Tuesday, March 15, 2011
By Robyn Gautschy ~ Flourish
Women have been told that sometimes they have to suffer for fashion. That is certainly true when it comes to shoes.
Whether it's sky-high stilettos or the latest sandal trend, women's shoes are not often designed for function over fashion.
Local podiatrists give us the low-down on how our feet are affected by various styles of shoes.
Furry boots
How they affect your feet: "They're very comfortable and warm, but there's not much support in them," says Dr. Hugh Protzel, podiatrist at Foot and Ankle Centers of Southeast Missouri. Wearing these popular boots may lead to heel pain, foot aches and arch pain, especially if you have flat feet. "I wouldn't go for a long walk in them," says Protzel.
As for the furry lining, doctors don't see any relationship between the material and foot fungus.
"If someone already has a problem with excessive foot sweating, they could have a problem with foot fungus. But for the average person, there shouldn't be any kind of issue," says Dr. Robert Daugherty of Advance Foot & Ankle Center.
How to find a good pair: You may want to get a prescription insert for added support, says Protzel.
Flip flops
How they affect your feet: Flip flops are a good way to protect your feet when you're hanging out at the pool, says Protzel, but if you plan on going for any length of walk, they offer no support. "They don't allow for the proper gait cycle your foot should go thorough with each step," he adds. Protzel's flip flop-wearing patients have problems with heel pain and tendinitis.
How to find a good pair: Look for sturdier sandals. Protzel says Birkenstocks offer very good support.
Stilettos
How they affect your feet: "The visual, aesthetic things going on are nice, but functionally, they are potentially deforming," says Dr. Zenon Duda, podiatrist at Cape Foot Clinic. Stilettos alter the way the head and shoulders sit, increase the arch in the back, relax the calf muscles and cause the chest to protrude. As a result, you place excessive pressure on the balls of the feet, take unnaturally short steps, and struggle to maintain stability. With long-term wear, you're likely to see hammertoes, bunions, corns and red spots. Pointy-toed heels will eventually mold your feet into a triangular shape.
How to find a good pair: If you must wear stilettos, look for a pair made of soft leather and with not many stitches -- these will be more flexible and protective than heels made of man-made materials. Duda suggests wearing them in short bursts, with time in between for the feet to breathe and stretch.
Flats
How they affect your feet: "Most don't have any cushion or support, but then again, they don't cause any problems because they're nice and wide and are often made of soft leather," says Dr. James Main, podiatrist in Cape Girardeau. "Other than if you have a problem where you need cushion or additional support, these are probably not too bad. They're better than heels or pointy shoes." Daugherty thinks most women without foot problems can get by wearing flats, but he worries about the long-term effects. "If you wear them excessively over time, you might wind up with some problems. They have no support, especially for the arches, and people that stand a lot with their jobs will probably have some pain," he says.
How to find a good pair: Look for flats with enough room for an insert -- that way, you at least have some type of arch support, said Daugherty.
Wedges
How they affect your feet: "They're a good way to hurt your ankles," said Dr. James Main, podiatrist in Cape Girardeau. "Anytime you wear a heel, you shift your body weight forward to the front of the foot, and you're inherently unstable." Like heels, wedges place more weight on the front part of the foot, which can cause knee and lower back problems, says Main. Wedges usually have no support on the sides, making it easier to lose balance and topple over. "On a wedge, the weight is at least spread out over the heel," he concedes.
How to find a good pair: "A woman should go with the very lowest heel height that she can go with. The lower the better," says Main. Many wedges have a rubberized or corklike bottom, which Main believes may add more support than a hard material.
Platform heels
How they affect your feet: Platforms are better than stilettos, but still, "Any kind of shoe that puts abnormal stresses on the balls of foot can cause problems," said Daugherty. "Occasional wear is not a big deal, but this is definitely a shoe that I don't recommend."
How to find a good pair: A stable bottom should be the No. 1 concern, says Daugherty. Wood bottoms are probably more stable and will last longer.
Showing posts with label wedges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedges. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, August 30, 2010
Power Shoes Turn Heads on the Web
By Claudine Zap
Forget about the power suit. For a bunch of young politicos, it's all about the power shoe. When Reshma Saujani, a candidate running in the New York Democratic primary, admitted to wearing a Kate Spade wedge to pound the pavement, the news inspired a stampede of searches.
The three-inch, round-toe, black-patent wedge called the "Halle," has become the "it" shoe for a circle of female political types, according to a story in the New York Times. Word of the must-have item caused a run on the shoes on Yahoo!: One-day lookups for "Kate Spade Halle" spiked 625%. Shoe lovers voted with their feet with searches on "Kate Spade wedges," "Kate Spade wedge shoes," and "Kate Spade Halle wedge."
Think of these kicks as pantsuits for the feet: They're practical, they wear well, and they look good. With apologies to the "Sex and the City" clan, you cannot barnstorm in Blahniks.
The wedges have a following on the Web as well. The online shoe store Zappos features one happy customer's comments: "For the heel height it's really comfortable." Over on competitor Piperlime, the best-selling shoe is a "Rachel Zoe pick," who explains: "It's a nice alternative to a pump. And a comfy way to look chic." If you're looking to snap up a pair, you may be out of luck. There have been a run on the shoes since word of the gal pols' best-kept shoe secret got out. Talk about retail politics.
Of course, other public figures have had a focus on their footwear, for better or worse.
Shamed former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, is definitely guilty on one front: His expensive taste in shoes. Documents recently surfaced that showed the showman purchased, along with pricey ties and handmade suits, stacks of shoes from Allen Edmonds for $1,200.
Sarah Palin's introduction back in 2008 as the Republican candidate for vice president led to a run on the Alaska governor's glasses, her hairdo, and yes, those maverick fire-engine red, peep-toe, Naughty Monkey pumps. The heels were described as a shoo-in for clubbing, and New York Magazine pointed out that Paris Hilton was also a fan of the footwear.
First Lady Michelle Obama may have mis-stepped when she showed up at a soup kitchen in sneakers that retailed for $540. (Insert Marie Antoinette analogy now.) The French-designed Lanvin athletic shoes looked like a very upscale version of the Converse low-top: Except instead of canvas, the shoe was made of suede with a pink metallic toe and laced with grosgrain ribbon. No doubt about it, FLOTUS is an uncompromising fashionista from head to toe.
The same cannot be said for her counterpart. The president throws opening pitches in "mom jeans," and shoots hoops in old-school Nikes. The focus is decidedly off of his feet. And the commander-in-chief would undoubtedly agree: That's a good thing.
Forget about the power suit. For a bunch of young politicos, it's all about the power shoe. When Reshma Saujani, a candidate running in the New York Democratic primary, admitted to wearing a Kate Spade wedge to pound the pavement, the news inspired a stampede of searches.
The three-inch, round-toe, black-patent wedge called the "Halle," has become the "it" shoe for a circle of female political types, according to a story in the New York Times. Word of the must-have item caused a run on the shoes on Yahoo!: One-day lookups for "Kate Spade Halle" spiked 625%. Shoe lovers voted with their feet with searches on "Kate Spade wedges," "Kate Spade wedge shoes," and "Kate Spade Halle wedge."
Think of these kicks as pantsuits for the feet: They're practical, they wear well, and they look good. With apologies to the "Sex and the City" clan, you cannot barnstorm in Blahniks.
The wedges have a following on the Web as well. The online shoe store Zappos features one happy customer's comments: "For the heel height it's really comfortable." Over on competitor Piperlime, the best-selling shoe is a "Rachel Zoe pick," who explains: "It's a nice alternative to a pump. And a comfy way to look chic." If you're looking to snap up a pair, you may be out of luck. There have been a run on the shoes since word of the gal pols' best-kept shoe secret got out. Talk about retail politics.
Of course, other public figures have had a focus on their footwear, for better or worse.
Shamed former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, is definitely guilty on one front: His expensive taste in shoes. Documents recently surfaced that showed the showman purchased, along with pricey ties and handmade suits, stacks of shoes from Allen Edmonds for $1,200.
Sarah Palin's introduction back in 2008 as the Republican candidate for vice president led to a run on the Alaska governor's glasses, her hairdo, and yes, those maverick fire-engine red, peep-toe, Naughty Monkey pumps. The heels were described as a shoo-in for clubbing, and New York Magazine pointed out that Paris Hilton was also a fan of the footwear.
First Lady Michelle Obama may have mis-stepped when she showed up at a soup kitchen in sneakers that retailed for $540. (Insert Marie Antoinette analogy now.) The French-designed Lanvin athletic shoes looked like a very upscale version of the Converse low-top: Except instead of canvas, the shoe was made of suede with a pink metallic toe and laced with grosgrain ribbon. No doubt about it, FLOTUS is an uncompromising fashionista from head to toe.
The same cannot be said for her counterpart. The president throws opening pitches in "mom jeans," and shoots hoops in old-school Nikes. The focus is decidedly off of his feet. And the commander-in-chief would undoubtedly agree: That's a good thing.
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