Heel Height Faqs

The pitch of a 6-inch heel isn’t fixed. It’s the inclination angle or arch created inside the shoe. This angle varies by design, even when heel height is identical.

Heel Height

This is measured from the sole to the back of the heel. Pitch determines steepness and how much pressure sits on the ball of the foot. High-pitched shoes, typically over 110 degrees, are for experienced wearers. A lower, more comfortable pitch is achieved with a platform, which reduces the angle.

What Is a Superarch

A Superarch is our term for an extreme arch curve inside a heel. It’s far steeper and higher than a standard stiletto. Superarch heels represent the peak of precision design and bold femininity. It maximises heel height.

Arch Shape: In regular heels (around 100mm), the arch is curved but walkable. In a Superarch (160mm+), the foot forms a sharp, near-vertical angle.
Look & Effect: This design lengthens the legs, enhances the instep, and creates a dramatic, sensual silhouette. It’s often called the “highest stiletto arch.”
Design Challenge: Superarch heels need advanced craftsmanship, reinforced soles, and precise balance. Each pair is engineered to stay stable yet seductive.
Market Position: Superarch heels are a luxury niche style. They’re made for fashion statements, collector appeal, and unforgettable visual impact. Think of them as the most daring, architectural version of a stiletto. They push design and beauty to breathtaking extremes.

What Is Heel Pitch

Inclination Angle: The angle of your foot inside the shoe.
Arch Calculation: Measured as heel height minus platform height.
Comfort: Pitch affects comfort and balance more than height of the heel.

How a 6-Inch Heel Pitch Works

Without a Platform: A 6-inch heel without a platform creates a steep, intense angle that’s hard to walk in.
With a Platform: A platform reduces the angle. For example, a 6-inch heel with a 3-inch platform feels like a 3-inch heel.

Things to Consider

Compare Pitch: Focus on the angle, not only the heel tallness.
Experience Matters: Steeper heels need practice, strength, and flexibility.
Fitness: Strong legs and good posture help relieve pressure on knees and toes.
Design Influence: Platform height and shoe size affect pitch. Smaller sizes naturally have steeper arches.

How Size Impacts Platform Shape and Design

Shoe size drastically affects the shape of platform heels by altering the slope, angle, and overall, proportional design of the shoe to ensure stability. Smaller sizes (e.g., US 5–6) have a steeper, more extreme incline, while larger sizes (e.g., US 10–11) have a shallower slope, making the exact same advertised heel height feel much higher on smaller feet.

Arch Angle (Slope): As shoe size increases, the foot is longer, allowing the arch of the shoe to be less steep, making the platform feel lower even if the actual, vertical height is identical to a smaller pair.

Proportional Scaling: While many designers attempt to make the platform higher on larger sizes to keep the angle consistent, this is not universal. A 5-inch platform in a size 6 might have a 1-inch platform, while a 5-inch platform in a size 10 might have a 1.5-inch platform, altering the visual chunkiness of the shoe.

Heel Distance: The distance between the toe and the heel, or "heel distance," is crucial. Smaller shoes often have a smaller heel distance, making the heel feel much higher because the angle of inclination is sharper.

Width and Support: Larger sizes require a wider base and more robust reinforcement in the platform and heel to manage increased weight, resulting in a potentially wider, bulkier shape compared to the slimmer, more tapered design of smaller platform shoes.

The reference photos below clearly show how the shoe size determines the overall shape & the design.