It’s been said that “diamonds were a girl’s best friend.” While that might be true for some, if you ask vertically-challenged girls you’ll find that high heel shoes receive that honour. Heeled shoes, including phallic stiletto heels, can add more to a woman’s stature and confidence than many carets ever could.

Sexy shoes and comfort
You might think those are exclusive of one another but you’d be wrong. You can find comfortable high heel shoes if you know what to look for. The first rule of high heel shoe shopping is “The higher the heel, the more you should spend.” That doesn’t mean you can’t find a comfortable pair of sexy heels for under £30, you probably won’t find a pair of stilettos or platform shoes in that range, though.

When you’ve found a pair of high heel or platform shoes you really love, wear them around the shoe store for a short while. If your feet don’t hurt after a few minutes, take them home but keep your store slip.

Wear them around your home for an hour or two. The reason for the home wear is two-fold; first, you won’t hurt yourself as much should you fall or stumble. Second, you won’t wear the soles or the heels should you need to return them. If you have blisters or discomfort in any way, you should return them to the shoe store straight away.

Heel height should be about 5 centimetres. More than that and you might begin to feel wobbly. You don’t want to catch a man’s attention as you stumble and fall. It can not only be embarrassing, it can be very uncomfortable.

Thickness is another aspect of high heels that can effect comfort. Thicker is not always better and the trend for thick heels comes and goes. A stiletto, with a heel about 1 centimetre in diameter at the point it hits the pavement is always in vogue. Stilettos, the epitome of sexy shoes, are typically 4 – 6 centimetres tall and look fabulous on a tall woman as much as a shorter one. The thicker the heel is at the base the more stability, and in turn comfort, it will provide.

Platform shoes can be more comfortable than some common high heels because the soles are available in flat styles, relieving pressure from the balls of your feet. They are, however, an acquired taste as they raise your centre of gravity considerably.

The soles of platform shoes are often made of wood, cork, plastic or rubber. They will elevate your physique and confidence, a fashion statement that’s been sexy since the 1930′s, when platform shoes came onto the market.

How to wear heels
Before leaving home for a night out, practice wearing your high heels by walking around your home. Keep your legs straight and close together. Point your toes in front of you. Start off with slow, short steps, placing your heel down first then rolling onto the flat of your foot, the ball then your toes.

As you become more comfortable with your high heel or platform shoes, practice on various surfaces, like carpet and wood floors. Don’t forget to work on stops, turns and even slow dancing.

Sexy shoes will round out any ensemble. You can wear stilettos with denim jeans and platform shoes with mini skirts. Regardless of the style of your dress, your high heel or platform shoes will help keep your back straight, your shoulders back and make your legs look longer. This is a sexy, seductive look no matter where your shoes take you.

Preventative foot care is essential for people who live with diabetes. Perhaps the most important part of this preventative care is the shoes you wear.  While the rest of us may suffer through a night in six-inch heels, or force our feet into uncomfortable hiking boots, diabetics should not put up with foot pain, no matter how minor it seems at the time.  Calluses, corns, blisters, scrapes or other minor foot injuries can all lead to serious foot infections or foot ulcers.Several brands have developed shoes particularly designed for diabetics.  These shoes tend to provide the foot with considerable padding and a high-density sole designed to absorb shock.  Diabetic shoes should give you a “soft fit” – the fabric of the shoe should be smooth against your foot without seams or other features that could lead to blisters or hot spots. Many of them are designed to accommodate removable inserts, or are fastened with Velcro so that you can easily adjust the shoe’s size.  The upside is that diabetic shoes should be incredibly comfortable!  The downside is that they may not be as stylish as you would like. (I don’t know about you, but I’d say Velcro shoes went out of style somewhere around the 5th grade.)  They are not exactly the kind of shoes you want to put on when getting ready for a big night out. Luckily several well-respected brands of diabetic shoes have developed diabetic dress shoes that will protect your feet and look good while doing it.  Check out the “Trinket”, designed by PW Minor.  This dress shoe provides extra depth in the toe region and also has an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial brushed knit that lines the toe box.  Or look for the “Angie” from Drew Shoes, which has a removable insole and a steel shank that provides first-rate support.  Instead of Velcro, this shoe closes with a subtle black zipper on the side.  But like Velcro, the zipper can be adjusted to accommodate the swelling of the feet. For men, try the “Comfort Street” produced by Acor.  This good-looking shoe is made from a stretchable material that changes shape and size with your foot.  It is lined with a fiber called X-Static®, which contains a layer of silver (an effective anti-microbial element).  Another good option for men is PW Minor’s dress shoe known as “Sir”.  This shoe has an extra deep toe box and is made from soft leather that requires no time to break-in.  The ¾ inch wedge heel promotes stability, and the shoe comes with a removable insole that allows you to adjust the shoe’s size.

I have tried band aids, but they shred or bunch up. There has GOT to be some solution or no one would ever wear heels. Ideas?

I have tried on many heels and for everyone the whole arch of my foot is not actually on the shoe. After about a minute of standing the balls of my feet (and my heels) start to burn and I get blisters very quickly. Is there anything I can buy/do to help? Thanks!

I work at a restaurant where this crazy investor took charge and changed everything. She even changed our uniforms to shorts and brown leather boots. My problem are the leather boots. They are absolutely not slip resistant and they leave blisters all over our feet. They have no support whatsoever and i’ve fallen from walking in them a good couple of times. We’ve brought it up to the lady and she refuses to let us wear anything else. She says if we won’t wear the boots we can work somewhere else. Is there a law where she has to change the shoes?

When i wear high heels, after a while the balls of my feet start hurting alot and the top of my toes rub up against the shoe causing cuts and blisters. Does any one know what to do to prevent the pain, particularly the toes? How do girls dance all night long in killer heels? LOL

I have diabetes and I need to take care of my feet. So obviously, the pains of wearing high heels without socks including bunions, blisters, calluses, and cuts are not good for my health. They don’t heal with people that have diabetes. Unfortunately I wear a lot of capri style panty hose under my skirts, and I need something that I can wear in my mary janes and my pumps that won’t show, but will protect the bottom of my feet. Any suggestions?