Heels weren’t made for glamour. They were made for war.
Centuries ago, Persian soldiers wore heeled boots so their feet wouldn’t slip out of stirrups while riding horses. It was all about control and power.
When European nobles saw this clever design, they wanted a piece of that authority too.
By the 1600s, heels became a symbol of status among wealthy men. King Louis XIV of France took it even further, his red heels became a royal signature. Only those he favored were allowed to wear them.
Over time, women began adopting heels, and men quietly moved on to flat shoes. What started as a military necessity for men turned into a symbol of style and femininity. Funny how fashion flips the story, isn’t it?
Today, anyone can wear purple. But there was a time when doing so could get you killed.
In ancient times, the dye used to make purple came from a rare sea snail. It took thousands of them, and weeks of work, just to produce enough dye for a single robe. Naturally, it became a luxury reserved for kings, queens, and high priests.
In Rome, only the emperor could wear an all-purple toga. The rule was strict, and breaking it could mean execution. Purple became more than a color; it was a statement of divine right.
That changed in 1856 when a young chemist, William Henry Perkin, accidentally created the first synthetic purple dye while trying to make medicine. Overnight, the color of royalty became available to everyone. What was once untouchable suddenly turned fashionable and affordable.
If you’ve ever wondered why women’s clothes have tiny or fake pockets, here’s the truth, it’s not bad design, it’s history.
Back in the 18th century, women had large, hidden pockets tied under their dresses. They stored letters, keys, even snacks. It was one of the few private spaces a woman owned.
But when slimmer, figure-hugging dresses came into style, those pockets vanished. Designers claimed they “ruined the shape,” but society quietly approved. Women weren’t supposed to have secrets or independence.
Men’s pockets stayed deep and useful, symbolizing practicality and control. Women’s pockets never really returned. So, every time you complain about your phone not fitting in your jeans, you’re really feeling the echo of a century-old inequality stitched into fashion.
The corset has been villainized in modern times, but its story isn’t all pain and restriction.
In the 1500s, corsets, then called “stays” were designed to support posture and give structure under heavy gowns. They weren’t meant to suffocate anyone. Most women wore them comfortably every day.
Later, during the Victorian era, things got extreme. Tight-lacing contests and unrealistic beauty ideals turned the corset into a tool of vanity and control.
Fast forward to today, the corset has made a comeback, this time on our terms. Modern versions are flexible, empowering, and unapologetically bold. What once represented constraint now represents confidence. Fashion has a funny way of rewriting its own history.
From royal heels to missing pockets, these small details show how fashion has always been more than just clothes.
It reflects who held power, who didn’t, and how people tried to change that.
So next time you slip on a pair of heels, reach for your jeans, or admire that shade of purple, remember, you’re wearing a piece of history. Fashion never really forgets. It just keeps reinventing itself.
