For some women, wearing stilettos can feel like torture. Wearing stilettos too often can lead to a host of health problems, including nerve damage, early-onset arthritis and chronic back pain. Stress fractures – a common but extremely painful injury among professional athletes – can also occur.
A comfortable heel is something of an oxymoron. No heel supports your foot as well as a cushioned sneaker, but ask anyone who wears heels and they’ll rave about the one pair that’s actually quite comfortable to walk, stand and even dance in.
I don’t know about you, but I have a love-hate relationship with high heels. While we can’t deny that the extra height boosts our confidence and instantly gives our butt a perfect lift with no squats required, life just isn’t as comfortable on stilettos as it is in flats. Walking in stilettos can feel awkward, especially if you’re not used to it, and requires some know-how.
Are Stilettos Comfortable?
Usually, no. Stiletto heels are usually high, but pencil thin, which concentrates all the pressure and weight on a few points of the foot. Even those who love high heels have to admit that stilettos are a good shoe for “in between”, but definitely not suitable for wearing all the time. And if you are not used to wearing heels, you will definitely find them uncomfortable, hard to wear and unsuitable for most occasions.
If you’re not used to wearing heels, I recommend starting with a shoe that has a thick block or stacked heel that provides a little more support than typical stilettos. Start with low heels first, and then gradually experiment with higher heels to find out what you like best. Alternatively, you can opt for other, more comfortable shoes for summer that aren’t stilettos.
I personally recommend a nice platform sandal with a heel. This will give you the height you want and a little more support than a traditional heel. Try different styles and find out which ones you feel most comfortable in. If you want to wear stilettos, feel free to do so – just keep in mind that they may not be as comfortable as other evening wear shoes.
A Guide to buying Stilettos
To find comfortable high heels, you need to pay attention not only to the aesthetics, but also to certain structural features. For example, stilettos and pumps are visually appealing, but shoes with a lower, wider heel tend to be more comfortable. Anyone who has ever worn heels knows this from personal experience
If you’ve ever worn heels for an extended period of time, walked long distances in them, or danced the night away in them, you probably already know that blisters, numbness, swelling, and general aches and pains can be regular side effects of wearing heels.
Buying a pair feels like a game of fashion Russian roulette: will you end up buying the right pair that will do your feet good? Or will you end up cursing the day you bought them as they gather dust in the back corners of your closet? It’s a dangerous game, but thanks to some sage advice from experts and a few seasoned heel wearers, I’ve taken a smarter approach to buying heels that has my feet (and wallet) breathing a sigh of relief.
Say goodbye to blisters, swelling and numbness – I’m sharing my knowledge and telling you the four most important things you should know before you buy your next pair of heels.
1. Pay attention to the heel cup
First things first: have you ever wondered why you get blisters in the first place? Manufacturers put a stiffening agent in the heel area of the shoe to help it maintain its shape. The stiffness of the heel counter makes this area a prime spot for friction and blisters to form. One way to counteract this is to choose shoes made of genuine leather or suede. These materials are more pliable than synthetics and conform to the shape of your foot, so you won’t chafe after a few wears. Heel cushions can be useful as a second line of defense against friction if the problem persists.
2. Do The Thumb Test
It may sound like common sense (and yet I’ve done it several times), but please don’t buy heels that don’t fit your size. Your shoes are guaranteed to hurt you if you buy them too small! As a general rule, there should be a thumb’s width of space from the inside front of the shoe to the end of your longest toe. This clearance is important so that your foot has a bit of room to move around in the shoe and isn’t forced to rub against the sides. Believe us, it makes all the difference.
3. Take a Test Drive (or Walk)
Here’s an obvious tip that may not be so obvious. When you try them on for the first time, don’t just stand in the shoes and take a few steps – take the time to really walk in them. If you’ve ever been to a department store, you may have noticed that the sales floor is carpeted. They are specially padded to give the impression of comfort. So it’s helpful to leave the area when you can and try to walk on the tiles. Now that most of us shop online, follow the same process when testing heels at home. Close your eyes to heighten your sense of touch, and focus on how your feet feel. Look for pressure in certain areas, which is a sign of future blisters. Remember to walk on a light carpet to avoid damage when you return the shoes.
4. Try On Shoes at The End of the Day
Fun Facts: Your foot expands slightly during the day, especially in the summer because of the heat. So if possible, try your shoes towards the end of the day. If you buy your shoes in the morning when your foot is at its slimmest, they may be too tight by the end of the day, so your comfort experience may be distorted.
In summary, it is important to note that the quality of the heels plays an important role in the comfort of the shoes. “Good materials make for happier feet.
High quality leather and breathable materials help keep your feet from getting too sweaty or blistered. Just because it’s a high-quality brand doesn’t always mean it’s good material.
Find out if vision boards actually work, here
Credit:
https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/shoes-accessories/shoes/most-comfortable-heels
