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What Happened to the High Heel?

Once synonymous with power and elegance, high heels send a different message today. As ballet flats, Mary Janes and kitten heels continue to rise in popularity, brands are shifting their focus to comfort and inclusivity, crafting narratives that speak to evolving ideas of femininity.
The high heel’s decline has been years in the making.
The high heel’s decline has been years in the making. (Sandy Liang)
By
BoF PROFESSIONAL

In the late 1980s, Susan Conlin, then in her twenties working as a bank auditor in Philadelphia, was one of many career women wearing skirt suits, coiffed hair, and high heels to work. Today, a librarian in New Jersey, Conlin’s shoes can still be heard clacking on the marble floors — but she’s become an anomaly. In a staff of 30, she’s the only one still in heels.

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Further Reading

Are Ballet Flats the New Dad Sneakers?

Multiple designers incorporated the traditionally feminine footwear collections for the Spring/ Summer 2020 season, signalling a shift away from chunky sneakers.

Luxury Sneakers Lose Their ‘It’ Status

Just a few years ago, designer sneakers were an “it” item driving huge sales. Today the situation has changed, though they still have their place in luxury’s arsenal.

About the author
Yola Mzizi
Yola Mzizi

Yola Mzizi is the Editorial Associate at The Business of Fashion (BoF). She is based in New York and provides operational support to the New York team and writes features for BoF and The Business of Beauty.

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