There's nothing more awesome than an amazing pair of high heels. But if you're a heels novice, the thought of actually getting used to wearing tall shoes can seem insanely intimidating — not to mention potentially painful.
If you're a flats girl looking to enter the heels world, this is the story for you. Here's my foolproof guide on how to get used to wearing heels ASAP.
Step 1: Prepare yourself.
Heels put pressure on different parts of the foot than flats do, so make sure your feet are ready. Apply heavy-duty Band-Aids to any places where shoes could cut into your skin — the heels are always my worst offender, but your mileage may vary. Apply a friction guard like Blister Block ($6, Drugstore.com) to areas prone to blisters from rubbing, like little toes. And don’t forget this brilliant hack to make sure heels never hurt the balls of your feet, ever.
Step 2: Start SLOW.
I know — five-inch heels look amazing, but they are really hard to wear for an extended period of time. You need to build up your tolerance, and that means starting out slow. Start out by wearing a smaller heel — say, 2” — on a daily basis, letting your feet (and leg muscles) get used to that height before upgrading to taller shoes.
Step 3: Consider the type.
So now you know about height, but you also have to consider type. All heels are not created equal — some are just easier to maneuver in than others. Chunky heels are easier to balance on and walk in than skinny ones, as are shoes with straps or coverage across the instep. Think Mary Janes (for the straps) or heeled boots instead of pointy-toed stilettos. Work up to those.
Step 4: Break them in.
Ah, the ultimate challenge. Everyone has their own method for breaking in heels, and they all think theirs is the best. But they’re wrong, because mine is the best. Here’s how you do it.
Put on a pair of medium-weight socks. You know, the kind that make your feet a LITTLE bigger, but not SO much bigger that you can’t wear your normal shoe size. Bonus points if they have a weird-slash-great pattern.
These are the actual socks I wear to break in all my heels, FYI.
No shame in my sock game.
Wear your heels with the socks around the house for 15 minutes, then take them off. The next day, wear them with your socks for 20 minutes. Build up your tolerance so that you’re wearing them for around 45 minutes at a time — by then they should have stretched out and molded to your feet just enough so that they’re comfortable.
Step 5: Don't give up!
The first day you wear heels out and about, set yourself a goal — like, “I will wear these for four hours,” or “I will wear these to walk my dog” — and do your damnedest to stick to it through the mild discomfort.
HOWEVER, if the discomfort is more like ACTUAL PAIN, or you roll an ankle or something, take them off immediately. Your feet are important. Don’t risk your long-term foot health.
Step 6: Give yourself an out.
Even if you’re wearing the babiest kitten heels, make sure you have a pair of flats with you to put on if things get too real. There is no point in suffering for fashion! Even experienced heels-wearers have to tap out occasionally; make sure you have something cute to slip on if it all gets too much.
With enough time and practice, you'll be on your way to sky-high heels status in no time!
