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Wearing heels and dress shoes - help

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luvthemstrawberries

luvthemstrawberries

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
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I don''t wear heels much, or dress shoes period, for that matter. Work doesn''t require dressing up, except for meetings and presentations. I have one or two of those maybe once every 2 weeks or so, which means I''m wearing dress shoes, usually some type of heel. For the past month, I''ve worn 2 or 3 different pairs, and each time, they''ve worn absolutely terrible blisters in various spots. With pumps and most closed flats, I get water blisters on my pinky toes. I also get actual torn blisters in other spots, usually wherever the shoes cut across the top of my feet (never on my heels though).

I just wanted some advice from anyone who can help - is this a problem with all the shoes I have, or is there something I can change? They''re not the nicest shoes in the world, aka not really expensive or anything - I wish I could afford really nice ones, haha. Don''t know if they''d be any more comfortable than others though. It''s like my feet swell when I''m wearing dress shoes or something, and start rubbing in them, or cutting across the opening. Then I get blisters that take weeks to heal that only took a few hours to create, and are so painful. Are there certain shoes out there that are made to be more comfortable, or could the material even make a difference? Or are some people''s feet just not meant to do well in dress shoes?
 
Sounds like they just don''t fit well. You can get a cobbler to stretch them in the toe box for a few bucks and that should help with the pinky issue. They can actually usually stretch them anywhere for a bit more room.
 
Both Dr. Scholl''s and Band-Aid make this stuff that you rub onto your feet your feet before you put your shoes on in areas you tend to get blisters to prevent the blisters from forming. They are amazing! They''re basically just like large tubes of chapstick and work wonders. The Band-Aid kind is called Blister Block, and the Dr. Scholl''s kind is called Miracle Shield. They''re both great! And they are small enough to keep in your purse in case you need to re-apply later, though I''ve never needed to do that.

Here are some links so you can see what they look like. I''ve found them at all drugstores, Target, Walmart, etc.

Band-Aid

Dr. Scholl''s
 
What kind of shoes are they?
 
Thanks ladies for the info!

NF - it really does feel like they don''t fit well. But I never know that until I''ve worn them for hours. I''ll try them on in the stores and walk around in them and they feel great. But once I''ve walked the few blocks to work in them, and all over the building, to meetings, back to my car, etc., the blisters are big open wounds. I usually realize they don''t fit well within an hour or two into the work day, and there''s nothing I can do except maybe a few bandaids.

SS - I''ll look into that stuff - anything is worth a try. Thanks.
 
Are you wearing hose with your dress shoes? because without a stocking, even the most expensive shoes in the world can cut into skin or will rub until a blister forms.
 
Date: 7/5/2009 1:45:48 PM
Author: FrekeChild
What kind of shoes are they?
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Two pairs are various pumps with 2-3" heels. One pair is a wedge. Another pair are flats. All are closed toe. All of them cause the pinky toe blisters as well as raw skin rubbed off under the edge of the shoe.

The last pair is a (cheap) pair of thong-strapped kitten heels with rubber straps, which makes sense why it rubbed a bunch of blisters.

But I still don't understand why the feet swell and seem to sweat in all dress shoes.

ETA - the closed toe shoes are not pointy toe or anything that squishes the toes - they're all rounded toes.
 
Date: 7/5/2009 1:47:30 PM
Author: gemgirl
Are you wearing hose with your dress shoes? because without a stocking, even the most expensive shoes in the world can cut into skin or will rub until a blister forms.
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I''m not, and I should have mentioned that. I guess I could, but I don''t like them showing at my toes if I was to wear open-toe shoes. Plus I''m just not a fan of hose anyway. I wear dress pants usually also. I just know that so many women out there can wear all those dress shoes without hose and with no problems at all. Maybe I''m not one of them for some reason.
 
Are they leather?
 
Date: 7/5/2009 1:58:55 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Are they leather?
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I just went and looked at them all - they all say "All man-made materials" except for one pair of pumps, which says the same thing except for the bottom/inside, which says it is leather.

Is leather good or bad? (Haha as you can tell, I am no shoe-guru at all. Maybe I need to learn a bit about them.)
 
LTS,

I feel your pain! And, have felt it, every time I wear heels!! I have more of less given up on wearing heels, except for rare occasions.

When I was working at a law firm, I had to wear heels with suits. I always wore hose with them, but still wound up with blisters on my pinky toes and throbbing feet!!

I have a terrible time with heels. If I wear heels without hosiery, the back of my heels get cut up. The shoes are not too small because the backs of feet often slip out, then when I put my foot down while walking, the back of the shoe cuts them!!! Maybe this would not happen if the shoes were worn in, but I never get to that point! Too much pain.

Also, I find that even with flats, my feet will fall out if there is not a strap or if the front of the shoe is not super long. So, for instance, ballet flats would be a problem for me. Not enough coverage in the front to keep them on my feet. I wear a size 10 and have since high school. 9.5 is not big enough, so it's not really a size issue. I don't know what my problem is, but I hate that I am so limited in my shoe selection.

LTS, I'd recommend that you look for some flex shoes that are made of fabric. These should get you through work meetings where you need to wear heels. Liz Claiborne makes very comfy ones. Those were the only brand that I could wear to court - LizFlex. Anything else hurt too much. Anne Klein also makes them, and you might try Aerosoles too. The fabric gave the shoes more flexibility in the toe box, and shoe itself is flexible, often with rubber soles (critical for me).

I still won't even wear those now, because I can get away with not wearing heels. The highest I go is about 1.5 inches, and I also wear comfy shoes into work and then change at my desk because even 1.5 inch heels would cause me great discomfort. Plus, I tend to fall a lot, so I am much more comfortable wearing rubber-soled shoes on the walk into the office.

Gosh, sorry for writing a book, but this is a topic that really hit home for me, and something that I've always wondered about. Guh.
 
'All man-made materials'
Click to expand...

There you go! You can get blisters with good leather shoes if your feet are not used to them - that's bad enough. Man made materials are killer on the feet - especially if you are not wearing some kind of hose.

I find that if my feet are not used to a pair of shoes I need to wear hose to rebreak them in if I am going to be wearing them for a long period. After a couple of wearings I find that I can lose the hose and not have problems. [Note: When I am not barefoot, in floppers or in sneakers - which is most of the time - I tend to wear moderate - like Aldo - to very very expensive shoes - usually leather - very very high heels - sometimes fabric with leather lining].

Hope this helps.
 
LV - Haha, I never get the point of having them broken in either!
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I fortunately never have problems with my heels in the shoes - the feet settle in there and never lift in and out of the shoes really, but they start to sweat and stick, almost getting squished down in the shoes when I''m wearing heels. I will look into the flex shoes - thanks so much for the info.

Diamante - Haha, see, I have no idea about this stuff. Thanks for the info about them and advice about breaking in various ones. I''m getting the feeling that I need to get rid of my man-made shoes, and save up and invest in more natural materials, huh?
 
Date: 7/5/2009 2:36:41 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries
Diamante - Haha, see, I have no idea about this stuff. Thanks for the info about them and advice about breaking in various ones. I''m getting the feeling that I need to get rid of my man-made shoes, and save up and invest in more natural materials, huh?
Click to expand...

You don''t have to break the bank to get a decent pair of shoes. The high end stores [Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bergdorf, etc.] have some great sales on the well made brands. Places like Cole Haan [they make a very comfortable shoe] also have great sales. I have gotten some great deals at Marshalls too. As you can tell, I hate paying full price!
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Date: 7/5/2009 2:36:41 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries
LV - Haha, I never get the point of having them broken in either!
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I fortunately never have problems with my heels in the shoes - the feet settle in there and never lift in and out of the shoes really, but they start to sweat and stick, almost getting squished down in the shoes when I''m wearing heels. I will look into the flex shoes - thanks so much for the info.
Click to expand...

Oh, do you mean that the front part of your foot sinks into the toe box? I think that is my primary problem, which is what then causes the back slippage. They do sell a product that is supposed to keep the front part of your foot more stationary, but that didn''t work for me either.
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Yeah leather is the way to go. Shoes with leather uppers will be much better for your feet, and leave a lot less blisters once they are broken in. Leather uppers usually start at $50-75 and up Leather soles are usually on shoes that are starting to get more expensive, around $150 and up usually. HOWEVER, if you could find something on sale, that is your best bet. (I like trolling on Amazon, because sometimes they have 75-80% off deals, and can''t beat that with a stick!)

Also, is the shoe size right? If my normal size is a little snugger than usual, I''ll get the next size up, and put in some heel inserts.

Also, feet swell throughout the day no matter what kind of shoes you''re wearing--it''s just much less noticeable in sandals and sneakers because they are built with more room in them anyway.

Shoes can be kind of a PITA honestly.
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Cole Haan is having a sale. Some of my most comfortable shoes are made by them [all with high heels]. They have a line that uses Nike Air technology which are probably even more comfortable. Even on sale their prices can't be considered low but if you get a pair they will last you forever. Here's a link to pumps that are currently on sale: Linky.

ETA - I also find Stuart Weitzman shoes [high heels, of course
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] very comfortable. Here is their current sale.

EAT again - I noticed that Zappo's lets you sort by many things in your shoe search - including comfort! You might want to try that: Zappo's.
 
Freke - What are the shoes in your avatar? They''re gorgeous!
 
I just have to concur with Diamante and say that Stuart Weitzman heels are SO comfy! The first time I tried a pair on I was amazed at how great they felt on my feet, and I have since become a bit of a Stuart Weitzman shoe-whore. I love them, and can''t enough!
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I have to add my 2 cents because I know exactly how this feels.

I went on some medication as a teenager to clear up my skin and one of the side effects was more fragile and sensitive skin. After I started I found it difficult to wear any shoes because if they even rubed a little bit I''d end up with a blister. Even years after stopping the medication these side effects havn''t gone away wich makes weaing dress shoes a nightmare.

Wearing hose dosn''t help, it just allowed the shoe to rub up and down my heal more easily, making a blister faster. I have to have a large number of shoes so I don''t have to wear the same pair again the next day so the new pair maims a differnt part of my foot and gives the other parts time to recover. I only wear leather shoes, they strech and shape to your feet and don''t rip my skin to threads like man made materials. I know which shoes hurt which areas and I put a blister block plaster on the area before I wear them. Mostly I just have to take the pain of a new pair untill they''re worn in and my feet have scared up enough in that area that they can take the rubbing there.

I hope some of this will help but I''d definatly start by investing in a good pair of leather shoes.
 
Consider going to Nordstrom''s or some other higher-end store so you can get some expert fitting help on your next pair of shoes. Describe the problem and let the salesperson help you find a pair of shoes that fits you correctly. Once you have one good pair, it will be easier for you to select shoes that fit you correctly on your own. Definitely go for leather (not that Nordy''s would sell you shoes with synthetic uppers!).

Good luck!
 
Diamante - Thanks for the info!! Haha I''m all about a sale too! I will definitely take a look at all those linkys - thanks so much!!

LV - Yeah basically gravity kicks in and the balls of my feet kind of stick in the shoes. But they''re sweaty, so they rub raw.
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SS - Haha guess I need to give those Stuarts a try then huh? I would love to have a pair that''s actually comfortable.

4ever - Man that medication must stink! Thanks for the input - another vote for leather!
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Date: 7/5/2009 2:46:57 PM
Author: FrekeChild
Yeah leather is the way to go. Shoes with leather uppers will be much better for your feet, and leave a lot less blisters once they are broken in. Leather uppers usually start at $50-75 and up Leather soles are usually on shoes that are starting to get more expensive, around $150 and up usually. HOWEVER, if you could find something on sale, that is your best bet. (I like trolling on Amazon, because sometimes they have 75-80% off deals, and can''t beat that with a stick!)

Also, is the shoe size right? If my normal size is a little snugger than usual, I''ll get the next size up, and put in some heel inserts.

Also, feet swell throughout the day no matter what kind of shoes you''re wearing--it''s just much less noticeable in sandals and sneakers because they are built with more room in them anyway.

Shoes can be kind of a PITA honestly.
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Click to expand...
Haha, amen!!

Thanks so much for the info!! I do have that one pair of pumps that''s leather uppers, but they still seem to cut into the sides of my feet where the top of the shoe cuts around - maybe that''s just an issue of breaking them in though. I may look into the heel inserts. I''d love to shop online, but I just can never go by the size, because I vary between 8.5 and 9.

That stinks about the swelling - haha my feet would love to stay in tennis shoes all day!
 
Date: 7/5/2009 8:12:32 PM
Author: VRBeauty
Consider going to Nordstrom''s or some other higher-end store so you can get some expert fitting help on your next pair of shoes. Describe the problem and let the salesperson help you find a pair of shoes that fits you correctly. Once you have one good pair, it will be easier for you to select shoes that fit you correctly on your own. Definitely go for leather (not that Nordy''s would sell you shoes with synthetic uppers!).

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks! We have one close to here, so I may try that. Hehe yeah my shoes definitely don''t come from stores as nice as that!
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Remember - if they don't feel great when you put them on don't buy them - they will not stretch out, they will not feel better in the morning, they will not get broken in, and the pain and tightness will only get worse! LOL!

Good luck! Let us know what you wind up getting!
 
Date: 7/5/2009 9:09:32 PM
Author: DiamanteBlu
Remember - if they don''t feel great when you put them on don''t buy them - they will not stretch out, they will not feel better in the morning, they will not get broken in, and the pain and tightness will only get worse! LOL!

Good luck! Let us know what you wind up getting!
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Yeah I always try things on, but I guess that''s where I''m not doing it right - I walk around in them a bit, but never really decipher if they feel GREAT or just "meh." Apparently my past shoes have been "meh."
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I''m gonna start some looking around - I''ll let you know! Thanks!!
 
I get blisters any time I wear a heel outside and walk around for a bit. I''m usually ok in air conditioning because it keeps my feet dry. The most helpful thing, for me, is to wear stockings. When I wear skirts, I hate to wear hose, but when I wear pants, I always wear those knee high things. They''re wonderful! No issues with blisters.

I also find wearing the shoes more helps. I might get blisters the first time, but if I let the blisters heal and then keep wearing the shoes, my feet toughen up a bit.
I have more comfortable shoes and less comfortable shoes, but I don''t find that comfort has anything to do with blisters (in my case, anyway). They can have the softest sole and feel like slippers, but still make my feet a mess after a day of wearing them. For me it''s more trial and error than anything, and just being willing to wear them around enough for my feet to get used to them, despite the blisters the first time or two. I also never wear heels to walk outside (especially in the summer) because I just know I''ll be sorry for it later.
 
Definitely, definitely try leather shoes. Manmade materials not only do not stretch, they do not ''breathe.'' This could be contributing to the swelling that you are dealing with, and it will certainly cause your feet to perspire more.

I think figuring out what kinds of shoes work for you is (unfortunately) a process of trial and error. For example, I am nearly 30 and I have finally come to the conclusion that I simply cannot wear pumps or d''orsays. They just don''t fit my foot correctly. I need shoes with a stap, be it ankle, T-strap, or slingback. But I only know this because I have tried and discarded so many shoes over the years.
 
Date: 7/6/2009 10:59:47 AM
Author: fatafelice
Definitely, definitely try leather shoes. Manmade materials not only do not stretch, they do not ''breathe.'' This could be contributing to the swelling that you are dealing with, and it will certainly cause your feet to perspire more.

I think figuring out what kinds of shoes work for you is (unfortunately) a process of trial and error. For example, I am nearly 30 and I have finally come to the conclusion that I simply cannot wear pumps or d''orsays. They just don''t fit my foot correctly. I need shoes with a stap, be it ankle, T-strap, or slingback. But I only know this because I have tried and discarded so many shoes over the years.
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Totally agree with this as well. Strappy sandals give me lots of blisters. Slingbacks just will not stay on my heels. I love ankle and t-straps as they keep shoes from sliding around as much and I find them super comfortable to wear (especially at higher heel heights). It''s so personal which types of shoes work best with your feet.
 
Date: 7/5/2009 3:01:28 PM
Author: DiamanteBlu
Freke - What are the shoes in your avatar? They''re gorgeous!
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Guess''s "Harriet" in blue suede. They haven''t ever been worn outside, and they are my babies.
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Thank you!
 
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