Australian women love high heels & guess the state can claim the crown for wearing the highest stilts

AUSTRALIAN women love their high heels but guess which state can now claim the crown for wearing the highest of stilts

Heel of Origin

AUSSIE women love their high heels — with many wearing an above global average heel height. Bet that’s some info you can share round the dinner table or a the pub tonight!

Our love of heels has been gleaned from research conducted by customised footwear company Shoes of Prey.

While globally, the average heel height is 7cm, Australian shoe lovers love to wear an 8.3cm heel.

According to Shoes of Prey, around 20% of all Aussie shoe wearers opt for flats.

Here’s the Aussie state by state breakdown of who is wearing the trousers (or is that the towers) when it comes to high heels.

• West Austalians love to stand tall — with 32.1% of them opting for mid heels, and 30.4% of them going as high as possible.

•Queenslanders also like to stand tall, with 29.9% opting for stilettos and just 17.9% going for the lower ‘kitten’ heel.

•New South Welshwomen are divided on the best heel height, with nearly a third (32.2% of them) opting for a mid heel, and another third (31.1%) wanting to walk sky high with a high heel.

Women love to be tall in Victoria: the state is the capital of high heels in Australia.

• Victorians are into high heels in a big way with 31.6% going for heels over just 17% who go for the more sensible ‘kitten’ height.

• In South Australia, 28.9% of women want the mega tower, and only 20.8% are buying kitten heels.

• Canberrans are are practical women, with 29.5% opting for mid-height heels, and 18.2% slipping in to a comfy kitten heel.

Overall, around 20% of consumers in all states opted for flats.

Co-founder of Shoes of Prey, Jodie Fox said customisation in fashion has made sourcing the data possible.

“It’s interesting that despite a relatively homogenous fashion offering around Australia in high street stores, there are clear distinctions in preferences for different heel heights and shoes between the Australian states,’ 'she says.

New South Welshmen and Victorian peeps love a high heel

“Each state definitely has its own shoe identity. The average preferred heel height is declining around the world — down to 8.1cm from 8.9cm in the last two years.”

The global decline in average heel height can, according to Ms Fox be attributed to the fact women can now choose heel heights that suits them.

“It’s not a one-size fits all industry — the styles available in store can be too high, too low or simply just not right for that person’s needs.

“With the rise of customisation in fashion, we are seeing women choose shoes and heel sizes that suit their needs without compromising on their preferred design.

Shoes of Prey founder: Jodie Fox said heel heights are declining around the world. News to me!

“The resurgence of fashionable brogues, which we’ve seen all over the runways and on fashion bloggers the past few years, are also a key driver in the decline. Oxfords are certainly one of our most popular shoes.

“But certainly a much wider range of heel heights are now considered just as fashionable — shoe-lovers who still want high-end fashion, with a few customised tweaks to a traditional high heel, can get the perfect solution.”

Ms Fox’s 6-year old online shoe company enables shoppers to design their own online and announced its expansion to the US in May if this year.

Originally published as Australian women love high heels & guess the state can claim the crown for wearing the highest stilts