Sky High: How to Conquer Your Heels so You Can Conquer the World
By: Kirsten Chase
Wake up, hair done, make-up on. Have to be at work in an hour? No problem. Metro delays? You can handle anything. You slip on your favorite pair of stilettos that you splurged on last month, and you’re ready to take on the world. Heels have the power of making us feel like we can do anything, from doing our daily part to fighting office misogyny, to checking off every box on our to-do lists. But, it can be a love-hate relationship. As five o’clock rolls around, so does that unavoidable foot pain that comes with a day of balancing on your own personal stilts. Here are 6 tips and tricks from a fellow working girl that loves the power of pumps, but isn’t all for the discomfort.
Get in touch with your feet.
This one may sound a little far-fetched, but women each day make the mistake of buying the wrong shoe size that also doesn’t fit their foot type. Trying to squeezing into 8s when you’re really a 9.5 is not only bad for your poor toes, but also pretty obvious to see when your heel is hanging off the back of your tiny shoes The next time you’re buying shoes, have your foot measured for both size and length, and get an accurate measurement of what shoe size fits you best.
The thicker the heel, the better.
Wobbling on needle-thin heels for an 8-hour day is almost always a bad idea, unless you absolutely HAVE to pair them with that one dress. But, if you can avoid them, opt for a chunkier heel, like the ones found for a low price here.
Shoe Gels: they really work.
If you suffer from pain in the balls of your feet, you may want to consider investing in a silicone shoe gel insert that you can slip right into your favorite pair of mary janes. Found at most drugs stores for a great price, inserts will make your heels go from no-way to all-day.
Long commute? Bring flats.
Strutting down city sidewalks in platforms on your way to the office may look cool, but may add a lot of extra shoe pain before you even get to work. Pro tip? Bring a pair of comfy flats or stylish sneakers to walk to work in and change into heels once you get there. Nowadays, there are a lot of options for shoes that you can easily fold into your purse or backpack, like the ones found here.
Round it out.
Experts say that round-toed shoes are way better for foot comfort than pointy ones, which squish the toes and can event cause joint pain. Round-toed heels allow for the toes to lie flatly and are just an overall better choice for a long day at the office.
Mix it up!
This one goes along with #4, but not every day has to be spent up in the clouds! Pair a business-causal pair of black loafers with a collared sheath dress, or rock your next meeting in some corporate-cute kitten heels. Opt to wear your high heels 2-3 days per week instead of all 5, and you’ll find your feet will thank you.