Michelle Obama, our nation’s former first lady, is often hailed as being very down to earth (Remember that J. Crew dress she wore on The Tonight Show back in ’08? Well now, other stories have emerged that show just how normal Mrs. Obama really is. And they present a good contrast to Kylie Jenner, who recently made headlines for having her team yank heels off her at the Met Ball after they tried foot taping to keep them in place.
So, how does Ms. Obama's approach to making high heels comfortable differ from Kylie's? Here's the lowdown.
Michelle Obama Making High Heels Comfortable
According to Footwear News, Obama has made a MAJOR policy change at White House events: high heels are optional! Spanx founder Sara Blakely recently recalled how she’d been standing in line at the White House, waiting to take a picture with Michelle Obama, when her feet finally gave in to the pain of squeezing into sky-high Christian Louboutin stilettos.
Apparently, when Blakely reached the front of the picture line, things got real: “My feet are killing me,” became her opening line to meet the first lady. Thankfully, Mrs. Obama responded, “Girl, my feet are killing me too.”
Blakely then proceeded to ask if she could remove the offending heels, and the former first lady responded, ‘Yes, and you can tell anyone who tells you to put them back on that Mrs. Obama said you can take them off.’ ” Blakely spent the rest of the night barefoot and foot-pain free!
Now, this is one White House initiative I think everyone can get behind! Let’s put some bi-partisan effort into helping women stand up to foot pain and ditch their high-heels! But if you're not ready to leave your heels in the dust, here's a different approach to making high heels comfortable.
Forget Foot Taping and Use These 5 Tips to Wear High Heels in Comfort
Kylie Jenner tried foot taping to keep her feet from slipping around in her barely-there Ferragamo stilettos. But our podiatry practice in Houston can't endorse this high-heel hack. Instead, we suggest taking a more logical approach to wearing high heels (when you must) without enduring intense foot pain.
- Ensure a proper fit. If your feet are hanging off the back of your shoe, or your toes are sticking out over the front of the shoe, find a different pair: the ones you are wearing are too small. At the same time, if your feet are sliding around in your shoes, chances are that they are too big. So, instead of resorting to foot taping to keep your feet in place, try going down a half or whole shoe size. You'll reduce your risk for blisters, and you won't have to worry about those shoes getting stuck on your feet at the end of the night!
- Reduce your heel height. To avoid foot pain after wearing high heels, try to limit heel height to two inches or less. This minimizes shifts in your gait and center of gravity. In turn, your weight is distributed more evenly across your entire foot. And you're less likely to have ball of foot pain at the end of your evening in high heels.
- Be savvy about construction. Kylie Jenner's shoes were made with very little material to keep them on her feet. And that's why she had to try foot taping for the Met Ball. But if you look for well-constructed high heels that have backs or straps that keep your shoes in place, you won't have to try hacks for high heel comfort. And you're less likely to grip with your toes to keep those shoes in place, reducing your future risk for hammer toes.
- When in doubt, pad it out. If you know that high heels hurt your feet, but you just have to wear them, try adding gel pads to the shoes to reduce the impact on your feet. If you don't know where to place the pads, or even where to find effective products, our Houston podiatrist is happy to help guide you.
- Always engage in after-care. Even when you follow all our hacks to make high-heels comfortable, your feet may feel tender when those stilettos finally come off for the night. Want to show them a little TLC? Instead of heading straight to bed after a night out, give those achy feet some love with a Tolcylen Therapeutic Foot Soak. Available in our office, this product can be added to water for a pampering and restorative experience. Infused with cleansers that remove dirt, oils, and sweat to protect you from foot fungus, and skin protectants that leave your feet feeling silky, these ingredients penetrate deeply beneath the surface of skin and nails to revitalize and refresh your feet after a night in high heels.
Forget Foot Taping and Call the Experts
When your shoes don't fit properly, your feet will suffer, even if you come up with creative hacks that provide temporary fixes to serious problems. Unfortunately, the brief period or relief will increase your risk for serious, chronic foot pain. Want a better solution? Houston podiatrist Dr. Andrew Schneider is here to help make your high-heels safer and more comfortable for your feet. Plus, he can help provide relief for foot problems that may already have developed? Tired of ending your day with swollen achy feet? Don't waste another minute searching for shoe-fitting hacks on the internet. Instead, call our office at 713-785-7881 or follow this link to request an appointment. Together, we'll come up with a plan that keeps you walking safely and comfortably in all of your favorite shoe styles.
