A stiletto heel is a long thin heel found on some boots and shoes, usually for women. It is named after the stiletto dagger. Stiletto heels are highly popular in fashion circles. In fact, stilettos have become so popular that designers have added them to all types of ladies shoes. Women are increasingly buying stiletto heel enhanced footwear and every women should invest in at least one pair of stilettos.

Stiletto heels come with very thin high heels typically ranging from two to eight inches in length. Stiletto heels of two to three inches give the wearer some height and at the same time look appropriate as everyday wear. Stiletto high heels higher than four inches are more difficult to walk in and are mostly worn by professional dancers and entertainers. Women also have the option of choosing more rounded or squared toe stiletto shoes if the slimmer versions are bit too uncomfortable for them. Stiletto boots can be thigh high, knee length, ankle length. Lower versions can be found in sandals, mules, open-toe, and court shoes.

Higher heel stilettos should be worn on special occasions and going out, while very high stilettos of five inches and above are best for professional dancers. Stiletto heels transmit a large amount of force in a small area, and are therefore often strengthened by a metal tube, into which is inserted a metal or hard plastic tip. The pressure transmitted through the heel can cause damage to certain carpets and floors.

It's a fallacy that stiletto heels can render wearers less stable than wider high heels due to the small diameter of heel at the ground. Balancing in a high, thin heeled shoe is accomplished at the front of the foot, not at the heel.

Shoe designers are expanding their stiletto lines by adding still higher and thinner heels, glittery ornamentation, stones, rhinestones, crystals, and bold colors. They are also increasing the use of zippers, buckles and clasps. Deep red stiletto heel shoes are considered an epitome of sexiness while grey and brown are usually chosen for office wear. A black stiletto works well in any environment transcending easily from work to evening.

Stylists feel stiletto high heels make the wearer appear taller and also slimmer at the same time. They also alter the wearer's posture and gait, flexing the calf muscles, and making the bust and buttocks more prominent.

Although tall and thin heels are said to be in existence since 1800s, the popularity of modern stiletto heels is attributed to the designer Roger Vivier whose designs of opulent heels became popular in 1950s with the advent of technology using a supporting metal shaft within the heel, instead of wood or other, weaker materials that required a wide heel. 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. Creation of the miniskirt in the 1960s increased the popularity of stilettos. In 1974, a sensual version of the stiletto heel was reintroduced by Manolo Blahnik who dubbed his new heel the Needle. The slender stiletto heels staged a major comeback after 2000.

How to Walk in High Heels: Stiletto High Heel Tips & Advice

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