A broad shoe heel with a substantial surface in contact with the ground.
A block heel has a broad base where it meets the ground. Its name describes the heel’s substantial shape rather than a fixed height. Christian Louboutin’s Dianouchette ankle boot, for example, has a 70 mm block heel. To identify the feature, look at the heel itself rather than treating the whole shoe style as the defining characteristic. Museum examples show block heels on different types of footwear, including a Roger Vivier mule designed for Christian Dior and a silver leather sandal made by Rayne in the 1970s.
In job listings
This is a word for design briefs, buying notes and the sales floor. A women’s footwear designer may specify a block heel by height and width, and a sales advisor may offer one to a client who wants height with more stability. Search local jobs for “footwear”.
