How to wear high heels?

Tiddlypeeps

Anytime I wear high heels I'm crippled after about 10 minutes walking around. I've tried loads of different types. I can manage with some boots but I've only found about 2 pairs in my entire life that I can stand to wear for a few hours. It's so hard to know when you try them on in the shop too, they can feel comfy for the first few minutes but there is no way in the shop to tell if they are going to be crippling if worn for any longer. If there is no ankle support then it's a lost cause, I've never found a pair I could stand to wear for any length of time. Even kitten heels.

I had given up trying for the last couple of years because I just look silly walking around in them when I'm visibly in pain and walking funny because of it. I'm fairly tall so most of the time I don't feel I need heels but lately I'm getting sad looking at so many pretty shoes I'll never wear and clothes that would look so much better with a pair of heels. So I'm considering giving it another go.

Is there a knack to walking in them that I'm missing? Any tips for stretching out the time before the discomfort sets in?

AlbionCat

as I have gotten <ahem> older I find I can no longer wear the high heel torture inducing stilettos of my youth, but I still like a heel as the other half is taller than me. (Cant believe I used to cycle to school wearing stilettos - on a racing bike as well!)

with that in mind I tend to go for wedges and heels where the heel is not a super duper poke your eye sharp point but something with a little more surface area to spread the load (so to speak).

I have a pair of shoes similar to these below which I can trot around in on my feetsies most of the day and still be reasonable comfortable at the end of it. The feet do ache, but I am not screaming in pain and I can walk the following day...

http://www.clarks.co.uk/p/20306743

I also try to find shoes that don't have paper thin soles for the ball of my foot area and I have a variety of insoles for shoes as well just in case.

Detective Mittens

I find that shoes or boots with a platform help, even for 5inch+ heels. Have you tried any gel inserts to mabey make them more comfortable? Also the key to walking is heel-toe heel-toe. Plodding around flat footed or landing on your toes first will just cause pain and strain!

Type in how to walk in high heels to youtube and there are plenty of vids!

CathyMoran

Only started wearing heels in the past few months and found that wedges were great, for me they needed to fit my foot well. In my case I found these by ECCO great for me, got them in the sales thankfully!

seosamh1980

My rule is heels must have 2 of 3 things. A hidden platform (they must always have this or I can't stand in them at all so all my heels have this), a strap that holds them on and a chunky/thicker than stiletto heel. A wider heel takes the pressure off the balls of your feet, straps or shoe boot style stay on great so don't have to clench your toes, and the hidden platforms or obvious platforms are a life saver, heels are generally lower with these and softer underfoot. I also have grippy pads stuck on all soles, and have some great quality suede type insoles, same shape as Party Feet but they actually work rather than crappy jelly ones.

fits

For me the only way to wear them is by not walking at all! Taxi to venue, sit all night, taxi home. Not much fun. I have a bad back now so I'd rather look less glamorous in flats and enjoy myself. A 3 inch (net) heel is my limit.

Everyone's mad for gel inserts, but I find the stick-on, suede-type ones much better. One at the back of the heel, one at the ball of the foot.

Shoes with a soft material are much more comfortable than more solid types. Something that will stretch over time to suit your foot and responds to the application of weight.

As already said, platforms at the ball of the foot are vital. Your foot needs something to cushion the weight being put on the ball of your foot.

If you're in a lot of pain TAKE THEM OFF. You'll only being doing damage to your feet, making heel-wearing even tougher in future, and could end up causing you much worse problems if you cause any long-term damage.

To be honest, I disagree about it being impossible to know at the purchasing stage how a pair of shoes will fare in the future. You can tell an awful lot by putting both shoes on, standing up, taking a dozen steps and wiggling around in them a bit. Feel the base to check there's some cushion in it. Feel the material covering the toes and around the back of the heel, try for something a bit pliable. Don't get anything too tight, you want space for pads/insoles if you need them.

Honey-ec

I LIVE in heels. Like, to the point where I actually find flats uncomfortable. This is my daily shoe - wear it to work, wear it to matches - everywhere. Heels I'd wear on a night out would be even higher.



You've had some great advice already - always walk heel-toe, bend your knees ever so slightly, and keep your back straight. Also, + 1,000,000 on going for shoes/boots with a slight platform - it makes the world of difference.

After that, it's just practice, practice, practice. Wear them around the house as much as you can. If you work in a desk job, wear them there, where you'll be sitting down for large portions of the day. Go for round-toe styles rather than pointy ones, and make sure they fit you properly - if they're in any way loose or big on you, your foot will slide forward in the shoe and your toes will kill you. Also, you may just have to accept that there are some styles you'll never be able to wear - I CANNOT wear peep-toe courts of any description.

And finally, it may sound crazy, but my tap dance teacher also does a stiletto class - basically, how to walk and dance properly in heels. Could be the best thing you ever do! It's on at 8pm on Thursday evenings in the Liffey Trust Studios on North Wall Quay.

seosamh1980

Honey I'd fall down if I wore heels all day, I find the actual heel really slippy, I must lean funny on them. I'm always cautious of slipping, love carpet

Penny Dreadful

fits wrote: »

For me the only way to wear them is by not walking at all! Taxi to venue, sit all night, taxi home. Not much fun. I have a bad back now so I'd rather look less glamorous in flats and enjoy myself. A 3 inch (net) heel is my limit.

Car to Bar shoes!:D I have the most exquisite pair of shoes that falls into this category. They are so fantastic but do not allow much walking around town. Look fab though.

true-or-false wrote: »

Everyone's mad for gel inserts, but I find the stick-on, suede-type ones much better. One at the back of the heel, one at the ball of the foot.

Shoes with a soft material are much more comfortable than more solid types. Something that will stretch over time to suit your foot and responds to the application of weight.

As already said, platforms at the ball of the foot are vital. Your foot needs something to cushion the weight being put on the ball of your foot.

If you're in a lot of pain TAKE THEM OFF. You'll only being doing damage to your feet, making heel-wearing even tougher in future, and could end up causing you much worse problems if you cause any long-term damage.

To be honest, I disagree about it being impossible to know at the purchasing stage how a pair of shoes will fare in the future. You can tell an awful lot by putting both shoes on, standing up, taking a dozen steps and wiggling around in them a bit. Feel the base to check there's some cushion in it. Feel the material covering the toes and around the back of the heel, try for something a bit pliable. Don't get anything too tight, you want space for pads/insoles if you need them.

Suede inserts much better than gel ones. Much. I wear heels all of the time and have always found the gel ones to be a total waste of money.

Try to buy your shoes in the afternoon. This is when your feet are at their biggest and if the shoes are comfortable at this time then they'll be fine anytime. If you buy shoes when your feet are cold and they are a neat snug fit then as soon as your feet are warm the shoes won't fit any more.

Some shoes are oddly shaped and throw all of the weight onto your knees. I had a gorgeous pair of black patent high heels that I was only able to wear three times because they threw my posture off so badly that all of my weight was balanced on my knees and killed them.
Doing a pilates moved of tucking your belly button into your spine makes you stand tall with your sholders back and if you walk like this in your heels you'll be fine.

Alternatively the answer may just be that heels are not for you. They don't match the shape of your feet and so embrace the world of fabulous flats, cool runners and boots and enjoy them and pain free feet!

Esoteric_

I used to live in stilettos, but after a bad back injury, had to stop wearing heels for 2 years. I'm currently training myself back into them!

What I found is that a platform is essential, if you feel pain walking in heels. I have a pair of turquoise platform heels from Penneys of all places (I would never normally wear their heels, but loved these ones!) that are higher than any of my other heels, but I could spend 10 hours in them and not feel pain!

As long as it's a platform heel, I can deal with wearing it. I also think that sometimes, you can find that 'perfect' heel that is completely comfortable. I have a pair of 5 inch stilettos that are perfectly comfortable for a night out (I could spend about 5 hours in them).

Gel inserts, platforms, wedges and breaking your heels in with fluffy socks in the house are all good!

meeeeh

I wear high heals a lot. I would say all the time but I had to abandon them when I went to the park with kids and started sinking.

Anyway always wear tights or make sure that you buy leather shoes. Your feel will swell a lot less in them. Better quality shoes will be usually (but not always) kinder to your feet. I find Hush Puppies good if you are looking for a style/comfort compromise. Buy shoes from proper shoe producers and not from River Island, Zara, Penny's or most of the other clothing high street chains.

username123

Honey-ec wrote: »

I LIVE in heels. Like, to the point where I actually find flats uncomfortable.

That's because your Achilles' tendon is permanently shortening :eek:
Be careful!!

I can't wear heels, after 2 knee surgeries and a variety of ankle, foot and lower back injuries and problems, I've more or less given up.

I can manage a block heel on long boots, or a kitten heel on shoes for a couple of hours at a wedding, but that's it.

I can't do the platform, hidden or otherwise, I just overbalance and sprain my ankle. My balance is appalling even in flat shoes, so it's just not possible for me anymore.

On the plus side I have beautiful feet, they've never been abused in bad shoes, are perfectly shaped and tiny. Think Granny Weatherwax. So I do wear nice sandals and my feet look pretty.

Tiddlypeeps

Great advice, thanks a mill everyone

Can I ask what suede inserts are?

I think I'll try starting to wearing them around the house until I get the hang of it.

Honey-ec

username123 wrote: »

That's because your Achilles' tendon is permanently shortening :eek:
Be careful!!

I can wear runners no problem, just not uber-flat flats like ballerina pumps. Which, according to my physio are as bad as heels for your feet anyway.

My feet are fcuked. Have danced since I was four, figure-skated for years, played football all through school, broke toes during a show - the works.

seosamh1980

Very flat flats are so bad for you. I find tesco flats are often very good, they have a little small raised "heel" under the heel, much better for walking in than very soft very flat ones.

miss no stars

meeeeh wrote: »

I wear high heals a lot. I would say all the time but I had to abandon them when I went to the park with kids and started sinking.

Anyway always wear tights or make sure that you buy leather shoes. Your feel will swell a lot less in them. Better quality shoes will be usually (but not always) kinder to your feet. I find Hush Puppies good if you are looking for a style/comfort compromise. Buy shoes from proper shoe producers and not from River Island, Zara, Penny's or most of the other clothing high street chains.

See that's the funny thing... I've spent years buying expensive shoes that I can't wear/walk in, then got a couple of cheap Pennys heels and have no discomfort in them at all. I think it's just more important that you find them comfortable above all else. If there's ANY discomfort at all when you try them on then walk away, it'll only get worse.

Tiddlypeeps

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

Can I ask what suede inserts are?

They like regular gel pads (which you can get in many shapes, most commonly little strips for the backs of your heels or round ones for the balls of your feet), but rather than being placed in the shoe, they have adhesive to stick them to the shoe, and instead of having a gel inner and plastic outer, they have a cushion (sometimes gel, sometimes not) on the inside and a suede-like material on the outside. The suede results in less sweat and a softer feeling, while the adhesive is great for keeping a feeling of your foot being in a shoe, rather than your foot being there to hold inserts in place. Here are some examples:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TACCO-600-Slip-Suede-Heel-Grip-Shoe-Insoles-Inserts-TaccoSlip-ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL-/290779242008
http://www.scholl.com/en-GB/Scholl-Party-Feet-Soft-Touch/10030607/ProductDetail.raction

Tiddlypeeps

true-or-false wrote: »

They like regular gel pads (which you can get in many shapes, most commonly little strips for the backs of your heels or round ones for the balls of your feet), but rather than being placed in the shoe, they have adhesive to stick them to the shoe, and instead of having a gel inner and plastic outer, they have a cushion (sometimes gel, sometimes not) on the inside and a suede-like material on the outside. The suede results in less sweat and a softer feeling, while the adhesive is great for keeping a feeling of your foot being in a shoe, rather than your foot being there to hold inserts in place. Here are some examples:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TACCO-600-Slip-Suede-Heel-Grip-Shoe-Insoles-Inserts-TaccoSlip-ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL-/290779242008
http://www.scholl.com/en-GB/Scholl-Party-Feet-Soft-Touch/10030607/ProductDetail.raction

Thank you

dudara

Make sure to get high heels that actually fit you. It's incredible the amount of women you see whose shoes are actually too big for them, hence the shoe isn't staying on their foot.

High heels are not meant to be torture devices and any woman should be able to find a pair that they can wear all day reasonably comfortably. Brands like Rockport and Clarks are good for practical heels. If you can't walk in any pair of high heels without pain, then I'd probably be seeking advice from my GP.

A hidden platform is great, but also don't get too thick a platform as that will inhibit your natural heel to toe movement.

Finally, posture is really important in heels. If you have any natural tendency to slouch, heels will magnify that so make sure that you have a good upright posture.

v638sg7k1a92bx

dudara wrote: »

Make sure to get high heels that actually fit you. It's incredible the amount of women you see whose shoes are actually too big for them, hence the shoe isn't staying on their foot.

High heels are not meant to be torture devices and any woman should be able to find a pair that they can wear all day reasonably comfortably. Brands like Rockport and Clarks are good for practical heels. If you can't walk in any pair of high heels without pain, then I'd probably be seeking advice from my GP.

A hidden platform is great, but also don't get too thick a platform as that will inhibit your natural heel to toe movement.

Finally, posture is really important in heels. If you have any natural tendency to slouch, heels will magnify that so make sure that you have a good upright posture.

I think this post is right on the money. I'm about to get hopped on here but allow me to make a generalisation when I say Irish women do t know how to wear high heels! Just look down at a woman's feet and there's an inch gap between the heel of the foot and the heel of their shoe. We've all seen the image of girl walking along with the high heels lifting them up and the head tilted forward as if they're going to fall any second. If you buy a pair of heels that actually fit and practice walking in them at home in front of a mirror with your head back and shoulders straight. You can always tell a woman who is not confident wearing heels and the head tilted forward is a dead give away.