Comfortable Soles

They say "Life is short, so eat dessert first;" however, I much prefer "Life is short, so no time to waste with sore feet."  We spend so much time on our feet that it is senseless to allow them to continually plague us with pain, blisters and bunions.  We can still be fashionable, but even more important, comfortable, as we are dancing the night away or running that marathon. 

 

 

 

First, we need to realize that comfortable shoes will cost more than uncomfortable shoes.  It is nearly impossible to find shoes that are healthy for our feet at places like the Dollar Store.  Once that is agreed upon, we can move on to the tips.

 

 

News-flash fellow divas, feet swell even if we don't want to admit that unsightly fact.  They can't help but to swell after a marathon trip around the mall.  We expect them to support our weight and more if you factor in the overloaded shopping bags of designer bargains and handbags.  So, do yourself a favor, save the shoe shopping for the end of the trip when feet are at their largest.  Also, don't be a fool and try to squeeze into a smaller size just because you've always been a 6.5.  Remember Cinderella and her stepsisters?  The two stepsisters tried to squeeze their feet into the glass slipper, but yet when Cinderella tried, it fit perfectly and she scored the handsome prince.

 

 

Who wants to walk down the street and here people snicker that Cruella de Vil is coming towards them?  That is exactly what pointy-toe shoes remind people of, or at least my mother.  I tried to be uber-trendy one year in my vanity phase and bought a pair of pointy-toe, black leather kitten heels and all my mother could think about when I wore them was "OMG, my daughter looks like Cruella."  Not the look I was going for, I tell you.  Seriously though, for our feet's sake, they don't want to be crammed into little tiny points.  Take a look at your feet, do you see toes that are squished together to form little triangles?  No, your toes have this natural arch to them and they quite like it.  Therefore, do them a favor and buy shoes that have a similarly-shaped toebox.  Trust me, your feet will thank you for that small gesture.

 

 

Always inspect the inside of the shoe.  Sure, the outside is cute and absolutely gorgous, but that means nothing if you can't wear them because they rub blisters on your heels.  Trust me, no one has ever complimented a diva on her cute shoes when said diva is hunched over and limping in pain down the sidewalk.  People notice the pained expression and remark on that, not the bejeweled footwear.  So, be aware of exposed seams and rough leather that can easily damage the sensitive parts of our feet like the heels and the sides of our small pinky toes.  And if the pair in question is a painful must-have shoe, then there is always the infamous moleskin we can use to pad the troublesome areas.  But shh... don't tell anyone that secret...

 

 

Contrary to popular belief, all flats are not created equal.  While these darling shoes are incredibly versatile and chic, they are also the number one suspect when looking for the cause of painful arches.  If we were made to walk around without arch support, we might as well save our money for the new Vera Wang dress or the new Gucci handbag and just walk barefoot.

 

 

Skyscraper heels aka stilettos are just evil.  I promise you they were invented by men who would never dream of wearing such an excruciating shoe, but yet insist that their women do in order to look sexy and alluring.  Stilettos ask for the brave (or insane) women who wear these shoes to place all of their body weight on the tiny, sensitive metatarsel often causing the build-up or callouses in an attempt to help cushion the foot from the repetitive pounding.  Sprained ankles are another reality for those who tempt fate.  And broken ankles and sprained knees, and hip problems-- the list just goes on and on.  To put it simply, these shoes are just bad-- enough said.  However, thank goodness for revolving fashions.  Platform sandals and wedges are back in style.  These certainly offer an alternative to the aforementioned injury-inducing stilettos.

 

So with everything said ladies, the ultimate secret to picking out comfortable shoes is to know your feet.  If you have no arches, then flats may work, however, if you have high arches, then please please get a pair that offer adequate support.  If your heels are super-sensitive and easily get blisters, find pairs that fit well and don't slip up and down.  It's not as hard as it may seem to be fashionable, but yet foot smart and comfortable.  Remember the goal here is to walk up-right and show off our glamorous shoes, not doubled over in pain or on crutches from a freak accident.

 

 

 

Through many years of trial and error and numerous blisters, I've concluded I have "European feet."  Most of my favorite pairs are from Spain and Portugal, but there are a few USA shoes that have made the top 5 list.  In no particular order they are...

 

 

Pikolinos This pair is made from the softest leather ever.  A classic design, with a comfortable kitten heel.

   

Dansko's "Sally" A dressy version of their Professional clog. Perfect for a pair of trousers, skirt or dark denim jeans.

 

Merrell's "Plaza Bandeau" One of the best shoes ever.  Thick tread, so no fear of slipping, plus beautifully crafted to match everything from casual to dressy.

 

Some places online that sell these fabulously comfortable shoes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stimpert, Desiree.  "Comfortable Shoes:  Six Secrets to Finding Comfortable Shoes."  About.com.  Retrieved on 30 January 2009, from http://shoes.about.com/od/comfortable_shoes/qt/comfort_shoes.htm.

 

 

 

Billie Matthews, consultant

William Matthews, photographer 

 

For more information about feet and how to take care of them, please visit http://www.apma.org, the American Podiatric Medical Association.