It's girl's night out, you're getting ready at your bestie's apartment and then you're hitting Court Street with all your favorite people. Now, what are you wearing? A cute top and jeans, of course. Maybe a mini skirt will be thrown in here and there, if the weather permits.
You'll be donning your newest and cutest top with your choice of bottoms, and you'll probably pair it with your go-to bar sneakers. Now this is where we take our pause. When did sneakers become the new going-out staple? Once upon a time, women were rocking their tallest and shiniest heels to dance the night away.
Since 2020, heel sales have dropped by 65%. It seems since the pandemic, women have been trading in the painful stilettos for a more comfortable, practical option. Don't get me wrong, I love a fashionable sneaker, but what happened to celebrating strong femininity with some glamor?
Now, any person who has indulged in the heel can tell you of the pain. Daily use will especially wreak havoc on your feet and back. I personally remember a particularly painful experience at my brother's wedding years ago, wearing a strappy 6-inch heel from Fashion Nova, and I ended up holding onto the groomsmen for dear life walking down the aisle. Despite this struggle, a fashion statement once in a while doesn't hurt.
Of course, there are many controversial historical factors to consider when pondering the disappearance of heels in going-out culture. The origin of heels still remains a bit mysterious. Evidence suggests it is closely associated with horseback riding, specifically the invention of the stirrup.
Coming into the 16th century, instead of a practical solution, heels had transformed into a symbol of luxury. As gender roles cemented themselves more and more into society, heels soon became a "frivolous" women's fashion. This is where an "expectation" of women to wear heels came into play. It continued on in our culture as a symbol of elegance and status, although sometimes falling out of favor during revolutions against the wealthy.
As we descended into the Industrial Revolution, heels became more accessible, and once again returned to a status of glamor and the divine feminine in the early 21st century. While it does represent all of these things, heels also became a chauvinist trap.
Heels are often pushed upon women forcefully, namely in the workplace, where sexism is the norm. In modern culture, heels are confined to a strict misogynistic box. Many women pass on wearing heels for this very reason. However, I'm calling for a reclamation of the dazzling shoes, as wanting to wear heels doesn't have to mean compliance.
In my own personal opinion and experience, I feel powerful in my heels, and many psychological factors support this stance. Height is often associated with power, authority and confidence. Wearing heels is a one-way train to increasing these traits within yourself. While heels inspire other people to see these traits in you, heels are also shown to boost self-confidence.
There is a well-known effect called the “high heel effect” which shows an increase in self-confidence while wearing heels. The change in posture and altered gait that comes with wearing heels can inspire a boost of confidence within yourself. Historically, heels are also widely regarded as a sign of luxury and status. Research suggests wearing heels can signal this sign to others and can positively affect how you are viewed.
These factors can all work together to transform your mindset, instilling you with confidence, while also signaling these positive traits to others. By wearing heels, psychological factors come into play to increase confidence and positive perception, whether that's in business meetings or on a fun night out.
Throughout history, heels have experienced many turning points. This is my call to action for the new turning point, a reclamation of the heel, making it a personal choice and not a societal one. Heels don't have to be a conformation, but a rebellion! Put those sambas down and wear that pump with your mini skirt or wear that kitten heel with your new pair of jeans. Stand out (and above) among the crowd, the "now" is always the best time for change.
Lily is a sophomore studying integrated language arts at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Lily about their column? Email them at lm054424@ohio.edu
