Question and Answer

Q: How high is too high when it comes to high heels?

A: Let's think about why and when heeled shoes were created. A small heel has been around for hundreds of years, but I would say it was during the Renaissance and especially the Baroque eras that shoes became their own fashion statement. They were no longer just necessity, but could be frivolity!

The classic pump as we know it today appeared in the early 1900s. The purpose behind wearing these shoes was to make one taller and create a longer looking leg. Dresses at this time became a lot shorter than in previous annals of history, so legs were now noticed. As time moved on, so did the height of the heel -- from a small 1-1.5 inch to a shocking 6.5-7! The 1960s and '70s platform also changed the shoe movement. These generations seemed to want to push the limit on everything! In the '80s and '90s, heels took a little rest. As women were climbing the ladder of success in the corporate world, shoes had to become more practical, and the only gals wearing the over-the-top high heels were Hollywood stars and desperate prostitutes.

Along the way, taking us into the new millennium, we met up with a woman named Carrie Bradshaw, a.k.a., Sarah Jessica Parker, on a provocative, hit television show. She taught us that you can "have it all" and "do it all" in sky-high, sexy, platform heels! Parker and her gang changed the face of western civilization by somehow "empowering" women to be symbols of lustful ambition and still be "classy," just because they were searching for “true love.” Their view of fashion has now penetrated our culture -- shoes being an ultimate symbol of lust!

Now, let's don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Shoes are not evil! They can, however, become objects of a stereotype. I personally like a reasonable-sized heel when I'm dressing an outfit up a little more. When I wear a longer dress or skirt, heels are a great way to balance the proportion to my form. Also, they are a great way to add a splash of color and personality to an outfit -- very classy when done correctly.

When selecting any shoe to wear, first consider the efficiency it will provide you. If you are only thinking about keeping your balance in a pair of 4-inchers, then I would suggest picking a lower-sized heel. Playing to our vanity can be easy to do when all we are thinking about is what we are wearing. Our concern should be for others, not keeping our balance and wondering how many people are admiring us when we walk across a room.

A pair of 2-inch black heels are, I believe, a basic, but talk with your parents about the shoes and find the best fit for you as a representative of Christ and your family.

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