Are high heels comfortable? If not, why do you wear them? Just to feel more attractive?

They can be reasonably comfortable. I’m wearing boots with a 4 inch heel right now. I wore them on the weekend, where I walked for 1/2 hour to and from the subway, plus stood for 45 minutes. And I’m 40 pounds overweight. Plus, I have feet like a duck (wide at the front, narrow at the heel, and flat)

1.       Buy a size that fits. You actually might have to go up a size from what you wear in flat shoes.

2.      Buy quality. Cheap high heels don’t support your feet, and there is not enough room in the front for your toes. Easy Spirit, and Aerosoles, are brands that work for me.

3.      Don’t go crazy-high. If you want something more than 4 inches in heel height, there should be a platform under the toe. This creates the ‘illusion’ of a higher heel, but your foot is not so vertical. YMMV.

4.      Adopt a dancer’s posture. Imagine a string pulling up from the top of your head. You should feel your head lifting, neck, ribcage, stomach. Tighten your leg muscles, like you’re lifting off the floor and have to stretch down with your feet to reach it. Feel how less heavy you are on your feet? Of course, you can’t do this for hours and hours, but can do it for longer if you practice.

5.      If you are going to be somewhere for more than a few hours, bring a second pair of heels. Just changing your shoes, even with the same heel height, will be less tiring. I did this when I worked in retail (30 years, and 40 pounds ago, but still).

So, why not just wear Chucks or Docs everywhere? Yeah, they do make you look taller, better-proportioned. Also, they make you feel fierce. When I wear flat shoes, I feel like a little, furry animal. When I wear heels, I feel like a predator.