High heels have a bad reputation for being hurtful not only for your feet but also for negatively affecting your body’s posture. Nevertheless, for many women, nothing compares to high heels when it comes to creating the perfect outfits, or finding a model that matches their favorite handbag. This is why they are an inevitable part of their wardrobe. So, the question is: is it possible to stay comfortable and keep your feet healthy, while also satisfying your desire to look good, in particular, by wearing high heels? Luckily for many women around the globe, the answer is yes.
Aesthetics is important and personal style is something that matters a lot to most of us. Through the way we dress we express ourselves; we communicate with the world and we feel comfortable in our own skin. Nevertheless, physical comfort also plays an extremely important role in many aspects of our lives, and it is a source of health, not only for the body but also for the mind.
Discomfort often prohibits us from performing our tasks, being mindful, enjoying ourselves. A comfortable bed makes for good rest and relaxation, a comfortable ergonomic chair makes for a pain-free workday, and comfortable shoes make for healthy feet and a mind that can think of things other than pain.
Luckily, while the claims about the painful and unpleasant effects high heels have on a woman’s feet are true, good shoe manufacturers offer comfortable high heels designed and crafted not only with style but with health and pain-free walking in mind. For many women, finding the perfect flat shoes, which are both comfortable and stylish, is by far easier than selecting stylish comfy pumps. However, it’s not impossible to find a pair – there are several factors that can help you achieve that.
The Size and the Fit
Finding the right size and fit is equally important when you are choosing shoes, whether you are buying a pair for everyday use, for formal occasions, or for a specific use, such as dancing or hiking shoes. The wrong size can cause a lot of discomfort, and even more so when it comes to high heels. To choose the right size high heel shoes that will fit you well, there are several things you need to take into account. First of all, different companies have different sizes, which is why, if you are ordering online, it’s important to measure your feet properly and check the return policy of the store.
Taking the width of your feet is also especially important for high heels. Loose high heels aren’t only difficult to walk on, but they can make it hard for you to keep your balance, which can lead to injuries. Finally, make sure that the shoe fits snugly, and that it doesn’t slide forward, making it feel as if you were wearing a high heel flip flop. If this is happening with a shoe that fits right, there are products that can help you prevent this.
The Upper and the Insoles
Leather shoes are always the smartest option, regardless of whether you are buying flats or high heels. Leather easily adjusts to the shape of the feet, which makes it the most comfortable material for high heels. Moreover, leather is breathable, which is another reason why it provides more comfort on the feet. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that leather shoes are timeless, they last much longer than shoes made from synthetic materials, and they even improve over time.
Comfortable heels also provide enough cushioning and padding for both your heel and the ball of the foot. Thick insoles with quality padding are one of the things that can make high heels comfortable enough to wear frequently, even on daily basis. On top of more comfort, this cushioning will offer more support for your feet as well.
The Heel
The level of comfort when it comes to high heel shoes depends greatly on several characteristics of the heel, including the height, the thickness and the placement of the heel. Many women consider very high heels to be the most fashionable option. Nevertheless, heels that are higher than 9 cm are not comfortable, because they put the most tension on your ankles, knees, hips, lower back, etc.
The height you should be aiming for is between 3 cm and 9 cm because that is the range of the most comfortable high heels. The most comfortable height of course defers from person to person, which may mean that you will need some trial and error to determine what suits your feet best.
Probably the most important thing when buying high heels, that will have the most impact on how comfortable the shoes are is how your weight is distributed. If either your heel or the ball of your foot has to support your entire weight, this will most likely be extremely painful. Thicker and wider heels allow for better weight distribution, which also means better stability and lower risks of injuries.
As for the placement of the heel, if it’s too far back, it won’t be able to provide you with the support you need to maintain balance. So, the heel should be placed exactly under your heel.
