Ask The Expert
Killer Heels
So good for your look, so bad for your feet! High heels can look amazing, but if you're a flip flops and trainers girl, is there any way you can get yourself into them? Debbie has some advice...
Dear Debbie,
I keep seeing women around town wearing heels while out shopping or for a night out on the town - what's their secret? Any time I put heels on for longer than an hour my feet start aching and I have to take them off. I'd love to wear them more often as they make my legs look fantastic, but I just don't know how to pull them off. Have you got any tips?
Thanks,
Dareen
UKTV Style's Agony Aunt replies:
Hi there Dareen,
The issue of high heels seems to divide women into two distinct groups - those for whom life without killer heels has no meaning - and the rest. As a flip flop and pump fan myself, who only ventures into heels after the hours of darkness, I don't quite understand your yearning to totter around town, but if you must, here are one or two important rules.
First and foremost - the style issue. Some women look chic in heels, others just look tarty. So first off, have a really good look at yourself in killer stilettos and make sure they really are worth the effort. If you really believe they're the ultimate shoe for you, then you need to get into training. Start by wearing them for short periods of time - to get your foot and leg muscles and tendons used to them. If your leg is used to being 'stretched out' by a flat pump or moccasin, then heels will feel unnatural and consequently uncomfortable.
Secondly, spend time trying on lots of pairs and find the kind of shape and heel that suits your leg. If classic high heels are uncomfortable, then try mules or platforms - which keep the foot and leg in a flatter position, whilst actually adding several inches to your height and leg length. If you must wear proper stilettos, remember that the heel will throw your body weight onto the ball of the foot and that can be agony. If this is your problem, then it may be worth investing in a pair of Scholl's Party Feet - gel filled pads that sit in the toe of the shoe, cushioning the ball of your foot.
High heels can also cause you to walk awkwardly, particularly if the heel is poorly balanced. So don't buy the first pair that grabs your eye, and be prepared to spend a bit of cash - expensive shoes tend to be better balanced.
Ultimately, as any chiropodist or osteopath will tell you, high heels are actually really bad for both your feet and your back. So find and wear a pair of killer heels by all means, but give yourself a break with a pair of pretty flip flops from time to time.
Best of luck!
Debbie
I keep seeing women around town wearing heels while out shopping or for a night out on the town - what's their secret? Any time I put heels on for longer than an hour my feet start aching and I have to take them off. I'd love to wear them more often as they make my legs look fantastic, but I just don't know how to pull them off. Have you got any tips?
Thanks,
Dareen
UKTV Style's Agony Aunt replies:
Hi there Dareen,
The issue of high heels seems to divide women into two distinct groups - those for whom life without killer heels has no meaning - and the rest. As a flip flop and pump fan myself, who only ventures into heels after the hours of darkness, I don't quite understand your yearning to totter around town, but if you must, here are one or two important rules.
First and foremost - the style issue. Some women look chic in heels, others just look tarty. So first off, have a really good look at yourself in killer stilettos and make sure they really are worth the effort. If you really believe they're the ultimate shoe for you, then you need to get into training. Start by wearing them for short periods of time - to get your foot and leg muscles and tendons used to them. If your leg is used to being 'stretched out' by a flat pump or moccasin, then heels will feel unnatural and consequently uncomfortable.
Secondly, spend time trying on lots of pairs and find the kind of shape and heel that suits your leg. If classic high heels are uncomfortable, then try mules or platforms - which keep the foot and leg in a flatter position, whilst actually adding several inches to your height and leg length. If you must wear proper stilettos, remember that the heel will throw your body weight onto the ball of the foot and that can be agony. If this is your problem, then it may be worth investing in a pair of Scholl's Party Feet - gel filled pads that sit in the toe of the shoe, cushioning the ball of your foot.
High heels can also cause you to walk awkwardly, particularly if the heel is poorly balanced. So don't buy the first pair that grabs your eye, and be prepared to spend a bit of cash - expensive shoes tend to be better balanced.
Ultimately, as any chiropodist or osteopath will tell you, high heels are actually really bad for both your feet and your back. So find and wear a pair of killer heels by all means, but give yourself a break with a pair of pretty flip flops from time to time.
Best of luck!
Debbie
