When it comes to shoes, don't fall head over heels

9:24am Wednesday 30th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Just when you thought heels couldn’t get any higher, guess what? They have. Why are they getting bigger and what are the risks?

FORGET oversized bags and chunky jewellery, this season the focus is on statement shoes, with it seems, the higher heels the better.

Emma Stanworth who runs designer shoe shop Poshu, in Whalley said her sales of high heels were at record levels leaving previous big sellers, pump flats and kitten heels standing.

“Over the last few seasons heels have been getting more and more popular and higher and higher,” she said.

“Heels are by far my main sales at the moment. We don’t sell much other shoes right now.

"It seems to be what women are wanting, and the higher the better.

“My highest heel is about five inches and the platforms are getting higher too.

"What surprises me is even tall girls are wanting heels.

"They are a very sexy look and can make an outfit.

"Some people are now buying their shoes first for nights out then matching their outfits to them rather than the other way around.”

Emma went on: “I think a lot of the fashion is celebrity driven, and we sell some of the popular designers which are flying off the shelves, with starting prices of £300.

“I think it’s psychological, Women feel good in a pair of heels, it gives them confidence. You can tell wearing them gives them a boost.”

They may look great but comfortable they are not.

Simply meeting friends, getting to your table in a restaurant or even visiting the loo will require military pre-cision.

Putting one foot before the other in super-high stilettos is anything but simple.

Despite the discomfort women are willing to tolerate, these extreme heels could also be causing irreparable damage to their feet, knees and back and not to mention the increased risk of falls wearing them brings.

Catherine Yates who runs King Street Podiatry Clinic, Blackburn said: “Wearing heels pushes the gravity to the ball of your foot which gives you bad posture because it upsets the natural alignment of your body and can cause many problems.

“I treat a lot of corns and hard skin from prolonged heel wearing.

“Women can also damage their calf muscles from wearing heels and can result in them feeling discomfort from wearing flats because their muscles have been shortened.

“What these women actually need to do is stop wearing heels altogether for a time while their muscles repair.

"In extreme cases women have had hairline fractures from wearing heels for long periods of time.

She said: “But every woman loves to wear a heel especially for going out so we must just be sensible about it and wear lower heels for smaller amounts of time if we want to look after our feet.”

If you can’t imagine life without heels Catherine’s tips are:

* Try more moderate heels with thicker soles so there is less pressure on the ball of the foot.

* Try square toe and thicker heeled heels instead of stilettos for better posture.

* Limit time wearing heels and use flat shoes for walking to and from work and while sitting at a desk.

* Have a flat pair in your car to drive in.