What is High heels?
[[File:Science ofDressTo face p236.png|thumb|Effect of high heels: normal shoe (top) compared with heels (below)]] [[File:Red High Heel Pumps.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Basic court shoe, the most common type of high heeled shoe. Heels usually wider than in this illustration.]] [[File:Damenschuh035.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Shoes for Latin dancing: very stable heels]] [[File:MulticolorSandalette.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Sandals with stable high heels]] [[File:Schuhe-barfuss.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Mid-length heels]] [[File:Pink wedge-heeled sandals.jpg|thumb|180px|Wedgies]] [[File:High Heel Shoe.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Extreme stiletto heels]] '''High heels''' are [[shoe]]s where the [[heel]]s are much higher than the [[toe]]s. They are a [[fashion]] item, usually for women. [[Cowboy]] [[boot]]s and 'Cuban heels' are shoes worn by men with high heels. == Look == Mid-height heels are from 2½ to 3½ inches (6.2 to 8.5&nbsp;cm). They are an intermediate between standard heels and ''stiletto heels'', which are from 4 to 10 inches. The extreme heels are made of [[steel]], and very narrow at the base: 0.4 inches or less. These have been widely criticised for the health risks regular wear would bring. They have also been criticised by feminists.<ref>[http://newhumanist.org.uk/1781 Heights of madness] - New Humanist</ref> If the soles of the shoes are also raised, then they are a quite different kind of shoe: the ''platform shoe''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sizefitguide.com/shoes/glossary-of-terms-for-women-s-shoe-styles |title=Glossary of terms for women's shoe styles |access-date=2010-09-23 |archive-date=2009-05-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515215443/http://www.sizefitguide.com/shoes/glossary-of-terms-for-women-s-shoe-styles |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wedgies or, more properly, shoes with wedge heels, are a compromise type. They raise the heels, and are much more stable than standard high heels. Wedges for women were popularized by [[:en:Salvatore_Ferragamo|Salvatore Ferragamo]] who introduced the design t