Tips for wearing high heels

[WipsGlitter]

I'm going to an event soon and I know my dress will look better with high heels. I really, really struggle in them though - the ball of my foot ends up on FIRE. It's still painful the next day. I've tried those gel things but didn't find they made any difference. I was wondering about a numbing cream...

Grin and bare it I’m afraid x

Firstly, make sure your shoes fit properly. Then a good pair of insoles to provide cushioning and stop your feet from slipping. Alice Bow makes great ones (that are even good enough for HRH K-Mid). Finally, flats in your bag for the journey home.

But not everyone gets on with heels, if you can’t walk in them and/or will be hobbling an hour in then don’t do it and get some funky flats instead. Someone that is clearly uncomfortable doesn’t look stylish, no matter how nice the outfit. And don’t let your shoes ruin what should otherwise be a great evening.

Would wedges work instead? Or chunkier heels rather than stilettoes?

M&S Insolia heels are really comfortable, I find, if there is a style that would work with your dress

Ibruprofen can help reduce swelling, including during the event and when you get home and take off your shoes (so that you are less likely to wake up with hurting feet the next day)

Get full insoles rather than the gel inserts. I bought universal ones that you cut to the right size and heels I can’t normally wear are so comfy with the insert! Also ones with a strap tend to help cause you don’t have to scrunch your toes as much.

Get slightly lower heels... plus make sure they fit properly. I was amazed at the difference if them fitting properly made to my feet aching

I have very narrow feet and it's narrow at the back of my food so there's a lot of scrunching!! Mary Janes make my legs look fat!

Sandal style with a toe post?

Just don't.

People will be looking at your face and talking to you - there's nobody from Grazia to draw a red circle around your feet and say "these shoes are wrong".

Not necessarily these, but this sort of thing?

Not a toe post. I think my foot slips forward too much so in a toe post it's agony!

Something like this, lower than normal and with a Tbar

m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-shoes-boots/heels/a0220-yel/womens-mimosa-yellow-whitney-mid-heels

Can you share a picture of the dress / similar so we can think about options?

There are no easy ways, you have to discover the most comfortable shoes for yourself. For example, I have narrow feet and a small ankle, so normal slip on shoes don't work for me as my heel keeps geteting out, instead shoes that hold my foot firmly in place are much better (e.g. aquazurra mayfair shoes).

Also, generally a shoe where your weight is divided evenly between the ball of your foot and the heel is more comfy, so lower heel (max around 8cm), and a good grip on the insole really helps. If the inside of the show is rubber, it's not breathable and your feet would sweat more, but leather inside is much better.

Lastly, swede is most supple, leather is also good, but patent leather is very hard, so it would cut into your feet and scratch the back of your ankle much more.

It's this dress. I've no idea what shoes / tights...

I love that dress OP and think it would look great with those heels bluedog suggested. And it sounds like the consensus is that good insoles are the solution.

Practically if you’re going to wear heels that you know aren’t comfortable get some full length insoles as PP have said, taping your 3rd and 4th toes together can help but it doesn’t work for everyone, take ibuprofen before you go and halfway through the evening and make sure you have fun so you don’t realise your feet hurt until you leave!

Shit shoes show on your face. Very hard to get elegant heels of an inch or so now, the horrible leg twisting staggerers have taken over. They really do look awful on your feet.

Shoes that need painkillers - it isn't 19th century China, is it?

I have given up on wearing high heels at all until I lose some weight. Too uncomfortable to be carrying around so much weight just on the balls of my feet. Good luck with your quest, the dress is gorgeous x

Tape your 3rd and 4th toes together, really makes a massive difference to pain on the ball of your foot.

That dress is lovely! I would second an ankle strap or t-bar, particularly if you have slim ankles and can get away with it. Really helps to hold the weight off your toes & ball of foot.

Taping your toes together is an intriguing idea!

Am also intrigued. How does it work?

Nothing constructive to say, just staggered that people wear shoes that require insoles, toe-taping and ibuprofen. It makes me think of Victorian women fainting because of their tight corsets. I love pretty shoes, and heels, but I'd rather not go out than be in pain, you lot are very committed!

That's a word for it, I suppose.

Feet twisted into staggerers. Stomping along. Arse out for balance. Miserable face. Pretty , eh....