Fashion Moment; The stiletto

Have you ever wanted to know a bit more about the clothes you put on your back? Here is a a fashion moment i wrote on the stiletto.

Swathed in white satin and velvet, Catherine De Medici floated down the aisle towards her husband - the future king of France - in 1533. Bejeweled in a rose bodice the French court was captivated by the Italian bride who wanted to make an impression on her counterparts, and therefore wore the first ever-documented stiletto. 

Derived from the Latin word ‘Stilis’ which translates as ‘slender dagger’, the stiletto is a spiked heel - which when worn, elongates the legs, elevates the bust and protrudes the derriere. The stiletto is the ultimate optical illusion in achieving a smaller foot. It has similar ideology to the old Chinese practice know as the ‘golden lotus’. This is where the foot is bound causing severe deformities but is perceived to be beautiful, as it is only 4 to 6 inches long. Projecting societies belief that small is desirable.

Erotica and fetishism are part of the stiletto’s appeal. With masochism and sadism as the stilettos parents; the shoe becomes a material manifestation of psychological power, emulating feminism, confidence and authority.

After fading into obscurity between the ages, the modern stiletto made a re-appearance in the 1950s. The post-war years saw a collaboration between innovative designer Christian Dior and Roger Vivier who together re-defined the future of the heel. Decorated in elaborate pearls and beads, or constructed in fine silk, Vivier created the stiletto revolution.

The 60’s saw Hugh Hefner make the shoe a staple in his bunnies wardrobe, and used a standardized 4inch heel as regular attire in his infamous Playboy magazine. The stiletto was henceforth adopted by working girls and featured in the punk-rock rebellion of the seventies.

More recently the rise of specialist shoe designers like Christian Louboutin, Manalo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo have contributed to the rising popularity of the ‘statement shoe’.  With the demise of arm candy ‘it’ bags, exotically designed heel-art is now de rigueur, and spiked-heeled creations are seen periodically on the catwalks. Miuccia Prada commented ‘The obsession with handbags has finished a little now. It feels over. It’s about shoes.’  

carvela £130, www.kurtgeiger.com