Susan Says: Kick Up Your Heels

The YSL Tribute Platform Pump $825 has a 4" heel

High heels are certainly here to stay; in fact, figures on murals dating from 3500 B.C. depict an early version of high heels.  And unless you are very tall in stature, we all want to add a little height by sporting a pair of heels of the "non-killer" type.  

Here is some sage advice from notable female podiatrists, who just happen to love wearing high heels (Dr. Suzanne Levine, NYC podiatrist, loves her heels so much that she has been known to perform surgery in her favorite Manolo Blahniks!), as outlined in the September issue of Glamour Magazine:

• Shop after lunch:  I worked in the "Salon Shoes" department of a major retailer for years and so I know from experience that shoes which fit you in the a.m. may not fit very well after lunch!  That is because the foot expands as the day progresses; also the hotter the day, the more feet will tend to swell.  

• Forget about "breaking them in:" So says Dr. Carolyn McAloon, a podiatrist practicing in San Francisco.  Dr. McAloon states "If (the shoes) hurt in the store, they will kill on the street." Dr. McAloon suggests taking your new heels home and walking around in them on carpet; that way you may still be able to return them to the store if they prove to be uncomfortable.

• Think platforms or wedges: If you like your heels to be higher than two to three inches, consider styles with platforms or wedges.  According to  Dr. Jacqueline Sutero, a podiatrist practicing in New York City,"A four-inch heel with a two-inch platform is technically only a two-inch heel."

• Know your size:  That includes width.  Wide widths can be hard to fit, especially for some notable high-end designer heels that tend to run narrow.  You might trying go up a half a size if the heels are your heart's desire.

• Mind your posture:  Shoulders down and abs, in according to Dr. Elisa Kavanagh, a New York City podiatrist who treats The Radio City Rockettes.  If you can't maintain your posture or walk properly by hitting the floor with the outer heel first then pushing off the big toe, the heels are too high.

• Think inserts:  Arch supports help toes from crunching.  Swipe soles with deodorant to helps combats clamminess. 

• Finally, when you kick off your heels, try running your feet over an ice cold plastic water bottle.