6 Reasons Why Women Love Sexy Shoes

The fact that Cinderella left a glass slipper is not a mere coincidence. — Mary Jo Rapini

This time of year symbolizes back-to-school, the end of summer, fashion weeks in New York and elsewhere and a rise in shoe sales. Every one of my friends has been shoe shopping within the past three weeks.

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In 2007, Consumer Report National Research Center polled 1,057 women and found that women on average own 19 pairs of shoes. Compare this to men's average of four pairs, and it becomes clear that guys don't understand women's fascination with shoes.

We wear them, despite pain from high stilettos, and suffer through bunions and back aches for the right shoe. More than 40 percent of the women from the survey suffered shoe-related injuries.

In my own closet, I have six pair of shoes that I put on prior to an interview and take off quickly afterward because of the pain. Help! My Husband Won't Go To Couples Therapy

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A survey conducted by Glamour magazine, along with a body image expert and friend (Anne Kearney-Cooke Ph.D.), revealed that 97 percent of the women surveyed said they had moments of body hate. These moments of body hate involved being too heavy, too short, feeling dumpy and undesirable. When women are asked to rate the clothes in their closet that give them the most sex appeal with the least effort, shoes are among the first two items listed.

Sorokowski and Pawlowski (Evolution and Human Behavior, 2008) led a research study to find the formula for the perfect legs, and the answer was that they needed to be 5 percent longer than your torso, but not too long. Both males and females were asked to evaluate the attractiveness of silhouettes of men and women. An average height of 5 foot 4 inches was rated most attractive when their inseam was 30.5 inches, which is 5 percent longer than the average leg measurement for a person that size.

In other words, you could be more attractive if you could lengthen your legs by a few inches. This helps to explain why women love shoes.

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There are other emotional and psychological reasons women love shoes. Here are six of them:

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1. Heels make you look skinnier. Weight is a huge issue in the U.S., and there is no quick fix. However, the right pair of platforms or a wedge sandal, can give you height, make you look thinner, and add sex appeal within minutes.

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