Hi everyone! I have found at parties that sometimes women are intimidated by heels in general, let alone what type they are and how to properly fit yourself for them. Just like anything else in life, this is a learning experience. With so many options available, it becomes overwhelming to think about wow…how do I know which one is right for me? So let’s take an educational journey together and get you ready for your next shoe party adventure!
Flats
Flat heels are pretty self-explanatory. To be honest this is probably the hardest category to write, because how do you describe a shoe that is titled after it’s description? Some shoes considered as flat, will have a small lift heel in the back, no more than an inch high and if it is an inch high, it is usually a wedge shaped lift. These shoes tend to be the most comfortable to wear, as they allow our bodies to stay in their natural shapes. Flat shoes have come along way as their popularity has grown. Now coming with all sorts of embellishments and in varieties of color, there are flats that are perfect for formal wear or for running your errands.
Kitten Heel
Kitten heels are cute, “walkable” heels with a lift no more than 2.5″ and no platform. They are the most comfortable of all “high heeled shoes”, providing just a small amount of lift and offer varying widths for support. Without throwing your body out of whack, these shoes can provide a great elegant look for formal occasions and they are trendy office shoes, especially if you have a job that requires you dressing professional and to run around a lot. Kitten heels are a great choice for women who are already tall, but really want to dress up their look for special occasions.
Pumps/Court Shoes
When we start to get into heels, one must understand where they came from, especially when referring to court shoes. Believe it or not, heels actually were derived from equestrian riding boots of the European fashion. Cobblers began to extend the heels for lift on boot to keep you above mud and manure, much like cowboy boots do today. They shaped the heels to angle in on the front and back to avoid brush, weeds and to allow the foot to sit in the stirrup better. Over time, designers got bold by heightening the heels, and by the 17th Century both men and women of the French aristocracy were wearing what are called court shoes. Men even made it up to 3.5″-4″ heels to show off their status. Pumps are still shaped the same way and the heel is considered a mid height ranging from 2.5″ – 3.5.” Pumps may or may not contain a platform and tend to be great as a multi-use shoe, i.e. for the office and out for dancing.
Stiletto
Stiletto has become the describing word for any shoe that has a heel. But there is a difference. While pumps/courts may look like a stiletto, a classic stiletto heel is thinner than a pump/court heel and is also higher ranging from 3.5″ – 5.” It is possible to have shoes with a stiletto heel higher than this, but they are generally for asthetic purposes, since they are kind of difficult to walk in. Stilettos usually apply the most pressure to the feet because of the angle they arch you at. They can also be dangerous for sprains and fractures, thus why platforms can be a miracle when wearing this kind of high heel. Stilettos tend to work best as formal evening wear, but depending on your outfit and the build of the shoes, they can be worn for everyday purposes as well.
Wedge
We all love our wedges! There is a reason these heels have not faded from useful fashion for many years. While they have their years where they shine brighter than others, wedge shoes have been around a long time and show no sign of leaving the average woman’s wardrobe. Providing excellent comfort, wedges tend to be the most supportive as the heel is tended all the way to the toe of the shoes. Depending on what the wedge is made of, you will receive a heel that absorbs shock while you walk, cork wedges and espadrilles are excellent choices for this feature. Wedges may or may not contain a platform, if they do, you are golden!
Platforms
While the platform structure of a shoe is not part of a heel, I feel it is important to include this feature in this post to remind women that a heel size of 5″ may not actually be that high. Platforms are great…they absorb shock, they provide less ability for the foot to slide, and they can help keep your foot in a more comfortable position. Platforms work wonders for the ability to ward off major foot problems and keep you wearing your favorite heel heights as you age. They lessen the impact on the body from changing pressure points. Platforms can even be the entire focus of a shoe, depending on large it is…the larger (higher) the platform the shorter the heel. You may remember 70’s platforms where the entire shoes was a platform. Fun fact – Pattens, which were essentially a wooden sole worn in the Middle Ages, attached to more fragile and delicate shoes, allowing the wearer to stay out of mud and debris when walking outdoors.
Now that you have become a heel expert, you are ready to go adventure into the world of women’s footwear. While we have gone over a lot in words here, it is of the utmost importance to take the time to sample all these different types of heels and discover which works best for you. Never buy a shoe that you feel will allow you to injure yourself or make you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. When you do pick out your next high heel; practice, practice, practice! I implore you to take the time and learn to walk properly in your shoes so you don’t look like an idiot, trust me…I know…I am having flashbacks right now.
Adventure your way into the world of women’s shoes by hosting a Shush Shoes at home party, where you will have all the time in the world to try on different kinds of heels, and have the opportunity to earn them free! To learn more about our parties and/or to book a date, visit our Shoe Party page on our website.
We have some cool news to share quickly…NEW SHOES have just arrived to get us through summer, you girls sure love your Shush Shoes, cause they are flying off the shelves! New post will be added this week introducing you to the 4 new lovely ladies in our collection.
July special has been announced! All ladies who host a party in July will be offering their guests the opportunity to Buy 2 pairs, Get 3rd pair for 50% off! Best news is, the hostess can take advantage of this special in addition to all the free shoes she earns! If you would like to host a July shoe party with Shush Shoes, please visit our Contact page on our website and we will get you scheduled for a date!
You can also reach us on our Facebook fan-page or by following @ShushShoes on Twitter. Keep up to date with day by day company news, specials, and contests. Also if you have a moment vote for us in Chase Bank’s Mission Small Business to help us win a $250,000 grant! A grant of that amount can change everything for a small business and Chase is sharing the wealth, by giving away 12 of these grants! We thank you in advance and hope you know we appreciate all of your support.
To vote, visit the Mission Small Business website (www.missionsmallbusiness.com), register yourself (which can be done easily with Facebook or Twitter accounts), Search for Shush Shoes and hit submit, then click the vote button on the next page. Easy peezy!
Till next time….
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If the Shoe Fits... 