Comfort has little to do with the history of shoes. Design, rather than comfort or practicality, has tended to dominate the choice of shoes. Shoes often cause corns, calluses, and other foot problems. Much more than a practical way to protect feet, keep peoples' feet warm and dry, or to help them walk, shoes have also been an important cultural symbol and fashion statement. Imelda Marcos, who served as the Philippines' first lady, owned 1,220 pairs of shoes, including a pair with flashing neon heels to wear at disco dances.

			During the twentieth century, as women's dresses became shorter, shoes became more visible and assumed a greater significance in fashion. Shoes began to reflect changing ideas of sexuality and gender. The high heeled pump elevated a woman's height, status, and style. Stiletto heels with pointed toes accentuated women's sensuality. During World War II, when many women went to work, shoes became more practical. During the late 1950s, many shoe stores had X-Ray machines called fluoroscopes allowing the salesperson to see the customer's bones inside the shoes. In the 1960s shoe colors and materials grew bolder, as manufacturers used clear plastic, patent leather, and imitation crocodile skins. In the 1970s, platform shoes, worn by both women and men, were popular.

Website Credits All photographs obtained from American Memory