The How To’s of High Heels

Marylin Monroe once said:

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can rule the world”

Which is true! A fabulous pair of heels can make you feel like you can do anything. That’s why so many of us powerful women wear them.

But you know what? They are just crap for your body. I mean, have you seen Victoria Beckham’s feet? I heard a rumour that she can’t even put her foot flat on the ground any more because wearing heels has shortened her calf muscles so much. That can happen you know! As can foot arthritis, bunions, poor posture leading to back and shoulder pain and knee arthritis.

Suddenly those Jimmy Choos aren’t looking so flash…

But I still love a beautiful pair of high heeled shoes, and I know you do too, so I have some tips to make heel wearing a little more bearable.

• Don’t wear heels all the time – Thank God for Coco Chanel who made flats fashionable.

• Limit your heel time – You should only wear them for five hours of standing/walking at a time.

• Pick your heels – When buying shoes make sure they fit well and are not too tight or loose, so that they give you the best support possible.

• Change the types of heels you wear – Vary them between open toe, peep toe, kitten heel, stacked heel and wedges. Generally wedges put less strain on your body.

• Prepare your feet – Start by walking around the house for an hour or so, taking note of where your heels rub.

• Prepare your shoes – Make sure you have some grip on the soles of your shoes by roughing the soles on the driveway before you hop in the car.

• Teach yourself balance – Yoga is great for this, as you practice standing on one leg at a time.

• Exercise and stretch – Stretch your calves by standing on your tippy toes and then rocking back onto your heels.

• Get regular pedicures – Make sure that your nails are cleaned and clipped, so sharp nails don’t dig into your toes.

• Go barefoot – Once in a while, go and feel the sand between your toes.

• See a chiropractor – Shaking your hips and popping your bum out pulls your spine out of alignment and can cause nerve irritation and pain. A qualified chiropractor can keep you on the straight and narrow (posture-wise that is).