A Guide to Types of Heels

High heels have been around for over a thousand years. It’s ironic that these shoes were considered a sign of masculinity and were worn mainly by men in the past. But later, stilettos became popular among women and began to be associated with femininity in the 20th century.

There are many types of high heel shoes. In order to help you not get confused among their wide variety, 5-Minute Crafts made this article about the most common types of heels.

Brick heels

The brick heel, as you might guess from the name, is a square heel that’s about 1 inch high. Shoes with this type of heel are pretty practical and are in demand among people of any gender.

Kitten heels

Kitten heels are cute shoes. They are low and narrow heels that are anywhere from 1 to 3 inches high. They were originally in demand among very young ladies, thanks to the fact that they were really comfortable. But over time they became popular among women of any age.

Stiletto heels

Stiletto heels are classic shoes with thin, high heels. Their length can vary from 1 to 10 inches. They create an optical illusion of a longer and slimmer leg and overall greater height. Stiletto heels are said to be uncomfortable, as they concentrate a large amount of weight into a small area. But, despite their impracticality, they are still very popular.

Cone heels

These shoes have heels that are wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. They are somewhere between 3 and 4 inches in height. These shoes are quite comfortable and suitable for different occasions.

Viennese heels

The Viennese heel is a thick heel on the sole. It’s usually less than 1 inch high, and almost every type of flat shoe has a similar “rise.” The Viennese heel can often be seen on ballet flats and sandals.

Cowboy heels

The cowboy heel is a low, square heel with a tapered back. As a rule, it can be found on cowboy boots or oxfords. People who like westerns will most likely like these shoes.

Wedge heels

The wedge heel can be as high as a stiletto, but with a solid sole. Thanks to this, the weight is evenly distributed across the shoe, making it easier to keep balance. These shoes look great with feminine clothing.

Stacked heels

The stacked heel is more about how it’s made, not what it looks like. It’s made of thin stacked layers of leather or wood. If you look closely, you can even spot subtle horizontal stripes on it. Sometimes this heel is covered with leather or another material.

High block heels

High block heels are as high as stilettos but they are much more stable. Sometimes, they come with a platform in the front.