Why Russian women wear heels - Russia Beyond

When Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo created a pair of stiletto heels for Marilyn Monroe for the film Some Like It Hot, he probably had no idea his creation would become so famous in Russia.

Everyone knows that Russian women are beautiful and take fashion very seriously. It's not uncommon to see them dressed as if they're going to a gala dinner when in fact they're just shopping. High heels are her absolute favorite and Russian women even wear them while braving the icy pavements – but why are they doing it? The West seems convinced that they want to attract men with it. So why do Russian women prefer high heels?

Stilettos improve gait

"I don't wear heels every day, but I certainly wear them several times a week, unless it's freezing cold," Maria Koschevnikova, a Moscow-based PR manager, tells Russia Beyond. “I love these shoes so much because they change posture, gait and even pace. When it's not icy outside I really don't feel any difference wearing these shoes inside or outside.”

"Of course, a woman needs to learn how to move gracefully in heels, like any other accessory," said Saint-Petersburg marketing manager Valentina Pakhomova. “Sometimes I see girls walking in heels that look more like a grasshopper. They're struggling and it really doesn't look pretty."

"The question of wearing comfort depends more on the insoles than on the height of the heels," adds Maria. "But wearing heels all day is physiologically very bad for your feet. My favorite comfortable slippers are waiting for me at home.”

High heels boost self-confidence

"I wear high heels to look more elegant," says Elena Guseva, a chief accountant from Moscow. "After many years I've gotten used to them and I feel absolutely comfortable wearing them all day and even while driving."

Maria agrees that women in stilettos simply look more attractive. "I used to only wear high heels - even when the streets were icy," says Valentina. "Mostly I wore them because I was a little chubby and the heels helped me look slimmer and have longer legs. Then I moved to Saint Petersburg and the city made me slow down: I had to walk longer distances and for that I had to lower the height of my heels. Then our office moved to an industrial area and I only wore heels for the office. At first I felt uncomfortable without high heels, now I don't care much about them. I've also lost weight and no longer have to cheat on myself. A while ago I injured my knee and as a result I can only walk in heels for a few hours. That encouraged me to choose comfort.”

Are women more attractive in heels?

Various studies claim that women who wear high heels walk more attractively and are more desirable. Most Russian men are happy for their significant other to wear heels, but only if she's comfortable in them.

"There's no question that a woman in heels looks more attractive than a woman in chunky shoes," Moscow engineer Dmitry Volkov admits. “Of course, discomfort caused by wearing heels can dampen a woman's mood. You can tell from her face that she feels uncomfortable. This negates the positive effect of her shoes. I see high heels as a tactic used by women to attract men's attention."

"A woman can also be attractive without high heels," Valentina believes. "I think it's just ridiculous and a kind of sexism. I often hear that a woman should wear heels because it's ladylike. But where is that written? Your own femininity is not defined by your shoes.”

All rights reserved. Reproduction is only permitted if the source and active hyperlinks to the source material are stated.