Types of Heels That You Should Know About

If we can confidently name one thing that most women­­ love and cherish, that would be heels! Whether they flaunt their heels every day or reserve them for special occasions, they just can’t live without them. Heels give them instant style and grace and make them appear taller.

Perhaps that is why heels have flourished and remained a fashion staple for almost a century. When it comes to heels, there are many varieties. Let’s know more about each of them.

Different Types of Heels Designs for Women

1. Kitten Heels
2. Stilettos
3. Block Heels
4. Cuban Heels
5. Comma Heels
6. Wedge Heels
7. Cone Heels
8. High-Heeled
9. Chunky Heels
10. Curved Heels
11. Pin Heels
12. Italian Heels
13. Spool Heels
14. Ballroom Dance Heels
15. French Heels
16. Fantasy Heels
17. Decorative Heels
18. Flare Heels
19. Stacked Heels
20. Sculptural Heels

1. Kitten Heels

Kitten heels let you look slightly taller without sacrificing comfort. These are short heels (less than 2.5 cm) that will not pose any problem when you walk around. You can wear them to work every day.

2. Stilettos

It is a sexy pair of shoes with very thin and high heels. Practice walking in them inside your house before heading out, if you have purchased stilettos for the first time. Wear your stilettos with a slit dress next time when you hit the club- you will make many heads turn.

3. Block Heels

Strike the right blend behind practicality and style with the block heels which makes walking around seem like a comfortable affair. The sole of these shoes resembles a block shape which aids with even distribution of body weight. The block heels might be accompanied by backstraps, ankle loops, lace-ups, closed backs, and open backs making them suitable for different occasions.

4. Cuban Heels

Do you love shoes but want to add a few centimeters to your structure? Put on a pair of Cuban heels, which is a fusion of men’s shoe styles with heels. Cuban heels look great with casual outfits, especially casual skirts and capris.

5. Comma Heels

If you want to stand out from the crowd, get yourself a pair of comma heels. These heels are curved inward or outward, just like the punctuation mark it is named after. Comma heels are versatile and you can wear them with any outfit.

6. Wedge Heels

Wedge heels are as high as stilettos, but the heel covers the entire area of the sole. Your weight is distributed evenly across the footwear, leading to better balance and comfortable posture. Wedge heels look great with girly outfits (think floral-printed summer dresses!).

7. Cone Heels

Cone heels are short to medium-length heels, and they happen to be shaped like a cone. Wear them your jeans and blouse to stay comfortable yet confident on an evening out.

8. High-heeled

As the name suggests, these are boots with high-heels. They may reach your calf, knees, or thighs, and they give you a glamorous and edgy look. Pair them with a short-length pencil skirt and add some oomph to your outfit.

9. Chunky Heels

These heels are chunky instead of being pointed. They give more balance to your stature. Chunky heels would go well with your flared jeans and maxi skirts.

10. Curved Heels

Deliver a whole new fashion statement with the contemporary-looking curved heels which have been quickly dominating street styles and the runway. The ultra-feminine curved heels have offered a substantial facelift to its predecessor comma heels in the form of bulbous curves. Other than accentuating your silhouette, the curved heels create a mystical feel which goes beautifully with ankle-length jeans and knee-length dresses.

11. Pin Heels

Pin heels are sharp , thin and needle like structure in cylinder or rectangular rode shape, Style this with little black dress foe classy yet fun look.

12. Italian Heels

13. Spool Heels

These heels resemble a spool of thread, and hence the name! They are broad at the sole and the base and narrower in the middle. They would make a great team with your boot-cut pants.

14. Ballroom Dance Heels

These are made specifically for dancers who perform on stage. These heels have features like ankle straps and a back enclosure, which secure them to your feet while you glide across the stage.

15. French Heels

Also called Madame de Pompadour or Louis heels, these heels are bear resemblance to shoe heels. Their short height and wide curvature make them very comfortable for standing for long durations. They would go well with your business suits as well as your everyday jeans.

16. Fantasy Heels

This category covers all the quirky styles that cannot be put under any other label. You have to be very selective about pairing them with your outfit.

17. Decorative Heels

If you are a woman who loves bling, these heels are for you. Decorative heels have embellishments and designs that make them suitable for events and weddings.

18. Flare Heels

These shoes have heels with a narrow base that flares out towards the bottom. The broad bottom gives you better balance and stability. The shoe style is great for formal events where you have to stay on your feet for long while wearing a beautiful gown.

19. Stacked Heels

The heels of the shoes appear like layers stacked on top of each other, giving it a textured look. Wear it with your trousers to look hip and stylish.

20. Sculptural Heels

This is a unique trend that you should know about. Sculptural heels incorporate a sculptural or architectural element in the shoe heels, for example, Zara’s leather spherical heel! If you dare to be different, you can try this style. We would suggest you keep them out of your office, though.

Different Types of Heeled Shoes

1. Pumps
2. Ankle Strap Heels
3. Lace-Up Heels
4. Ankle Booties
5. Corset Heels
6. Peep-toe heels
7. Slingback Heels
8. Cut-Out Heels
9. Oxford Heels
10. Heeled Boots
11. Platform Heels
12. Mules
13. Loafer heels
14. Flatform
15. Mary Jane
16. Gladiator
17. T-strap
18. Clogs
19. Lobster Claw

1. Pumps

These are high-heeled shoes that are low-cut on the front. The height of the heels is between 2 to 3 cm. Pumps look good with a variety of outfits- you can wear them with trousers, jeans, skirts, dresses, etc. You can also choose neutral-colored pumps for your workplace attire.

2. Ankle Strap Heels

Ankle strap heels have a strap that you can secure around your ankles. This makes the heels comfortable to wear. There is no fixed heel height for this style. Wear them short and midi dresses so that the shoes are visible to the onlookers.

3. Lace-Up Heels

These are similar to ankle strap heels, but they have laces in place of straps. You have to tie the laces around your ankles, which secures your footwear in place and makes for a style statement. Wear it with outfits like short skirts or dresses that reveal your legs, so the laces can enjoy some extra attention.

4. Ankle Booties

These are ankle-length shoes with high-heels. They are more versatile than high-heeled boots as they go well with a wide range of outfits. You can wear ankle booties with trousers, and they would love equally fabulous with flowy outfits.

5. Corset Heels

These are high-heeled footwear with corset-like straps on the front. Wear them with an outfit where the front of your legs is visible, like an A-line dress. You can also pair them with slim-fit jeans or trousers.

6. Peep-toe heels

The peep-toe is a footwear style in which the shoes reveal a few of your toes. There is no fixed heel height or style. Paint your toenails in a funky color before you put on your peep-toe heels to glam up your appearance. This look goes well when you are wearing your chinos.

7. Slingback Heels

These heels have a strap that goes from the front to the back of your foot, while there are no straps on the bridge of the foot. It is a very elegant style that goes very well with outfits with mid-calf length.

8. Cut-Out Heels

This is a shoe style with the upper area having cuts in different styles. Cut-out heels make a great combination with skinny jeans.

9. Oxford Heels

These are oxford-style shoes with heels. You can rely on them to give you a smart look when you put them on with your fitted trousers or knee-length skirts.

10. Heeled Boots

High heel boots can serve as an excellent addition to your wardrobe by improving your posture and adding a few extra inches to your height. Boots can serve as the perfect blend of style and comfort to help you transition easily from a casual day to date night. Heeled boots can raise your glamour quotient instantly as you pair them with slim-fit jeans and tea-length dresses.

11. Platform Heels

Ladies with an eye towards contemporary fashion can find their vibe in the platform heels. This serves as a sophisticated choice for both semi-formal and casual ensembles while adding inches to your frame. The USP of platform heels lies in an additional plateau at the front of the shoe which adds to the comfort level of the wearer.

12. Mules Heels

This variety of footwear lacks any constraint around the heel making it the ideal slip-on option for ladies. Different design options allow styling the mules with everything ranging from chic dresses to sporty jeans. Mules have a closed-toe front and serve as the perfect choice for summer dressing.

13. Loafer Heels

Add some shape and elegance to all layered outfits with loafers which can present you with limitless styling options. The heeled loafers with no-slip soles are considered perfect for summer months given their lightweight built. They can keep discomfort at bay with the chunky heels that balance out your weight while adding a feminine vibe to all your androgynous outfit choices.

14. Flatform Heels

Bring in more stability to every step you take with the flatform shoes featuring uniform height across the sole. You can think of these shoes as a platform running across your entire foot which can offer an even lift to your silhouette. Flatform heels can be paired easily with summer dresses, flirty skirts, elegant jumpsuits, and even cheeky rompers for infusing a retro twist to your look.

15. Mary Jane Heels

The chunkier Mary Jane heels can boost up your height by 3” without making any sacrifice in terms of comfort. While the low-cut Mary Jane heels are the top pick of young girls, it has also gained popularity amongst women as a timeless choice for being paired with dresses and pants. Walking in Mary Jane’s heels seems like a cakewalk which has made it an everyday footwear choice amongst the fairer sex.

16. Gladiator Heels

Gladiator shoes feature multiple straps which coil up the feet starting from the sole to the calf. This versatile footwear can impart an edgy feel to your outfit choices as you pair them with short skirts, sundresses, suede jackets, thigh-length splits, and long skirts.

17. T-strap Heels

Radiate major vintage vibes with the T-strap shoes featuring an ankle strap that remains connected with the vamp via a vertical strap. Usually, the T-straps are accompanied by stiletto heels and pointy toes which can ooze out sex appeal with every step you take. However, you can also opt for the ones with rounded edges and chunkier heels if comfort plays the key in your everyday styling.

18. Clogs 

Clogs are synonymous with comfort which has led to their popularity as the ideal footwear choice for casual wear. The chunky heels of clogs ensure even balancing of your body weight so that you don’t experience any form of strain even after being on your toes round the clock. Initially, clogs were made out of wood but presently it is made using mesh, EVA, rubber, and plastic.

19. Lobster Claw

This outlandish style was the brainchild of Alexander McQueen and was presented at his SS2010 collection. The shoe resembles the shape of a lobster claw and is also known as Armadillo boot. Lobster-claw is a slightly curved and comparatively subtler variation of the horn heel. These shoes are hand carved from wood and are specially intended for runaways and red carpets.

If you think that heels don’t suit you, you probably haven’t picked the right one yet. There are heels for every outfit and occasion. Whether you want to look like a style diva or a fairy tale princess, you can rock that look with the right pair of heels.

Heels based on material and properties

1. Cork Heels
2. Clear Heels
3. Espadrille Heels
4. Wood Heels
5. Thermoplastic Heels

1. Cork Heels

Cork is a truly renewable resource consists of the bark of the  Oak tree. Cork heels refer to the low-density, buoyant material used to make these shoes.With cork heels, you can add variety to your wardrobe as well as an extra spring to your step.Put them on with a stylish jumpsuit to raise your style quotient

2. Clear heels

Just as the name suggests, this high-heeled footwear is made of transparent material for adding a sexy yet futuristic vibe to your look. Here you can choose between lace-ups or single straps and complete your look with some sports socks or matching clear statement bags. The best thing about clear heels is that they can be paired with absolutely everything ranging from joggers to dresses.

­3. Espadrille Heels

Espadrille heels draw inspiration from traditional Spanish sandals having cotton or canvas upper and esparto rope-made sole.

4. Wood Heels

Wood heels are simply heels made of wood. They bring a very classy look to your attire. Pair them with your bohemian dress to look sprightly and stylish.

5. Thermoplastic Heels

These heels are made out of co polymers blend, making them soft and comfortable. Also, their materials leave minimum impact on the environment. If you want a pair of heels that you can put on any time when you have to go out in a jiffy, this is the one for you.

Spare a few minutes in matching your shoes with your outfit, it pays off! An easy tip to remember is to wear detailed designs with solid-colored trousers or dresses that show some legs. Likewise, wear the minimalist designs with outfits that have more details, like printed trousers, layered skirts, etc. We also advise you to keep the comfort factor in mind before selecting shoes for any occasion.