North Korean women are also banned from wearing high heels and other forms of modern fashion footwear, which are seen as pandering to the West. Instead, they should wear simple, practical shoes that match the country’s humble aesthetic. The shoe regulation is part of a broader effort to suppress individualism and ensure that North Koreans dress and present themselves in a manner consistent with the regime’s ideological principles. High heels, in particular, are seen as a symbol of vanity in Western style and are associated with individualism and luxury.
While Kim Jong Un’s regime imposes strict restrictions on appearance and behavior, it is clear that the crackdown on fashion and cosmetics is a concerted effort to prevent outside influence and maintain a tightly controlled national identity. By banning jeans, branded goods, heavy make-up and even high heels, the government aims to limit the spread of Western cultural values and maintain strict uniformity among its citizens. For North Koreans, following the government’s dress code is not just a matter of fashion, it’s a matter of national pride and survival.
