Why men today are more confident wearing high heels

zacOctober 2022Last Updated: October 2022

2 minutes read

Not everyone is aware of this, but males have worn heels in the past—long before women did. Although males were initially intended to wear high heels, this has changed over the decades. Surprisingly, heels appear to be making a comeback in men’s fashion as more and more celebrities are starting to embrace their feminine side by donning their favorite pair of heels.

Here at, we were astounded by the males who defied social norms and boldly demonstrated that heels are not just for women.

The evolution of men wearing heels

© The Archdukes Albert and Isabella Visiting a Collector’s Cabinet / Jan Brueghel the Elder & Hieronymous Francken II / Walters Art Museum / Wikimedia Commmons

High-heeled footwear has a long history that dates back to the tenth century. High heels were originally worn by the Persian cavalry to hold their shoes in their stirrups while riding their horses, not as fashion items like they are now.

By the end of the seventeenth century, “Persia-mania” was a popular fashion trend all over Europe. Men’s dress in the seventeenth century was centered on highlighting their athletic thighs and calves. Men, however, ceased wearing shoes around 1730 due to their perception of them feminized shoes gendered over the eighteenth century.

Why men choose to wear heels

Sebastien Fremont / Starface/STARFACE PHOTO / East News

Despite the fact that heels fell out of favor in the eighteenth century, statistics suggest that since 2017, sales of men’s shoes with heels have increased. More men than ever are embracing their femininity and proudly wearing their favorite heels.

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A post shared by Marc Jacobs (@themarcjacobs)

The wearing of high heels is common among well-known fashion designers. Fashion design lecturer at the University of Westminster Andrew Groves said of Marc Jacobs: “I think there is something extremely refreshing about a man designer, such as Marc Jacobs, embracing wearing high heels.”

In addition, he added, “High heels have paradoxically become both a powerful emblem of authority and submission, as well as power and status.” However, many people still find it weird when guys wear heels. In actuality, a lot of people are still outraged by this look.

the growth of models for heels of shoes

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Even if more and more rock singers and pop icons are wearing high heels for guys, high heels are still primarily linked with women’s fashion today. Beyond stilettos, shops’ selection of heels for men has expanded.

Heeled shoes now exist in a wide range of styles. Designer labels like Gucci, Maison Margiela, and Saint Laurent took the chance to create new models in this category because they anticipated that heels would return to the men’s fashion scene.