Heels are the love-hate story of women's fashion. We like what they do to a silhouette: the posture, the longer line, the way you walk. We do not like what they do to our feet after two hours.
The good news is that with the right pair and a few tricks, you can wear heels without suffering. Not all day like a runway model, because nobody can, models included, but long enough to enjoy the evening.
Picking the right height
Not everyone is built for twelve centimetres, and that is not a failing.
- 3-5 cm: the comfortable heel. You can walk, dance and get on with your day. Our low-heel court shoes sit here.
- 6-8 cm: the evening heel. It changes your posture without punishing you. Plan for a few sit-downs.
- 9-12 cm: the statement heel. For short appearances and photographs. Keep foldable flats in your bag.
Finding your own height
Sit down and stretch one leg out. Point your foot as far as it naturally goes. Measure the gap between the ball of your foot and your heel in that position. That is the heel height your anatomy is comfortable with.
Heel shapes, ranked by comfort
Block heel
The most comfortable of the lot. A wide contact surface, maximum stability. Right for anyone new to heels and for any day that involves real walking. Our block-heel Mary Janes are exactly that.
Wedge
Second place. The continuous sole spreads your weight across the whole foot. Ideal in summer with wedge sandals.
Stiletto
The best looking, the least forgiving. Save it for short occasions. One tip: choose a pair with a small platform under the toe. It cheats a centimetre or two and takes pressure off the ball of the foot.
Kitten heel
The slim 3-5 cm heel. Retro, sharp and surprisingly comfortable. Audrey Hepburn's heel of choice, which is endorsement enough.
How to make it hurt less
Before you leave
- Tape your third and fourth toes together, counting from the big toe. It takes pressure off the nerve that causes that burning pain across the ball of the foot. A backstage trick, and it works.
- Run an anti-friction stick over anywhere that tends to rub.
- Wear new heels around the house for thirty minutes a day, three days running, before they ever go outside.
During the evening
- Alternate. Twenty minutes standing, ten sitting.
- When you sit, slip them off under the table and move your toes.
- Walk on carpet or grass where you can. Hard floors send everything straight back up.
Afterwards
- Soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts for fifteen minutes.
- Roll a tennis ball under each foot for five minutes.
- Use a thick cream and put soft socks on overnight.
The other option: heels built to be worn
The real change is that more brands now put a cushioned insole in a heel. At VoltÉlan, our shoes are chosen for comfort as much as looks, because a beautiful shoe you never wear is not a good shoe.
See our comfortable heels. Looking good should not hurt.
