The Low Down on the High Heel

Women have had a love-hate relationship with the high heel since their inception in 1533, when Catherine de' Medici commissioned a pair be made in Florence especially for her wedding. Since then, high heels have been designed in many different styles and colors.

So, what constitutes a high heel? That would be any shoe with a heel between 2-5” (but could be even higher). Higher? Who can walk in anything higher without looking ridiculous? Not me. But my favorite shoe maven, Stacy London, would disagree. She has been quoted as saying, “The higher the heel, the closer to God.” That may be true, but after walking in a pair of high heels for a couple of hours, I’m usually praying that God gets me someplace where I can take them off and  wiggle the piggies. How can something that looks so good feel so bad?

And that brings me to another question…Can wearing high heels cause foot problems like bunions? Well, although wearing the wrong shoe (i.e., one that doesn’t fit properly) can cause all kinds of medical problems, it is widely believed that bunions are genetic. Wearing heels can be a component of bunions, primarily if your mother or grandmother had them.

One thing we can all agree on is that there’s nothing like a high heel to elongate a woman’s legs and accentuate her calves. You’ve heard the song from Annie “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile?” My version is “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Heel.” Be it a nightclub, a Bar Mitzvah or the red carpet, a beautiful pair of heels can make an outfit. Just keep in mind there are all kinds of thin pads out there designed to slip into the sole that make standing, walking or dancing a bit more tolerable.

This week I had a recommendation from a customer. She shared with me that her favorite heels are Sam Edelman’s Delilah (available for $110 at Nordstrom). They look sleek and sexy - black with a touch of snakeskin. But the true test is comfort. She says she can wear them all day. Let’s try them and see. Sam, want to send me a pair? I wear an 8 ½.

Please keep those comments coming.

Happy feet make for a happy home!

Erica





Cinderella

We are taught at a very early age that if the shoe fits the prince will marry you. Now that I've reached 50, I realize that the prize is not the prince but rather the fit of the shoe. Why is it so difficult to find a shoe that's cute and comfortable? I work in a shoe store (one that shall remain nameless...at least for now) and I have trouble finding a shoe that fits well. In fact, I feel like I'm on a never-ending journey to find the perfect black pump.

Why can't designers seem to get it? Women want a pump to fit us in length, without slipping off our heels. We want it to be slightly pointy, without being too tight across the toes. We want the heel high enough to make our calves look incredible, without being so high we're either pitched forward or walking on stilts. And most importantly, we want the innersole to feel like we've stepped onto a cloud. With the advent of memory foam it shouldn't be that difficult, right? So why is it? Please tell me Steve Madden, Jessica Simpson, Carlos Santana, Fergie or any number of shoe designers. And as for the high-end designers, we all know that Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Prada design shoes to be seen and not worn. They're what I call "sittin' shoes." You can walk as far as from the car to the table, but don't plan on standing all day in them. So you might say there are comfortable shoes out there...Naturalizer, Aerosoles, Life Stride, Easy Spirit, Bjorn. Let's get real, they still look like shoes your grandma should be wearing! There's nothing sexy about them. And truth be told, they're comfortable for about two hours and that's it. I know; I work in a shoe store, remember? Always on my feet.

So, I decided to start this Blog - The Shoe Jew - for all you women who, like me, LOVE SHOES but can't seem to find the perfect pair. I'll let you know where the deals are; share with you what's hot and what's not; and keep you up-to-date on my search for the perfect black pump. Please feel welcome to share any of your insights with me and our readers.

Happy feet make for a happy home!

Erica