Strutting In High Heels: 10 Things To Help You Rock Those Stilettoes Minus The Pain

No matter what sort of height we are blessed with, we’ve all wanted to look taller. As Al Pacino once said, “Vanity is my favourite sin.” Wearing high heels not only makes one look taller, but enhances the posture in such a way that it makes the female form even more attractive. And of course, how good does it make us feel, Ladies?? Though some might argue, it’s too much of a bother to bear the pain.

Pain? What pain? After all, pain is a part and parcel of fashion, right? Anyhow. Deceiving yourself into not feeling the burning sensation below your feet, or the sheer discomfort of bending your feet at crazy angles is one thing to survive a long night of looking fabulous in them.

But there’s always an alternative. That’s why, we bring to you, ten simple things you can do to minimize the discomfort and handle them Louboutins like a pro. Sure, you know the basics of wearing heels, but we bring to you things no one usually tells you about handling high heels.

Thank us later.

1. Tape your toes together

Club the base of your third and fourth toes together (counting from the big toe) and tape them up. There is a nerve running between the metatarsals, or long bones, of these two toes which is responsible majorly for the pain caused in the feet while wearing heels. This is due to bending of the feet and a lot of the body weight falling on the ball of each foot. Binding the two toes together can help reduce a large part of that pain. Give it a try.

2. Wear gel insoles/inserts

Gel Insoles

Gel Inserts

Gel insoles are great for giving the feet a cushioning effect. No matter how hard the sole of the shoe may be, the insole lets your foot feel comfortable and snug. They keep the toes from getting squished together at the front, and so can minimize the chance of getting shoe-bites.

If you choose to wear gel inserts, you’re doing your feet a big favour! They help to keep the ball of the foot in place and not slide here and there. And the best part about them- they can be interchanged amongst all your shoes! One can find a variety of inserts nowadays that can be placed at any of the pressure points below the feet in order to make one’s experience in heels as comfortable as possible.

3. Or make inserts out of bubble wrap

If you’re having a hard time finding gel insoles, or find them too expensive, create your own make-shift ones! Take a broad strip of bubble-wrap and fold it once in half (or twice, if you want a thicker cushion) with the bubble surface folded inwards. Place it in the shoe where the balls of your feet should be and try them on.

If this does the trick for you, get creative and make some more inserts in different sizes to place behind your heel (if the back of the shoe is bothering you), a thin one under your heel (if the sole is too hard), or even thin bits around your toes (if it is a closed shoe and you’re prone to shoe bites).

Believe you me, it makes life a heck of a lot easier! And what’s more- it costs nothing!

4. Wear Peds

Fancy Peds

Partial Peds

Peds, or foot covers are thin, elasticized sock like things which cover the base and areas around the foot. Some are made to even cover just the toes or a specific section of the foot. They cover the areas of the foot that are usually covered by the shoe (mostly if it is a closed shoe). They prevent shoe bites and blisters and can make the whole fit of the shoe more comfortable.

5. Sit often

Take regular break, even if it is to stand in one place. Avoid walking for long durations of time. It just adds to the discomfort, and eventually to pain in the feet and legs.

6. Avoid flat front sole heels

The elevated front gives better height, reduces the angle and cushions the ball of the foot

Front elevated heels

If you have to wear your heels for a long time, choose a pair that has an elevated front sole. What these shoes do is, add a thick layer of sole beneath the balls of your feet, so that there’s enough space between them and the hard, relentless ground. Secondly, due to the elevated front, the angle that your foot is having to bend in order to raise the heel of your foot to a certain height, is reduced substantially. When the foot doesn’t have to bend that much, it strains less; thus keeping your feet, and you, happier for longer. And the best part- it adds a little more height than regular, flat front sole heels would.

7. Stand straight and tall

Stand up tall, keep your spine erect and walk with confidence. Not only does it add to your overall look, but helps your legs and spine have a cordial relationship while there’s a huge possibility of war because of the newly-worn stilettoes. Keeping your posture right ensures long-term health of the bones and muscles in your back and shoulders, along with your legs. At the same time, it reduces the discomfort in your legs and feet because of your shoes.

8. Loosen them up before you break them in

A simple hack to loosen up tight shoes is to put the shoes on wearing thick wool socks, and to heat up the sides using a hair-dryer. Do this for about 10 minutes, and your shoes will be just the right size for your feet, helping you avoid blisters.

9. Get heels with a good back support

To be able to walk comfortable, your heels need to fit perfectly. In order for them to fit well, they must support the back of the foot. The region between the heel and the ankle, and the whole portion behind that must have a covering that is sturdy and holds the heel of the foot firmly, ensuring that the shoe doesn’t wobble or become loose at any given point of time. If you’re wearing sandals, make sure the strap at the back holds the foot firmly and your feet don’t slip off the shoe (or spill out) from anywhere.

10. Avoid walking on slippery floors

Yes, we know that you obviously don’t get to choose what kind of floor you’ll be walking on. But, if by some chance you have an option between walking on vitrified tiles and marble, choose the latter. When the ground is slippery, one tends to use more effort while walking by clenching their toes each time they take a step. One may not always do this consciously, but it does happen to everyone. So if that’s the case, one ends up spending more energy and gets tired faster than usual, also resulting in fatigue in the calves.

Image Source: Flickr