Fashion is certainly the most limiting factor. Or, at least, it used to be. Boys wear shirts and flat heels, while girls wear shirts and heels. Men are increasingly breaking apart from socially acceptable dress trends. They are becoming more at ease wearing apparel that was long thought to be exclusively for women. Because the things we wear are a reflection of our personalities, why are guys today so comfortable in heels when it was formerly frowned upon?

Men have not been considered ideal candidates for high heel fashion since the 18th century. It was only regarded “normal” for women to grow a few inches taller. Men’s fashion has plateaued, particularly in the shoe section. However, there seems to be some progress on the horizon, as male fashion designers and social media influencers alike are ushering in a new age of high heel fashion. Marc Bryan is an engineer and social media influencer.

He shared his thoughts on wearing high heels with Vogue magazine, describing why they make him feel so fantastic. “I’ve always enjoyed how ladies looked in heels—not sexually, but in a stylish sense,” Marc said. “Of course, they’re also sexy. But it’s the confidence they give you when you wear them correctly that pulls me in. I feel great with a 10-centimeter heel since I don’t have trouble walking in a heel that high.

“Plus, I believe I have the physique that gets appreciated when I wear heels, which simply adds to my confidence.” It seems appropriate since heels should be accessible to everyone who wants to wear them, and people are becoming more accepting of things that are outside of what is considered ‘normal’ these days. High heels, according to Andrew Groves, a fashion design lecturer at the University of Westminster, are more than simply a shoe.

They are a sign of power and assurance. He mentioned the high boots that Marc Jacobs had been wearing. “I think it’s extremely refreshing to see a guy designer like Marc Jacobs embrace wearing high heels.” High heels have become a powerful emblem of power and prestige, as well as, ironically, domination and surrender.”