If you have ever had a sore back, feet or legs due to wearing high heels, you have probably wondered why such forms of torture exist in the modern world! The truth is, heels do a lot for our appearance. They make our calves and thighs more shapely, and they make us walk more upright and seductively. One of the most obvious advantages of wearing high heels is the added height they can provide, giving us more authority and attractiveness.
Wearing a pair of heels with trousers or a dress in place of sandals or flat shoes can change the entire image we are projecting about ourselves. So the truth is, heels are here to stay. But they can be made more comfortable — I promise!
Style How-To: 10 Ways to Wear Heels Comfortably (or at least more comfortably!)
1. The Right Fit
While this seems like the most obvious thing to check about your shoes, most people don’t know that heels should be about half a size too big. Make sure there is room for your toes to move, with about one-inch space between your toe and the front of the shoe. It never hurts to get your feet measured at the shoe store to ensure you get the right size.
2. Exercise
This might sound strange, but doing exercises that strengthen the feet will help recover and even repair damage done by wearing heels or other potentially poor footwear choices. If you plan to spend the evening dancing in a pair of heels, you should do some core-strengthening exercises both before and after wearing. Yoga will also help with balance and walking more stably.
3. Foot Care
In addition to exercising your foot muscles, you should give yourself pedicures regularly. Cutting toenails will help decrease foot pain when wearing heels, as will foot messages and applying a moisturizer lotion. This soothes muscles and avoids your skin becoming dry and cracked, which is even more painful when coupled with high heels.
4. Cushioning
There are different brands on the market, but using silicon foot pads and inserts in your heels will absorb shock and reduce the pain on the ball of the foot caused by pressure. These little adhesive cushions can also be used to prevent rubbing and causing blisters on key pressure points. They can be stuck to the skin or to the inside of your shoe. One of the best inventions in the world of shoe accessories!
5. Type of heel
There are many different types of heels, and they all feel and perform differently. If you are new to walking in heels, it’s a good idea to start off with a wide, stable heel, such as a wedge heel or stack heels. As you feel more comfortable, move on to pumps and kitten heels. It takes some practice to walk well in a pair of stilettos, so don’t buy a pair if you aren’t accustomed to it. Not only will you be in a lot of pain, but you will look quite UN-sophisticated wobbling around.
One way to avoid the embarrassment of choosing the wrong pair of shoes is by selecting the right shoe brand. Heels can be a tricky category to make a choice from but thankfully brands like Clark’s women high heels, Jimmy Choo, BT London and Chanel have variety of good pairs to offer.
6. Alternate
We know that high heels are not healthy for your feet or your overall posture; nevertheless they are a part of our daily lives when it comes to fashion. That’s why it’s a good idea to alternate between flat shoes and heels whenever you can. Try not to wear heels more than two days in a row if you can avoid it.
7. Round Toe
Higher heels are designed with either a pointy toe box or around toe box. Opt for the round so that your toes have room to spread out under the pressure. Otherwise, if your toes are squished too tight, it may cause blisters, corns, bunions and other such utterly unattractive and painful foot problems.
8. Heel Height
If they make your back hurt, or if you feel unstable when you walk, that means they are too high. Start with shorter heels and practice!
9. Width
As we get older, our feet get wider. This happens to most women after having children. The result is that high heels, which are often narrow, can be painful. Few people know, however, that your local cobbler can often stretch the width of leather heels slightly, and that can make all the difference in the world!
10 Quality
When it comes to high heels, you should never skimp on quality. These types of shoes are real engineering marvels, and involve precision construction in order for them to support your weight and allow you to walk. Always choose high quality brands which use premium leather, such as Clarks women’s shoes for high heels, and they will be more comfortable as well as durable for years to come.
So kiss foot pain goodbye and wear your favorite heels once again, following these tips to ensure a comfortable fit every time!
