modeled after its sister shoe- the Pump, this variation has a open back with an added strap around the ankle to keep the wearer's foot from slipping out. This adds a bit more of a sexy attitude to the pump, as the heel and sides of the foot are left bare. This shoe is a perfect pick for a pencil skirt that falls just above, at, or just below the knee.

High Heels: While this shoe is generally impractical for work, an evening out on the town will be made that much more glamorous with the perfect high heel. Learning how to walk in a high heel can take some time, so be sure to buy them well in advance of any occasion. In fact, many women will choose their high heel first, then go out and find the perfect outfit to match. They became popular in the 1950's with high society women who heeded warnings of floor damage, not to mention severe bodily damage if not worn or walked in properly.

Mules: Many in the fashion industry have referred to the Mule as "a clog with a heel". But the styles change just as fast as those popular in the industry. Mules have an open back, which is the major similarity to its clogging cousin. Wedge heels, high heels and stilettos are all popular choices. Mules come in a variety of styles to wear in the summer with a swimsuit ensemble or in the spring with a prom dress. Weather is a factor in choosing this type of shoe, as the open back and sides can make for some cold toes.

Ballerina Flats: Guess where these got their name? This ultra-comfortable style of shoe has been referred to as "flats", "ballet flats" and "ballerinas" just to name a few. A full shoe that wraps all the way around the foot, leaving the ankle and top of the foot bare is the basis for this shoe. Adornments like rhinestones, bows, stripes, or even a single, large flower placed at the front of the opening have taken this simple shoe to a whole new level.

Stilettos: Named after the Stiletto Dagger, this ultra-thin, ultra-high heel became popular in the 1950's, as technology would allow for such a heel to support a person. A thin, metal rod was placed within the heel for this matter. Stilettos can be seen in everything from boots to slingbacks, and pumps to mules. It truly takes a master to walk successfully in these, so heed any warnings and practice diligently before heading out.Platforms: Since ancient times, platforms have been utilized in footwear to add height to those who were "vertically challenged". Today cork, wood, or even plastic is used to "pump up" the shoe by adding an inch or two (or more), with or without a heel. Boots, sandals and sandals are each popular in their own way within the platform shoe genre.

Marabou: Did someone say feathers? Marabou feathers have been added to mules with a heel (usually within the stiletto family) across the front material holding the front of the foot in place. Popular behind closed doors, these ultra-fab, fluffy shoes unfortunately don't hold up well in unfavorable weather.

Boots: They're not just for cowboys anymore! Actually, they haven't been for a long time now. Popular in the 1970's, boots made quite the comeback in the 1990's and new millennium, as the styles changed, right along with how they were worn.

Ankle Boots: This shorter style of boot comes in a variety of styles and heel heights, but is mostly worn with pants, jeans or trousers. Since you can't see the top of the boot under pants, it's almost like money down the drain (or a style unseen) to have a design hidden for only you to see. Flare, skinny, or boot-cut bottoms all look great with ankle-length boots.

Knee High Boots: Whether you're wearing pants that are tucked neatly in the boots, a knee length skirt, or an ultra-short mini, this style of boot goes unmatched by any other. This trend that initiated itself in the cold, winter months has grown to be worn well into warmer weather. Heel lengths and widths vary immensely, as do the styles of the boots themselves.

Thigh High Boots: Sometimes referred to as "Over the Knee", these larger than life boots are often associated with exotic dancers and those employed in the world's oldest profession. That's too bad because these boots are practical and versatile, as there aren't many varieties of footwear that can keep your legs warm while wearing a mini-skirt in the dead of winter in Montreal. Heel heights range from ultra-high to basically non-existent.


Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Assorted-Types-of-Womens-High-Heel-Shoes&id=1168634

History of High Heel Shoes

High heel shoes can have an amazing effect on women and are able to fill them with pleasure and excitement when shopping for them at Chanel or Prada. The high-heeled shoe in particular is a matter of contentious and heated discussion. No other shoe has gestured toward sexuality and sophistication as much as the high-heeled shoe. So many women are dreaming of having their closets full of shoes, but in reality they are merely pay attention to the fact that shoes could be one of the oldest inventions of our ancestors.

High heels are not a modern invention. Rather, they enjoy a rich and varied history, for both men as well as women. Controversy exists over when high heels were first invented, but the consensus is that heels were worn by both men and women throughout the world for many centuries.

Most of the lower class in ancient Egypt walked barefoot, but figures on murals dating from 3500 B.C. depict an early version of shoes worn mostly by the higher classes. In ancient Greece and Rome, platform sandals called kothorni, later known as buskins in the Renaissance, were shoes with high wood or cork soles that were popular particularly among actors who would wear shoes of different heights to indicated varying social status or importance of characters.

Around 1500, European nobility developed heels as a separate part of their shoes, primarily as a means to help keep their feet in the stirrups. The wear of heels by men quickly became the fashion norm, primarily in the courts, and this practice spawned the term, "well-heeled" as a reference to those who could afford the costlier shoes.

The modern European fashion of the high heel comes from the Italian "chapiney" or "chopine" style: mounted shoes on a 15 to 42 cm high cylinder. In 1430 chopines were prohibited in Venice, but nothing could stop the trend. The invention of the high heel is attributed to Catherine of Medici in Paris, in the 16th century, who used them due to her short stature, and soon introduced them into fashion amongst the European aristocracy. At the age of 14, Catherine de Medici was engaged to the powerful Duke of Orleans, later the King of France.

In the 17th century, the English Parliament punished as witches all women who used high heels to seduce men into marrying them. In his biography, the famous Giovanni Casanova declared his love for high heels, which raised women's hoop skirts, thus showing their legs.

In 1791, the "Louis" high heels disappeared with the revolution, and Napoleon banished high heels in an attempt to show equality. Despite the Napoleonic Code against high heels, in 1793 Marie Antoinette went to the scaffold to be executed wearing two-inch heels.

In the 1860s, heels as fashion became popular again, and the invention of the sewing machine allowed greater variety in high heels. In Victorian art and literature, cartoons and allusions to tiny feet and the affliction of large feet (typical of the elderly spinster) were ubiquitous. Victorians thought that the high heel emphasized the instep arch, which was seen as symbolic of a curve of a woman.

While high heels enjoyed widespread popularity in the late nineteenth century but the Depression during the 1930s influenced Western shoe fashion as heels became lower and wider.

With the creation of the miniskirt in the early 1960s, stilettos came into fashion and were attached to boots that enhanced the look of bare legs. A stiletto heel is a long, thin heel found on some boots and shoes, usually for women. It is named after the stiletto dagger, the phrase being first recorded in the early 1930s. Stiletto heels may vary in length from 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) to 5 cm (2 inches) or more if a platform sole is used.

Unlike the medieval period of Europe, when extravagance was more sought after that practicality, the fashion today trumps comfort. Women in the 21st century have more shoe choices than ever before. From athletic wear to the 2006 "heelless" high heel, women can choose to wear what they want, even hybrid shoes such as "heeled" tennis shoes and flip flops. While these may be oddities of fashion, they gesture toward an exciting array of fashion choices women have today.

Every woman deserves to wear shoes which match her outfit, look elegant and wrap her delicate feet. Whether they are lace up, platform or clear heel each of the shoes definitely compliments the outfit and makes the women love walking and feeling sexy.

When it comes to high heels they are teasing and flattering, they make women feel special and empowered as well as highly confident regardless of when or how they are worn.


Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?History-of-High-Heel-Shoes&id=2855973

Women's Wedge Shoes You Need in Your Closet



Almost all women have that perfect little dress that looks amazing when worn. The perfect dress deserves the perfect jewelry, hairstyle, but most of all the perfect shoes. A great pair of shoes can make or break an outfit. When picking out a great pair of shoes it's important to remember if you choose the wrong shoe it may ruin the entire look. For instance, a pair of flats will destroy a formal look. There are some basic rules to help guide your purchase of the perfect pair of shoes.

Wedge shoes are lovely for both formal and casual wear depending on the shoe. For a formal outfit, leather or satin are the best choices of fabrics. Heels should be covered leather to match the upper or shiny plastic. Rarely wood wedge heels can be worn with formal dresses. Wood heels, however, are perfect for casual shoes. As are any canvas uppers and espadrille type of shoes.

When purchasing a pair of wedges with colors, there are some basic guides. It's never a good idea to wear a shoe that will overshadow the color of the dress. A shoe color should accent the dress and the woman. If the dress is a singular color, pair it with a multi-colored shoes, consequently a multi-colored dress will look best accented with a singular color shoe. A great pair of red wedge shoes will look fantastic with black or navy dresses. Conversely a red dress looks fantastic with a red and black shoe or navy and black shoe.

Choosing a color isn't as difficult as choosing a designer. While almost every designer has a wedge style in their collection, most higher end designs are out of the budget possibilities for the majority of women. There isn't any need, however, to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of wedge shoes. You can find a simple casual style or a lovely formal style of wedge for as little as thirty to forty dollars. There are even special deals to be found online. Many shops give an enormous discount on designer shoes.

Lastly, a great pair of wedge shoes need not be a high heel. There are wedges of every heel height, from flats to six inch platforms. However, if you choose to wear a wedge shoe with a higher heel, you will have a great support system under the arch of your foot, making the wedge shoe the most comfortable high heel on the market.


Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?Womens-Wedge-Shoes-You-Need-in-Your-Closet&id=2764023
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