Getting to grips with high heels!

Faith

So someone who's opinion I really trust mentioned that they didn't think flat shoes suit me because they make me look a bit "flat" (I think he meant squat but was being nice). I'm shortish and do have very muscular calves so I see his point. Not wanting to look unattractive, I've decided to try and get to grips with high heels. I have plenty of them, but after an hour or so, my feet just start to burn so badly! Does anyone have any tips about how to get used to them, or stop them hurting, or what styles are particularly comfortable? Thanks!

verywell

I find clarke heels to be really comfy and easy to wear. You can get some lovely shoes that do not have a masssive heel. HTH

Toto Wolfcastle

I find shoes with a platform to be very comfortable. Shoes without a platform hurt me after awhile. I have a lot of pairs from River Island that have a platform and they're more comfortable than some of my flat shoes.

fonpokno

I'm pretty crap in heels I have to say, but I have three pairs in particular that are really comfortable! Ones that are like these, they're not exactly these but they're close enough, I got them in Red Herring in Debenhams. I find that because I'm so well strapped into them that I can happily last in them for the whole night.

My other comfy-enough pair are a Nine West pair I have that have a slight platform on them, the platform seems to cushion my feet from the ground enough that they're happy for the night enough! Massive heel on them kinda negates the effect of the platform though...

My other comfy pair are a mid-heeled pair of black leather court shoes I got in Dune. They're my sensible shoes and I can again walk a full night around town in them.

Most of my other shoes end up crippling me tbh. I find chunkier heels are more comfortable but I don't think they're as nice so I sacrifice comfort for pretty. It was just luck for me finding heels that were comfortable. Luck and insoles. I love insoles for an extra bit of comfort for the balls of my feet.

Some good advice here
http://shoes.lovetoknow.com/High_Heel_Training

I danced when I was a small kids, tap and Irish dancing and wearing heels is never an issue for me I'm 5' 3 so the higher the better!
I actually feel naked without heels.

nesbitt

Agree totally that a platform sole is more 'comfortable' if you have to wear 'heels'. I am a flat shoe type of person, my fallen arches mean that after a short while I just cannot stand the pain, not a good look at all...:)

I go for pumps, converse, and very low wedge or gladiators.

All I can suggest is those gel pad things and wear them around the house for a while. I wish I had tips because I hate them myself despite having a number of pairs of them :pac:

jenizzle

I can't wear heels either, but I did get one pair that I managed to keep wearing for a wedding (well into dancing time too!). I got this pair as they have a chunky heel, and a thick strap to keep the foot held in so you can actually walk somewhat normally. They're not very snazzy but they're a start!

Michellenman

I find if you go for a platform it really helps, regardless of how high the heels is.

Not a fan of those gel pads for the bottom of your feet, but if you can get the leather cushioned ones I'd highly recommend them. They're fantastic. I found the gel ones would slip and roll under my feet and became useless if they got in any way wet whereas the leather have an actual cushion in them, have a sticky back and the leather won't sweat your feet either.

Do you have a problem with your feet slipping in and out? The trick for that is not to put a heel grip at the back, but to put them along the sides of your feet, close to your ankle. This will grip your whole foot rather than just taking up space at the back of your shoe. If you need to make the shoe smaller you're better off going for an insole.

A chunky heel is going to be more comfortable than a stiletto, and easier to walk in. However I have these and have found them to be a compromise between a super high pointed stiletto and a round chunky heel. They're the most comfortable pairs of heels I own... I have them in 4 colours as a result

If you can, try find leather shoes. They're softer on your feet, won't rub or chaff and they'll mould to the shape of your foot after one or two wears.

If you want the height but are just easing yourself in to heels then wedges could be a good option. You've got the platform again but it's much easier to walk in, there's more support all up along your foot, arch and heel and you'll find that you'll be able to wear them for longer without pain than stilettos too I'd imagine.

Faith

Thanks everyone! Personally I enjoy being short so it's not so much of a height issue for me, but I am aware that my calves are disproportionately large due to a childhood full of calf-enhancing exercise!

I like the platform suggestion alright. What I think I'm really looking for is calf elongation rather than height. Will I still get that with wedges and the like? Do they create the same effect? I've gotten so used to ballet pumps at this stage that I can barely remember what heels are like!

Acoshla

Yeah any heel will make your legs look longer, be it wedge or stiletto etc. It's the effort of standing on the balls of your feet that lenghtens the muscles in your legs and makes them appear thinner. They also make your bum stick out differently and you realign your gait to compensate for the new angle which makes you appear taller.

Go for a heel that is *slightly* flared at the bottom or slight thicker than a stiletto, this makes them so much easier to walk in. I have a pair like these ones below and they have never ever hurt me and I am generally a mess in heels. These don't even feel like I'm wearing heels, they have a hidden small platform and the height is great. Mine are a more dressy style with beads on the toe but I'm using this pic just to show the height/heel:
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_053010411486_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Women

I also have another paid or incredible pink heels, again hidden platform, slightly flared heel, and they have rubber soles which make them SO easy to walk in, the grip is great. Normally I stick Foot Petal Sole Stoppers onto the bottom of my heels to give me some grip, or else I fall down

I find the gel insole things useless, I have some leather ones with a soft suede upper, they're great.

Edit: Oh and a strap across the ankle is always good for holding them on, I have very flat skinny feet that fall out of all shoes and the day I discovered that ankle straps held heels on was a great day

MiniSquish

I used to work in Barratts shoe shop and I found some of the stuff we had to sell to customers for their shoes bad but some were brilliant. There are these gel insoles that are quite thick and you cut them to size, there's a size indicator with them. They have kind of a soft feltish lining for the bit that your feet touches and then the gel bit touches your shoe. They are kind of pricey (15 euro) but like you I have problems with my feet and I used to be killed all day standing up in work or on nights out. I would really recommend those. Also what everyone else has said about platforms is definitely true and I found on personal experience that those shoe booty things that are popular at the moment are brilliant because not only do alot of them have a platform but alot also have a zip so your foot is more secure in them. Also shops that I find good for shoes are Miss Selfridge, River Island and Barratts but I normally steer clear of New Look shoes because although they're relatively cheap and they've loads of really nice styles and colours I find them horribly uncomfortable!

pampootie

I have quite wide feet and I find heels from Evans brilliant. I have these http://www.evans.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33054&storeId=12553&productId=2312882&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=209442&parent_categoryId=209435&pageSize=200
for work and they're amazing, and I stand all day, sometimes for up to 10.5 hours at a time. I find they tend to have a wider heel and more cushioned sole than some other high st brands, so they're way comfier. Only thing is you need to spend a bit of time trying them on to find the best size for you, I'm normally a size 7 in shoes but with them I'm a size 5!

Villette

I agree that gel inserts can really help. Also platforms do make a difference, as do ankle straps. It's so much easier to walk in heels with a strap of some type as you're not gripping the shoes when you walk.
Another thing I would advise is practice. When I was in school I used to wear 5 inch heels with no platform, and I was fine wearing them all day and even walking to and from school (was only a 15 min walk but still!). Now I'm so out if practice I'm in pain if I walk for more than half an hour in heels so I'm just going to raise my threshold again. Possibly quite bad for my feet but then a friend of mine was told by her doctor than cheap flat shoes - like Penney's shoes - are actually worse for your feet, especially as you're inclined to wear them for long periods.
I've also found that I need to change the way I walk in heels these days - I tend to place my heel on the ground first and then the balls of my feet slap into the ground if you know what I mean? Someone mentioned to me before how Sarah Jessica Paker walks in heels, it looks much different and is less painful, as she doesn't slap her foot down, I just have to get used to it though!

booboo88

Faith wrote: »

Thanks everyone! Personally I enjoy being short so it's not so much of a height issue for me, but I am aware that my calves are disproportionately large due to a childhood full of calf-enhancing exercise!

I like the platform suggestion alright. What I think I'm really looking for is calf elongation rather than height. Will I still get that with wedges and the like? Do they create the same effect? I've gotten so used to ballet pumps at this stage that I can barely remember what heels are like!

I feel your pain. I end up on a night out walking around barefoot, once even a bf gave me his pair of shoes as I just couldnt take the shoes anymore.
I've got wide calves aswell but my feet are a bit wonky:( so its a double whammy.
I love high shoes, but my feet dont, And my feet normally win. I do find wedges to be good though. but the more comfy the shoe, the least pretty they usually are

Magenta

I wish I could wear high heels
I'm 5'9" and I just feel like I look like a giraffe in them
Would love to be 5'3"!!!

booboo88

Magenta wrote: »

I wish I could wear high heels
I'm 5'9" and I just feel like I look like a giraffe in them
Would love to be 5'3"!!!

No you would not, the constant awww you're so short, constantly having to get pants altered to fit leg length. 3/4 lenght pants looking almost full lenght

Acoshla

Magenta wrote: »

I wish I could wear high heels
I'm 5'9" and I just feel like I look like a giraffe in them
Would love to be 5'3"!!!

I'm 5ft 8 and wear 3/4 inch heels all the time, any higher and I'm taller than my boyfriend and can't hear my best friend, she's 5ft 3

boogle

I'm all for heels on a night out, there's no beating how they make your legs look but....

At work, out and about shopping etc, why do women inflict the heels on themselves in their everyday lives? I've always found them uncomfortable. I know a lot of women here would say that they are perfectly comfortable wearing heels but even so, bunions? Corns? Knee, hip and back problems? We get a lot of posts in here warning about skin damage from sunbeds. I know foot problems are hardly life-threatening but I've seen 5 aunts (life-long heel wearers) go through painful bunion surgery. I'm thinking long-term here. I don't want gnarled old manky bunion feet in 20 years.

So basically, your calves are the way they are. (Lovely I'm sure;)) If you're on a night out, sure go for heels. Why torture yourself by "getting used to" high heels for your everyday life?

Faith

MiniSquish wrote: »

There are these gel insoles that are quite thick and you cut them to size, there's a size indicator with them. They have kind of a soft feltish lining for the bit that your feet touches and then the gel bit touches your shoe. They are kind of pricey (15 euro) but like you I have problems with my feet and I used to be killed all day standing up in work or on nights out. I would really recommend those.

You can get them in Barretts, yeah? I wouldn't mind shelling out, as long as they help!

Villette wrote: »

When I was in school I used to wear 5 inch heels with no platform, and I was fine wearing them all day and even walking to and from school (was only a 15 min walk but still!). Now I'm so out if practice I'm in pain if I walk for more than half an hour in heels so I'm just going to raise my threshold again.

I'm the same! For most of secondary school (before they forced us to wear flat shoes), i'd be running around the place in heels - up and down stairs, up and down hills, to and from the bus... Now, granted, they were thick heels, but still, I used be so able for them.

Magenta wrote: »

I wish I could wear high heels
I'm 5'9" and I just feel like I look like a giraffe in them
Would love to be 5'3"!!!

I'm 5'5 and I sometimes feel like a giraffe in high heels . My ex is 6'3 and I'd still feel too tall next to him

boogle wrote: »

I'm all for heels on a night out, there's no beating how they make your legs look but....

At work, out and about shopping etc, why do women inflict the heels on themselves in their everyday lives? I've always found them uncomfortable. I know a lot of women here would say that they are perfectly comfortable wearing heels but even so, bunions? Corns? Knee, hip and back problems? We get a lot of posts in here warning about skin damage from sunbeds. I know foot problems are hardly life-threatening but I've seen 5 aunts (life-long heel wearers) go through painful bunion surgery. I'm thinking long-term here. I don't want gnarled old manky bunion feet in 20 years.

So basically, your calves are the way they are. (Lovely I'm sure;)) If you're on a night out, sure go for heels. Why torture yourself by "getting used to" high heels for your everyday life?

I'm only talking about specific times here, like nights out and fancy outfits . When I'm standing all day in work, I wear the ugliest pair of fit flops in the world - regardless of my outfit - because they're so comfortable. They're the only thing I can stand in for 9 hours and not be crippled.

So basically: Gel insoles, hidden platforms, wider heels and ankle straps? Thanks!

theg81der

Wedges all the way. I`m suprised more people aren`t saying it. I got a pair in office and primark there both quite similar and I`m living in them. I have walked miles in them particularly the primark ones which are open toe. http://www.office.co.uk/womens/office/walk_away/37/10021/26369/1/

I love being taller even thou I`m 5`7, I just feel so much better and more confident in heels, wedges are the best of both worlds and your wearing jeans or whatever anyway so you can`t see them. O and added bonus for you, you won`t need to have your bottoms turned up.

Magenta

Magenta wrote: »

I wish I could wear high heels
I'm 5'9" and I just feel like I look like a giraffe in them
Would love to be 5'3"!!!

Yeah, I'm almost 5'10". I rarely, rarely wear heels. Not because of the tall thing, I just really can't be arsed. I cannot enjoy myself if my feet are in pain. I can walk in them fine...but the pain! I have very high arches and very narrow feet anyway so I find it difficult to find shoes to fit...that's my excuse!


Great contribution to this thread I know

Yeah I rarely have heel trouble, but I'll always fully consider comfort no matter how tempted I am to buy. Platform and ankle strap are definite requirements, with the exception of my granny heels (plain black mid-heels). I'd add that flats in the handbag are a must for me. Most of the girls I go out with wear heels through the night and then limp barefoot home. I wear heels out, after a couple drinks (because no one's even going to notice) I put on flats for a while. I usually end up able to walk home in the heels, as I find flats are too thin for walking in. The ankle strap and platform keep your foot comfortable, but they keep your foot at an odd angle for a long period of time, causing the movement of your foot into the very toe of the shoe, causing pain. By wearing flats every couple of hours, you're letting your foot relax out of the pointed shape, giving the tendons at your ankle a break, and generally just giving your feet a bit of air.

MiniSquish

Sorry I hadn't checked this thread in awhile. Yes you can get the gel insoles (15 euro) ones in Barratts. They're behind the counter and they come in Ladies and Mens. The ladies go up to a size 8 I think and then if you're smaller you just cut down to where your size is, it'll tell you what a six and all the other sizes are. If anyone is looking at this too with feet bigger than a size 8 I've often sold the Mens ones to women as there's not a humongous difference and they go up to 10 or 11 or something and you can cut them down too!