High heel shoes continue to go up in height, but have you noticed that as people lose their homes and jobs, that women are wearing more heels that are higher than ever? This is very according to Conventry Telegraph.

According to their article, since the 1930's, it has been easy to predict economic disasters based on the types of high heel shoes that women wear. And thanks to the styles, they may have predicted our most recent recession.

What does high heels have to do with financial nightmares? Well, according to article, cheaper but taller heels, help the wearer to feel less depressed during the recession.

Is there anything that high heel shoes can't do?

Source: Conventry Telegraph

Tis the season and many of us, or I should say most of us are stressed. So take a little time out and give yourself a pedicure. Save money for those presents and don't spend tons at the nail salon, do it at home. If your not sure where to start I'll do a little how to guide.

1. Get all the tools together that you will need. Here's the list:

There is no question about it – we love womens shoes. There are even women who cannot drive past a shoe store with out dropping in to buy a brand new pair of womens shoes. Have you ever driven past a shoe store when there was a sale going on? The parking lot is packed, and the way women walk out with boxes piled high, you would think that they were giving the shoes away!

A woman makes a statement with her shoes today. If you open the door of any average woman’s closet, you will be able to tell quite a bit about her – by checking out her shoes. That scuffed up pair are her favorites. Those sneakers with the mud caked on them are an indication that she may be a runner – or possibly a gardener. If you see cowboy boots, she may ride horses, but if the boots are in excellent condition – with no dirt, scuffs or dust – she is probably into country and western dance. Are there a large number of dress shoes in every color and size imaginable? She works in an office.

Our shoes tell other people quite a bit about us – more than most people realize. Tom Hanks, in Forest Gump said “Mama always said you could tell an awful lot about a person by the kind of shoes they wear.” And his Mama was right! But this is a more accurate statement about women than it is for men. Women have shoes to wear for every situation that life may throw at them! A woman’s shoes really go a long way towards telling you who she is, what she is like, and what she does with her life.

In the past, women envied each other over their outfits, the hairdo’s, and even their husbands! Today – the envy is in the shoes! Some women refuse to tell other women where they shop for shoes! Some women search far and wide – and pay very high prices – to find shoes that none of their friends have or can find, or to find shoes that go perfectly with an outfit – or an upcoming event! Shoe shopping and decisions today has become a sort of madness among many women! The first thing a woman notices about another woman is – you guess it – her shoes!

Shoe designers are having to work double time to come up with fresh new designs for womens footwear in every category each year – high heels, sandals, sneakers, pumps, spikes, wedges – every type of womans shoe that you can imagine! Women want the freshest looks, and the latest designs, and they are willing to pay for them. Sometimes, however, they pay at the cost of their feet!

The majority of women’s shoes were not designed for comfort or support – they were designed for looks – or maybe even for shock value. Comfort and support are usually not taken into consideration at all when high fashion is at stake. The strangest part is that women pay hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars for shoes that are literally ruining their feet!

This fact alone also says a lot about a woman. It says that the latest fashion may be more important than overall health. Some of these shoes not only hurt the feet that wear them, they often affect – and hurt – the backs of the women who wear these shoes. Originally, shoes were meant to protect the feet. Today, the designer shoes on the market do very little to protect the feet – in fact, in many cases, a woman would be better off walking bare foot – but women still buy the designs, and designers still come up with more ways to skimp on the shoes and raise the prices – the less shoe there actually is, the higher the price goes!

Take a little time today and go open your closet door – or the closet door of the woman you love. What do the womens shoes in that closet tell you about yourself or that woman? You may even find some surprises if you are checking out someone else’s collection of shoes!

Shoes-heaven.com provides you with information on the latest womens shoe fashion and much, much more. For info on womens shoes, come to shoes-heaven.com! http://www.shoes-heaven.com

By Shelley Costello

I love womens shoes and in my lifetime will never own enough pairs.

Thousands of women every month search online for womens shoes. In turnthousands of listings come up and compete for that visitor. You could spend an entire day browsing page upon page of beautiful, colourful and stylish shoes.

Shopping online for womens shoes allows you to view an enormous range from designer shoes, dress shoes, high heel shoes, summer sandals, flip flops to running shoes, boots, golf shoes, slippers and pretty much any style of shoe you could imagine.

Online shoe shopping gives you shoes at lower prices than in offline shoe stores. Most give discounted or free shipping and lots of sites offer a free gift of some kind as an incentive to shop with them. Free handbags are the most common gift you can expect to receive with your new shoes. Bags are another story altogether but what's a shoe without the bag to go with it.

What you might not know however that in addition to the advantages of shopping online, there are some secret benefits to womens shoes.

Now I know it sounds a little odd that womens shoes have secret benefits but having researched this quite extensively I have come across some pretty amazing facts that in turn improve various aspects of your life.

Once you discover these facts you will change the way you choose your shoes and perhaps transform yourself a little too.

Something good is always worth sharing.

Some Secrets

Womens high heel shoes increase the lift of a woman’s bottom by 25%. Amazingly true when you wear a pair of high heels the height of the heel creates this lift. High heel shoes also lengthen the look of your legs and make them appear slimmer.

Womens cowboy boots will make any woman look sexier. Worn with knee length skirts these boots will give you a little heel height to create slimmer legs and give you sex appeal.

Finding the right pair of womens golf shoes could shed you 600 calories!

Investing in a pair of decent womens running shoes will lead to major life improvements generally and where your health is concerned.

Choosing the right colour shoe will improve other aspects of your life.

For example of all the colours in the spectrum green is easiest on the eye. Pastel green and other pastel colours will tranquilize energy whilst reds and purples will draw energy. Pinks will soothe emotions.

Womens shoes are about fashion, trends and style but there are major advantages to you if you choose them carefully and become familiar with some of the benefits they can give you.

Shelley Costello is webmaster and author of Womens Shoes Guru. An honest guide to choosing womens shoes online. Discover the benefits to womens shoes and gain an understanding of shoe designs.

http://www.womens-shoes-guru.com/

Spilled water on my suede heels yesterday then had to spend a few hours trying to find out how to clean it. This article has some great tips. Check it out.

How to Clean Suede Shoes

Check it out. LifeStyle & Arts are talking about the love of high heel shoes. That's got to be a first. You can read the article here:
High on Heels

What is it with sexy shoes? Why are they so popular today and why have they been popular for so long? Sexy shoes have a special place in the heart and soul of many people across the globe, but why?

To start with, a pair of high heels can instantly elongate the lines of the legs that can make the legs appear slimmer and create more elegant curves from the hip to the toe. I’ve also read that wearing high heel shoes can make the foot appear smaller than it actually is.

Additionally, high heel shoes alter the stance of the woman and this forces her breasts up and makes her derriere protrude farther out than normal. The correct pair of shoes can even help create an air of confidence due to the fact that they make the woman taller than normal and tend to attract more attention to her.

Sexy shoes aren’t just popular with women, but with men and cross dressers as well. Sexy shoes are known to be a fetish item in their own right. Sexy shoes are collectible and can be considered works of art without even having a foot to fill them. People all over the world collect exotic high heel shoes.

Although they may not be the most practical clothing item in the world, it really doesn’t come down to practicality. Sexy shoes are popular for reasons not related to their comfort or practicality. If you still don’t get it, then you probably never will.

Now, aren’t you ready for your next pair of Sexy Shoes

Mike Harader is an expert author who writes on several topics including Sexy Lingerie and Bridal Lingerie as well as others.

Technorati Tags: sexy shoes high heel shoes

The biggest mistake women make when buying shoes is not trying the pair in question on both feet. You wear shoes on both of your feet, so you should try on shoes on both of your feet. Most individuals do not have matching feet and usually one foot is a noticeable amount larger—or even longer—than the other. Next time you visit your local shoe shop, be sure you try on both shoes and take a walk or two to see if you should purchase the shoes. Everyone has at least one pair of shoes in the back of the closet that were bought on the spur of the moment decision that either do not fit or hurt too badly to wear anymore.

The major mistake that many fashionistas make when it comes to buying shoes is not devoting enough time to shoe shopping. Although there never seems to be enough time when you are shoe shopping, be sure to have enough time to properly try on both shoes and think over your process carefully. Also, if you have a shoe salesman or woman who seems more interested in making the sale than making sure you are pleased with the pair in question, you may want to request another salesperson to help you in the future. Also, be sure to know the store’s return policy before buying any pair of shoes. In case you need to return the shoes in the future—assuming they are in an unworn state—you will want to be able to get your money back or at least receive a store credit for the full purchase amount.

Many women tend to have their proprieties in an incorrect order when it comes to shoe shopping. Instead of worrying about the fit and feel of the shoes, most women tend to focus on the look of the shoe. No matter how hot those heels may look, if you are unable to successfully walk in them, consider choosing another pair of shoes. Never exchange looks for pain, since you can potentially cause great harm to your feet by wearing shoes that do not properly fit your feet. Furthermore, wearing shoes that you are unable to successfully walk in may prompt you to fall, thus injuring your body as well as your feet. Also, look at the shoes on your feet before you decide to purchase the pair in question, since many shoes look lovely in the box, are do not look appropriate for your size and shape of foot.

Bridget Allen has worked for many years in the fashion industry, at a senior level, and she has written an amazing totally free fashionista minicourse that will thrill, entertain, and most importantly educate you about what you absolutely need to know about fashion.
Fashionista Essentials

Technorati Tags:buying shoes shoe shopping

By Brenda ShowalterThe Republic

The colorful high-heel, pointy-toe shoes with sparkles, sequins, rhinestones and skinny straps are stylish, sexy and a fun fashion accessory.

But what effect are they having on women's feet?

Dr. Michael Mull, a podiatrist for more than 25 years, estimates 90 percent of his patients' problems are due to wearing improper footwear.

The problem is not exclusive to young women in their teens and 20s wanting to look like "Sex in the City" stars.

"I've had women in their 80s here in my office with 3-inch pumps," Mull said.

Another big problem is women wearing the wrong size of shoe, thinking if they wore a size 7 at age 20, they still wear the same size at 50.

"As we get older, our feet get wider and longer," Mull said.

Problems are not limited to high heels, however.

Too many people buy ill-fitting shoes at department stores with no one assisting them with measurement or fit.

Mull sees some local factory workers who buy their required steel-toe shoes off a truck.

That worries him because the workers often stand on their feet for an eight-hour shift, and the shoes have no "give."

He said the belief that shoes need to be "broken in" is not true. They should fit properly and comfortably from the start.

Problems caused or aggravated by shoes can include bunions, hammertoes, blisters, calluses, corns, fallen arches, Achilles tendonitis, ingrown toenails, heel spurs and even knee and back aches.

Fixes range from buying new shoes to physical therapy, exercises and surgery.

"Foot discomfort can be greatly reduced or completely eliminated by purchasing properly fitting shoes," Mull said.

Although men and women have problems, women are nine times more likely to have certain types of foot problems.

When Jerri Chalfant of Columbus began having back problems several years ago, she bought a pair of Birkenstocks.

Although the shoes cost more than $100, her back problems improved and the shoes never wore out.

"I look at it as an investment," Chalfant said.

She is a regular shopper at Pampered Foot in Columbus, where she likes how owner Christie Crippen takes special care and patience to ensure she has a properly fitting shoe.

Physician referrals are responsible for many of Crippen's customers, including those who have worn too many high heels or have jobs where they stand all day.

Others have been diagnosed with foot problems and need a specialty shoe.

The brands Crippen carries, including Birkenstock, Finn and Noat, have arch and heel support and a wide toe area.

"A lot of what we do is education," Crippen said.

She explains how the front ball of a woman's foot endures significant pressure when wearing high heels and how toes can be damaged when squeezed into narrow, pointy-toe shoes.

Shoe technology and podiatry have advanced and can help women and men correct problems and learn more about the mechanics of the foot.

At the Athlete's Foot in Columbus, owners Amy Macy and Marty Arnett provide customized athletic shoe fittings with the help of a computer.

Customers walk across a mat that sends information about gait to a computer display.

The process can be especially helpful for those with an active lifestyle.

Mull said several factors enter into why people buy shoes, including style and price. He encourages his patients to also consider comfort and fit.

If the shoe feels too tight, too high or too stiff when trying it on, it could cause problems requiring treatment by a podiatrist someday.

This is a great article to read if you want to wear heels but have problems.

Formula for Maximum High-Heel Height Devised by Physicists
By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Medical News

Can't walk in high heels, but still a slave to fashion? A new formula devised by British physicists may be able to help you determine how high a heel you can safely handle --before and after a few cocktails.

The formula, created by researchers at the Institute of Physics in London, is based on your shoe size and a variety of complex factors known as the "Q" factor.

Researchers claim that the formula spelled out below can tell the maximum heel height a person can handle without toppling over or suffering excessively.

h = Q•(12+3s/8)

The variables are:

h: Maximum height of the heel (in centimeters)
Q: A sociological factor with a value between 0 and 1 (see below)
S: Shoe size (in UK ladies' sizes)

"Although at first glance our formula looks scary," says formula creator Paul Stevenson of the University of Surrey, in a news release, "it's actually pretty simple as it's based on the science you learnt at school and which you never thought you would use in real life." By applying this formula, a person can determine just how high the heel of the foot can be lifted above the ground with out falling over.

The 'Q' Factor

But the hard part was working out the elusive "Q" factor. That's the sociological part of the equation not based on the mere mechanics of the shoes.

"Essentially this part of the formula explains what women have always known -- that you don't buy shoes just because they are comfortable, you can afford them, and they look good -- many other variables come into play," says Stevenson.

Researchers defined "Q" as:

p•(y+9)•L
Q = ----------------------------------
(t+1)•(A+1)•(y+10)•(L+£20)

Within that equation, the variables are as follows:

p: The probability that wearing the shoes will help you attract a mate, or "pull" in Brit-speak (in a range from 0 to 1, where 1 is a sure draw and 0 is no chance)
y: The number of years of experience the wearer has in wearing high heels. More experienced wearers can handle a higher heel, but beginners should take it easy.
L: The cost of the shoes, in British pounds. The more expensive, the more likely women will put up with a higher heel.
t: The time since the shoe was the height of fashion, in months (0 = it's red hot right now). If the shoes are terribly fashionable, wearers should be prepared to put up with a little pain.
A: Units of alcohol consumed. The more alcohol that's consumed, the more risky wearing high heels becomes, no matter how well the martini glass goes with the shoes.

Handicapping Carrie Bradshaw's Heels

Using this formula, researchers estimate that if Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw, who is an experienced high-heel wearer with at least five years' experience, wears her latest gorgeous designer originals when sober, she can cope with a heel height of a staggering more than 5 inches (12.5 centimeters).

But if she has one too many cosmopolitans, the "safe" heel height drops dramatically. Using the same example as above, if she consumes 6 units of alcohol she would be advised to stick to heels with a height of less than one inch (2 cm).

Laura Grant, a physicist from Liverpool University, welcomes the institute's new formula.

"Many of my physicist colleagues have no trouble understanding quantum mechanics but can't figure out how women can wear high heels. Now I can explain to them how I minimize the probability of tripping up," says Grant.

PITTSBURGH -- Would you have surgery in order to fit into a pair of high-fashion, high-heel shoes?

Some women are doing just that.

Women Consider Surgery To Wear High-Heel Shoes
High-Heel, Narrow Toe Shoes Can Permanently Deform Feet

The trend began in New York and Los Angeles, and is rippling across the country.

From high-fashion models on the runways in Paris, to the hallways of Pittsburgh, women love shoes and want to wear the hottest style, no matter how uncomfortable they may be.

And to look good, women are squeezing their feet into shoes with high, high heels and pointy toes.

Dr. Stephen Conti, an Allegheny General Hospital foot and ankle specialist, said that wearing these kind of shoes long enough can permanently and painfully deform feet.

When the shoe doesn't fit, some women turn to surgery.

A recent survey found 9 percent of patients having cosmetic foot surgery had it in order to wear certain shoes.

The surgery involves making an incision and removing the bone from the outside toe.

This should make wearing narrow-toed shoes more comfortable.

But it doesn't always work.

Forty-eight percent of people who had cosmetic foot surgery said it did not make it easier to wear the shoe.

And 69 percent still couldn't wear high heels.

If surgery isn't for you, but you really want to wear high heels with narrow toes, Conti says you really shouldn’t wear a heel higher than 1 1/2 inches. If you just have to wear those high, high heels and narrow-toed shoes he suggests you try this:

1. Save the use of your high-heeled shoes for functions in which you will not be on your feet for extended periods of time, and use a 2-inch, not a 4-inch, heel.

2. Take your designer shoes to a podiatrist to have them custom fit to your feet. They may be able to stretch the toe box to better accommodate your feet.

3. Try wearing a larger size shoe than usual and insert heel cups into the backs for a better or more comfortable fit.

4. Use a spacer between the great and second toe.

5. Wear open-toe shoes instead of a similarly styled heel that causes discomfort in your toes.

Conti also said the higher the heel the more pressure on the ball of the foot, which can result in pain and long-lasting foot problems. Here is how high-heels affect the ball of the foot.

1-inch heel: 22 percent increase pressure
2-inch heel: 57 percent increase pressure
3-inch heel: 76 percent increase pressure

Conti said that to keep your feet healthy, wear shoes with heels no higher than 1 1/2 inches and shoes with a rounded toe box.

To tell if your shoe fits properly, trace your bare foot, then put your shoe over the outline.

If the shoe doesn't cover the outline, it's not a proper fit.

Click here to view photos of damage caused by wearing high heel, narrow toe shoes.

I read this news article a few months ago, and if you like high heels, you might find it interesting. Who ever heard of a link between high heels and mental illness.

Read Article

I was very angry to hear some comments a woman had to say to me about heels. She decided that we should not wear them and they should thrown in the garbage. And that anyone who does wear them is an idiot.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but we are also entitled to the right to wear whatever shoes we want to wear. If I want to put on 8" heels, that's my business. They can argue about smoking, drinking and whatever else, but they cannot honestly say to me that us wearing high heels are affecting anyone else or endangering anyone else.

This is something that I do for me. I enjoy heels and if I want to wear them until my feet fall off, then thats my business and no one else's. No you shouldn't be cramming your 3 yo daughter's feet into heels, but when you are a grown woman (or man) and you make a decision to put on a pair of heels I don't see that you need someone else telling you off. It's one of the most harmless things in the world to do. I do know that people do have negative effects from long time heel wearing, but once again, we are adults. If this is what we choose to do, then let it be.

By Tanya Turner

Wouldn’t it be nice to have dress shoes that are also comfortable? This is not as imposable as you may think. Armed with only a few of the tricks fashion experts know, you too can find drop-dead gorgeous evening shoes that you can wear all evening at no cost to your feet.

What is the perfect dress shoe? I think you would agree that it should make your feet look sexy and elegant, match your evening outfits and be comfortable for walking and dancing.

The reason most women think of wearing dress shoes as a sacrifice for the sake of beauty is because 80% of special occasion shoes really are uncomfortable. But since they want to look their best for the prom, wedding or evening banquet, most women will put up with sore feet. You don’t have to, though.

Here are several tips that will help you find the “perfect” evening shoes:

All dress shoes have heels. Of course - high heels make your legs look longer and slimmer, make your feet look sexy and force you to keep good posture. However, you don't have to wear 4-inche heels to get all these benefits. Go for kitten style heels - about 2-inches high. They are more stable and comfortable.


Another way to get comfortable heels is to choose wedge-heel shoes. Even if the heel is high, they are easy to walk in and you probably won't even feel the height. By the way, wedge heels are quite fashionable this year.


About 50% of evening shoes are made from fabric but, if you can afford it, always go for genuine leather shoes. Quality leather has an amazing ability to adjust to the shape of your foot and always feels better than synthetics.


Get your outfit first and match the shoes to it; don't do it the other way around. It will be very difficult to find a color that would match perfectly, though, so go for a color that is complementary. Black evening shoes are classic - they work with any dark colored outfit. If your dress is in a pastel color, try ivory shoes; soft, warm ivory usually works better than pure white.


Avoid straps; they might be sexy but they're also a pain.. Instead, choose dress shoes with a longer, enclosed toe. This style always look very elegant.


Go for shoes with a soft, cushioned upper lining. A leather lining is preferable. If your perfect shoes have a very hard sole, get cushioned comfort inserts; they're sticky on one side, for attachment to the sole of your shoe. Most online and traditional shoe stores sell them.


Make sure the shoes are your correct size. Shoes that are too small or too big will never feel comfortable on your feet.


So you see, it's possible to get and wear beautiful evening shoes without suffering. Keep these tips in mind, when you shop for dress shoes, and your next purchase should make you very happy.

Tanya Turner is a women's fashion she writes for http://www.1000shoes.info/, a site that provides consumer information, advice and reviews of best shoes retailers.

By Christy Diaz

Maybe you were teased as a child. And, you've politely ignored the references to your feet looking like gunboats. Well, the joke isn't on you anymore. Large size women shoes are widely available like never before. Whether you want a dressy pump or a comfortable athletic trainer, retailers and manufacturers are figuring out that there is an ever-growing market in large size women shoes.

With over 30 percent of all women's shoe sales being size nine and above, there is big money in selling large size women shoes. The fact is women's feet are getting bigger. While women over the age of 35 have an average shoe size of seven and a half, their younger counterparts average a shoe size of eight and a half.

This "growing" demand for women's shoes in sizes nine through fifteen has spawned many new retailers and shoe manufacturers who specialize in larger sizes. Twenty years ago, a woman with big feet had very limited options in shoes. Now, she can choose from a vast array of business, casual, and even golfing shoes.

It is estimated that approximately 85 percent of women buy shoes in the wrong size. Most often, they buy shoes that are too small. Ill-fitting shoes can contribute to a whole host of medical problems including bunions, corns, hammertoes, and calluses. With the larger sizes more commonly available now, women are finding the styles that they want in the sizes that they need. This is a welcome relief for the many women who have bought shoes in a too-small size because there was no other option.

If you are a woman with big, glorious feet, make sure that you have both of your feet sized every time you buy shoes. Take the measurement standing up and sitting down. Ask the salesperson for suggestions on shoe brands that might work with your foot size and shape.

If you are trying to minimize the size of your feet, look for shoes with rounded toes and moderate heels. You may want to stay away from pointy pumps, ballerina flats, and t-straps that can lengthen the appearance of your feet. It is also best to stick to neutral tones or colors that blend well with hose or pants.

Finally, keep in mind that if the average shoe size of women keeps growing, you may find yourself having smaller than average feet. Those jokes about your less than dainty tootsies will certainly be a thing of the past.

Chrisy Diaz is a fashion advisor for plus size women. She has been helping women of all sizes look their absolute best while helping them find fantastic deals on plus size apparel. For the hottest tips, secrets and additonal articles, not to mention some great deals on wide or large size womens shoes visit
Plus Size Fashion Secrets.

High heels are beautiful, sexy and can go with almost anything. But there is a danger that comes with wearing them. Many women have twisted their ankles and even broken them from wearing heels. They did not start out slowly and just put them on because I think there is a myth that you just put them on and go. If you have never worn heels or high heels that are 3" or higher then you shouldn't just jump in them. Like anything else the ability to wear high or very high heels needs to be taken slowly.

Start with 1" heels and get comfortably with wearing them. Try to get heels that you can wear out and about. If you plan to wear the 3" or above a lot, then take your time with the smaller heels and wear them around the house or while running errands. Wait a few weeks before moving up to a higher heel.

When you feel ready then its time for the 3" or higher, high heels shoes. If you try and you keep going off balance and wobbling on the heels, then you aren't ready or even worse you have flat feet and no balance. If so you should try heels that are thicker. There are many shoes with thick heels that look gorgeous. And a variety are in clear heels which I think is one of the hottest looks for thick heels.

So I think anyone can wear heels, but you just have to know how and how not to get started. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy your heels and the way they make your legs look super long and sexy.