How to Choose High Heels

Last Updated: May 13, 2022 References Approved

High heels, especially stiletto heels, never go out of style with true fashionistas. But being fashionable isn't always comfortable. If you are a slave to high heels you might also suffer from corns, bunions, and fallen arches. Luckily, there are ways to make them less harmful to your feet.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Getting the Right Fit

1
Shop at the end of the day. At the end of the day, your feet are more swollen from a full day of activity. Shopping at the end of the day will help you get a better idea of how your heel will truly fit.^{[1]
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Research source} You would hate to try your heels on in the morning and then have them be too tight when you wear them in the afternoon.
2
Wear them around the store. Walk around in your heels before you buy them. If you feel like the heels are tight or uncomfortable in any way, you may want to choose another pair. Your feet should feel supported and balanced when you have on your heels.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer
Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.}
- Any pain you feel in the store will only get worse the longer you wear the heels. For example, if the back of the shoe is rubbing your heel in the store, you will probably develop a blister if you wear the heels in real life.
- Try to walk on different surfaces in the store as well. Your heels will different on carpet than walking on a harder surface.
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3
Assess how your toes feel. Find shoes that have enough space for your toes. Cramped toes and shoes that are not wide enough will definitely cause pain. If you consistently wear heels without enough toe space, you will increase your chances of developing hammer toes, corns, bunions, and arthritis.^{[3]
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- Round toes and almond toes provide much more room than the classic pointy toes.
- Pointy toes with even a slightly rounded almond shape provide more room than the classic wedge-shaped pointy toes.
- A deeper toe box provides much more room overall than a shallower one.Pointy toes with deep toe boxes will pinch less than round toes with extremely shallow toe-boxes.
4
Select a heel height. The ideal heel height is between one and three inches. Walking in heels over three inches^{[4]
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Research source} changes how you walk and puts more stress on your lower back, knees, and ankle.^{[5]
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Research source} However, choose a heel height that you are comfortable with.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer
Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.} Luckily, there are many different heel heights to choose from.
- Kitten heels are between 1.5 to 2 inches. These heels are good for all day wear.
- The 3-inch heel is considered a classic heel height and is acceptable to wear to work.
- A 4-inch heel is appropriate for after work and weekend activities.
- A 5- or 6-inch heel is less comfortable and more difficult to walk in. You may want to save these for when you will not do a lot of walking and only plan to wear them for a few hours.
5
Practice walking at home before taking your heels out. You can return your shoes as long as you do not wear them outside. Wear your heels around your house as much as you can. Wear them when you cook dinner, wash dishes, or do laundry. It is best to wear them for a couple of hours. Shoes that seem comfortable at first may not be after a few minutes, or even an hour or two. ^{[7]
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- You'll notice that heels cause your steps to be shorter; this is normal.The higher the heel, the shorter your steps will be. Don't try to stride like you would in sneakers.
- When you walk, make sure you keep your heels vertical; do not let them roll to the side. This will lead to the heel slipping and cause you to fall.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wearing Heels Comfortably

1
Buy leather or suede shoes. Shoes made from leather and suede are more pliable and will mold to the shape of your foot. Because these materials are more flexible, you will reduce your chances of chafing. While synthetic shoes are more affordable, investing in quality shoes will pay off.^{[8]
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- Leather and suede shoes will also last longer than shoes made from synthetic materials.
- Look on the inside of the heel to determine what the shoe is made of. Shoes that say "man-made upper" or "man-made material" are made from synthetic materials. "Shoes that say "leather upper" or "suede upper" are best.
2
Check the cushioning. When you wear heels, more pressure is placed on the ball of your foot. Adequate cushioning in this area will make your heels feel much better. Check this area of the shoe before you buy them.^{[9]
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- If the shoe does not have very much built in cushioning, purchase insoles to wear in your shoes. Insoles can be full size, three quarter size, half size, or only ball-of- the-foot cushions.^{[10]
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- If you do wear insoles, be sure you still have enough room for your toes.
3
Consider a platform style heel. Styles with a slight platform under the toe area tend to be more comfortable as they minimize the angle and pressure on the ball of the foot. Platforms, even thin ones, also maintain stability by keeping the soles flat.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Kathi Burns, CPO®
Board Certified Professional Organizer
Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.}
- If you are wearing a higher heel, a platform can offset some the effects of wearing a high heel.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kathi Burns, CPO®
  Board Certified Professional Organizer
  Expert Interview. 31 December 2019.}
- Platforms can be visible or hidden. If you like the comfort but not the look of a platform, go for a shoe that has a hidden platform.
4
Choose styles that improve stability. The more stable and secure your shoe feels, the more comfortable you will feel. In addition to the height of your heel and toe space, there are other design features that make heels more comfortable. Check your heels for the following:^{[13]
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- Wear a chunkier heel. The wider the heel, the more stability you will have.
- Shoes that have wooden or hard plastic soles are more rigid and will be more difficult to walk in. Look for shoes with leather and rubber soles.
- Slingbacks, heels with ankle straps, peep toes, and boots are easier to walk in than mules or super strappy sandals. The more your foot moves around, the more difficult it will be to walk.
5
Alternate your shoe choices. Do not wear heels every day of the week. If you wear heels on Monday, wear some flats on Tuesday. Try to minimize the amount of time that you wear your high heels, especially if you are doing lots of walking or standing. If you have to walk a good distance, change into some tennis shoes and then put your heels on when you reach your destination.
- Stretch your calves and your feet when you take your heels off for the day.
- Taking these steps will ensure that you can wear heels without damaging your feet and ankles.
6
Examine the arch of the shoe. Correctly designed arches that are well balanced and match the natural shape of the feet make the difference between pain and all-day comfort. Improperly designed shoe arches rise in a straight ramp from just behind the balls of the feet to the backs of the heels. These do not support the arches of the feet and cause the feet to slide forward in the shoes. In this scenario, the majority of your weight is on the ball of your foot and your toes.
- If you feel like you are walking on your tip toes, the arch of the shoe may be too high.
- Better shoe arches rise in a curve to support the arches of the feet, and level off a bit so that the heels of the feet are not resting on so steep an incline.
- The very best shoe arches rise high to provide total arch support for the feet, and then drop down into shallow cup-like depressions that hold and support the heels of the feet. This profile shifts body weight from the balls of the feet back to the heels where it belongs, and helps prevent the feet from sliding forward.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Wearing Your Heels Fashionably

1
Choose heels that flatter your legs. If you have large ankles, avoid wearing heels that have an ankle strap. An ankle strap will make your ankles look larger. Go for a sling back or pump instead. On the other hand, an ankle strap will help if you have thin ankles.Pointy-toe shoes, nude heels, and open toe heels will make your legs look longer and leaner.^{[14]
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- T-strap shoes will make your legs look shorter. Avoid these if you are trying to look long and lean.
- Narrow heels and stilettos look best on people with a more slender build, and with fashions that are lean and slimming.
- People with heavier builds should look at platforms or thicker heels to keep things looking balanced and proportional.
EXPERT TIP

Choose something that never goes out of style. "Stilettos and cone heels are timeless, and they are time travelers."

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Veronica Tharmalingam is a Personal Stylist who runs her fashion consulting business, SOS Fashion, in Los Angeles, California and Paris, France. She has over 10 years of experience crafting stylish wardrobes for men and women. Veronica is also a professional model and has worked with international brands like Harrods, LVMH, and L'Oreal.

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
2
Start with a basic color. If you do not have a lot of heels, invest in a pair of black and/or nude heels. A classic pump can be worn on any occasion and will never go out of a style. A nude shoe can be worn with most outfits. These two styles are timeless, and you can wear them for a long time..
- The color of nude you choose will be different based on your skin tone.
- The heels you select for an outfit will depend on the occasion and your personal style.
3
Pair chunky heels with a more casual outfit. Chunky heels are comfortable, but are also less dressy than thinner heels. If you wear a chunky heel, balance the rest of your outfit by wearing another chunky item. For example, if you have on a dainty dress, add a jacket.
- Chunky heels also look nice with boyfriend jeans.
- Adding a chunky heel can also help you dress down an outfit if you need to. If you wanted to wear a dress to a casual dinner, add a chunky heel to make it less formal.
EXPERT TIP

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Veronica Tharmalingam is a Personal Stylist who runs her fashion consulting business, SOS Fashion, in Los Angeles, California and Paris, France. She has over 10 years of experience crafting stylish wardrobes for men and women. Veronica is also a professional model and has worked with international brands like Harrods, LVMH, and L'Oreal.

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist

Don't be afraid to add a pop of color. Veronica Tharmalingam, professional stylist, tells us: "Shoes and bags can make or break an outfit. I always go for a colorful pop in my shoes to make a statement. But if the outfit itself is very busy and colorful, I opt for basic color shoes."
4
Get a pair of sandals. A high heeled sandal is a versatile shoe that can be worn with casual and dressy outfits. Your shoe should not compete with your outfit. If you wear an outfit with a lot of prints or colors, choose a simple sandal with thin straps.
- If you are wearing a casual outfit, throwing on a pair of sandals will instantly dress up your look.
- Depending on where you work, a strappy sandal may not be appropriate for work. For example, A sandal may be fine for the fashion or arts industry, but may not be fine in a corporate law office.

Community Q&A

Question

What do you do if your high heels are too high?

Community Answer

There are two options here. One is to persevere with practicing wearing them in a safe home environment, until you feel comfortable walking in them. The second option is to decide that you've overreached your height limit and to give the pair to a friend who can wear that height and go out and treat yourself to a new pair of shorter heels. Either way, focus on your own comfort level and be realistic about what you feel best wearing.
Question

Can a boy wear heels, and if so, what type of heels should I wear?

Community Answer

Yes, but if you haven't ever worn heels before, try starting off with perhaps two inches. Then go to a bigger size heel over time. I love Devious heels, they have a great selection of sizes, colors, and styles for you to choose from.
Question

How old do I have to be to start wearing high heels?

Shelbysays

Community Answer

You could try a 3" heel around age 14. I wouldn't wear anything higher until your feet stop growing.