by Robyn Yager | The history of the stiletto heel is a little complicated. From deadly weapon to cultural icon, everyone has had an opinion on the shoe style. They’re definitely not for everyone. Some may even scoff at the sight of a stiletto, regarding them as silly or straight up impractical. And yet despite valid debate on function, there’s an alluring beauty to a good, narrow heel. The line of the heel to the sole is attractive and even sexy. To some, it’s comparable to the way a gorgeous piece of architecture can inspire a feeling of awe.

The first high heels were worn by men on horseback (boots with a “high heel” were to gain extra traction in stirrups), but the “stiletto” heel came about in the 1930’s. It was named thus in reference to the Italian “stiletto” dagger of the Renaissance period, a fearsome weapon for personal protection and in close quarter combat. Made popular by designer Andre Perugia and French singer Mistinguett, the shoe was a product of “new technologies” in which a metal rod was used in the heel to reinforce its strength, thus allowing for a thinner, sleeker heel. Designer Roger Vivier took the style into the mainstream in the 1950’s, helping to advance the style beyond the runway and into the mainstream to become an iconic international fashion silhouette.

The idea behind the stiletto is that the diameter of the base of the heel is less than one centimetre. The heel can be of varying height, from kitten heel to the most high (those that accompany the platform, making walking nearly impossible). Eventually, the toe of the shoe was elongated to a point wherein the entire piece was referred to as a “stiletto”. In any event, the name is apt. There have been several instances in which a sharp high heel has been used to injure or attack another person.

Physically, the stiletto heel is a design that’s very difficult to get a hand (or foot) of at first. Like any high shoe, one must trust the heel. With the foot on a slant, walking in heels can make the wearer feel volatile and unbalanced, but the effects are clear. They elongate the leg and tighten the calf muscles to make them appear more slender, lending elegance to wearers who are now walking taller and, after some practise, with confidence

Today, the stiletto shape is used by nearly every designer every season for sandals, boots, or pumps. One of the most notable of the bunch is, of course, Manolo Blahnik, who has projected the style even deeper into the mainstream. Despite the more “frumpy shoe styles” as of late (here’s hoping the Birkenstock reveival stayed in 2013), the stiletto has secured itself in the fashion pantheon as a symbol of (potentially deadly) femininity and elegance.

Where you can find great stilettos in Vancouver | Because this shoe is so ubiquitous it takes a little bit of shopping around to find what suits your personal style the best. There is no store or boutique that sells “the best”, but there are some that make great starting points. As usual, Gravity Pope has some pretty hot shoes; from Acne to Fleuvog, they offer a plethora of options. The best way to find the perfect stiletto heel is to do some research. Because they’re so individual and they fit every foot differently, shopping around and trying on different brands and heights is worth the investment in time. They’re also not for the faint of heart or the easily vertiginous. First timers must keep in mind that the stiletto takes some getting used to and requires environments with consistently even surfaces. If you avoid grass, gravel, cracks in the sidewalk, and pretty much all of Gastown (their most diabolical of enemies being the cobblestone), you’ll be fine. If not, make this your motto: “Walk tall and carry a pair of flats in your bag.”

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