The Gorgeous Shoe Guide

Hello Elegant World, Welcome to another edition of the magazine that adds a little spice to your life. let's talk about something wonderful, let's talk about shoes.......heels

The Gorgeous Guide to Buying High Heel

High heels instantly transform outfits. Even better, they can immediately transform self-conscious women into self-confident powerhouses. Unfortunately, many women do not have the faintest idea how to buy high heels, how to coordinate high heels, or even how to walk in high heels. For the purpose of this guide, high heels are shoes with heel heights that measure more than 3.5 inches in height. There are a number of different kinds of high-heeled pumps, and women need to understand how to select them to complete an outfit. Wearing high heels can make women stand taller, project power, and feel incredibly sexy. High heels elongate the legs, draw attention to the calves, and change the way women walk. There are some guidelines that can be used to help buyers purchase high heels that are perfectly suited to their wants and needs. By understanding how to identify a good quality shoe and taking the time to practice walking in high heels, even the most nervous high-heel wearers can select shoes they can feel confident wearing.

History of High Heels

High heels date back centuries, and they have not always just been worn by women. Over the years, high heels signified wealth and prosperity in some areas, while identifying prostitutes in others. In the 1700s, King Louis XIV wore artistically decorated heels. High heels were banished, however, by Napoleon in hopes of creating equality, and it was not until the 1860s that high heels again rose to the top of the fashion world. At that time, claims were made that high heels eased walking and were instrumental in helping aching backs. The United States welcomed its first heel factory in 1888. The early 1900s once again found flat shoes in fashion until the 1920s when the tiny Louis heels once again surfaced. Christian Dior and Roger Vivier revived high heels in the 1950s. The rest of the century experienced ebbs and flows between high heels and low heels. High heels have always created controversy, and they were even a symbol of the women’s movement. During the 1960s, women decried high heels and their creation by men. Stiletto heels were sometimes banned from various public buildings because of the damage they can do to floors. In the 1990s, high heels again signified wealth and style, but the 21st century offers women the largest variety of options to-date for wearing high heels.

Types of High Heels

High heels are available in a variety of styles, colors, and heel heights. Choosing the right type of high heels depends on the woman’s intention for the shoe and her ability to walk in the heels.

Whether you've just started working in a shoe department and want to be able to talk the lingo, or you've recently gotten really into fashion, knowing your shoe definitions is a useful skill. When it comes to high heeled shoes, we have a special place in our hearts. So we've decided to create the ultimate list of types of heels. Some of these have gone out of style but with the cyclical fashion industry, we won't be surprised if they make a comeback soon.

High, Mid and Low Heel Types

1. Kitten Heels

We recently wrote about kitten heels and love the style for the comfort / fashion mix. They're great for parties or work events where you don't need the extra height but will be on your feet for awhile.

2. Pumps

Also known as simply high heels, pumps are usually wider and between 2 and 3 inches in height. They're typically low cut around the front.

3. Stilettos

The highest of all the high heels, stilettos can reach up to 8 inches. While these heights can cause problems walking for many, it's a worthy skill for the lengthening effect they have on one's legs. Note: many stilettos are also platforms due to the height (see below for platforms).

4. Ankle Strap Heels

A favorite of the Clickless team, ankle strap heels are very much in style right now. The height of the heel can vary, but the one common denominator is the strap that goes around the ankle, making the heels more secure and comfortable to walk in.

5. Wedge Heels

There are two different types of wedge shoes: wedge heels and wedge sandals. Wedge heels are flush just like a high heel would be, and there is no separation from the heel to the sole.

6. Wedge Sandals

While they have the same type of heel as a wedge heel, wedge sandals have a more open, sandal upper.

7. Cone Heels

Wider at the sole of the foot and narrower at the base, cone heels form what you might expect: a cone. Just picture an ice cream cone on the bottom of your shoe.

8. Sling Back Heels

Unlike ankle strap heels, the sling back heel just has a strap that goes around the back of the achilles heel. This provides a more elegant look while still achieving the function of stabilization

9. Platform Heels

You can see platform heels from short to tall. The main thing that makes them platform is the part of the shoe under the sole is thicker. Many say this makes the higher heels more comfortable because there's less of a height differential between the back and front of the foot.

10. High Heel Sandals

With varying heights, a high heel sandal is anything that has any of the heel types listed here (high, stiletto, kitten), but with a sandal upper.

11. Peep Toe Heels

Somewhat of a tease, peep toe heels come in all shapes and sizes. All they need is for a pop of your colorful toenails to show to be a peep toe!

12. Cork High Heels

These heels simply refer to the cork material used to make them. They can vary in height and style, but the cork material makes for a softer, more cushioned step.

13. High Heeled Boots

Steve Miller said, "in the wintertime when all the trees are brown, wear high heeled boots". Okay, we made that last part up. But these babies pair well under or over jeans or even with a skirt or dress.

14. Ankle Booties

Making their comeback within the last few years, high heeled booties, or ankle booties, are great for spring or fall days when a full boot is overkill.

15. Spool Heels

16. Mules

Mule heels are any type of heel that comes up high over the top of the foot. You could have an open or closed to mule; the height of the heel can vary.

17. Ballroom Dance Shoes

Strappy shoes that typically have an enclosed back and ankle strap, ballroom dance shoes have lots of support for (you guessed it) getting your groove on. They're low enough to be stable but high enough to provide a little vertical lift. They're becoming more popular at weddings.

18. Cut Out Heels

Getting more on the funky, cool side of high heel types, cut out heels are any type of heel that has a portion of the upper cut out for effect.

19. Corset Heels Similar to a mule style of heel or a bootie, the difference with a corset heel is that the two sides are tied together as a traditional corset would be.

20. French Heels

Also known as Louis Heels or Pompador Heels, these are similar to spool heels wherein they are short but have some curve to the heel.

21. Oxfords

The traditional Oxford has that academy look with a flat heel. But lately, we're seeing Oxford heels come on the scene. The heel is still flat at the base, but with more height

22. Chunky Heels

This is the general term for any heel with a wider base that is typically square. They're usually on the short to medium side, and provide more stability than traditional high heels or stilettos.

23. Comma Heels

Think of the comma. Yes, we're referring to the punctuation mark. Now line that up with the heel of a shoe, and you have a comma heel!

24. Espadrille Heels

Somewhat new on the fashion scene, Espadrille shoes have a fabric upper and a plaited fiber sole, made popular worldwide by Toms. Espadrille heels are a take on this traditional flat, and can have a heel or wedge base.

25. Fantasy Heels

Here's the wildcard heel type to cover all of the crazy designs out there. There are so many types of heels you could never think of in your head, and yet they do exist. We're not sure who wears them other than maybe Lady Gaga, but they do exist.

High heels come in many different styles, but the one that remains the most popular is the high heel pump. Knowing how to make the pump’s look work for different women and how to accessorize them is critical to making an outfit work. Standard high-heeled black pumps have been called the "Little Black Dress" of shoes and are available with various types of heels.

How to Select the Perfect Pair of High Heels>

Selecting the perfect pair of high heels is an art. Rules of fashion generally dictate that leaner people look better in thinner heels, while those with larger frames look better in thicker heels. Pumps include a variety of heel heights with the toes remaining either pointed or rounded. Selecting high heel pumps is a smoother process when the following guidelines are followed:

1. Black high-heeled pumps go with virtually everything. A strong second color is nude, as that color also goes with virtually everything. It is perfectly okay to choose colorful pumps when buyers have a specific need to match an outfit. 2. To ensure that heels can be worn comfortably, they should be fitted by a professional. The higher the heels, the more stress that is put onto the feet. To test shoes, buyers can stand up tall with the knees straight and lift their bodies onto their toes. If this can be done with the heels being lifted 1 inch off the shoe, it lets buyers know that they can wear this particular shoe. If buyers are unable to lift their heels 1 inch off the shoe, then the heels are too high and cannot be worn correctly. Also, it has been suggested by many experts that women should purchase shoes at the end of the day when the feet are usually swollen to ensure a better fit. 3. Practice walking should be done in the heels in the store. It really does take practice to walk in high heels, and practicing for 15 to 30 minutes at a time helps the feet adjust to the feel of the heels. It is important that the feet remain vertical and not roll to the sides. Also, practicing turning helps minimize slipping and falling. Remember that the higher the heels, the smaller the stride. 4. By minimizing the amount of time spent in high heels, buyers may also minimize many aches and pains. High heels are notorious for causing pain in the feet, knees, and back. After a long period of time wearing high heels, a soothing massage can loosen tight muscles so that the heels can once again be worn. 5. Pumps that have a thicker sole or platform are easier on the feet, as they lessen the pressure put on the ball of the foot.

What to Look for in a Quality High Heel Pump

Some high heels are definitely made better than others. By investing in a better quality pair of shoes, buyers have an increased chance of wearing those shoes for many years to come. The following guidelines can help buyers identify good-quality, high-heeled pumps: 1. The way that the sole and shoe are attached is important. For soles that are glued on, the edges should be examined to make sure the sole does not show any signs of peeling away from the shoe. If the sole is sewn on, the stitching should be even and strongly held in place. 2. Shoes should have rubber on the bottom of the heels. A strong layer of rubber helps control slippage when the heel strikes the floor and/or ground. 3. For a higher quality shoe, the inner lining is created from leather and covers the inside of the shoe. Leather is more comfortable, and it breathes, which allows the feet to stay cooler. 4. Leather generally provides the highest quality in shoes, but some people are not comfortable purchasing leather. Shoes made from synthetic materials are available, but many synthetics, such as nylon and plastic, are not comfortable, and they do not allow the feet to breathe.

Heels That Are Way More Comfortable Than Flats

If you've ever owned a pair of flats—a ballet, a loafer, or even a sandal—that was so painful you practically couldn't walk in them, then this story is for you. (We know your pain!) Sure, every pair of new shoes takes time to break in, and we're willing to give a grace period of up to a month before we officially condemn a pair as too uncomfortable to wear, but past that point, our patience wears as thin as the bottoms of our uncomfortable shoes. In the spirit of always pursuing comfort in fashion, we've come up with a fool-proof strategy to make sure your heels are consistently among the most comfortable shoes you own. Here's what you need to know: When shoe shopping, always reach for a pair with a supportive sole, thick heel, and low arch. These three factors combine to make one shockingly comfortable pair of heels—and often mean the shoe is even more comfortable than a flat, which provides little support.

The most important key to a pair of heels that won't have you yelping in pain: a thick, blocky heel. Though they don't necessarily recommend wearing heels as a general rule, podiatry experts far and wide nonetheless suggest steering clear of pinpoint-width stilettos and instead reaching for wide heels that guarantee more support for your delicate ankles.

How to Walk in High Heels

Three Methods: Improving Keeping Choosing Questions High heels can be a girl's best friend—helping you to stand up taller, look slimmer, and feel more confident. However, walking in sky-high heels can be a little tricky, especially if you're not used to it. Don't worry though, learning to walk fearlessly in high heels just takes a little practice. Follow these helpful tips and you'll be strutting like a catwalk model in 5-inch stilettos in no time!

Method 1 of 3: Improving Your Technique

Take smaller steps. Walking in the highest heels isn't like the walking you learned to do when you were a child, so you have to do a few things that might feel counterintuitive: Take small, slow steps, making sure not to bend your knees any more than you normally would. You'll notice that high heels tend to shorten your stride a bit. The taller the heel, the shorter the stride ends up being. Don't try to fight this by taking bigger steps—stick with small, dainty steps which will make your walk look more natural and help you to feel more comfortable. Walk from heel to toe. The aim is to walk as normally as possible in your high heels. When walking in flats, you don't walk on the balls of your feet or put your whole foot down at once, do you? So don't do either of these things in heels. Put your heel to the ground first, followed smoothly by your toes. Then, once your weight is on the balls of your feet, shift your weight forward as if you're walking on your tip toes, and push forward for the next step. Improve your posture. Walking well in heels is very dependent on maintaining good posture. If you're slouching and shuffling as you walk, it kind of defeats the purpose of wearing high heels in the first place—the aim is to look comfortable and confident! To get the perfect posture: o Imagine there is a piece of invisible string holding your head upright—your head should be in line with your spine and your chin should be parallel with the floor. Avoid looking down when walking in high heels! o Put your shoulders back and down and keep your arms relaxed at your sides. Swing your arms slightly as you walk for balance. o Keep your abdominal muscles engaged, sucking your belly button towards your spine. This will help your stand up straighter while also making your look thinner. o Bend your knees slightly, they should never be locked when walking in heels. Keep your legs close together as you walk and point your toes directly ahead.

Imagine walking along an invisible line. Catwalk models will often cross one foot slightly in front of the other to give their hips more sway. A lot of women wear high heels to look sexy, so adding a little shimmy to your walk is a good thing. The best way to achieve a sway while walking in high heels is to pretend that you're walking down an imaginary straight line, or tight rope. o One foot should come down directly in front of the other, with your toes pointing straight ahead. This walk will take a little extra practice to master, but the results will be worth it. o Have a look at some videos of catwalk models to see how the professionals do it, then try to emulate what you see. Be aware that catwalk models tend to over-exaggerate their walk, so you may want to tone it down a little for real life! Practice wearing your heels around the house. Wear your heels for a day around the house before you wear them out. This will not only allow you to get used to wearing them, but it will also create scuffs on the bottom so that they're less slippery. Make sure you practice doing all the things you would normally do while walking, such as: walking, stopping, pivoting, and turning around. Break in your heels. If you fail to break in your heels before your first time wearing them, you'll be destined for blisters. Breaking in your heels is important as it removes stiffness from the shoes and helps mold them to the shape of your feet. Just wearing your shoes around at home should be enough to break them in, but you can also try: o Exposing your heels to different surfaces: You will likely need to walk on tiled floors, carpets and slippery, wooden floors at some point in your high heel wearing, so try to master them all. o Dancing: If you're planning on wearing your heels to a nightclub or a party where you know you're going to want to boogie down, then dance to the beat of your own drummer in the privacy of your home until you're comfortable shaking things up in your heels. o Walking down the stairs. This is one skill you'll definitely want to master, as stairs are the site of most high-heeled mishaps. Place your entire foot on each step as you come down the steps, but only place the ball of your foot on each step as you go up. Hold onto that railing gracefully, just in case. Wear your heels outdoors. Walking in heels indoors is very different to walking in them outdoors. Without the soft cushioning of carpet, or the flat, even indoor surface of linoleum or wood, walking in heels can be ten times more difficult. o Even minor surface flaws in tarmac or cracks in the pavement will present difficulties, so try walking up and down outside your house a few times, taking great care to avoid uneven surfaces. o A good place to practice after you've gotten the hang of it in your house is to wear your heels to the supermarket. Use your cart for balance!

Practice standing in heels. Not only do you need to learn how to walk in heels, but you should also be aware of how to stand in heels. It may sound simple, but many women just don't know what to do with their feet when posing for pictures or standing around chatting at an event. This is where having comfortable shoes becomes very important, as you don't want to spend your evening shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. o To stand correctly in heels, stand with the heel of one foot touching the middle of the other foot, while cocked at an angle from it. o Put your weight on the toe of the foot in back, and as soon as that foot gets tired, switch feet so that your weight is on the other foot.

Method 2 of 3: Keeping Your Feet Fresh

Use cushions and insoles. Add cushioning wherever there's a lot of pressure and/or friction. There are cushions made in various shapes and from different materials that you can stick on the inside of your shoe for more comfortable walking, thus preventing bunions and blisters. If your shoes are slightly too big and you find them slipping off your heel, get some insoles which can make the shoes smaller by half a size, while also adding comfort value. Use these these innovative items generously - there's really no need for discomfort! Give your feet a break. When wearing high heels, the best advice you can take to prevent pain is just to sit down whenever possible! This will give your feet a break and will stop any pain or discomfort from building, keeping your feet fresh. o Remember to cross your legs, sitting up straight and stretching out your legs from the waist down. This is also a great opportunity to show off your fabulous shoes![4] o Try not to take your heels off, if at all possible, your feet will swell up and you'll find the shoes harder and more painful to put on again. 3. Wear strappy, platformed shoes. Shoes with straps that fasten securely around your foot and ankle are more comfortable to wear as they prevent your foot from slipping around too much inside the shoe, reducing friction and pain. Platform shoes give you all the benefits of extra height, without the discomfort of feeling like you're standing on your tip toes. Your foot is more parallel to the ground in a platform shoe - making them a great option for nights on the dance floor! 4 Don't wear high heels too often. High heels look fabulous, but they will have more of an effect and give you extra "oomph!" when you save them for special occasions. If you wear them too often, blisters, and bunions are more likely to form and you will also put pressure on your lower back. Your feet (and the rest of your body) need some time to recover. o If you need to wear heels every day for work, at least try wearing different shoes, with varying heights. This prevent too much pressure or friction from concentrating on one particular spot and keep your feet feeling fresh.

Method 3 of 3: Choosing the Right Heels

Shop wisely. Not all high heels are created equal and the ability to walk well in high heels relies heavily on choosing the right ones. Always go shoe shopping at the end of the day, when your feet are slightly swollen from walking and at their biggest. Pick shoes that are suited to the shape of your foot—making sure the shoe is wider than your bare foot. Always try both shoes on in the store and take a walk around—if you don't find them comfortable immediately, then you probably never will. Start small and work your way up. It's probably not a good idea to choose a pair of 4 inch (10.2 cm) stilettos if you're not used to walking in heels—it's better to work your way up, increasing the height as you get used to how they feel. There are many different types of heels to choose from, varying in height, thickness, and shape. Training your feet by starting out with small heels will allow your ankles to develop the strength they need to walk safely and gracefully in high heels. o Begin with a shoe that has a low heel of about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm). Try to go for wider heels (rather than skinny spikes) as these will provide more balance. Closed in shoes can also be easier to walk in than strappy sandals as they provide plenty of support over your foot and around the heel and ankle. o High heeled wedges are the easiest high shoes to walk in, as the heel is fully attached to the sole of the shoe, giving you increased balance and comfort. These are a great option if you want the height of a high heel, but don't feel ready for a stiletto. They are best worn in spring and summer - to wear to work, on holidays or to a summer wedding! o Wear the mother of all heels. Stiletto heels are also referred to as "spike heels" and include anything with a heel above 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm). These are the final step in your high heel training—once you've mastered walking in these, you'll be ready to take on the world! Get the right size. Choosing the right size shoe is absolutely essential when buying high heels. Be aware that different brands of shoes may be sized quite differently, so you might be a 7 in one brand, but an 8 in another. As a result, you should always, always try your shoes on before buying. o When in doubt, always go for shoes that are slightly too big rather than slightly too small. You can always make big shoes smaller by adding insoles and cushions, but your can't make small shoes bigger. Shoes that are too small will be terribly uncomfortable and you'll probably regret buying them. o Remember to have your feet sized regularly, as your shoe size can change over time, especially as you get older. Your feet tend to get longer and wider as your arches begin to fall.

Conclusion

Shoes are an accessory item, a comfort item, and a necessity. High heels offer women an increased sense of confidence in addition to an increased sense of style. Not everyone naturally wears high heels well. It truly takes practice to learn to stand, walk, turn, and dance in them. High heel pumps actually include heels of all kinds, from stilettos to kitten heels. The main characteristics of a high heel pump include the heel being at least 2 inches high and the toes being either rounded or pointed. The most common colors for high heel pumps are black and nude, as either one goes with virtually any outfit. Most high heel pumps can be worn with dresses, skirts, pants, or even shorts, depending on the comfort level of the wearer. When worn well, high heel pumps transform women into confident and sexy beings. When not worn well, they can definitely have the opposite effect. By practicing for a few minutes everyday, most women can learn to function well in high heel pumps and even learn to enjoy them.

Always remember to be awesome.