From heel to toe: what I’ve learned about wearing high heels

By curiousillusion ( July 30, 2009 at 12:06 am) · Filed under personal,

So it’s been a little over a week since I’ve been learning to walk in high heels and wow, my feet have been through a lot.  You’d think that would put me off of wearing high heels but on the contrary – I might be obsessed!  I pay attention to people’s shoes now, whenever I’m in a store I *have* to go look/try on some heels… this is definitely my latest addiction.

Anyway, I’ve learned a lot about wearing heels, so I figured I’d share what I’ve learned.  Keep in mind that these are all relative to me and I might just have weird feet:

  • Just because my feet fit into a 5 1/2 shoe, doesn’t mean I should wear them.  In fact, I definitely shouldn’t.  I’m a size 6 and I need the extra room to insert different kinds of cushions to protect my feet.
  • Cushions are essential when it comes to wearing high heels for me.  I like Foot Petals Strappy Strips for the straps of my sandals, Aldo Comfort Cushions for the balls of my feet (so I don’t have that burning feeling so soon) and Moleskin for the backs of pumps (you know, right at the edge) that rub against my heels (I  stick them to the inside of shoe).  That’s a LOT of cushioning, which is why I need room in my shoes… the Aldo and Foot Petals take away quite of bit of space, making some shoes *really* snug.  It’s enough to make me consider wearing a 6 1/2!
  • Peep toe + high heels = squished toes.  For me, anyway.  As much as I LOVE peep toe shoes, there never seems to be enough space for my little toesies.  That probably won’t stop me from wanting them, or maybe wearing them.
  • A shoe might fit fine in the store.  They might feel fine walking around in the house.  However there’s something about walking around outside that brings out the worst in shoes.  Be prepared… I never leave the house anymore without several forms of band-aids.
  • Toe overhang is ugly, and an unfortunate side effect, it seems, of open-toed high heels.  It’s enough to make me not want to buy open-toed shoes anymore.
  • I’ve become pretty good at hiding my pain.  The blisters can be everywhere, the strap is really digging in but I can walk in and out of a store and pretend like it’s no big deal.  Until I get to the privacy of my car, where I can cry in private.

On all those notes, I think I’m officially retiring this pair of shoes that my mother bought me the other weekend:

0718 black shoesCute, right? Unfortunately they are a size 5 1/2 which means that the strap digs into my heel like it’s trying to kill me, there’s no room for cushioning under the ball of my foot, and they’re peep toe which means my toes get squished.  Sigh.  I’ve tried to get used to them but it’s just not going to happen.  They’re not even 2 weeks old either.

That being said, I think I’m getting better at this heel wearing stuff.  I think.  I mean, I’m nowhere near lasting the whole day, but I can go longer than an hour and I call that progress!  Meanwhile, I’m trying to break in this pair of shoes:

my new favorite pair of shoesCan you see the moleskin attached to the back?  Lol, how embarrassing.   Anyway, I’ve never been a fan of pumps before but these shoes changed my mind, I absolutely adore them, plus they have a really thick heel, which makes it easier to walk around in.  They do hurt a bit though, hence my “breaking them in”, I wish I could find a pair of heels that fit just right, right away!

Meanwhile, I have come upon the realization that there are so many lovely shoes out in the world… and so little money. :)

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  • I swear I replied to this post...
    .-= Jenny Georgio-who´s last blog ..I'm annoyed and considering quitting =-.
  • Omg you totally did reply to this post already... your comment got sent to spam for some weird reason. And since I have 60+ spam comments, I nearly deleted them all at once... glad I didn't and was able to catch yours!
  • Lovely shoes and glad to know you've come up with some tactics to master heels!
    .-= Bluebelle´s last blog ..Snapshot of an Evening =-.
  • Pam
    I just found heels about two years ago, when my friend brought me into Bakers. I about died with excitment. Ever since then, I love heels!!! Breaking them in is always the hardest part, I agree. And cushions are a girls best friend.
  • Not gonna lie, if a girl can properly pull of wearing heels, it's one of the sexiest things ever
    .-= phampants´s last blog ..ET09: Brand New Day =-.
  • My man Pham speaks the truth.

    Now, a girl rockin' heels with a dSLR slung over her shoulder...sweet jebus, mary, and jehosaphat!
    .-= @mattstratton´s last blog ..I asked…and I received =-.
  • I <3 shoes a lot. This sounds very stupid to say but I do find that the more you pay for your shoes the more comfort you find in them. There is a reason that Payless has a pair for $12.99 and Prada has them at $699. You do pay for the way the shoe is made and it results in comfort.

    I was so happy I picked Prada shoes for my wedding because it was sooooo comfortable being in those shoes from 10am to 1am (at 1am I changed into slippers!) Like I said before, you have to get a pair of shoes that support your foot properly.

    Oh for the record, I HATE toes. I hate toe overhang and I hate flip flops worn outside of a beach setting. Don't get me wrong, I've heard millions of times how cute my feet are but I just hate hate hate toes!

    I'm happy you are starting to like heels. They are so lady like and make your legs look longer! It's awesome!
    .-= Jenny Georgio-who´s last blog ..I'm annoyed and considering quitting =-.
  • Now I want to go out and by more heels! I've never worn cushions inside them, though, I just suffer. I'm going to have to look into that, especially for my brother's wedding in January. (I accidently typed " brothers' "...that'd be a little awkward if your brothers were marrying each other!)
    .-= Ronnica´s last blog ..It’s Not about Sex =-.
  • Oh man! Those brown shoes with the buckle are too cute! What is the brand??
    Oh and I agree with Carrie, my most conformable heels (and I have a LOT) are actually from the Steve Madden line called "Madden Girl". All of the Madden Girl heels are under 3 inches, very cute, and very comfy. I once walked 2 miles in a pair and was fine. I too have realized that cheap heels just don't work (I have a closet full of cute shoes that I never wear to prove it) and so I've started investing in better quality.
    Shop at DSW. When you go often, you get a ton of coupons and reward dollars. My fave brands from there are Madden Girl, Nine West, and Jessica Simpson. All very comfy and stylish.
    Also, for flats you can teach all day in that are still cute, try Dr. Sholl's http://www.drschollsshoes.com/ .... they have a fashion line.
    :) Camile
    .-= Camile´s last blog ..A Thousand Words Thursday =-.
  • Carol
    Oh yes! DSW is the best. Using the coupons and hitting the clearance racks means I rarely (if ever) pay over $30 for a pair of shoes. It's goooooood to have small feet!
  • I am also addicted to high heels. I wear them everyday and have for years. Totally unhealthy. Beauty is pain, my friend!
    .-= Jill Pilgrim´s last blog ..Guess What? Its Naked Time. Also? NSWF. Unless You Work In The Adult Entertainment Industry, In Which Case You’re Probably Okay. =-.
  • Carol
    Oh, my most favorite subject - SHOES! I, too, wear a size 6, so I have a closet full of cute shoes.

    I agree with Heather that a slight platform does make for a much more comfortable shoe; I don't like feeling every twig and pebble through the sole - it hurts!

    My feet are always somewhat swollen in the morning, so if I buy a pair of shoes after work and they fit fine, there's a 50/50 chance they will be too tight one morning. I know... it's the bass-ackwards opposite of everyone else. My left foot is bigger than my right, too, so I always try on the left shoe first.

    I also agree with Carrie on a cute pair of wedges. Often, they also have a platform and you feel really stable walking on them and can't get your heel caught in anything.

    You learn what brands do and don't work for your feet. My foot is fairly narrow, so I avoid VanEli shoes and look for Etienne Aigner or Bandolino instead. It seems that the Italian designed/made shoes tend to run narrow.

    Lastly... I'm with *everyone* in that I don't like toe overhang. I also hate seeing major heel gap and huge toe cleavage. And am I the only one who thinks the current gladiator sandal trend is hideous??
  • Carrie
    You might want to try Steve Madden shoes. I have about 6 pairs of Maddens and they are by far my favorite heels! No matter what, I always wear the same size in Maddens and so I have been able to order shoes online before.

    Another thing to know is to always get heels that have a leather upper. Otherwise they won't stretch out. Also, the Aldo pads I told you about do start to break in as well and won't always be too bulky.

    If you would really like a great and comfy pair of heels for all day, find yourself a cute pair of wedges. They make it so your weight is even as you stand, unlike a heel where all your weight is in the balls of your feet. I wore my black wedges into the ground because they are super cute with jeans too.
  • Yeah you're right, leather is definitely better. I keep finding myself wanting shiny shoes, but they are made of synthetic materials, which means they're not as forgivin as leather.

    I'm not a fan of wedges... I don't know why but I just don't like them so much.
  • All I have to say is that you're very brave. I've been stalking up my flats collection and don't plan on trying to wear heels for an entire day ever. This may change as I am a sucker for a cute pair of shoes, but for now this is also saving me money.

    I do have to say that the pumps are very adorable and yes I could see the moleskin. I also have to say that I absolutely love moleskin. It is a life saver and I love that you can trim it to fit just about anywhere without having it visible when you're wearing the shoes.
    .-= Ashley T.´s last blog ..Accommodations, Education Building, and Kingston =-.
  • Ha ha, I'm not that brave - I plan on leaving a few pairs of flats in my classroom to change out of, for days when I do decide to wear heels.

    That being said, I am in love with flats also - I have a pair of red ones and navy ones... but they also tend to hurt my feet too, when they're stiff.
  • Oh goodness, what I'd give to have a size 6 foot! haha! They always have the BEST shoes in your sizes because so few people fit them! I'm a 7.5 - 8 like the entire world, so I have to be quick to snatch up shoes. hhaha!

    Have you tried "heel grips"? I've never used moleskin, but I like heel grips because they add a little buffer between your ankle and shoe and prevent a lot of that uncomfortable rubbing!
    .-= Shop Girl*´s last blog ..Ask Me Anything Answers* =-.
  • No no a size 6 is NOT good! I was talking to a saleswoman the other day - they don't ever get that many shoes in a size 6, so they rarely have my size in stock either!

    What brand are heel grips? Some that I've found are a bit too bulky.. and others go right under the edge of the shoe, when it's the edge of the shoe that rubs!
  • The professionals say to wear different size heels every day. Never to wear the same size heel twice in a row. I don't listen to them.

    I made the same mistake with a pair of 5 1/2s too. In the store, the 6s were just a little too big (cause my feet kept sliding forward) and so I decided on the 5 1/2s. Well when I put my squishies in for the balls of my feet, I found out that the shoe was now way too snug. Last time I did that.

    I always look for shoes with some type of platform. Never the huge ones. But 1/4 or 1/2 inch platform. Only because the thinner soled shoes (especially the first pair you showed) hurt feet even more. Only because you can feel everything. The extra 1/4 of an inch above the ground makes a HUGE difference. It gives you that much more padding and walking outside isn't so bad anymore.

    And I agree, toe overhand is not cool. It bothers me when people have flipflops where their toes are over the front. Those people should either buy a bigger pair or not wear flip flops. Bleh!
    .-= Heather´s last blog ..Too Tired to Function =-.
  • Actually, that first pair of shoes on the post (the black one) DO have a bit of a platform. In fact, that's the reason why my mom pointed them out to me - because she felt that I needed the extra padding. I wonder if those shoes in the right size would have actually worked...
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