History Main / CombatStilettos

Thanks to SexSells and RuleOfSexy, {{Action Girl}}s will often wear high heels to complement the rest of their {{Stripperiffic}} [[PaintedOnPants outfits]].

* The majority of non-Wakandan {{action girl}}s from the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, including [[Characters/MCUNatashaRomanoff Black Widow]], [[Characters/MarvelComicsAsgardians Lady Sif]], [[Characters/MCUPeggyCarter Peggy Carter]], [[Characters/MCUGamora Gamora]], [[Characters/MCUNebula Nebula]], [[Characters/MCUWandaMaximoff Scarlet Witch]], [[Characters/MCUGuardiansOfTheGalaxy Mantis]], [[Characters/MarvelComicsValkyrior Valkyrie]] and [[Characters/MCUHelaOdinsdottir Hela]] wear high heels. Exceptions so far include the Ancient One, Characters/TheWasp, and [[Characters/MCUCarolDanvers Captain Marvel]]. Some of the actresses, such as Creator/ZoeSaldana, could only run and do fight scenes in sneakers which were digitally replaced with high-heel boots in post.

* An issue of ''Webcomic/BatmanWayneFamilyAdventures'', appropriately titled "High Heels", is all about this trope. Stephanie/Spoiler has a mission coming up that will involve dressing up, including wearing heels. She won't be able to sneak in too much gear, meaning that, if she has to fight, she'll be doing so in high heels. Catwoman coaches her (and [[ItMakesSenseInContext Damian]] in this trope. It's pointed out how fighting in heels is difficult, uncomfortable, and dangerous, as both kids (who are experienced fighters) lose their balance and fall flat on their backs.

* Characters/{{Emma Frost|WhiteQueen}}, and every other female in the Hellfire Club. Very few of them actually get involved in hand-to-hand combat, meaning it isn't that much of an issue.

* The majority of non-Wakandan {{action girl}}s from the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, including ComicBook/BlackWidow, [[Characters/MarvelComicsAsgardians Lady Sif]], [[Characters/CaptainAmericaSupportingCharacters Peggy Carter]], [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Gamora, Nebula]], Characters/ScarletWitch, [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Mantis]], [[Characters/MarvelComicsValkyrior Valkyrie]] and [[Characters/TheMightyThorGiants Hela]] wear high heels. Exceptions so far include the Ancient One, Characters/TheWasp, and [[Characters/MarvelComicsCarolDanvers Captain Marvel]]. Some of the actresses, such as Creator/ZoeSaldana, could only run and do fight scenes in sneakers which were digitally replaced with high-heel boots in post.

* Princess Peach in ''The Super Mario Bros. Movie'' easily sprints through her training course in her royal gown and high heels; the heels in particular are the first thing to hit a Bowser-shaped target.

* In the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'', Characters/{{Catwoman|SelinaKyle}} and Characters/{{Batgirl}} wear high heels. There are practical combat uses for them however, for example, when Catwoman stomps on thugs' bellies or when Batgirl heels them in the face. This is to convey [[WomenAreDelicate feminine inferiority in strength]] as the female characters don't have strong arm muscles like the male characters and therefore have to rely more on their legs (additionally, they also have to use their whole body movements to lift up enemies and they cannot use enemies' weapons; also, Catwoman cannot ride Titans in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' because [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty her arms aren't meant to be that strong]]). Characters/{{Harley Quinn|TheCharacter}} also wears high heels in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'', ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'' (in both of which she's not playable) and the classic [[SexyJester jester]] skin in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight''; her default {{Goth}} skin in ''Knight'' only has her wear low-heeled boots because she relies more on her baseball bat than on her legs.

* Agent Ginrei from ''Manga/GiantRobo'' wears a pair of white ones.

* A number of the titular suits in ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' sport these, from [[BoobsOfSteel Saryn]] and [[LadyOfWar Octavia's]] traditional versions, to [[BadassAdorable Nova's]] platform shoes, to... [[BodyHorror Nidus?]]

* ComicBook/SheHulk, [[DoesNotLikeShoes when she wears shoes at all]], requires heels made out of [[{{Unobtainium}} special metal]].

** Before her there are Gym Leaders Elesa and Valerie, from [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Unova]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Kalos]] respectively. Both of them have fashion model experience, though Valerie has shifted to a FashionDesigner role by the Kalos games and Elesa drops her heels for off-colored flats in VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite2.

** Emp herself can't wear shoes in costume... But the ''imitation'' costume she wears as part of a group of licensed superhero impersonators (in which she plays herself) has them. [[LampshadeHanging She's still wondering why]].

* In ''Anime/JuniTaisenZodiacWar'', CreepyCrossdresser Rabbit and DarkActionGirl Boar wear high-heels in combat. Justified with the latter, as she fights with a pair of machine guns with infinite ammo, so she doesn't need to move around much.

* In ''LightNovel/JuniTaisenZodiacWar'', CreepyCrossdresser Rabbit and DarkActionGirl Boar wear high-heels in combat. Justified with the latter, as she fights with a pair of machine guns with infinite ammo, so she doesn't need to move around much.

* This leads to a bit of FridgeLogic and HypocriticalHumor in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', where Edna Mode berates capes [[CapeSnag for being impractical]] but still designs (and makes) high-heeled costumes for the heroines. Elastigirl is probably justified due to her powers but the rest of the female supers...

** Mystical Juliante, a DarkActionGirl from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestX'' has the overall look of a dominatrix, complete with [[HellBentForLeather black leather]], a [[WhipItGood whip]], and high-heeled boots.

* In ''Anime/JuniTaisenZodiacWar'', CreepyCrossdresser Rabbit and DarkActionGirl Boar wear high-heels in combat. Justified with the latter, as she fights with a pair of machine guns with infinite ammo, so she doesn't need to move around much.

* Flashy Flash from ''Manga/OnePunchMan'' is a rare case of a man who is meant to be beautiful: he has long hair, literally sparkling ornaments, a slender body in a tightly fitting outfit, and on top of that, high heels.

** Before her there are Gym Leaders Elesa and Valerie, from [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Unova]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Kalos]] respectively. Both of them have FashionModel experience, though Valerie has shifted to a FashionDesigner role by the Kalos games and Elesa drops her heels for off-colored flats in VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite2.

* Shania from ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts: From the New World'' wears high-heeled sandals and [[{{Stripperiffic}} not much else...]]

Not to be confused with [[DeviousDaggers a combat stiletto]], nor [[ShoeSlap shoes being directly used as weapons]]. See RuleOfSexy, ImpossiblyCoolClothes and TheseTropesAreMadeForWalking. Compare KickChick and WithMyHandsTied, as this trope may sometimes be used together with the said two. Tends to overlap with HighHeelPower, and CrueltyByFeet.

In comics this is often DependingOnTheArtist: artist A will use it in moderation, artist B will draw practical shoes, but artist C will insist on drawing high heels on all female characters regardless of reason, situation, or even if it's her usual style. While this can be part of the MostWritersAreMale trend, this tends to appear often with Female Writers as well, [[RuleOfSexy for]] [[{{Escapism}} various]] [[AuthorAppeal reasons]]. [[note]]Just for reference, any heel less than - or of - three-and-a-half inches is excluded from this trope.[[/note]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}'': Momo-no-sei's ridiculously high sandals aren't meant to look sexy but look no less dangerous and impractical than actual stilettos, if not ''more''. She apparently can walk normally wearing those.

Not to be confused with [[DeviousDaggers a combat stiletto]], nor [[ShoeSlap shoes being directly used as weapons]]. See RuleOfSexy, ImpossiblyCoolClothes and TheseTropesAreMadeForWalking. Compare KickChick and WithMyHandsTied, as this trope may sometimes be used together with the said two. Tends to overlap with HighHeelPower.

* In ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'' Diana wears wedge heels in her Wonder Woman costume, which are far more understated and stable than stilettos but still not as stable and sensible as flats. This was to ensure she'd be taller than the male supporting characters and because heels just look good.

* ''{{Series/Chuck}}'':