Writes Save the Date reader Ariana:
When I was younger I mostly wore sneakers and flip-flops, but now that I'm becoming a professional—and getting married!—I want to introduce some heels into my shoe wardrobe. I need help selecting a wedding shoe that's an appropriate height, and I need to know the proper technique for walking in heels! This may sound silly, but whenever I've tried to wear them, I feel clumsy and wind up stumbling—not the graceful look I'm going for my wedding day. I'm getting married on August 24, 2014, and have started dress shopping, but I think I'm MOST excited about is buying a fabulous pair of shoes for my wedding day. (And if I'm able to wear heels for fun and in the workplace, that would be great too!) Please help!
Here are my thoughts:
Obviously wearing heels on your wedding day isn't a requirement, and women can kick ass professionally in flats—or even sneakers. (See: Senator Wendy Davis' pink trainers!) But if you want to wear heels on your wedding day, I say go for it! Since I stand at a shrimpy 5'2", if I'm doing anything other than preschool drop-off or swinging through the grocery store, I'm wearing heels. I feel more assertive with the extra inches, and the boost they give me bumps me out of the other-people's-armpits region when I'm standing on subway rides. (SO GROSS!) Plus, I feel like heels make your clothes hang a little a better: They boost your butt and force your hips forward so you stand a little taller, and look more confident by default.
But all that confidence falls apart if you can't actually walk in your heels, so get practicing! (Side note: If your wedding was this August, I'd probably suggest skipping the heels, but you have more than a year to perfect your stride!)
I'd start by buying a pair of "sensible" heels that can work for days at the office and date nights. Look for something that's made of a supple leather (crappy plastic shoes will make you swear off heels in about 12 seconds) with a little bit of wiggle room for your toes. (When in doubt, go up a half-size, since your feet tend to swell as the day goes on.)
Nine West Camya from Zappos, $89.
This pair has a 3.75-inch heel, but the 1-inch platform means your feet won't be at a crazy-high angle. The platform also helps take the pressure off the front of your feet, which can lead to that terrible pinched-toes feeling. Another thing to look for: a heel that's not too spindly, which will throw off your balance more dramatically.
Once your pretty new shoes arrive, I'd pad the backs with Foot Petals Heavenly Heelz and the fronts with the brand's Tip Toes. I also like to rough up the bottoms with Sole Stopperz to prevent slips. (There are similar products at drug stores, that's just the brand I prefer, and a cheaper alternative to sole stickers is dragging sandpaper across the bottom of your shoes.) Then throw on a pair of socks to prevent blisters (for at-home practice only!) and start doing laps around your living room. Focus on standing tall with your shoulders back and your hips forward, and walk about half as quickly as you usually do. Keep your shoes on as you go about your business until walking in them on flat ground feels like second nature, then head for a set of stairs. When you're comfortable on those—this could take a few days—you're ready to brave the streets. Just don't commit to a walking tour, or even a full 9-to-5 at the office. Stow flats in your bag and sprinkle cornstarch on your toes to minimize friction before you head out.
In my experience, the more you wear heels, the more you'll be able to wear them, if that makes sense. Some people call this "breaking in your shoes"; I call it "breaking in your feet." (Yes, I know that sounds like medieval torture!) Also be kind to your calves at the end of the day; you use your muscles differently when you wear heels, so give them a quick stretch a little rubdown. And if you're feeling sore or wobbly the next morning, switch to flats for the day.
If you can master wearing heels on a regular day, you should have no problem wearing them down the aisle. Just order them well in advance, pad them well, and practice, practice, practice.
Ladies, what do you think? Did you wear heels on your wedding day? Should Ariana take some new heels for a spin? Or should she stick with flats?
After hours of "breaking in my feet," I made it straight through to the end of my wedding in 4-inch heels!
Have a wedding-y dilemma of your own? Email me!