Why You Love Wedges

By hannpark05 in Fashion Features
on July 22, 2010

Do you know who invented the wedge heel? Or why they're so incredibly comfy? We do.

Starting out in the fashion world usually entails both impeccable appearance and the endurance of a marathon runner — so how can you maintain the exact temperature of coffee before it reaches your boss, all while staying comfortable in the perfect shoe to compliment your chic summer frock? Enter the genius of wedges. Whether they are in the form of sandals, ankle booties, or even clogs, this trendy shoe has been spotted everywhere on the runways and streets of New York alike.

Believe it or not, wedges (the perfect fusion of sensible and fierce) have been around since the 1930s and were created by none other than innovative Italian shoe connoisseur Salvatore Ferragamo. In fact, Ferragamo, who took courses in biology and the human structure of the foot, invested his blood, sweat, and tears in the search for the shoe that fits well—one of both industrial practicality and overall comfort. He once wrote, “…the weight of the bodies when we are standing erect drops straight down on the arch of the foot. I constructed by revolutionary lasts, which supporting the arch, make the foot act like an inverted pendulum.” It’s no surprise, then, that wedges were the designer’s attempt at making an orthopedic shoe to offer women support all along the instep of their foot (pictured left is one of his original designs, made for Judy Garland in 1939).

Stilettos often elongate the legs and give a thinner appearance, but at the cost of possible discomfort and pain. Wedges, on the other hand, offer the same benefits along with balance and support all while preventing embarrassing falls and protecting foot health. Next time this aspiring fashionista goes on a coffee run or is forced to frantically run errands around town, she’ll thank Salvatore Ferragamo for his comfortable yet incredibly stylish invention called the wedge.

See some of our picks for any price point below.

Our picks Under $100
ASOS Turk suede wedge boots, $47.17; ASOS Randall buckle wedge sandal, $67.38; Forever 21 Sequin Wedges, $25.80.

Our picks for $148
Jeffrey Campbell side-buckle wedge, $148; Matiko Nicki peep-toe wedge, $148; Jeffrey Campbell Roks Wedge, $148.

Our really expensive favorites
Acne admire wedges, $680; Chloé suede knit-trim wedge boots, $895; Alaïa leather wedge sandals, $2,090.

How do you stay comfortable when you're forced to “suffer for fashion”?

4 Comments

LeandraMedine • over 1 year ago
gr8 article! more like this!
BlondeBetty • over 1 year ago
I agree with Leandra, this feature is awesome! Informative but fun, nice work Hannah!
clothesure • over 1 year ago
i.. want..buckle..wedges..
THEDAILYTHREADS • over 1 year ago
where are the loafer wedges from on the top left picture? I need to have those.