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The Hottest High Heels in History

Tall Order

They may seem perilous and uncomfortable, but the passion for high heels is a fierce, devoted one. How did the heel become such an object of desire?

Lizzie Crocker

Published Sep. 11 2014 12:36PM EDT

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes1_uyw5r6 — Chinese. Manchu Woman's Shoe, 19th century. Cotton, embroidered satin-weave silk.
Brooklyn Museum

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes2_g1q6on — Casuccio e Scalera per Loris Azzaro (Italian). Sandal, 1974–79. Leather, synthetic material, cotton.
Bata Shoe Museum

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes3_h7lyzy — French. Shoes, 1690–1700. Silk, leather.
Art Resource, NY

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes4_rynibl — Roger Vivier. “Virgule Houndstooth,” Fall 2014. Calf hair.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes5_bl8cbg — Roger Vivier (1913–1998) for House of Dior. Evening Slippers, 1960. Silk, metal, synthetic, glass.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Image source: Art Resource, NY

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes6_jgemvq — Italian. Chopine, 1550–1650. Silk, metal.
Lea Ingold and Lolly Koon

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes7_as5atc — Balenciaga. Block Heel, Spring 2013.
Brooklyn Museum

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes8_c1ihqm — Noritaka Tatehana. “Atom,” 2012–13. Faux leather.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes9_wdffqc — Christian Louboutin. “Printz,” Spring/Summer 2013–14.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes20_tnipzz — Walter Steiger. “Unicorn Tayss,” Spring 2013.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes11_cmqava — ANTAMINIAU. “L’Image Tranquille,” 2013.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes12_xk04f0 — Christian Louboutin. “Metropolis,” Fall/Winter 2010–11. Calfskin and silver spikes.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes13_dvchl0 — Nicholas Kirkwood. Pumps, Spring/Summer 2013. Suede with gold and clear Swarovski crystals.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes14_evvcrl — Victor (American). Platform Sandal, circa 1940. Leather.
Lea Ingold and Lolly Koon

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes15_zds95k — Winde Rienstra. “Bamboo Heel,” 2012. Bamboo, glue, plastic cable ties.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes16_tr9tyu — Iris van Herpen X United Nude. “Beyond Wilderness,” 2013.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes17_xr8cd4 — Chau Har Lee. “Blade Heel,” 2010. Perspex, stainless steel, leather.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes18_c8lojl — Prada. Wedge Sandal in Rosso, Bianco, and Nero Leather, Spring/Summer 2012.
Jay Zukerkorn

galleries/2014/09/11/up-up-up-the-hottest-heels-in-history-photos/140911-hot-shoes19_fx6eqm — Rem D. Koolhaas. “Eamz,” 2004.
Jay Zukerkorn

Lizzie Crocker

Lizzie Crocker

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