How high is too high?

[stablesong]

A fortnight ago, I lived in Birkenstocks and sneakers. Last week though, I purchased some 100mm stilettos to match my outfit for this family event, and am now enamoured with how tall I am how they look. The only problem with this newfound style addiction is that I can't seem to walk for more than 30 mins without my feet feeling like they're about to fall off!

Am I doing something wrong? Shoes fit perfectly so I don't think it's an issue with them being too big/small. Do I have to 'retrain' some mysterious new muscle group before these start feeling like the fabled 'comfortable pair of heels' I often hear people going on about?

You're not doing anything wrong, some people can walk easily in heels, but they are few.
I'd much rather be able to walk, run, dance.

One tip is to go up a half size to give more room and prevent rubbing and the other is to get those gel inserts for the balls of your feet- gives a bit of cushioning!

They affect your whole posture so its bound to take a while to adjust to them if you aren't used to them. I used to wear them regularly when I was younger but having ditched them apart from weddings a few years ago even my old comfy ones feel hideously uncomfortable now. I can't see me ever going back to them now.

Comfortable heels are a myth put about by women who have damaged their bodies to the extent that flatter shoes do feel wrong.

Do you see any women who are on their feet all day wearing heels? Nurses, waitresses, supermarkets, hairdressers? No - there’s a reason why

sigh I thought so. Am back in Birkenstocks as we speak but I do already miss being 4" taller (am only 5'2" unfortunately)!

I have found (no idea if it’s the same for anybody else) that the more weight I have put on the harder it is to walk in heels.

I do have a cheap pair of primark barely there heels - the ones with the strap across the toes and strap across the ankle in wide fit and I can actually wear them all night without pain.

Going from zero to 4 inch heels would be painful!! I only go for max 3inch now, I can't be doing with the hurt

I can do 3 inches max for a wedding type event - or 2.5 to walk in all day long. Agree with PP that when I'm lighter weight-wise, it makes a difference

I have block heel ankle boots with a comfortable sole that give me height but are easy to walk in.

Also I have wedge sandals that are high but much easier to walk in than eg stilettos would be.

Actually I never wear stilettos or high heeled court shoes. I don't need to. I have to wear flat shoes for work, can wear my block heeled ankle boots on days off & evenings out, also the wedges look good for summer evenings.
For nights out in winter I also like sandals with a block heel & slight platform on the sole - again you get the height but also they're comfortable.

Comfortable heels are a myth put about by women who have damaged their bodies to the extent that flatter shoes do feel wrong.

It's a bit unfair to say those who are more comfortable in high heels are stupid enough to have damaged themselves. I have unpreventable achilles tendonitis and Haglund's deformity on both heels. I can't wear flat shoes for an extended period unless they can accommodate my orthotic inserts, which most can't. It's easier and more comfortable for me to wear shoes with a high heel. There'll be loads of people like me who genuinely get relief from having their heel raised a couple of inches higher than the ball of their foot, whether they're aware of medical causes or not.

To answer the op - are you going to be walking in them for a fair distance, or will they be car to bar shoes? I'm just thinking you don't tend to put the miles in at family gatherings - a bit of standing still, milling about, maybe some dancing...

Am I doing something wrong ?

What apart from taking a very complex , weight bearing and dynamic structure , forcing it to function at an angle and alter the entire way iit hits the ground , goes through the gait cycle and reaches the propulsive toe off ?

No , can't think ..................... Would you take you spine and make it work at a 90 degree angle ? No.

There's a reason shoes are not transparent

Actually , completely flat shoes aren't brilliant either , most people walk better in 1" heel.

Anyone else getting this ad at the bottom of this thread....