LondonDiva
2008-05-21, 07:54 PM
These steps are for leather shoes.....
If like me you love your 4+ inch heels and the thought of discomfort puts you off then hopefully these 3 steps should help ease up on the pain, and make you feel like you are wearing slippers when you're 4 inches in the air.
Whenever I can I always buy a platform shoe. They are more comfortable and reduce the amount of pressure on the front of the foot compared to regular pumps/stilettos where with every step you take the impact between the sole of your shoe and the ground can be painful/uncomfortable over time.
**disclaimer....these are not my shoes, they would never grace my closet**
Platform Shoe
http://www.shoewawa.com/colehaan-D24213_A.jpg
Non-Platform shoe
http://www.shoewawa.com/finsk%20cadeira%20shoe%20sandal%20faith.JPG
OK forget breaking in shoes yourself, it's so yesterday, walking around the house and getting blisters, then throwing the shoes to the back of the closet because you can't bear to go through that again for the sake of another mark on your foot.
1. Start with some Shoe stretch spray on the inside of the toe area of the shoes.
http://www.youreableshop.co.uk/modules/shop/images/DR1200.jpg
2. Invest and I state invest in a good shoe stretcher. If you're willing to pay hundreds and thousands over time £20 for 1 stretcher isn't going to hurt the bank. And yep they usually sell these in 1's so be prepared to have to pay for 2 seperate shoe stretchers. Place them firmly inside the shoe and stretch them, but don't overdo it, with the help of the spray they will gently ease up. Leave these in overnight. If you find the stretch isn't enough this can always be repeated.
http://www.dales-shoes.com/shoecare/Stretcher.jpg
Boot Stretcher
http://www.shoestretchers.com/stretchers/instepwood.jpg
3. OK so you maybe able to put your foot in the shoe, but the comfort when walking and your feet sliding around in the middle may cause calluses, blisters over time and the last thing you want to do is look like you can't handle the heels. I see women hobbling all the time and it's straight up embarrassing.
So these in particular I recommend as the coverage in the shoe is good and they feel heavenly once your foot is on them in the shoes.
Dr Scholl Party Feet Gel Insoles to go at the front of the foot
http://www.schollfootcare.co.uk/images/products/10026856/large.jpg
And the gel heel cushions for the back
http://www.schollfootcare.co.uk/images/products/10027114/large.jpg
They are reuseable and washable. Other ladies may recommend other shoe inserts like foot petals, I haven't used that brand so can't recommend it. I've used a knock of Dr Scholl brand before and thought that was good till I tried the original and found that in comparison the other one was pure and utter crap.
Now for some this maybe a standard shoe routine for others they may have never thought to do this to make their shoes bearable to walk in. I've done this over the past few days on 7 pairs of new shoes and some went from cutting off my circulation to floating on air slippers. I'm a size 11 and even with the gel inserts it's still comfortable.
Happy Heel trotting Ladies. :grin:
If like me you love your 4+ inch heels and the thought of discomfort puts you off then hopefully these 3 steps should help ease up on the pain, and make you feel like you are wearing slippers when you're 4 inches in the air.
Whenever I can I always buy a platform shoe. They are more comfortable and reduce the amount of pressure on the front of the foot compared to regular pumps/stilettos where with every step you take the impact between the sole of your shoe and the ground can be painful/uncomfortable over time.
**disclaimer....these are not my shoes, they would never grace my closet**
Platform Shoe
http://www.shoewawa.com/colehaan-D24213_A.jpg
Non-Platform shoe
http://www.shoewawa.com/finsk%20cadeira%20shoe%20sandal%20faith.JPG
OK forget breaking in shoes yourself, it's so yesterday, walking around the house and getting blisters, then throwing the shoes to the back of the closet because you can't bear to go through that again for the sake of another mark on your foot.
1. Start with some Shoe stretch spray on the inside of the toe area of the shoes.
http://www.youreableshop.co.uk/modules/shop/images/DR1200.jpg
2. Invest and I state invest in a good shoe stretcher. If you're willing to pay hundreds and thousands over time £20 for 1 stretcher isn't going to hurt the bank. And yep they usually sell these in 1's so be prepared to have to pay for 2 seperate shoe stretchers. Place them firmly inside the shoe and stretch them, but don't overdo it, with the help of the spray they will gently ease up. Leave these in overnight. If you find the stretch isn't enough this can always be repeated.
http://www.dales-shoes.com/shoecare/Stretcher.jpg
Boot Stretcher
http://www.shoestretchers.com/stretchers/instepwood.jpg
3. OK so you maybe able to put your foot in the shoe, but the comfort when walking and your feet sliding around in the middle may cause calluses, blisters over time and the last thing you want to do is look like you can't handle the heels. I see women hobbling all the time and it's straight up embarrassing.
So these in particular I recommend as the coverage in the shoe is good and they feel heavenly once your foot is on them in the shoes.
Dr Scholl Party Feet Gel Insoles to go at the front of the foot
http://www.schollfootcare.co.uk/images/products/10026856/large.jpg
And the gel heel cushions for the back
http://www.schollfootcare.co.uk/images/products/10027114/large.jpg
They are reuseable and washable. Other ladies may recommend other shoe inserts like foot petals, I haven't used that brand so can't recommend it. I've used a knock of Dr Scholl brand before and thought that was good till I tried the original and found that in comparison the other one was pure and utter crap.
Now for some this maybe a standard shoe routine for others they may have never thought to do this to make their shoes bearable to walk in. I've done this over the past few days on 7 pairs of new shoes and some went from cutting off my circulation to floating on air slippers. I'm a size 11 and even with the gel inserts it's still comfortable.
Happy Heel trotting Ladies. :grin: