2 pounds on top of your head can be a weight to deal with ! I can gaurantee that! Yes, posture and training are important, but handling that load can be a bother. Especially in heels. But I do not think they wore high heels in those days. They wore lower "pumps" that had flat heel & toe support.
And, HK, I liked Aretha's hat. It was fun and classy. {I admit it looked like she was on her way to church, though}.