h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Okay; the more I think about this the more it puzzles me, so please help!
What is the deal with the high heeled shoe? Whose idea was this? When did it start? What is the POINT?
Is this a pan-cultural thing or just an aquired western taste?
Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

Well, the point is to throw the weight of the wearer forward, thus making them have to lean back to stay balanced.
This in turn ensures that the breasts of the wearer are thrust outwards, away from the body, and lifted upwards slightly, and also that the, uh, nether regions are thrust forward. This is considered more attractive, and goes along with wonderbras and suchlike.

It also makes the wearer appear taller - which is meant to be attractive. Plus it makes them easier to kiss and suchlike, given the average height of men and women respectively.

The final reason would be to make walking, running, suchlike more difficult - thus making the wearer more dependant on her (male) escort. A power trip - excessively high heels are used in BDSM games occasionally for this reason... (I'm told )

The rest of the Qs I don't know about - we need an entry!

The patten was a variety of high-heeled shoe in existence in mediaeval times; okay, it was a bit more like a platform to be honest. They were over-shoes, worn to raise the wearer and protect them from the muck in the street, of which there was an awful lot at the time...

However, in general they're bloody stupid... God damn Monolo Blahnik...

I rather like the illusion of height, though, being rather short...

They also pop the calf out making a scrumptious looking leg!

Though I don't find women in high heels particularly attractive, in the interests of discussion, I'd have to say that (somewhat showing my age), I'm actually reminded of a few words from an old Hawkwind song '...With your high heels clicking, like a pair of cloven hooves...'.
Not only is there often something distictive about the sound of high heels, but being quite a visual thinker, when I thought about those lyrics I couldn't help noticing there is a kind of visual parallel between the rear view of a woman walking in high heels, and the rear view of a cat or similar animal strutting slowly off into the distance.
Whether it's something in the timing of the limb movements, or simply the similarities between a human on tiptoe, and a quadripedal mammal that effectively does walk on its toes, I couldn't say, but there's definitely some *quality* in common.
In terms of gracefulness or natural elegance, however, I'd say the average cat wins hands down.

High heel shoes were originally worn only by men. Read into that what you will!

They also mimic what happens to feet at orgasm, so makes sense that bloody show off men originally wore them first.

I'm obviously wearing the wrong shoes!!

Being a bloke who has never worn high heeled shoes surely they are uncomfortable. Give me trainers, combats and a t-shirt. Stylish maybe not but damn comfortable.

Todays fashions Style over comfort.

Niz (Gap hater)

Gap hater? As in the store 'Gap'? Don't they sell...er...combat trousers and er... t-shirts?!

*nods sagely*

It's the ads I don't like them.... they suck.

It's also the whole label culture that has taken hold. Two pairs of trousers are made in a sweat shop in India, then a gap label is sawn into one the othe one is left without the label.

Gap Trousers - £60
non label - £20

Anyway my point was high heeled shoes

*shoots off on tangent*

Vanity, vanity, vanity, all is vanity. Women wear high heeled shoe because the way it contorts the body, shoulders back, breast out, calfs popped, butt wiggling. YUM

I may be a wierdo pervert but I prefer women in sneakers. Maybe it's the foot phobia I have... best to keep 'em covered...ban flip flops.

Am I a wierdo pervert... answers on a postcard please

*Bites tongue*

(sorry Niz! )

I really love what they do to ankles, but I never wear them myself. Far too uncomfortable.

meaigs

This is where I have to admit to my shoe obsession - I have masses of pairs of shoes, mostly high heels of all heights, shapes and colours. My husband occasionally asks how I walk in them, and I reply - a lot better than he does when leaving the pub!!

I've got rather a lot of shoes too, although I like to put this down to the fact that my feet haven't grown since I was ten, so I have a lot of shoes that still fit. However, of my pushing thirty-odd pairs of shoes, only five of them are heels, I think; they're so uncomfortable! And they're really bad for your feet/back, etc.

At the last count I had in excess of 80 pairs of shoes (I don't count practical footwear such as welly boots, trainers or slippers etc.) Of those shoes approx. 60% have very high heels and the rest just have fairly high heels. I even admit to the fact that I have some shoes that I have never actually worn yet!! Do I need therapy?