Does it seem like more and more women are teetering along on ridiculously
high high-heeled shoes? Blame the economy. Historically, there is a
connection between heel size and the state of the economy: the height of women’s
shoes has been shown to increase during periods of crisis. During hard
economic times women turn to a more flamboyant fashion as a means of fantasy and
escape.
Source: Psychology Today, 10/22/12