high anxiety: the work shoe dilemma
Frankly, I find it DIS-EMPOWERING for women to be wobbling around in heels that don’t allow them to move with full freedom and confidence.
But like it or not, a selection of heeled shoes is pretty much mandatory when it comes to a well-considered work wardrobe.
While a heel can literally elevate a look from pedestrian to polished, you do actually need to be able to wear the shoes for more than 4 minutes and look like you’re enjoying the experience (or preferably not thinking about your feet at all).
If you’re like most city dwellers, you have a commute to work which involves walking. You will probably need to get to and from meetings, you need to walk around the office, walk to get coffee or lunch, go to a function after work etc… this will quickly add up to 10,000+ steps and hours on your feet.
I don’t know about you but I can’t do this in 10cm spike heels.
So here’s the dilemma… how do you do a proper heel (I’m not talking about orthopaedic looking nanna shoes with a 2cm block heel) and still maintain the ability to walk and stand for hours?
Like so many things in life, finding the sweet spot is the answer.
You can have comfort and polish, its just a matter of finding the heel height that suits you and really sticking to it.
For me, the maximum height I can wear and still maintain full functionality is 7cm.
Sometimes I do wear a higher heel but I will need to pack a pair of flats for the commute and any other walking trips longer than about 5 minutes.
Your set point may be higher or lower but once you know your limit, stick to it and work with the options available within your band of comfort.
Here are some ideas that look modern and polished but will allow you to keep moving all day long.
kitten heel
I’m smitten for the kitten. This is my favourite mid-heel option. Anything made famous by Audrey Hepburn has to be good right? A kitten heel is short and slender, usually between 3 and 5cm high. It has it’s roots in the 1950’s but the kitten heel is currently very on-trend and there are loads of modern takes on this classic.
source: instagram @collagevintage2
source: purewow.com
source: thezoereport.com
make it your own
Block heel
This sturdy heel is all about extra support and stability. I like a block heel with a pointier toe to balance out the chunkiness. A slingback, embellishment or an unexpected colour also can bring some lightness to the overall look.
source: whowhatwear.co.uk
source: fromluxewithlove.com
source: fashionjackson.com
Make it your own
Mid-heel mule
For a slightly less formal look, try a mule with a mid-height heel. My preference is for mules that come a fair way up the front of the foot so they have more grip and don’t slip off. Any item you can wear to work as well as weekends is a high value asset and mules do double time when it comes to versatility.
source: girlswantitallblog.wixsite.com
source: styledumonde.com
source: coolfashiontrends.com.
Make it your own
Boots
My feet seem to be able to tolerate a higher heel in a boot. I’m not sure why, perhaps there’s a bit of additional support in a boot that offsets the heel height, maybe it’s because I can wear socks or perhaps it’s just a perception. In winter I live in boots, particularly knee highs with a mid-length skirt.
source: fromluxewithlove.com
source: femalinea.com
source: adoulie.tumblr.com
make it your own
