10th Commandment: October 11
Oct 11, 2013
Nine West Drusilla Pumps ($79) // Belle by Sigerson Morrison ($195) // Franco Sarto Tahini Boots ($189) // Jean-Michel Cazabat Emma Pumps ($260)
Piperlime is having a 30%-off sale on select styles of shoes, and there are some fabulous options to choose from. I posted a few of my favorites above. Use promo code FALL through 10/18.
I also like these high-heeled, tall boots from Calvin Klein ($139) and the Yosi Samra Croco flats ($70).
If you would rather shop for apparel than shoes, the FALL promo code works for clothing as well. Looking for a medium-weight wool, military coat? This Hive & Honey number comes in both white and olive. I also like this Sabine Alpine blanket sweater, and this pierced leather sleeveless shell from Tinley Road. But the piece I had to pick up for all was this pair of leather-accented Ponte leggings from Calvin Klein.
Ladies – I need help. I love wearing pumps, and I see so many people wearing them without stockings, with pants, skirts, dresses… but I’ve bought expensive supposedly comfort brands, and I’ve bought less expensive shoes, I’ve tried kitten heels and everything in between but at the end of the day my feet are sore and raw. And that’s with stockings!
How do you do it? How do you wear heels all day without beating up your feet and having some semblance of comfort? It seems the only heels I can wear comfortably all day are boots, but that’s not always a reasonable shoe to wear.
Yesterday for example I wore a cute pair of kitten heels that fit well with stockings, and by the end of what was relatively a short day and very little walking (just between my office and the garage), my feet were pretty sore. If I’d worn my Cole-Haans with a comfort insole, I would have had blisters.
Thanks!
Julia
I’ve seen recommendations here before for the Cole Haans with Nike Air technology. I have a pair, not heels but a slight wedge, and they’re delightful. Not only is the sole shock-absorbing, but also the leather is nice quality. A short wedge or a thicker, chunky heel can be more comfortable than a narrow heel. And do you think you’re wearing the right shoe size, including width? My shoe size has changed in recent years (bigger).
For blisters, I like an anti-chafe stick. They make them for runners and they keep the blistering and rubbing to a minimum. You can also use Monistat anti-chafing gel, I’ve heard that works.
For comfort, I think it’s about finding a brand that is comfortable for the way your feet are built. I’ve had good luck with Ann taylor, the under-3″ JCrew heels and Ivanka Trump. I also usually put a ball of foot insole in anything over 2.5″.
Have you tried not wearing stockings? I’ve found that sometimes, since there’s less friction with stockings, my feet slide in the shoes a lot. All those tiny slides back and forth after walking all day make for sore feet. Without stockings, your feet don’t move as much in the shoe and they kind of fit like a glove.
and now i’m off to piperlime!
Julia-
Here are a couple things that I’ve found help me:
-Look at how the shoe is structured. I have found my most comfortable shoes have some additional padding under the ball of the foot and a little extra for the heel. Calvin Klein does a very good job at this, in my experience.
-Know that real leather wears differently than synthetic items.
-Try a chafe-block stick so the shoe doesn’t rub on your feet, causing blisters. This stuff is pretty incredible and Band-Aid has one you can buy right at Target/the drugstore.
-A few years ago on Pinterest, I found the magic bullet for breaking in shoes. This works with leather shoes and flats to stretch and mold the leather. Put on a thick pair of socks (I use thick wool ones) and then jam your feet with the socks on them into the shoes. Heat them up with a blow dryer, stretching and wiggling your toes, standing in the shoes and periodically kind of stomping around while they heat up. Then, let them cool while on your feet, still doing the stretching/wiggling of toes (great time to do dishes too!). This has made some shoes that would get a touch pinch-y at the end of the day fit my feet perfectly.
-A good shoe repair person can make all the difference.
Good luck!