Today's high heel shoes can be the essential accessory to any outfit while making legs appear more slender, longer and more toned.

They are worn for their attractive looks rather than practicality because the heel is significantly taller than the toe and does not always provide much comfort. There are many different variations of the high heel. They can range from a two inch pump to footwear that is more than four inches tall, called the stiletto. The higher heeled shoes are worn for more social occasions such as a cocktail date out on the town with friends, while lower heels are worn for work or more conventional events.

In addition to making legs look longer and slimmer, they can also accentuate calves and make the foot appear smaller. It can also aid in posture, forcing the wearer to carry the body more upright and give them a more confident stride. It also gives shorter women an extra lift that gives off the illusion that they are taller.

Heels are the most formal style shoe available for women. They can be worn with the most fancy of gowns to jeans or capri pants. They can transform a casual outfit that is usually worn for the office into acceptable evening attire.

These type of shoes can often be the most important piece of an outfit. In some events the cloths can be played down so that the shoes are the star of the ensemble. For example, leopard print or bright red shoes can be worn with a plain, black dress so that they are the focus of the look.

Today's high heels come in many different variations. Not only does the heel height change, but colors and designs can dramatically vary. Animal print patterns to glittery, silver shoes are available. They can be made from leather, velvet, to diamond encrusted materials. The quality of shoe also varies. There are inexpensive shoes that most everyone can afford, to high end designer labels that can cost thousands of dollars.

Even though they can make any outfit look more stylish, there are some disadvantages that can make them unappealing to some women. Doctors have debated the safety and health risks of wearing them because of the chance of a fall or slip on an uneven surface. An evening out dancing in heels can easily turn into a night in the emergency room for a sprained ankle or broken wrist due to a fall on a slippery dance floor. Other drawbacks include knee and lower back pain. They are also uncomfortable to most women, so doctors recommend that they be worn for no more than three hours at a time if standing.

To accentuate the advantages of wearing heels, there are a few recommendations. The first is to wear the heels around home before taking them out. The wearer of the shoes will be able to see what they feel like over an extended period of time and it also gives the shoes a chance to break in. The second is to take shorter steps and to elongate the stride and body. This makes the wearer appear more confident, which accessorizes perfectly with any pair of heels.