How do I strut around in my heels without hurting? (they really don't!)

I have been asked many times, how do I get around with my heels all the time? Don't they hurt? Aren't you tired? For me, I have been so used to walking around in heels so much so that I tend to trip when I'm on flats. It's true. I can even run in heels. Wearing heels to me is like....the last piece to the jigsaw puzzle. It completes the picture. Of course, it has to be the correct pair of heels, else it will cause you so much discomfort that it becomes a sorrowful picture.

This boils down to a few fundamentals to wearing heels:

1. The correct pair of shoes (heels) will make or break your outfit. How many times have we seen ladies dressed in very nice clothes but as you scan down south...argh! sloppy shoes!!!....anti-climax 
2. It is all about proportions. Face it, most of us here are not born with a pair of supermodel legs. Hence, the heels will make a lot of difference to your proportions, and ultimately make you look slimmer and taller (and perkier, hehe). 
3. Power heels. Yes, wearing heels have been shown to make a difference in a work place. Wear heels to look assertive and firm. Walk with a strut and look confident (even if you are shaking inside). Fake it till you get it.

So what is stopping you from wearing heels when you know it can do some good stuff to you. Heels don't have to hurt if we know our feet well. I have narrow feet, bony (very fleshless), long toes and a slightly flat arch (that's why wearing ballerina flats hurts me more than anything else). How do I choose my heels?

1. Shoes come in many widths. Go to shops that offer a choice of widths. For narrow feet like mine, I always go for the ''Narrow' or 'B'. Never attempt to put insoles to 'make up' for the width. It will just hurt especially for heels. Contrary to what people think, wider shoes that don't fit do cause as much hurt as narrow shoes.
2. Getting the right size. I've observed many people buying shoes that are half size larger than what is necessary and then say they can always put insoles later to make it fit. Shoes should fit well without insoles. A size or half too large means that the shoe will be moving a lot. And that means it is rubbing against your foot a lot, causing blisters. You may also try to grip the shoe in place, causing your feet to go into weird positions, resulting in aches and pains later. Bigger is not always better.
3. Thick or thin straps. Bony feet for me means avoiding the thin strappy open-toe sexy heels. They will never fit me. And the support will be so lacking that my feet will be aching. So if you have some fleshy feet, go for it. Otherwise, choose heels with wider straps for more support so that you can walk safely and confidently in them.
4. Toe finishes. Peep toes and pointy fronts work well for my narrow, bony, long-toed feet. The round-toed shoes don't work as well, as my long toes will not be accommodated. So try a few types of toe finishes (round, pointed, flat, open, peep) to see which ones work for you. Added work is needed if you put on open or peep-toe shoes, you gotta keep up with those pedicures.
5. Try, try, try.  This one is tricky. For me with a slightly flat arch, I have to try the 'curvature' of the shoes to ensure a perfect fit. Trying out the arch of shoes help in determining which brands are more suitable for your feet. The curvature of a pair of heels is dependent on many things, but it is usually consistent within the brand. And I do find that a little platform (or hidden platform) works when the heels are more than 3.5" and above. Keeps the stability there and prevents over-extension of your soles.
6. If shoes don't fit, they won't, even if you wear them a million times (or attempt to bite them). Many people think they can season the shoes or 'break-in'. Meaning, giving a new pair of shoes time to soften or get used to your feet so that you will have fewer blisters as time goes by. If you put those shoes on and they bite you or feel so stiff even as you walk on the carpeted floor in the mall, don't even think they will be seasoned enough to be comfortable. More likely, your feet will be battered with blisters. So go with the first feeling when trying on the shoes. 

So what are my favourite brands? If you have long narrow feet like mine, these are some brands that fit me well - Nine West, Salvatore Ferragamo (choose Narrow width, not available in Singapore though), Pedro, Kate Spade New York and Guess. 

For those with wider feet, these are some brands that are known to fit better - Tory Burch, Salvatore Ferragamo (choose 'D' or 'C'), Cole Hann, Naturalizer, Marks and Spencer and ASOS. 

So start looking at your feet real hard, try out different brands of heels, find the one that fit (no insoles) and be the Cinderella. Once you have established a few brands that suit your feet, you can safely go online to get shoes. Sometimes they have mark-downs that are so much cheaper than buying from the shops here. My few favourite sites are:

www.shopbop.com (offers free international shipping above USD100)

www.zappos.com (needs to ship through a freight forwarder e.g. Borderlinx)

www.toryburch.com (needs to ship through a freight forwarder e.g. Borderlinx)

www.outnet.com (direct international shipping)

By the way, I do wear flats, occasionally.

*this is not a sponsored post.