High heels: their military roots, biggest fan, and lowest point in fashion

Ukraine’s order to female soldiers to parade in high heels drew derision, but they have military roots that can be traced back to the 10th century

Arguably the most famous shoe collection was that of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines, who had almost 3,000 pairs – mostly designer heels

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Female soldiers in Ukraine hit the headlines when photos revealed they were practising for a military parade march in heels. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:15am, 9 Jul 2021Updated: 3:59pm, 12 Jul 2021

Female soldiers in Ukraine will be forced to march in heels at a military parade in August to mark 30 years of independence since the Soviet Union’s break-up.

Recent photographs circulating online show women practising in their army green camouflage uniforms – and black heels.

The order to march in heels has sparked outrage and mockery, not just in Ukraine but around the world. “It is hard to imagine a more idiotic, harmful idea,” said Inna Sovsun, a member of the Golos party, in a report by Agence France-Presse.

Olena Kondratyuk, deputy speaker of the Ukrainian legislature, called for an inquiry and said authorities should publicly apologise for “humiliating” women, the AFP report said.

Portraits of Louis XIV of France reveal that he was partial to a pair of pumps. Photo: Getty Images

History repeating itself

High heels have military roots that can be traced back to 10th-century Iran (then Persia), when soldiers wore them to help keep their feet in the stirrups when they stood up to fire bows from a charging horse.