A Guide to High Heels

Platform, stiletto, chunky, or wedge, I couldn’t live without my heels. 

I’ve hiked through Tuscany (in the rain) wearing a trusty pair of platform Zara Mary-Janes, given 4-hour walking tours of downtown Los Angeles in 6 inch wedges, and even trekked about Disneyland wearing a pair of my favorite pointy-toed pumps. I’m crazy, I know, but I wouldn’t have worn the heels if I wasn’t going to be able to handle them. (Except for the hike through Tuscany. That was completely unexpected, okay?!) 

Being a size 5, it’s difficult for me to find shoes in stores. Though I’d love to prance about the shoe department and try shoes on, I’ve turned to online shopping out of necessity. I can look through pages and pages of styles and options and tell you which ones will most likely abuse you and which ones will treat you right. But, regardless of how trendy the shoe is and how great it looks in pictures, it all comes down to how the shoe fits, Cinderella.

When it comes to choosing a good pair of heels, I don’t care how cute it is, comfort is most important. I’ve learned that the hard, painful way, and now I try my hardest not to be the girl who complains about her aching feet. What’s the point of wearing a shoe if you can’t stand in it? There are definitely ways to stay stylish while making sure your feet aren’t killing you.

Two things to remember when you’re looking for heels:

1. Buy good shoes, and 2. Pad them up with good insoles. 

So, what constitutes a “good shoe”? A good shoe is a shoe with the following attributes:

1. A platform — to absorb the shock of each step. However, you must make sure that the platform is proportional to the height of the heel! No one wants to spend the whole night on their tippy-toes! (Elizabeth and James ’Mason’, $166.99 - Zappos.com)

2. Leather lining and insole, if possible — leather molds better to the foot, lasts longer, and smells MUCH better in the long run. If leather isn’t an option, then at least make sure the lining and insole are made of fabric and not cardboard or paper. 

3. A good arch that aligns with my own— Shoes with good arches (and you’ll feel them fit into place when you put the shoe on) last longer and feel better. A good arch helps to distribute your weight evenly and prevents your feet from slipping around in the shoe. (My current every-day heels, pictured above: Nine West ‘Around Town’, Orig. $99 - now $29.70 - Ninewest.com)

4. A heel that’s higher than 2 inches — Kitten heels and heels lower than two inches can strain your ankles and be uncomfortable, even if the height isn’t as daunting. A little bit of a higher heel is better, especially for your muscles. 

5. A pointier toe box — Your toes will get smashed up against the front of the shoe, so I don’t often wear round toe shoes. Pointier toe boxes will feel better, allowing your toes some space to move, while making your legs look longer. (Sam Edelman ‘Novato’, $69.99 - Zappos.com)