India, Oct. 24 -- Look down. How many inches do you prefer? Tsk, tsk. We're talking about your shoe preferences. High heels once signified peak femininity and allure. A six-inch heel screamed "Look at me!" They made a woman seem sexy, powerful, out of reach. They were painful to wear. But many women were willing to do "Loub jobs" to numb their heels rather than give them up.

Fashion is more forgiving now. Tabloids track how many "fancy flats" Kate Middleton owns. Japanese women are pushing back against the sexist rules that made heels compulsory in the office. No one's judging you for showing up to a party in platform wedges, or one-inch slingbacks. Low heels are trending, and we're all obsessed with shoes that feel like a hug on our fee...