Hand on heart: How many shoes do you currently have in your closet? If you count more than 20 pairs, we can only say: Welcome to the club! Because you are not the only ones who have a distinct penchant for shoes. But where does this passion for collecting actually come from?
What shoes reveal about women
We would like to say one thing in advance: Just because every 5th woman owns more than 20 pairs of shoes, she is said to have a shoe obsession. But then what about Imelda Marcos? The wife of Ferdinand Marcos (a former Philippine dictator) is said to have hoarded 3,000 pairs – yet she doesn't have anywhere near as many shoes as the US singer Mariah Carey: Her shoe collection is said to comprise an incredible 10,000 pairs. So much for other women having a shoe obsession. But the Federal Association of the Footwear and Leather Goods Industry is definitely right about the fact that women generally own more shoes than men. This is because they treat themselves to an average of six new pairs every year, while the men of creation only buy two pairs of shoes. But back to the topic: Why women love shoes?
Show me your shoes and I'll tell you who you are
According to psychologists, women like to wear many different shoes to better express their moods. Because we associate different character traits with every shoe. An example: Those who wear sneakers are more the casual type. Ballerinas (e.g. from Vagabond, Clarks etc.) make women appear more girlish, while boots (e.g. from Tamaris) make them appear more mature. And high heels look sexy and confident. In addition, there is the right shoe for every occasion – for the office, for leisure activities, for festive occasions, etc. And since there isn't a single pair of shoes on this planet that you can wear for every occasion, you need a certain selection. Well, and as it is in a society influenced by the fashion industry, women also need different colored pairs with different heel heights.
In particular, shoes with high heels change a woman's posture: They visually lengthen the legs, emphasize the buttocks and breasts, and make the feet look narrower. However, they also take their toll, as they strain the spine, intervertebral discs, and joints. That is why the company Wortmann has developed an Anti-Shokk technology – it noticeably cushions the step by up to 50%, so that the entire back area is spared. This is made possible by compressed air chambers and stabilizers located inside the heel. Shoe brands like Tamaris already use this innovative technology in many different models, for example in pumps, ankle boots, or even boots. So much for the claim that women torture their feet with heels that are too high.
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Image 2: © George Doyle/Stockbyte/Thinkstock
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