Be Good To Your Feet and Shop Wisely For Footwear

Lets face it; high heels might look sexy, but they hurt like hell. If you're over that whole 'pain is beauty' hullabaloo (like I am) then you're probably on the hunt for a comfortable shoe - one that will add height, look nice, and won't leave you limping by day's end.

We can easily be distracted by the look of a luxurious leather stiletto. However, It's best to stay focused when setting out to purchase a healthy heel so that you can walk away (key word being walk) with something you're truly happy with.

Here are five things to keep in mind next time you're scouting the perfect pump:

1. Padding
As we get older, we loose the natural padding in the ball of the foot. The ball, located on the bottom of the foot below the big toe, carries up to seven times your body weight on any given day. After years of use, the tissue on the bottom of your foot thins out, leaving the bone to be rubbed and bruised as you walk. Therefore, finding a shoe with significant padding near the toe is essential.

2. Round Toe Trumps Pointy Toe
Never go for an angular toe, because the shape doesn't allow enough room for circulation. Round toe shoes provide more space for the toes to move and spread out, and minimizes the friction between toe and the shoe.

3. Get Off The Carpet
Ever noticed how all shoes feel better in the store? That's because many shoe stores and shoe departments purposely lay plush carpet down, making every shoe feel that much better. Ask the salesperson if you can take the shoe out of the store, or into another department, and test them out on solid ground. You'll be surprised at the difference!

4. Spend The Money
Yes, in this day and age hardly anyone has extra money to go around, but if there is one thing to splurge on, it's a shoe. Shoes that are sold cheaply are often made the same way. A pricier shoe typically ensures a comfier stroll, and a happier foot.

5. Don't Believe The Salesperson
You slip your foot into those amazing platform sandals and. OWWW. Immediately picking up on your pained expression, the salesperson chimes in with that tried and true adage: You have to break them in first. This is untrue. A bold faced lie, in fact. People who know shoes know that a good one should feel good the second you put it on. Unless that sky-scraper heel is made by Birkenstock, it's safe to say it won't be doing any moulding or morfing to pacify those piggies.

Billie Misha
		About the author:
		Billie got her start in the media industry as a photographer. Snapping on red carpets and at film events, she quickly learned that if a picture speaks a thousand words, a blogger speaks a million. She has written for dozens of websites and online publications, and loves to scoop stories on the steamiest scandals, the biggest and best trends,and whatever else is making news RIGHT NOW!
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