Fox News host Greg Gutfeld and his panel discussed the historical reasons why men stopped wearing high-heeled shoes in professional settings.
The conversation highlights how shifts in gender norms and cultural values dictate modern dress codes, reflecting a broader transition from status-based clothing to practical attire.
Men began regularly wearing high-heeled shoes in the 1600s [1]. According to fashion historian Dr. Emily Smith, heels were originally a practical riding aid for men and later became a status symbol [2]. However, this trend shifted following the French Revolution. Smith said that after the revolution, heels were seen as an aristocratic excess and fell out of everyday wear [2].
Records indicate that heels fell out of common male attire during the 1790s [1]. This transition marked a move away from overt displays of wealth and class in clothing, a trend that continued into the next century.
Editor Laura Bennett said that the decline of men's hats in the early 20th century mirrors the broader move away from symbols of status in everyday workwear [3]. Specifically, men's hats saw a sharp decline in everyday wear during the 1920s [3].
Gutfeld said that today's office dress code reflects a shift toward comfort and gender-neutral attire, which is why there are fewer men in formal shoes like heels.
The panel examined these changes as part of a larger pattern where professional clothing evolves to distance itself from the perceived excesses of the ruling class.
“Heels were originally a practical riding aid for men and later became a status symbol.”
The transition of men's fashion from the 17th century to the present illustrates a systemic move toward 'The Great Masculine Renunciation.' By abandoning heels and elaborate hats, professional attire shifted from signaling social rank to emphasizing utility and egalitarianism, a trend that continues today with the rise of business-casual and gender-neutral clothing.
