Stiletto - Still Hot After All These Years

The stiletto heel has been around for some time and is the highest heel shoe for women, as high as 8 inches. In fact, stiletto heels vary in length from 1 inch up to 8 or more if a platform sole is used. The stiletto heel is actually thinner than a spike heel, and stiletto heels are distinctive not only in height but also in the very very narrow diameter of the heel

The Incredible Stiletto Heels

While there are a variety of slim high heels not all are actual Stilettos. The very slender original Italian-style stiletto heels of the very early 1960s were no more than 5mm in diameter for much of their length, although the heel sometimes flared out a little at the tip. Shop all brands and styles at very cheap prices at: Stiletto Shoes.

History of Stiletto Heels

Stiletto shoes with the super high heels were around in the late 1800s as shown by numerous fetish drawings. Concrete evidence exists in the form of photos of Parisian singer Mistinguett from the 1940s. These shoes were designed by Andre Perugia, who began designing shoes in 1906. It is unlikely that he invented the stiletto heel, but he is probably the first documented designer of it.

Over time stiletto heels became known as somewhat of a common fetish item, as opposed to their ability to significantly increase height. While they were fashionable in an initial wave of popularity in the 1950s, they reached their peak of fashion in the early 1960s, when the toes of the shoes which bore them became as slender and elongated as the stiletto heels themselves.

While, stiletto heels officially faded from the scene after the Beatles era, they remained popular at the street level, and women refused to give them up even though they were not readily available at mainstream stores.

It was Manolo Blahnki who reintroduced Stiletto heels in 1974 and called his version of the stiletto heel the Needle.

Stiletto Races

Amazingly enough, women run special races, called Stiletto races, where they run a marathon in stiletto heels. Glamour magazine sponsored such a race in Germany and these stiletto heel races take place all over the world and particularly in Europe. In fact, this year, 2009, the Ten-O Club and the Georgia Gym Dogs are hosting a Stiletto Race to fight against breast cancer at Stegeman Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Fascination with Stiletto Heels

The stiletto heel is still particularly associated with the image of the femme fatale and is considered to be a seductive item of clothing, very sexy, glamorous and often featured in popular culture.

Women love stilettos heels and they come in a variety of styles, colors including boots, and especially the very sexy thigh high stiletto heel boots. Stilettos give the optical illusion of a longer, slimmer leg, a smaller foot, and a greater overall height. They also significantly alter the wearer's posture and gait, flexing the calf muscles, and making the bust and buttocks more prominent. All in all the stiletto heel is one sexy shoe and this shoe will certainly stand the test of time.