High Heels - It's All In the Arch!

What causes us to lust after the high heel?

They are undeniably sexy… true.

But they hurt the feet and the legs and cause back problems, it is complained. True . . . they do. But so do running shoes and flats … even Flips Flops . . . if worn incorrectly, or you have a bad fit.

The culprit. The arch.

Badly fitted shoes kill that arch support. I’ve seen women who have incredible foot problems who have never worn a heel over and inch, and that was by mistake when they didn’t realize they were wearing a Cuban Heel.

Oh the humanity!

A properly supported arch is sooo important regardless of the heel height. A six inch heel with a high arch that supports the curvature of the foot is best. A low arch will cause the damage, but more importantly, a poorly fitted, incorrectly matched arch does the most damage. At 6” or 1”, the result is the same.

In conjunction with this is the toe-box. One should always wear high heels that give generous room in the toe box. A good discussion on this can be found at:

http://www.medianet.pl/~andrew/shoes/comfy_heels.htm

Personally, I think training is the proper way. If you constantly wear Flip Flops, you’re feet will spread out until you look like a Hobbit from the Shire. And who wants to see that on the dance floor (Sorry Frodo…).

As I’ve said, high heel stilettos are not for everyone. Unfortunately, in Melonville, the ones wearing them are far too often those who shouldn’t, and I get misty eyed when I see perfectly shaped legs come to an abrupt stop in Flops. It kills the curvature of the calf, which is such a big bonus to wearing the heel.

But all that doesn’t matter.

The high heel is elegant, provocative, sexy, signaling, sensuous, and gives one a tingly feeling. Can this be bad?

Absolutely not!

Heelfully Yours.
Gillian