Male Heels

The age of gender distinction became more prominent in the Victorian era and male heels from previous centuries became no longer acceptable. From the Victorian period onward, both genders were to dress in their own distinctive ways, but in previous years, it was common for men to wear what we consider female accessories such as wigs, stockings makeup and especially male heels. In many ways male heels looked no different than female heels of the 18the century, the only difference being they were wide to accommodate the male foot and were largely accessorized with silver or gold buckles. They were made suede or silk which suited royalty. Numerous royal figures were portrayed in knee high stocking and arched heels and it was not considered remotely weird and irregular for men to sport such fashions. In fact, it was the monarchs of France and England who came to set the standard of both male and female fashion and male heels were worn by both monarchs and nobles alike.

Louis XIV famous panting of him sporting white heels is a testament to how gender perceptions had changed since the 1700s. Men wearing heels, stockings, makeup and wigs and it was never considered remotely weird or uncharacteristic of men and only shows that gender and the boundaries of what men and women could wear was not so black and white in pervious centuries . Male heels symbolized pomp and grandiosity of 18th century style. This type of dress would later be toned down during the Victorian era, but during its heyday, male heels were fashionable and were meant to accentuate the calf and leg tone.