"In the fourteenth century, the points of shoes grew to In the fourteenth century, the points of shoes grew to such monstrous lengths. The clergy objected vehemently to the fashion, claiming that the long-pointed shoes prevented the faithful from kneeling in church. In many communities, shoe-point length was eventually limited by law to about two inches. such lengths that some had to be fastened to the wearer's leg just below the knee.

In the sixteenth century, aristocratic French women began wearing high-heeled shoes so steep that the well-heeled wearer was literally standing on her toes when she wore them. Later, stiltlike wooden platform shoes became the rage in Venice. The heels eventually became so high that women could not walk in them, and servants were hired to help the ladies in and out of their gondolas. The fashion reportedly owed much to the Venetian husband's desire to make sure his wife didn't travel far while he was away, the same concern that motivated the Chinese to bind their women's feet.

it wasn't until the invention in 1818 of the left-shoe last and the right-shoe last that the left shoe was constructed differently from the right shoe. Prior to that, either shoe could be worn on either foot with equal discomfort!"

For more of that:
http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/history-of-shoes