What are the nuances to consider in order to choose comfortable shoes with heels. High heels: learning to wear Optimal heel height for every day

If you move the Mary Jane strap from the rise to the ankle and add a vertical one, you get a model of tango shoes (tango shoes). The shoes have a closed high heel, a heel and are complemented by a T-strap or criss-cross straps at the instep. The history of the model began in the 1910s, when tango was actively conquering Europe and the USA. Passionate movements and forbidden public frankness attracted everyone's attention to the dance. There were tango evenings, dance schools and professional pairs of dancers. The shoe industry began producing special shoes that were comfortable, soft, stable, and at the same time kept their feet perfectly even during passionate steps.

Today, these shoes are still danced in tango, but they are also worn in everyday life. The meaning of the straps has long been forgotten, they have become a decoration of the model, emphasizing the instep, ankle and beautifully shaping the foot.

Glove shoes

Glove shoes, comparable in softness to Czech shoes, are the heroes of the spring-summer season 2017. The shoes got the name glove (English gloves) for the softness of the material from which they are sewn. Thin elastic leather, comparable in softness to glove, makes shoes unprecedentedly comfortable. By landing on the leg, glove shoes can only be compared with Czechs - shoes in which gymnasts and dancers train. In addition to the softest material, glove shoes are distinguished by the absence of a rigid form: a toe cap, heels and other “frame” details. Read more in our material.

Oxfords

Oxfords (oxford shoes) - shoes with closed lacing, in which the side parts of the boot (boots) are sewn to the main part (sock) with a single seam. Even with the laces untied, the oxfords keep their shape, expanding in the tongue area by just a couple of centimeters.
Oxfords came to the women's wardrobe from the men's, sometimes appearing in the original masculine form, and sometimes in a feminine, sophisticated format.

Derby

Derby (derby shoes) - shoes with open lacing, in which the side parts (berets) are sewn to the main (sock) with a short side seam. The model is easy to put on: when the laces are untied, the side parts diverge freely to the sides. According to our subjective observations, derby low shoes are more common in women's wardrobe than Oxford low shoes.

brogues

Monkey

Monks (monks, monkstraps) - low shoes without lacing, in which the side buckles play the role of fasteners. Literally translated from English, "monkstraps" means "buckles of monks." They owe their appearance to monks who wore comfortable shoes with buckles instead of laces.

loafers

Loafers (loafers) - shoes that combine the top without lacing with the sole of the shoe. Several varieties of loafers give room for imagination, so shoes are one of the most popular in both men's and women's wardrobes. Depending on the decorative elements and the shape of the top, they are divided into penny loafers, loafers with a buckle, tassels, fringe, Venetian, Belgian and slippers.

Penny loafers
Penny loafers (penny loafers) - a model, complemented by a leather strip with a slot. According to legend, students used this decor for their own purposes: they inserted a penny coin into the slot for good luck, from which the name “penny loafers” came from.

Loafers with buckle
Buckle loafers originated in the 1930s, when the Italian designer Gucci added a snaffle-shaped buckle to a regular model, a piece of horse harness. Loafers with a buckle loafers (buckle - “buckle”) have the second name “Gucci loafers” after their creator. Modern versions rethink the snaffle: instead, you can find decoration in the form of a bamboo stick, a spiral and just a chain.

Tassel loafers
Tassel loafers owe their appearance to American actor Paul Lucas, who, on one of his trips abroad, was fascinated by tassels on loafers. The tassel loafers were promoted worldwide by Ivy League students, for whom tassel loafers became an unspoken uniform, fitting perfectly into the school-student style of preppy.

Loafers with fringes
Kilt loafers (kiltie loafers) - a model that is decorated with a wide leather fringe. Loafers are named kilts by analogy with the Scottish national skirt, which is vaguely reminiscent of leather stripes. The fringe of kilts can be complemented with a buckle, tassel or be an independent detail.

Belgian loafers
Belgian loafers (belgian loafers) - a model decorated with a small bow. This detail was added by designer Henry Bendel, and he borrowed the form from Belgian shoemakers, from whom he learned the craft.

Venetian loafers
Venetian loafers are a model that is distinguished by the complete absence of jewelry. They are called "Venetian" for their resemblance to the laconic form of the Venetian gondoliers. In appearance, they are similar to sleepers, but do not have a pronounced tongue shape.

Sleepers
Slippers (slippers) - shoes with a classic loafer sole and a soft top without decorations, often made of velvet or tweed. The protruding tongue with rounded edges can be decorated with embossed or embroidered monograms.

Deserts

Desert boots - ankle-high boots made of suede, nubuck or leather with rubber soles. The name is due to the British soldiers who fought in them in the sands of Egypt during World War II, as well as to Nathan Clark, who established their production in peaceful conditions under the Clarks brand, after which this species is often called simply clarks. A distinctive feature - two holes for lacing on each side. If there are more of them, then the boots from deserts turn into chakka.

Chakka

Chukka, chukka (chukka boots) - ankle-high boots made of suede, nubuck or leather. The name "chakka" comes from the term "chakker" - the period of the game of polo. Unlike deserts, chakkas can have any number of lacing holes. A characteristic difference between chukka boots is the leather sole.

Chelsea

Chelsea (chelsea boots) - boots above the ankle with low heels with rubber inserts on the sides. Elastic inserts allow the boot to maintain a narrow ankle shape without the need for zippers and lacing. In a women's wardrobe, low-heeled chelsea boots often become a minimalist style element in combination with skinny jeans and a leather jacket. Ankle boots with heels can also be equipped with an elastic band, which gives us the right to call them Chelsea ankle boots.

Moccasins

Moccasins (moccasins) - shoes without lacing on a soft rubber sole (without a heel) or leather with rubber studded inserts. A distinctive feature of moccasins is a protruding seam on the upper part of the shoe, often with an external overlay. The women's version of moccasins practically does not differ from the men's, so they can be called unisex shoes.

Topsiders

Topsiders (topsiders, boat shoes) - yachtsmen's shoes with corrugated non-slip soles with a lace around the heel. The name comes from topside - upper deck. The lacing runs dotted along the edge of the upper to ensure a secure fit on the foot: the comfort and safety of the sailor on wet decks are the main requirements. Historically, the sole of topsiders was white, which did not leave marks on the snow-white deck of the yacht, but today you can find models of various colors, since white has lost its functional purpose. Like moccasins, boat shoes do not differ in their appearance in men's and women's versions, therefore they are also a unisex model.

Slipons

Not to be confused with sleepers! Slip-ons (slip-on) - a sports model with a smooth top without lacing and a flat rubber sole. The top can be made of textile or leather, on the side there are rubber inserts that provide convenience and speed of putting on. Shoes are universal in men's and women's versions, so neutral-colored models, if available, can be bought in any catalog.

Espadrilles

Espadrilles (espadrilles) - shoes with a fabric or leather upper on a woven jute sole. The authentic blend of jute and canvas has moved from cheap plantation workers' shoes to movie star wardrobes. Espadrilles inspired creative and free-thinking people, including Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn and Manolo Blahnik. Yves Saint Laurent added a jute platform to the espadrilles to give us one of our favorite summer pairs, wedges.

Wellingtons

Rubber boots without fasteners - wellington boots - owe their name to their creator, the British commander Arthur Wellesley Wellington. The first models were sewn from their soft leather, and they became rubber only after the invention of rubber and obtaining a patent for the production of shoes from it. After surviving two world wars, the Wellingtons take on their immortal form, which is Green Hunter high green boots from Hunter Boot Ltd. Captivating story of world conquest, and use Kate Moss in Wellingtons from the Coachella festivals as inspiration for every day.

moon rovers

Moon boots (moon boots) - boots and semi-boots, reminiscent of snowboard boots. The name came to mind of the creator, Italian Giancarlo Zanata, when he saw a poster of astronauts returning from the moon. The history of the creation of unusual shoes for earthly astronauts. Distinctive features of the moonboots are a straight heel line, a thick sole and a super-volume nylon upper. The right and left shoes do not differ from each other, a fixing lace is threaded from above. The popularity of "moon boots" was so high that the brand name became a household name, giving a name to a whole type of footwear.

Readings

Riding boots - riding boots - come from a time when riding was an indispensable skill. Riding boots were made of soft dense leather, which served for a long time and at the same time gave the rider the opportunity to control the horse by lightly squeezing its sides. The right to a women's pair of riding boots was earned by the first female travelers who abandoned the uncomfortable women's saddle in favor of a practical men's saddle. Modern women's readings can be with low heels or with stilettos, in the latter version, retaining only a distant resemblance to the original. In the wardrobe, readings are organic in combination with leggings and a voluminous top.

Jackbuts

The prototype of jackboots is army riding boots. Wartime made its demands on shoes, therefore, unlike soft readings, jackboots were reinforced with a metal lining - chain mail sewn into the walls of the boot. The reinforced top was designed to protect against injuries and wounds in battle, and to control the horse, the boot was supplemented with a belt with a spur on the top. During the Second World War, jackboots became part of the uniform of the German troops, so they still evoke associations with aggression and military style. One of the more rough and aggressive forms of boots, which some designers, such as Rick Owens, play spectacularly on.

Jodhpur

Jodhpur boots - Ankle-length boots with round toes, low heels, fitted with straps at the tops. Designed for riding, boots were fastened to the feet with straps and buckles wrapped around the ankle. If you remove the straps, replacing them with an elastic insert, the boots will turn into a Chelsea. In its original form, the strap on jodhpurs wraps around the ankle and is fastened with a buckle to the outside of the boot.

The boots are named after the city of Jaipur (India). In 1897, an Indian polo team led by the son of the Maharaja of Jaipur competed at the races in honor of Queen Victoria's jubilee. The players were dressed in national costumes, which included churidar trousers and short boots with straps. The English society appreciated the exotic shoe novelty and replaced their high boots with short jodhpurs, combining them with the usual English breeches. In addition to convenience, the new uniforms were much cheaper to manufacture, as they required less leather. Today, jodhpurs may have variations with one or more straps that play a decorative role.

Winclippers

Winklepickers are pointy-toed shoes that were all the rage in the 90s and have made a comeback this season. The closest ancestors of the beloved pointed boats are pulins, funny shoes with long toes from 15th century engravings, the legend of which you can read in ours. Medieval shoes acquired their modern look in the middle of the 20th century on the wave of the teddy-boy style. Then the pools get their new name - winklippers, by association with a long needle for taking out snails from shells (English winkle - snail).

clogs

Sabo (sabo) - shoes with an open heel on a thick sole. The canonical clog models have a molded platform with a heel and resemble wooden blocks. The progenitors of clogs are Dutch and French wooden shoes. The high sole was supposed to protect the feet from water, manure and fish hooks. The first cheap clogs were carved from a single piece of wood, stuffed with straw for cushioning, and worn with thick socks. Today, any shoe with an open heel with a heel is referred to as a clog, but we still suggest limiting this type of shoe to a massive sole, one-piece or with a stable heel. The toe of the model can be both open and closed.

Mules

The name "mules" (mules) did not appear yesterday, but we learned about it. Mules entered the European fashion in 1694, when the Countess D'Olonne appeared at the church service in bright red brocade mules with a neat heel. A little later, both the famous Madame de Pompadour and Queen Marie Antoinette herself began to wear frivolous shoes in public. Centuries later, at the suggestion of Marilyn Monroe, mules became an integral part of pin-up looks, and today, laconic options with a wide leather top strip have entered the everyday wardrobe. More elegant than clogs, but just as comfortable, mules pair equally well with dresses, jeans and minimalist culottes.

grandmothers

Babushi (babouches) - soft shoes without a heel and without a heel, a kind of leather house slippers. Homeland - the African continent, where slippers without a back were made of textiles. In the hippie era of the 60s, grandmothers came into the fashion wardrobe, fitting into the philosophy of freedom and closeness to nature. A distinctive feature of the species is the heel, which is not only absent in the design of the shoe, but, as if worn out, is laid inside. Grandmothers can be leather, textile, woven straw and combined.

Roman sandals

The oldest shoes for areas with a hot climate - Ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean. The flat sandals of the Roman Empire (roman sandals) were a versatile unisex shoe. The cork sole was attached to the feet with leather or woven straps that literally tied the sole to the feet. Today, sandals are open shoes with a flat sole or platform, which are kept on the feet with straps or laces.

gladiators

Flat sandals with straps fastening at the ankle and around the calf, down to the knee. Gladiators (gladiator sandals, gladiators) were the shoes of Roman gladiators - arena fighters and warriors of the Roman Empire. Gladiators transformed the idea of Roman sandals, reinforcing the latter with nails on the soles and longer straps that wrapped not only the foot, but also the shin up to the knee, keeping the shoes securely on the feet during fights and long-distance transitions. In the days of the hippies, gladiators came into fashion in an updated elegant format - with thin leather laces wrapped around the shins. Today, you can find variations on the theme of gladiators, such as high-heeled sandals that are held on to the feet with satin ribbons or leather laces.

Birkenstocks

Birkenstock sandals are orthopedic sandals named after the German brand Birkenstock. Shoes appeared thanks to the German shoemaker Konrad Birkenstock, who in 1902 created a soft insole that repeats the shape of the foot to prevent flat feet. In 1964, Birkenstock introduced the first flexible arch support for mass production. The shape of the sandals is complemented by one or more wide straps. Later, the name of the manufacturer's brand became a household name, giving the name to a separate type of footwear.

Slingbacks

Slingbacks (slingbacks) - name sandals with closed toe and open heel with jumper. The name comes from a combination of the English words sling (strap, strap) and back (back, back). In fact, slingbacks are a type of sandals, they can be high or low heels, with a pointed toe, rounded or square.

One of the first models of slingbacks was presented by Christian Dior in 1947, they complemented the images of his famous collection, which gave rise to the New look style. Like Christian Dior dresses, slingbacks became a graceful alternative to closed shoes - something that was so lacking in post-war women.

Ten years later, in 1957, beige slingback shoes with a black toe appeared. The author of the two-tone masterpiece was Gabrielle Chanel. Many style icons of the last century were in love with the elegant model, even Princess Diana could not resist. The black and beige Chanel mid-heeled, slit-on-the-heel model is timeless, and we still wear versions of them today. Hikers there may be boots, sneakers and even ankle boots with heels.

The love for massive shoes with thick soles can be explained by the climate of our country: in snow, slush and ice, there is nothing better than non-slip, warm and reliable hikers.

Abarcas

Avarcas (abarcas, avarcas, avarks) - a kind of sandals originally from the Balearic Islands (Spain). Sandal making has been a local craft on Menorca since the late 19th century. The idea of the model, which later became famous, belongs to a peasant who once ordered the master to sew him a pair of durable, practical sandals for the hot local climate. He asked to make a sole from the rubber tread of a used tire. The idea turned out to be so successful that since the 1960s, the shoemakers of the island began to make these sandals to order.

In shape, avarks resemble ordinary flat-soled sandals, the top is in the form of a single piece of leather or textile covering the top of the foot, but with a small open hole in the toes. On the foot of the sandal is held by a strap on the heel.

In the 1970s, the first specialized workshops for the production of avarcas appeared. The model was popular with locals and tourists who wore it on the islands and took it with them to the continent. One of the brands that popularized shoes in Europe was Minorquines. The name of the brand was in consonance with the name of the island of Menorca, the birthplace of the abarcas.

Socks

The name of this shoe speaks for itself: a sock-like textile upper is complemented by a sneaker sole. Textiles are tight knitwear or knitted mesh to make the shoes comfortable to put on and wear. The resemblance to socks emphasizes the integrity of the top: without zippers, straps and lacing.

The model became popular with the advent of the ugly shoe trend - massive, unusual-shaped sneakers, which were called "ugly". One of the first Speed Trainer sock shoes was released by Balenciaga, today many shoe and sports brands, both luxury and mass market, have them.

“Socks” can be not only sneakers, but also sneakers and ankle boots, it all depends on what type of shoe sole is complemented by a knitted top.

Grinders and martens

Boots in the style of grinders and martens can have a rigid metal insert in the toe of the boot, contrast stitching, logos and tags. More often, models are sewn from dense, shape-holding leather. The color can be any: the most popular is black, there are also white, burgundy, dark green, blue and options with partial dyeing that imitates scuffs.

On a wide leg will look massive. Lacquered shoes and models made of soft leather with flexible rubber soles will quickly lose their attractive appearance. Sandals with a lot of straps, as well as ballet shoes and slippers are contraindicated, because in them a wide foot looks even wider.

Sandals with a massive sole are suitable for owners of full calves, besides, they are now at the peak of popularity. Find your model of sandals in the shoe and accessories store!

Foot size 40+

No: ballet shoes, moccasins, slip-ons, grandmothers, slippers, sandals - any flat-soled shoes will turn into skis. Ornate shoes and T-strap sandals are also not recommended: they draw attention and add a few sizes. Instead of platform shoes, it is better to choose wedges.

Yes: any shoes with a heel height of 5 cm. Boats and slingbacks - only with a rounded, not pointed toe. Ideally, if it is also contrasting in color or texture. Sandals with several transverse straps of medium width look good. You can try loafers with the highest heels. A win-win option is beige or brown shoes: they are not so conspicuous.

Bone, or valgus deformity of the foot

No: shoes, boots and boots with a narrow toe, high heels (so the foot will be even more deformed). Patent leather is not suitable - it almost does not allow air to pass through, which is why the protruding bone can periodically become inflamed.

In Europe, a new craze: women go to beauty clinics on collagen injections, which are made into "pads" at the base of the foot. This procedure allows you to wear high heels, almost without feeling any discomfort. And if the legs began to hurt as a result of many years of wearing high heels, doctors may suggest botox injections in the foot area, blocking nerve impulses and relieving pain for the duration of the drug. But, of course, these are extreme measures: health is not a sacrifice worth making for the sake of fashion and desire. appear more attractive in the eyes of men .

At a safe height

The most “physiological” heel is no more than 3-4 cm. This height maintains the natural position of the foot. If you like to wear high heel shoes, listen to your body. Puffiness, muscle tingling, finger numbness, cramps, spider veins, corns, calluses that don't heal are all signs that it's time for you to switch from your couture stilettos to more mundane ones. At least for a while to periodically give your legs a rest! Fortunately, comfortable and practical shoes with almost flat soles or small wedges are in fashion today. Another option: shoes on a small platform. She will add a centimeter or two, and even with 3-4 cm heels you will appear taller, and your legs will be slimmer.

Why are high heels dangerous?

Doctors believe that the foot and spine are completed by the age of 23. Until this age, orthopedists recommend refraining from wearing high heels and stilettos. But even after this age, you should be careful with heels. The constant wearing of high heels and tight shoes often causes finger deformity, also increases the impact load on the forefoot, leading to its deformation over time. Due to the redistribution of the load on the foot, lovers of heels often develop the so-called heel spur (plantar fasciitis)- growth of the calcaneus. Also due to the long constant wearing of high heels over time deformed Achilles tendon and in the future it will be impossible to wear flat shoes. The situation can be corrected only by surgery.

In addition, the higher the heel, the greater the load on the spine. With prolonged wearing of a high (from 8 cm) heel, intervertebral hernias, lower back pain, and joint displacement may occur. Harmful high heels and those with scoliosis. And, of course, if legs got very tired after wearing heels - this is a sign that you need to be more attentive to your health.

Kirill Samokhin

Surgeon-phlebologist of the "Interregional Phlebological Center", Lecturer of the Department of General Surgery of the FPPOV of the 1st Moscow State Medical University. I. M. Sechenova

Leg cramps (even rare and mild), swelling and tiredness that appears in the evening may be the first signs of varicose veins. If during the day you are constantly "on your feet" - you are at risk for the development of varicose veins. A high heel and a narrow block of model shoes impede blood circulation and increase the load on the venous system.

How to wear high heels?

It is recommended to wear high heels no more than 3-4 hours a day. That's why at work it is better to have a comfortable "shift" .

Let your feet rest more often. Take off your shoes whenever possible and do simple leg gymnastics- pull the sock towards you, then away from you, rise on tiptoe. Such movements improve blood circulation and relieve leg fatigue.

Orthopedic insole will help make dress shoes more comfortable. You can also use special silicone pads and stickers, which reduce the load on the foot and at the same time prevent the formation of corns and chafing.

Your new high heels look amazing and are in the latest fashion. You look forward to the moment when you can put them on, however, there is one problem: they are too tight for you and uncomfortable to walk in. Usually, after buying new shoes, they need to be broken in, and high-heeled shoes are no exception. Learn how to break in high heels with these helpful tips.

Steps

Part 1

Gradual wear of high heels

Wear them throughout the day. To break in shoes, in the first place, you just need to put them on more often. The more often you wear shoes, the more likely it is that the shoes will stretch and fit on your foot.

To avoid the inconvenience and potential danger of walking in a new pair of high heels, start breaking in your shoes at home. You can wear your shoes when watching TV, when loading dirty laundry into the washing machine, or when preparing dinner.
You can also take your shoes to work with you. If you work in an office, wear them for a couple of hours while sitting at your desk.
As soon as you feel comfortable in the shoes, covering short distances, you can go out in them. Take a short walk to the nearest market or bank.

Wear shoes with socks. Even though wearing shoes with socks is considered a crime against fashion, socks will help you break in new shoes. But that doesn't mean you have to wear them while walking. You can wear them at home or while sitting at your desk in the office.
- In order for the socks to stretch your shoes properly, they should not be too thin (otherwise it will not work) or too thick (the shoes will stretch too much and you will slip out of them, especially if you wear shoes on bare feet). As a rule, ordinary everyday socks are fine.
- Do this for a few days and you will notice that you have no calluses and the shoes are broken and follow the shape of your foot.
Bend and twist your shoes. You can get rid of the stiffness of a new shoe by bending and twisting it. Apply a little effort and slightly bend the shoes up and down, and then twist from side to side. When using this method, do not twist or bend the shoe too hard or too fast, or you will give it an unwanted shape. In addition, you can ruin the shoes or weaken them in places that should remain strong.

Expose your shoes to hot temperatures. Heat is an effective way to soften a material and make it more flexible. Gently heat the shoes with a hair dryer or a small heater for one to two minutes. Watch how they react to heat, as prolonged exposure to heat can adversely affect certain materials. Bend and twist the shoes from side to side while they are still warm. Or you can wait for the shoes to cool down and then put them on with socks to stretch them out.

Always store shoes with spacers or crumpled paper inside. By their nature, shoes tend to shrink when not worn. And since you don't want all your attempts to break in your shoes to be wasted, stuff your shoes with something when you're not wearing them. You can use the paper or wire that comes with your new shoes when you buy them. You can also store shoes with spacers that take the shape of the shoes on the inside. Or you can just stuff your shoes with rags.

Keep silica gel sachets in your shoes when you are not wearing them. Have you ever noticed after buying a new pair of shoes that there are still small white bags with tiny transparent balls in the box? These bags contain silica gel, which absorbs moisture and keeps the shoes from shrinking. Instead of throwing away these bags, save them and put them in your shoes when you're not wearing them. If necessary, you can ask the seller in the shoe department to give you additional bags.

Part 2
Using fast-acting methods to break in shoes
1. Place a peeled potato in your shoes. It may sound unusual and a bit annoying, however, this method will help you quickly stretch your shoes. You need to choose two potatoes that are large enough to stretch the inside of the shoe.
  - Peel the potato before placing it inside. This will allow the moisture from the potato juice to soften the material inside the shoes, making the shoes easier to stretch.
  - Leave the potatoes overnight or at least eight hours to keep the shoes stretched. After removing the potatoes, thoroughly clean the inside of the shoes to get rid of the potato residue.
2. Sand the soles of your shoes. It is very important that the soles of the shoes have a certain amount of grip. Walking in high heels will be much easier and safer if you don't constantly slip. New shoes usually have a smoother surface that gradually wears out and becomes rougher with wear. Speed up this process with a piece of sandpaper. Rub the soles of your shoes for one to two minutes, or until the soles are noticeably rougher.
  
  Wet the inside of the shoes to stretch them. Water can speed up the break-in process by helping the material inside the shoes to conform to the shape of your foot. Take a damp towel and rub the inside of the shoes. Put them on while they're still wet and wear them for one hour or more. You can also wet your socks and wear them and shoes for the same amount of time.
3. Freeze the bag in water inside the shoes. Water expands when frozen, making it a great way to break in shoes. To do this, you will need a one-liter freezer bag. However, if you have smaller packages, they will also work well.
  - Fill half the bag with water. Squeeze the bag to release air and close it. Lightly toss the bag in your hands to make sure it is closed and not leaking.
  - Carefully place the bag inside the shoe, distributing it so that it fills all the free space up to the thumb. You may need more than one bag depending on your shoe size. In particular, tuck the bag in the areas of your shoes that pinch you.
  - Place the shoes in the freezer and keep there until the water is completely frozen. Once the water has set, you can remove the bags and put on your shoes to make sure they are stretched out now. Repeat the process if the shoes are still tight.
4. Wrap the parts of your feet that you rub frequently with moleskin, then soak your feet in water and wear your shoes for several hours. Essentially, moleskin is a comfortable bandage that comes in ribbons, giving you the ability to cut to any size you want. One part of moleskin is sticky and the other part is soft. This allows you to protect the skin in the area of chafing and prevents the appearance of corns. If you wet the moleskin. and then put on shoes, it will quickly take the shape of your foot.
  - Cut the moleskin into pieces large enough to cover the areas of your feet that you rub when you wear new shoes. Wrap the skin like a bandage or dressing.
  - For maximum comfort, soak your feet with the moleskin in warm water for a few minutes. The moleskin will expand, thus providing additional protection to your feet. And since moleskin is wet, it can soften the material inside the shoe, making it more flexible and ready to take on the shape of your feet.
- Attach moleskin to your legs. You may want to attach it to the inside of your shoes so you can take them on and off many times, however, the moleskin will wear off each time and you will end up with a shoe with a nasty residue inside.
- There are many different aids that will make your shoes even more comfortable even after you've broken them in. You can buy them in shoe stores, large supermarkets and some pharmacies. They include special small helium pads for the balls of the toes, shoe covers to minimize chafing on the back of the foot, and rough patches that are glued to the smooth part of the sole to provide better traction.
- When buying some types of shoes, you cannot find a perfectly fitting option. However, given the fact that shoes break in more and more over time, it is better to buy shoes that are a little tight than those that sit too loosely.
Warnings
- Do not buy shoes with "stilettos", as such a heel is very unstable. An unsafe heel swing can lead to injuries such as a sprained ankle. Shoes with high heels should have a comfortable but secure girth.
- In this situation, it's not a good idea to go on an adventure in new shoes. Going to the dance seems like a perfectly reasonable way to break your shoes, however, it will do more harm than good. The constant rubbing of shoes against leather can cause painful blisters that will make you avoid wearing shoes for a while longer.
- Don't buy smaller shoes just to make your foot look smaller. This can lead to leg pain, blisters, and calluses.

And they regularly provide us with pain in the legs, back, calluses ... Favorite hairpins are like an unfaithful but attractive lover: they are too amazing to be sent to the trash; look great "under the arm" (on the legs); sometimes they make us feel great, but they cause such pain that devalues all their virtues.

Fortunately, we do not suggest that you suddenly fall in love with ballet flats (which, by the way, also have enough flaws). We offer 14 ways to make stilettos more comfortable.

Hello deodorant!

Run a colorless deodorant over all surfaces of the shoes that come into contact with the skin. Pay special attention to the straps. This simple measure will reduce friction and greatly reduce the risk of blisters.

Fasten seat belts

When choosing shoes with high heels, give preference to those that have straps and clasps. Thanks to these "seat belts" your heels will fit snugly against the soles of the shoes - and the inconvenience when walking will decrease.

Girls' best friends are shoemakers

The soles of high-heeled shoes wear out pretty quickly because they have a double load. They become uneven and uncomfortable, and feet in worn shoes get tired faster. Monitor the condition of the soles and heels of your favorite "studs" and take them to the shoe repair shop in a timely manner.

Warming up before the run

Having bought new hairpins, do not be too lazy to stretch them. You can resort to the services of a “best friend” (see above), you can purchase special tools for stretching shoes at home (cream and block), you can remember grandmothers or folk “recipes”. For example, in many cases, a bag of water can help out. Half-filled and tightly tied, then put into shoes and sent to the freezer overnight, it will delicately stretch even slightly small shoes (important: this method is not suitable for patent leather or poor quality artificial leather!). Stretched shoes are more pleasant to wear than brand new ones, creaking with new leather or suede at every step, and worn ones are even better. If you have an important event coming up - so important that you won the purchase of new shoes - break them in in advance: put them on for a few minutes at home and take them off as soon as discomfort or slight fatigue in the legs appears.

Proper shopping - evening shopping

Go shopping for shoes at the end of the day, even if it was busy and tiring. It is in the evening that the legs swell slightly, which means that this is the optimal time to buy any shoes, especially such capricious ones as “stilettos”. If on the evening of the day of purchase, the shoes are tight, uncomfortable, and even "kill" the foot, then they will treat your feet this way with each subsequent wear - especially in the evenings.

Size matters

Take your time when trying on "hairpins", carefully select the size. It is important to remember that a) the size ranges of different manufacturers may differ slightly, so do not take the word labels; b) your size can change in any direction over time - and you hardly know about it. Make sure that the foot in the shoe is a little mobile - because while walking the foot will tend to get into the most comfortable position, so we need to try to leave it "room to maneuver."

Flying walk...

Vary your gait depending on what kind of shoes you are wearing. Exactly! Walking in sneakers and walking in heels are not the same thing. To properly walk in high heels, you need to tighten the muscles of the press and back and slightly lean forward with the body. Take a couple of "master classes" from the models from the catwalks: walking in heels is more like balancing, not race walking. The support should be on the ball of the foot. Having mastered and put into practice the “high” gait, you will feel that the pain in the legs and, especially, in the heels has decreased.

Emphasis on fingers

Models who regularly walk the catwalks in high heels have a secret that we will share with you. If you fasten the third and fourth toes (counting from the big one) with tape or tape, then walking in heels becomes a less painful experience. This is strange, we agree, but there is a reasonable explanation: by connecting the 3rd and 4th toes, we evenly distribute the load on the nerve located between them. Unfortunately, this life hack does not apply if you plan to wear sandals or open-toed shoes.

More Ways to Make Heels Comfortable

Skin and more skin

Fewer shoes are made from genuine leather. And while we agree with manufacturers that leather shoes are more durable, we do not insist that you always choose them. But when buying "studs", pay attention to the sole. It is the leather sole that makes the shoes more flexible, and in the case of high heels, more comfortable.

Download silicone

Trouble! You did buy uncomfortable shoes. What to do? Complete them with silicone insoles or heel pads. They will hardly save you from all the "high-heeled" problems, but they will reduce the load on the heel while standing in heels, which is already a lot.

Wider is not a step, but a heel

Stilettos are chic, but you should sometimes wear wide heels (fortunately, they are now in fashion). You are still on top, but the weight will be distributed more evenly and the pressure on the balls of your feet will decrease. The result is that you walk longer, your legs will hurt less.

There is a break - there is a heel

Experts advise giving your feet a rest between high heel “practices”: the best option is 2 days in heels, 1 day on a flat sole.

Ideal Shapes

Choose the option of high heels according to your own feelings: someone prefers platforms (the foot arches less on them, and discomfort is reduced), someone prefers the rounded shape of the toe of shoes, someone prefers a pointed toe. Experiment and pick your favourites.

Charging for feet

If your feet are prepared to meet high heels, then it will be easier for them to "communicate" with them all evening. Warm up your toes, roll your feet on a ping-pong or tennis ball, and stand on your toes and back on your foot a few times before putting on your favorite stilettos.

Well, if all else fails, buy transforming shoes: just now you conquered others with your height, grace and high heels, and now you are already in elegant ballet flats. As they say, “shoes turn” and you are comfortable again.