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It's 6:15, the alarm will be going off in about 15 minutes. But I'm already awake, my husband had to leave earlier than normal for work, so I start my day. Once I'm on my feet, I light a cigarette, just like I do every morning. Then I find my way to the kitchen, park the lit cigarette between my lips, and prepare the coffee, just like I do every day. But, SHIT! I forgot to get coffee yesterday. Cigarettes and coffee are two things I never run out of. What am I going to do?

It's early, I don't have to be anywhere in particular today. Julie, my sister, visiting from Germany, is not yet awake, so I leave her a note on her nightstand that I'll be back by 7:30. Normally, when I leave the house, I'm in a dress, hose, and pumps, with proper make-up, but for my excursion to the corner coffee shop, I settle for jeans, a T-shirt, and ballet flats. I brush my hair, run some lipstick over my lips, grab my keys, my wallet, my cigarettes, and my lighter, and head for the car and that corner coffee shop.

Once I'm there, I order three coffees; one for now, the other two to go (one for me, one for Petra), and I'll be back for them in about 10 minutes. I find a table on the outdoor terrace; this coffee shop I like, because it's one of the few left that allows smoking outside, unlike Starbucks. I sip my coffee, and enjoy the heavenly feeling of caffeine finally hitting my veins. Which is a trigger for another cigarette, of course. Then "she" walked up to the counter.

She would have been 5'10" barefoot. But, she was wearing at least six-inch open-toe stiletto heels, without platforms, yet with perfect poise. I was immediately so jealous! The narrow high heels complemented the suntanned and blemish-free legs and above-the-knee skirt perfectly, which wrapped around an hourglass figure. The toenails, along with the extremely long fingernails, were a bright maroon that matched her lipstick. Her make-up and below-the-shoulder dark blonde hair were absolutely perfect. Why can't I look like that? Hell, I'm 64, but why couldn't I have looked like that when I was 24?

I angrily dragged on my cigarette. That got me to thinking about the old Virginia Slims ads from the 80's and 90's. This would have been the perfect Virginia Slims girl. Then I looked at my pack of cigarettes laying on the table. Virginia Slims 120's. I sometimes buy a single pack of them with a carton of my beloved Marlboro reds 100's. Many say the VS's look more glamorous, but glamour had nothing to do with me getting a pack now and then; hey, they did absolutely nothing for my own glamour! I crushed out my cigarette, and got ready to head for the counter to get my other two coffees; the rest of this coffee I can drink in the car. I've had enough, I don't need to be here.

Once she got her coffee, she chose a table in the opposite corner where I was sitting. I guess cigarette smoke bothers her. Good! How I envied her walk in her heels; she strutted around every bit as confidently and easily as if she were barefoot. As she got to her table, it happened. The stiletto heel snapped from the rest of the shoe, and "she" was on the ground, with her coffee all over her sun dress.

It was all I could do to conceal the ear-to-ear smile that I had!

I sat back down and lit another cigarette. "She" disappeared to the ladie's room; I decided I could wait, and see what came out. Once she did come out, she had "humble" written all over her face. She was carrying her heels by the slingbacks in one hand, her car keys in the other, as she headed for the parking lot. With a huge coffee stain on her dress. And she was wearing a pair of roll-up flats that she obviously had in her purse.

"She" was gone.

I got up, left my burning cigarette in the ashtray for a minute so I wouldn't be guilty of violating our state's 25-feet law, fetched my other two coffees, came back for my cigarette, and headed for the car myself. What a lovely way to start the day!

11 Tricks to Wearing High Heels Without Pain.

It's safe to say that wearing heels isn't always a walk in the park. Sore ankles and achy arches are anything but ideal. Yet, women still do it on a daily basis. I mean, I can't blame all the heel-wearing ladies out there, because they do look fabulous and heels can totally take an outfit to the next level. However, it does suck to be in excruciating pain before you've even made it to work or an event.

The good news? There are tricks to wearing heels the right way. I know it seems impossible to actually survive a day of wearing heels and not want to soak your feet for hours at the end of the night, but there actually are things you can do to help.

Whether it's the shape of the shoe, when you buy it, or how you walk, you would be amazed to see how many things can effect your comfort level. Some things may seem a little obvious, but others are straight up genius. Here are 11 tricks you should definitely try next time you wear a pair of heels. 

1. Wear the Right Size

• 
• Feet have a tendency to swell when you're wearing shoes for an extended period of time. If heels are extra snug to begin with, then you'll surely be in trouble after a few hours of wear. That last thing you want are ingrown toe nails or bunions.
   

  2. Choose a Bit of Platform
• 

  Sure, those strappy, skinny summer stilettos may look like a dream. However, it's important to be realistic about what kind of shoe has day-long potential. A thin sole will most likely cause pain for the bottom of your foot. Look for something with some rubber on the bottom to provide a bit of a buffer. Ideal? A heel that has a bit of a platform in the front. The platform reduces the incline of your foot, making things more comfortable all around.

• 3. Add More Cushion

  
• Store-bought inserts can be your BFF. Add a little extra cushion to your shoe and your dogs won't be barking as quick. My go-to? Foot Petals tip toes ($6.95, footpetals.com).
   

• 4. Shop at the End of the Day

  

  While you're at it, do your shoe shopping at the end of the day when your feet are more swollen, podiatrist Franklin Polun advises Washington Post readers.

• 5. Lead With Your Thighs

  

  When you walk, lead with your thighs, moving your entire leg forward at once. Think about it: You're probably used to letting your feet lead, right? It takes practice, but you'll find yourself putting less pressure on the ball of your foot this way. And remember: Move your legs from the hips and keep your legs straight. Bending knees looks goofy with heels.

• 6. Take Breaks

  
• Whether you're wearing heels or not, being on your feet for an extended period of time will hurt your tootsies no matter what. Do yourself a favor and take turns standing and sitting over the course of a day/night in heels.

• 7. Go Wedge, Young Lady

  

  The narrower the heel, the greater the pain. So go for a chunkier heel or a wedge. Podiatrist Erika Schwartz tells the Washington Post, "The bigger the heel, if it’s chunky or a wedge, seems to be better because the shoe has a wider base of stability. A skinnier heel and you’re more likely to have ankle spraining."

• 8. Score More

  
• A surprising high heel tip from supermodel Tyra Banks: Score the bottoms of your shoes with scissor points to create grooves so you don't slip when you (inevitably) wobble.

• 9. Break in With a Shoe Stretcher

  

  Break in your new pair with a high heel shoe stretcher ($24.99, shoesmart.com), which will stretch out the width of those pumps.

• 10. Check the Heel Placement

  .
• Choose shoes with heels placed directly under the center of your foot's heel (left), not at the very back of the shoe (right).

• 11. Get Strappy

  

  Heels are more comfortable to walk in when you get a little extra support from straps, like ballet slipper, Mary Jane, gladiator, or T-strap.

I'll wear them with jeans or slacks, but not with dresses or skirts.

How do you feel about them? Some say they are stripper shoes, but on the other hand, they go with just about anything.

I travel from Texas to Germany once or twice a year.  A pair of peep-toe pumps and a pair of peep-toe slip-on flats both go with me. I wear the heels until I'm through security, then they come off and the flats come on until I'm about to land in Germany. Then the flats come off and the heels come back on.

Watch the placement of the high heel in relation to the rest of the shoe. If it's under the heel of your foot (shoe on the left), it will be more stable. If it's behind the heel of your foot (shoe on the right), it will be less stable.

On 10/17/2016 at 7:29 AM, HeelsWearer said:

These are shoes I wished I still owned, although I would only now wear them for special dress up occasions. There used to be a company called Wild Pair and back in the day they sold really high shoes, which I wanted/needed! Pardon the picture, but this is almost an exact pair I wore every day in high school, much to my father's chagrin. I had them in virtually every color. They would kill my feet but I needed the height. After high school I wised up and discovered slides which I can wear all day without a problem.

 

I had a pair of these, well, almost. They were black patent leather, peep-toes, and had 6" metal tipped heels.  I sure wish I had them back, or at least knew where I could find them today. The metal heels were AWESOME! People heard me coming, very attention getting, and never had to replace the rubber heel tips.

I also wish I had my original Candie's back. Remember these?

I like, I own a few. But they're mostly evening wear.

Absolutely not! I'd stick with something more business-like; pumps, somewhere around 3" heels, closed toes, and no bright colors. Same as in the office. But if the office has an evening social, I'd definitely wear stilettos or platforms.

They did take a bit of getting used to. After wearing heels almost daily my entire adult life, my soles were used to feeling the ground, which lacked when I started wearing platforms.

The hose vs. no-hose thing is just for pumps. If the platforms are slingbacks or slides, it doesn't matter.

when I was younger, I used to be able to wear 6" stilettos without platforms. At 63, those days are long over. If it's over 4", I need the platforms. I consider myself blessed that I can still wear heels.

My shoes come off at the door, just as all visitors' shoes do. But even if I wore shoes in the house, I think I'd stick to flats in the kitchen.

I was a flight attendant, and it was downright expected that we wear heels anytime we were in uniform and in public, or on the plane during ground operations. Once we took off and up until we were about to land, we were able to slip into flats for the flight.

5'6" barefoot, but anywhere from 5'8" to 6' with my heels on.

Old thread, I know, but I just had to reply!

Wearing heels (even chunky heels) is not a good idea during pregnancy. Your weight increases and your body shape and center of gravity change, which make you walk less steadily. And ligaments tend to be looser during pregnancy, which can lead to joint instability and muscle strain. Plus, a fall during pregnancy could hurt you and possibly your baby. If you do decide to wear heels, consider wearing lower and sturdier ones as your pregnancy progresses, and remember to place comfort and safety over fashion. It's only 9 months - best to stick with flats, your heels will be waiting for you afterwards!

As much as I love exotic heels, they're a no-go i the office. The professional business woman will stick with 2" to 3" heels, 4"absolute max, no platform, closed toe, no bright colors. On occasion, peep--toes may be okay. Regardless of choice, they must be comfortable enough to wear all day, and walk in them all day, without having to kick them off, or slip into flats (tacky!).

Platforms can be a blessing, and a woman's best friend. When I wear mine, I'm actually standing in 6" heels, but because of the platform, my feet think they're standing in 4" heels. But if they're pumps, the back needs to fit very snugly. I find it best when I buy them to decide at that point if I'm going to wear them barefoot or in hose.

One of the beauties of spring is the warmer weather. I look forward every spring to the first day I am able to wear a pair of sandalette heels, without pantyhose

.

 I happen to be a committed cigarette smoker, and I see no difference if I have a cigarette lit while wearing platform heels or ballet flats.