Wedge heels describe heels that run the length of the sole or bottom portion of the shoe — in the shape of a wedge. This is differentiated from other forms of heels that merely provide a heel that drops down from the heel of the foot and comes to a point. You commonly see wedge heels in summery shoes, with open toes, in slides, or in strappy sandals.
The wedge itself may have decorations or designs, and can be made with molded plastic or rubber. Wedge heels can have what looks like an artificial wood-grain, be covered with jute rope, as is the case with espadrilles, or simply look like an extension of the sole featuring the same essential color as the shoe. One of the most popular wedge heels in the late 70s and early 80s was made by the shoe manufacturer Candies. These shoes had hard plastic wedge heels and again became briefly popular in the 1990s and 2000s.
Sometimes wedge heels and platform shoes are confused. The two designs are not mutually exclusive. Wedge heels can be platform shoes if the sole of the shoe under the balls and toes of the foot is raised above the ground by a thickened bottom. Wedge heels are not always platforms. Sometimes the wedge merely elevates the upper portion of the foot, descending to a thin sole underneath the balls and toes.
Wedge heels are a popular fashion choice, never really going completely out of style. They often provide a bit more stability than the standard heel, because the wedge extends out from the entire sole of the shoe. Instead of having to balance on the point of small heel, the wedge allows you to firmly place your full heel on the ground. If you’re unused to heels, wedge heels can be a good place to start. As with any heels, the higher they are, the more likely you may turn an ankle if you don’t keep your ankles stable.
Like the single heel, weight distribution in the wedge heel is still primarily on the balls of the feet and the toes. The higher the wedge heels, the more weight you carry mostly on the front of your feet. Yet many women find wedge heels more comfortable than stiletto or kitten heel styles and those with rubberized wedges can provide a little bit of spring. Wedge heels on a small rubber platform can also be quite comfortable to wear.
Wedge heels are thought appropriate for more casual wear. You might choose wedge heels with jeans, summer dresses, flowing gauze skirts, or when wearing styles evocative of the 1970s. A standard rule in 2011s fashion seems to apply: wear wedge heels with flared legged pants or wide skirts and a thinner heel with skinny pants, capris, and pencil skirts.
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