Undoubtedly, all women want to feel sexy and chic and for that reason their shoes need to be sensational show-stoppers. I get it. But, you see, there is such a fine line dividing a wise shoe shopper from a dupe, and it is so easy to be carried away and purchase something we really don’t need or something that is just unflattering. Worry not, below are some tips I bet you will find useful!
Of course, you know that shoes with a narrow toebox and a high heel deform our feet if you wear them regularly. On the other hand, “good shoes”, meaning shoes that don’t cause issues, often look like something we would wear with a housecoat while doing the dishes. So, what happens in this case? Here is a checklist with some basics.
1. There are so many shoes out there that are both sensible and stylish! You just have to find the right ones. So, allot some time and do your homework. Research and don’t give up at your first obstacle. Your persistence will reward you!
2. Don’t presume you know your shoe size. Instead, go to a store that provides sit-and-fit service and get your feet measured. Yes, it is true that feet change over time, which is why it is important to be sure of your shoe width.
3. If your toes can’t wiggle in a pair of shoes, walk away. Don’t buy any toe box that lacks wiggle room. That said, go for squared or rounded ones that come with plenty of room.
4. If you need shoes for everyday walking, then you should pick a shoe with at least half an inch heel (and up to an inch). This will make walking more comfortable.
5. If you feel that wearing flats is better than sporting high heels, guess again. The truth is flat soles cause feet to roll inward when you walk (pronate). It is always advised to look for flats that come with a built-in arch or have a contoured footbed. This will keep your feet and ankles stable. Of course, this year’s flats with the gorgeous straps across the midfoot are excellent options indeed!
6. To have a high heel, you don’t need to go higher than 3-4 inches. A heel lower than one inch is low-heeled while one between 1-2 inches is considered mid-height heel. Any heel higher than 2 inches is classified as high. Now, a heel that lifts you up more than 4 inches is just crazy.
7. if you have high-heeled shoes, don’t wear them to walk long distances. They tend to force the feet into positions that are not natural causing them to pain. Don’t be surprised if your back starts aching, too or you develop a pinched nerve, hammertoe, bunion, callus or corn. Better save them for special occasions.
8. Wearing sneakers (by the way, huge trend next season) or wide, comfy walking shoes will make your feet look lovely. According to a modeling agency, almost all professional models that come to them have damaged feet. Being an agency specializing in foot models, it is extremely difficult to hire a good model. At best, they can hire only one out of forty. This is because models wear fashionable shoes daily.
9. You may be in need of arch support (here is how to know what type of arch you have). It is evidenced that 70% of the population overpronates and wears shoes with support.
10. The notion that you can wear heels now, do your thing for many years and then get surgery to undo all the damage done and fix deformities has no logical grounds. If fact, undergoing surgery to make your feet prettier can lead to a disaster because you not only are in huge pain but also because chances are you will be disappointed, especially if you are going under the knife for cosmetic reasons.
No, don’t be fooled. There is NOTHING attractive or feminine about a hobbling woman wearing shoes that are excruciating to stand in and agonizing to walk in. However, yes, we all buy them. If only designers would start looking into orthopedic designs! I mean, we love their creations, we wear some of them, we admire the ones we can’t get our hands on, but we would really appreciate having shoes that don’t deform our feet and still make us look good and feel great.
According to clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at UCLA, orthopedic surgeon in California, and leading researcher on the problems of fashionable shoes on women’s feet, Dr. Carol Frey, it is generally agreed that women that wear high heels with a narrow pointed toe box for a time span of 10 years, end up with foot deformities, such as the ones mentioned before.
It is highly likely that you, like most women, have no idea that you may be signing for your feet’s disaster when you wear shoes whose shape deviates from your feet’s shape. Yes, you can squeeze your fanny into your super tight jeans. I mean, what is the worst that could happen besides sprouting love handles right above your waistband. Watch what happens if you just change into another pair of jeans, one that will allow you to breathe again. The “muffin tops” take a hike, and you feel much better. Unfortunately, feet aren’t muffin tops and shoes aren’t jeans and trust me, if you don’t take good care of your feet, you will soon be wearing orthopedic nursing home shoes, which is not a good thing. After all, our feet are not supposed to look like what a high heel looks like, so why mold our feet into that? Do you think Lady Gaga enjoys her ten-inch stilettos? Or is it by chance that the world’s most accomplished models didn’t even try them on to see how they would look down the runway, out of fear they might topple and twist an ankle?
Get out there, wear your crazy shoes every once in a while and for a couple of hours, but don’t allow any pair to cut off your blood circulation. There are so many great pieces that can give you the comfort and style you are looking for that it is a pity to narrow your search only to super high heels and uncomfortable toe boxes.
