Caultron wrote:I started with 2" heels, then graduated to 3", and then 4". However, at 4", though, I found it extremely hard to find anything comfortable. Most 4" heels seem to have straight back stiletto heels and that shift too much weight onto the balls of my feet and my toes. They also make be bend my ankle more than I find comfortable. I do have one pair at 3-1/2" and one at 4" but again, I find these very hard to find, so for the most part I stick to 3"
The easiest heels, at least for me, have forward-slanted heels that meet the ground directly below my shin bone (tibia), that don't squish my toes, and that have a top strap. A heel that meets the ground behind the line of the shin bone shirts more weight to the balls and toes and that creates problems for me. The strap keeps them from falling off my feet.
Lace-ups are also more comfortable because they direct some of the weight onto the top of your foot.
I find it important for heels to fit my feet firmly but not to the point of discomfort. Heels are hard enough to walk in comfortably without having you foot slide around inside them. If necessary, wear a no-show sock ("footsie") to tighten the fit. My left foot is a half size bigger than my right, so unless the shoes have adjustable straps I often wear a footsie only on my right foot, or one of the left and two on the right.
Stiletto heels are a little harder to walk in than block but not a lot. Stilettos just requires a bit more stiffness in the ankle.
Every now and then I'll get the question, "Why are you wearing heels?" and I've found the most universally-accepted answer to be, "I'm just goofing around."
Above all have fun with it, and every now and then you'll get, "I like your heels!"
As I reported elsewhere I've already had one such positive interaction.
"I'm just goofing around" is almost true. I often say that wearing skirts is something I do as much for fun as for comfort. The idea of clothing being "fun" as well as functional is almost alien to male-gendered discourse around fashion.
Good observations about heel shape and location. I am already noticing differences between the two different boots I've bought with heels, and the straight block heel is not as comfy as the one with a forward slant though the one with the forward slant is actually almost a half inch higher.
I have long suspected that narrow heels might not really be that much harder to walk on than wider ones. I hope I can find some with a good heel location because at this point I think it's inevitable that I will try some, as well as some heels higher than 3".
Right now I'm on the lookout for some moderately high (like 2") slip-on shoes, probably wedges, for padding around home in. I have discovered that after wearing my 2.5" heels all day I don't like "coming down" and I feel like just keeping my feet used to elevated heels will prove to be most pleasant. I've also pretty much figured out that my knees feel so much better when I'm in heels because I "spring" the load on them more rather than locking them back a lot when standing. This will come as a surprise to my doctor perhaps but I definitely now consider heels therapeutic as well as fun. I will be amused to hear what he thinks about that theory.