Trust all petites would agree that high heels are indeed petites' best friends. They make you look taller and sexier. Sadly, I don't wear heels. I look awkward walking in them and would certainly trip all over ;p However, I love to look at the high heels which are on display in shops and hope I could put them on and walk like supermodel one day.
Tracing through the history of high heels, they are orginated from France and was designed to resolve problem of the rider's foot slipping forward in stirrups while riding. The rider's heel was approximately 1-1/2 inch high and had made its first appearance in 1500. By late 1600s, the heels designed for men eventually became higher and thinner and was believed that the common height for men's heel was three to four inches.
It was in 1533 that popularity of heels reached women. It all began when the wife of Duke of Orleans, Catherine de' Medici, commisioned a cobbler to design a pair of heels for her to increase her stature and to keep up with fashion. They were an adaptation of chopines (elevated wooden soles with both heel and toe raised not unlike modern platform shoes), but unlike chopines the heel was higher than the toe and the "platform" was made to bend in the middle with the foot.
Heels of 6 to 7 inches are rather popular these days. However, reckon stability is an important factor to consider. A tip I obtained from my friend on how to test the stability of a high heel is to use your index finger and give it a slight push. If the high heel remains firm on ground, you don't have to worry about toppling over ;-)
