Sales of shoes with heels of four inches or more have fallen in recent years, according to a new study by shoe retailer Kurt Geiger.
Shoes with heels of four inches or more accounted for nearly half (47 percent) of all non-flat shoe sales.
However, these more dizzying styles now account for only one-sixth (17 percent) of purchases in that particular sector.
At the same time, shoes with heels of just two inches (generally considered ‘medium’ height, rather than high) have doubled, and more people are also opting for shoes like ballet flats and loafers.
And according The Sunday TimesThere could be several reasons for this change that are not solely related to changes in fashion.
Lockdown could be a major factor explaining why more women are opting for flat shoes instead of stilettos these days (file image)
The media reports that some podiatrists believe that Covid isolation It could partially explain the sales figures.
These experts suggest that the more frequent use of slippers and flip-flops during confinement caused some people’s feet to become wider.
Wearing flat, more comfortable, less structured shoes also caused some people’s feet to become softer and wider.
As a result, wearing heels, which are more structured shoes, becomes more uncomfortable and difficult.
Even though lockdown is long over, many people haven’t returned to their pre-2020 footwear habits, even when wearing dressier outfits.
This is according to Kurt Geiger’s creative director, Rebecca Farrar-Hockley.
She told the Sunday Times that many people seek comfort, even when wearing more elegant outfits.
“Now our customers seem to be leaning towards ‘occasion wear’ that can offer height and comfort in equal measure, with platform flats and platform sandals being the big winners, closely followed by delicate, colourful ballet flats and bright loafers,” she said.
According to Kurt Geiger creative director Rebecca Farrar-Hockley (not pictured), many people are looking for comfort, even when wearing “dressier” outfits (file image)
Rebecca added that the trend is nationwide, noting that “flats are outperforming heels” across the UK.
However, according to research, there are some areas that hold on to your taller shoes more than others.
It is worth noting that 31 per cent of heel sales are still in the four-inch and above category in Milton Keynes, significantly higher than the national average of 17 per cent.
And shoe fans in Newcastle also seem keen to hold on to their ultra-high heels, with these styles accounting for around 26 per cent of sales in the heel sector.
It’s not just comfort that could be a factor in the shifting sales figures: the resurgence of trends from the early 2000s, particularly a preference for low heels, could also explain why some people are opting for styles with lower heels.
This current preference for lower-heeled shoes could be good news for some people’s foot health.
Research published in 2008, when “killer heels” were becoming increasingly popular, suggested that there were a number of problems that could be caused by prolonged use of such shoes.
High heels in the form of stilettos first became popular in the 1930s, but while heels used to be largely a “special occasion” garment, thanks to the success of shows like Sex and the City, by this time, wearing vertiginous heels on a daily basis had become more common.
Everyday wear of heels four inches or higher began to become more popular following the early 2000s trend of wearing low “kitten” heels, but now the trend of wearing lower “kitten heels” shoes is making a comeback, according to market research data (file image)
But the problems that daily use can cause, which may be permanent, range from hammer toes and bunions to irreversible damage to the tendons in the legs.
Many of the problems, which can occur simultaneously, are caused by the greater pressure that high heels exert on the sole of the foot: the higher the heel, the greater the pressure. The knee and back can also be affected.
At the time of publishing this research, consultant podiatric surgeon Mike O’Neill said: “High heels make you lift your heel and as soon as you do, your center of gravity is pushed forward.
“What happens then is that you round your lower back to compensate for this and that changes the position of your spine, putting pressure on the nerves in your back.”
This can cause sciatica, a painful condition in which nerves become trapped, causing pain and numbness down to the feet.
Another common problem, Mike said, is that the Achilles tendon, which runs down the back of the leg from the heel, becomes permanently damaged.
There is research to support the theory that wearing heels three inches or higher more than a couple of times a week can cause a host of physical problems, some of which may be irreversible (file image)
‘This tendon is designed to be flexible so that the foot can be either flat or pointed. But many women who wear high heels too often suffer from a shortening of the tendon because once the heel points upwards, it tightens. Stretching it again can be very painful.
“When you try to put your foot in a flat shoe, the back of the heel hurts a lot. I’ve seen 70-year-olds still limping in high heels because they can’t put their feet flat anymore, it hurts so much.”
This latest trend of lower heels could help you avoid these problems.
According to the podiatrist, most women can avoid damaging their Achilles tendon by wearing heels that are no higher than 1.5 inches (3.8 cm).
Heels of only three inches or more, worn more than once or twice a week, can shorten the Achilles tendon.