Heels in everyday life?

Runemist34 started this discussion · 12/4/2012

Hey ladies! I must admit something... I love shoes. High heels, specifically. They're just... beautiful, like a work of art, and I love them! However, I have this odd dilemma. While I recognize that I can, eventually, get used to a pair of high heeled shoes, they still hurt and make walking difficult for a lengthy amount of time. I've only really gotten used to one pair of shoes, and those are my sexy boots- the heel is about two inches or so. Also, I have a little big of a height worry... in that I'm already 5'7" and if I wear six inch heels, that makes me about 6'1" and that's... quite tall! So, should I worry about this height issue? Should I care about being super tall, or should I just wear the shoes because they're beautiful and make me happy? And, anyone have tips for making heels a little more comfortable and easier to walk around in?

12 replies

Cherished · 12/4/2012
I love heels. I've noticed since pole dancing I've become more comfortable in higher heels. For me finding comfy shoes is a hit and miss. Try wearing them around the house as soon as you get them so you can see if your feet will start to hurt or not and if you should return them. You can try styles with a bit of a platform in them to take the edge off. Also being 6'1" in gorgeous heels is nothing to avoid :) You should totally show yourself off!
CapFeb · 12/4/2012
I'm 5'10" and am only ever seen without heels when I'm going to work (going to be in stripper shoes all day long, don't want to be in them on my way home.) I set up some rules for shoe buying. I will only buy the shoe if it fits. No, "aw, I'll just use shoe strecth at home." No, "I'll grow into it." It has to fit. And it has to be comfy at the store. If I can't walk around the store looking at other things thinking, "SOMEONE CUT MY FEET OFF, THIS IS BS." Or, "this isn't that comfortable." Then I won't buy that pair. You can use th gel insoles, although its been said certain toe configurations will make heels less comfortable. When I was engaged my fiance would always get mad when I wore heels because barefoot we were the same size. 3 years of tennis gave me legs of a goddess, and heels always made me feel better about my feet (hhaaaattteee feet. Anyone's feet.) If he didn't respect my wish to be extra sexy, or wear a pair of shoes that matched, screw him. And screw anyone else who thinks my beautiful legs make me "too tall". I've heard "too fat" and "too skinny". But longer legs make the illusion of better lines, right? Embrace them!
Danielle Tillie · 12/4/2012
Also you can practice walking in heels and putting as much of your weight as possible in your heels. It's common for ladies to walk in heels with the weight on the balls of the feet. That will make your toes and metatarsal bones ache. It feels weird at first, but you have to shift your weight back. I love the gel inserts as well. They are comfy and help keep my foot from sliding forward in the shoe.
luvlee · 12/4/2012
I also am 5'7. I will not wear any taller than 6 invh heels and sometimes feel like an amazon, but oh well. The pole dance shoes are more comfortable than regular heels, to me anyway. They even have arch support. It is amazing. I have to wear the ugliest shoes in real life because I have lower back and foot arch issues and I can not wear regular heels. The pole dance heels are padded in all the right places. I agree that gel insoles are a great way to go. I have them on every pair of shoes I own.
JeHanne · 12/4/2012
I don't wear heels in everyday life, my go to shoe is a flat. Only when dancing do I wear heels. I am 5' 8" and have taken to 7.5 - 8 inchers. Makes me very tall but I love it. I feel the larger heel is more propotional to my height. I've never had anyone tell me I'm 'too tall'. People seem to really like it. Also keep in mind many runway models are 5'11" without shoes and they wear sky high heels. Confidence and comfort in your skin (heel or not) will really set you apart and make you look great. It takes trial and error to find the right shoe for you. Each brand is different and each shoe in a brand can wear differently. Insoles can help a little bit. Be really careful driving in heels. If it's over 2" I won't drive in it. That goes for wedges too. They make little slip on flats you can wear when driving and then can put your heels on when you get where you are going. I know... I know... me and my 'safety first'. ha ha. Those little slip on flats also help if your heels are hurting you too bad and you need a break.
CapFeb · 12/4/2012
I agree with JeHanne. I won't drive in shoes that aren't safe for driving. That includes flip flops! Flats and tennis shoes are the only shoes I will drive in. The officer can deal with my gross feet if he wants to pull me over, because I'm not wearing heels if i'm driving :<
JeHanne · 12/4/2012
I know what you mean CapFeb... I won't drive in flip flops either. Or ride a bike in them. :)
Runemist34 · 12/5/2012
JeHanne, I actually don't drive cars. On the safety idea... well, in my mind, a car is a giant killing machine that I WILL eventually hit someone with. So, every time I try to drive I sort of have an anxiety attack. But back to shoes! I've got a couple of really nice pairs of shoes, and some of them have insoles in them. But, I have noticed that my toes and everything really start hurting, so perhaps I'll work on leaning more weight on my heels, instead! That would be such a big help! And yeah, I'm pretty picky with the size and fit of my shoes- of all my clothing, really. If it doesn't fit, I won't wear it, so I don't buy it! I'm quite picky... but when I do find something, I'll love it forever :) Thank you so much, ladies :) If you have any other suggestions on comfort, I would love to hear them!
Lee lee · 12/5/2012
I've never been able to wear heels until I started poling. Actually I could, but I have weaker ankles and they just start hurting so much. Oddly enough, I've found that I love dancing with heels and have been trying to wear them more outside of the studio. Since you live in Canada, have you checked to see if you have any coverage through work for orthotics? If you get a podiatrist to make insoles that are especially tailored to your feet, that might help with the toe pain. I've never had them made for heels, but have for runners and work shoes and it helped a lot when I used to be on my feet all the time.
aliceBheartless · 12/5/2012
Don't worry about the height issue. Tall confident beautiful women are awesome! I am 5'9" and like 7" heel best, though I do have some 8" heels for dancing as well. I also love high heels. I have a collection of them. And its been that way since I was in high school! The funny thing is... I don't often dance in them because I don't take the time to get used to them, but I love what they look like. I also dont drive in heels or flip flops. Barefeet or running shoes only! But I really only started doing that in when I drive a manual transmission.
portableninja · 12/5/2012
I'd say, go ahead and wear whatever shoes make you feel fabulous. My good friend is 5'9" and loves heels. She towers over certain men when she wears them, but I've never heard anyone complain. I think it just makes her look like a supermodel! As for me, I have always worn flats until very recently. I'm like Verticali - I have weak ankles because I never wore heels before pole dancing, but pole has helped to strengthen them. A lot of it came from growing up as the only girl in the family aside from my mother, who wears sneakers or flip flops every day. I tend to lean towards comfort since I love to walk, but as I've begun to dress more girly, I've learned how important it is to wear heels with certain outfits (especially skirts.) Wearing a skirt with ballet flats or flip flops just makes my legs look so stubby! I started out with low wedges and I've been trying to introduce higher heels over time. Another problem was that I was always buying cheap heels, which produced blisters and a lot of pain in my feet and knees because they were not properly angled or balanced. So that discouraged me from wearing them. But after getting into heels through pole, I finally splurged on my first pair of expensive everyday heels: Kate Spade Karolinas in black patent leather. I got them on sale for about $160, they normally retail for around $300. Man... I cannot believe what a difference it makes wearing well made, well balanced heels. Suddenly I don't feel like I'm going to die - I can actually walk in them. I added gel insoles and now they are nearly perfect. I'd rather have one pair of good heels than 10 cheap pairs from Payless or Target.
Runemist34 · 12/5/2012
Portableninja- Wow, good to know that about the ways of cheap versus expensive heels! I might have to start doing a little bit of replacing ;) Y'know, one day, when I have the money! I've been creeping various websites, looking at the "every day" heels that Ellie and Pleaser make, and I have to say... some of them are fabuolous! I've got a bunch of them bookmarked. Those steampunk heels will be mine one day soon >_> Verticali- While I do live in Canada, unfortunately the company I'm with is American, and quite cheap when it comes to health coverage. I don't think Orthotics are even on the list! I'll double check though, because that is an amazing idea that I totally hadn't thought of. I don't know if I have weaker ankles or anything, though I do know that every now and then they just fall apart on me. Good thing I'm flexible and can bend that way! Else I'd have cracked my feet off a few times now :P But, I understand how it goes. We just gotta work on it ;) Thank you so much ladies, you've all been so supportive and encouraging me into my heel fetish ;) I'm going to try to wear more and more as time goes on. It should also help me to not wear out my work shoes quite as badly! :)