Covet Shop Blog

Hot hot heels, without the pain? Christian Louboutin Rolando Patent Pumps, size 8.5 for one lucky lady.

Tape Your Toes

Drooling over these sizzly Christian Louboutins but — at the same time — cringing over the pain they might inflict? Well, thanks to our friends at Styleite.com who flagged a clip from the Today Show this week, a quick DIY trick may help (or even make wearing heels “painless,” which we’re skeptical about…but hopeful). Guest, “Lifestyle Guru” Laurin Sydney, claims that simply taping your third and fourth toes together with a simple piece of Scotch tape aligns a certain muscle that “allows the ball of your foot to be much more steady.” So if you’re an 8.5, snatch up these beauties before they’re gone and let us know if Sydney’s tip works.

Choose your heel width and pitch when considering heels. From top left: Tory Burch Multi-Tone Pumps; Lanvin Cap-Toe Slingbacks; Marc Jacobs Suede Strike Pumps; Sergio Rossi Suede Platform Sandals

More Tips for Those Who Heart Heels

I’ll leave you with the following medical advice and tips from WebMD. Because, according to the site, a survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association showed some 42% of women admitted they’d wear a shoe they liked even if it gave them discomfort; and 73% admitted already having a shoe-related foot issue.

1.       Get the best-fitting high heel possible. How many pairs of high heels cause your feet to slide to the front, leaving a gap big enough for a small cell phone behind your heel?  Their experts say high heels that don’t fit properly cause the front of the foot to fly forward, creating more pressure — and pain — on toes. Look for narrow heels with a snug but not tight fit to correct the problem.

2.       Cushion, cushion, cushion. While a full-shoe insert can help, if you have pain in the ball of the foot — or you’ll be standing in your heels a long time — invest in silicone metatarsal pads, which “look like flattened gummy bears.”

3.       Wear a thicker heel for stability, which provides better balance and may help relieve some pressure by distributing the weight on your foot more evenly, say their experts.  Alternating heel heights can also help reduce problems with the Achilles tendon.

4.       Pay attention to the “slope” or “pitch” of the heel.  While some 4-inch heels will give you a straight drop down to the flatbed portion of the shoe, others will be a more gradual slope. This may be easier on the arch and might help relieve some pain in the ball of the foot.

5.       Wear open-toe high heels to relieve pressure on corns and calluses. See a podiatrist to have corns and calluses professionally removed and correct the problem that’s causing them. But if that’s not possible, opt for open-toe shoes to take pressure off inflamed areas.