10 truths & myths about high-heeled footwear

Truths and Myths about high heels

Elegant or awkward? Sexy or oppressing? Empowering or limiting?
Confidence-builder or torture instrument?

There are as many opinions on heels as there are feet. So how do you cut through the clutter and find the real story? We asked the women who wear them. 2500 women across the world, from China, over the US, to ECCO's native Scandinavia.

Together, their answers reveal the truth about heels...

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#01

High heels are just about looks

MYTH. High heels are just as much about feeling good as looking good. Almost half of all women feel more confident in heels, and 57% percent feel it improves their posture.

"I love the way the heels make me walk - much more feminine!"

#02

Most men hate it when their partner wears a heel that makes her taller than him

MYTH. Actually, less than 1 in 5 men thinks it's less attractive when a woman in heels becomes taller than him. 81% simply think a woman in heels is sexy.

#03

Most women in heels feel the heels restrict their movement

TRUE. 80% feel somehow physically restricted, while 65% say they have to slow down when wearing heels.

"I broke 2 fingers once because I fell down a staircase - twice: First I tripped because my heel got stuck, then because I twisted my ankle!"

#04

There are two types of women - those who wear high-heels and those who wear flats

MYTH. 85% of all women wear high heels. And even if some don't, 63% say they would wear heels more often if they could find some that were more comfortable.

#05

For most women, it's the heels that make the outfit

TRUE. 74% of all women actually says that a good heel can dress anything up to look feminine.

"Everything I wear is just instantly improved by 30% when I put a heel on"

#06

When it comes to heels, men think that "the taller the better"

MYTH. Though most men like high heeled women, 92% of men thinks a heel can actually be "too high".

#07

Men think high heels make a woman look sexier

TRUE. In a very unsurprising result, a resounding 82% of men simply equate 'heels' with 'sexy'.

"My best experience in heels?
All the nights on the town where I've
felt tall, elegant and sexy!"

#08

Feeling comfortable in high heels is just a matter of practice

MYTH. In fact, almost 8 out of 10 women feel that the lack of comfort in high heels stop them from wearing heels.

What's your heel score? Take the test

#09

"Everyone else seems to be doing fine in high heels"

MYTH. They might fake it well, but other women are hurting too:
57% of women have had to avoid high heels because of sore feet. And more than 4 in 10 say they regularly have to bring extra pairs of more comfortable shoes along so they can change when the heels get too painful. 

 

"The worst thing about heels? Walking to the bus after the party, barefoot in pantyhose, shoes in hand, because they just hurt too much to wear..."

#10

It's simply impossible to make a comfortable high-heeled shoe

MYTH. Though only 50% of all women think they can ever get a comfortable shoe with a 6,5cm heel, it already exists. We're confident that ECCO Sculptured65 proves them wrong. High heel comfort is possible.