Comfortable heels??

[Nightowlagain]

Hi, I hope someone here can help me!

I have to wear heels for work, smart black ones. I have been wearing sensible clarks shoes for years, so not ridiculous strappy things or anything. The trouble is that lately I've been developing corns I think, lumps on the bits of my feet that even the so called comfy clarks shoes have been rubbing. And now the lumps are there, every pair of shoes rubs against them and makes it worse!
I think I'm going to see a podiatrist at some point but in the meantime I need to find some nice pretty shoes that don't hurt my feet! I'm on my feet for at least 8 hours a day and work in a business where i need to look nice, so they can't be too frumpy either. It's so hard to find the right balance between comfort and style.
Any suggestions? I'm fed up of clarks, they're not that good these days and hush puppies have always come up really small whenever I've ordered them.
Thanks if you can help!

[PirateSmile]

Hotter do heels.

[PirateSmile]

www.hotter.com/gb/en/womens-heels

Better still, start wearing flats? Unless you really want to, I can't see how you have to wear heels?

[Nightowlagain]

Thanks piratesmile I hadn't looked there, I'll have a look.

My workplace does require me to wear heels unfortunately. They want us all to look glamorous and flats don't really fit! Some people wear kitten heels so I might go that route.

Thanks again

[JapaneseSlipper]

Interested in this too!

I want something with a bit of a heel, but just enough to give me a small boost. All I seem to find are 4" heels - too high.

[acatcalledjohn]

My workplace does require me to wear heels unfortunately. They want us all to look glamorous and flats don't really fit!

Are you sure they are not bunions? Regardless, if the footwear they expect you to wear is causing issues they will have to accept flats or pay for treatment.

[Pisssssedofff]

Wtf ? You need a new job the days of requiring anything unless they are supplying it are 50 years ago

[andintothefire]

What is your budget? Russell & Bromley do some elegant and very comfortable mid height heels. They are not cheap, but I have a pair that I wear to death at work and I have really got my money's worth out of them! They are also good enough quality to reheel and resole so last MUCH longer than Clarks.

For example:
www.russellandbromley.co.uk/courts/girlthing/invt/235513

www.russellandbromley.co.uk/courts/covenant/invt/236205

www.russellandbromley.co.uk/courts/smoothymid/invt/235862

Personally if I were on a budget I would buy second hand R&B on eBay than spend the same amount on shoes from Clarks / Jones etc. You can get some good nearly new ones.

I'm afraid I have never found a truly comfy pair of higher or thinner heels!

[neverAdullmoment79]

I have troubled feet. I always like fly london sandals. They are a bit quirky though. I have these:
They are super comfy
here

[ontherightpath]

If you have a corn you'll need to get it removed first. I've had the same problem, and even wide fit winter boots / open sandals hurt my feet until the corn was removed. Then find something with round toes.

www.johnlewis.com/miss-kg-amber-block-heeled-court-shoes/p2707611?colour=White

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0116-NA18-038H020&productvarid=0116-NA18-038H020-NAVY-DRK-SILVER-37&refpage=shoes-boots/flats-pumps

[DevonLulu]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36265545

Seriously! I would decline to wear high heels. Has been all in the press recently and there is /was a petition.

Protect your feet. They are an asset!

[Nightowlagain]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your input. The Russell and Bromely on eBay sounds like a plan. I've ordered some Hobbs mid heels, hopefully they'll be ok.

heels

I know it sounds sexist etc, but it's the way it is. I suppose I could make a stand and refuse, not sure if they'd be able to sack me for it but I don't really want to go that route! And as well I want to look nice, I wear flats out of work but in work I don't want to wear ugly shoes! It's really hard. It's hospitality, think posh hotel or club. We need to have full makeup and nails done as well, they want us looking good for our customers.

Anyway thanks again!

[LeafTreeRaker]

OP, that's fine, but those requirements don't mean they don't have a duty of care to you. If their required footwear causes you issues (be glad it hasn't caused you back problems) then they have a responsibility to let you wear a different flatter item of footwear until the corn has been removed and the area has healed. And let's be honest, limping around in heels because of corns is not going to look good to clients.

Good luck with the other shoes, but I'm with the PP who stated that the corn needs to be removed. It will not get better otherwise.

[Pisssssedofff]

In hospitality I would have thought flats would be essential for health and safety. I get what you're saying, my job is to look good and flirt tbh, but I'm not on my feet all day and change shoes for driving.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

I had two pairs of heels from Clarks, were more comfortable that anything I've ever worn, one pair fell apart this winter, I'm still heartbroken.

[YvaineStormhold]

Do the men in your workplace have to wear heels, or just the women?

[WhatamessIgotinto]

The reason some employers are able to 'insist' on this is because some women go along with it and do not challenge. It won't change until someone has the balls to make it.

I also want to 'look nice' when I go out but I'm afraid I can't agree with the notion that that can only happen if you're wearing heels. If I feel like it, I wear heels; if I don't, I wear flat shoes. They are not ugly shoes just because they're, I find that a bit ridiculous.

[specialsubject]

Apparently this workplace also insists on thick slap and plastic coated nails, because bare facial skin and clean tidy hands don't look good.

Except on men...

Hope it pays well.

[WhatamessIgotinto]

I just really don't buy in to the idea that one can only be 'glamorous' if you're teetering around on high heels, caked in make up. And it's 'the way it is' because some women continue to allow it to be like that.

[WhatamessIgotinto]

Incidentally, I love heels and often wear them because I want to.

[Nightowlagain]

Thanks to all with suggestions of places to find what I'm looking for.

I'm a bit at all the snarky posts though tbh. Yes ok in a perfect world we'd be able to wear trainers all day and have perfect feet. But I like the way heels look so am prepared to put up with the hassle that comes with them. I'm not in 5 inch stilettos or anything! Sensible Clarks 3 inchers usually.

And yes I could refuse to wear them at work but I don't want to be labelled one of the awkward squad, I like my job and want to get promoted etc. And to whoever asked, yes it pays very well thanks!

I thought in Style and Beauty I'd be able to have a conversation about shoes without being accused of letting down womenkind for wearing a certain type of footwear but there you go!

Thanks again to all with advice without the added sarcasm!

[maggiethemagpie]

El Naturalista do comfortable heels, and are very good quality
eg

www.sarenza.co.uk/el-naturalista-colibri-n474-s332-p0000095247

or
www.sarenza.co.uk/el-naturalista-colibri-n466-s332-p0000116804

[ChipInTheSugar]

I have dodgy feet but bought a pair of Hotter heels recently which are comfy - I think they are called Angelica. There's always new customer discount codes knocking around for Hotter too.

[ChipInTheSugar]

m.houseoffraser.co.uk/Hotter+Angelica+slip+on+heels/D621413,default,pd.html

[WhatamessIgotinto]

Owl I don't think my posts were either snarky or sarcastic. I said that I love heels and wear them when I choose to (quite a lot actually). My issue with your posts is that you imply that one can only look 'nice' or 'glamorous' if you wear heels and not flat shoes, which you deem 'ugly shoes'.

To be honest, I hate the fact that women are pressured into wearing high heels in some industries. I really do. However, if you are happy with that, then it's not for me to criticise you for it and I apologise for that.

[Nightowlagain]

Ok thanks whatamess. I think I'm a bit fed up, I've always worn sensible clarks heels, not tried to wear super high strappy sandals etc and still I've got bad feet after a particular pair were a bit too tight on the side of my toe. Since then I've had nothing but bother and I'm pissed off! They're supposed to be decent shoes!

I'm going to go to a podiatrist and see what they say. Maybe if I get the corns removed then be very careful what I wear it'll be alright.

Thanks everyone!