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As a doctor of internal medicine, Temple Day is on her feet seeing patients for eight to 10 hours daily. While no two patients are alike, she can always count on the one reaction she'll get.
“My patients comment on my shoes more than anything else. I try to wear fun, edgy shoes for a conversation piece. It allows me to break the ice,” says Day, 41, a physician with North Charlotte Medical Specialists in Huntersville.
Day is in 3-to-4-inch heels at work every day, including a beloved pair of knee-high Frye boots. Her penchant for shoes is not unusual. Many women admit to a love of footwear and, specifically, high heels.
“A heel gives you height. You look taller and thinner and have instant style,” says Sonya Barnes, president of Harris and Barnes Image Consulting in Charlotte.
Celebrities in towering heels feed our sky-high heel lust. Gwyneth Paltrow made headlines this spring while doing press for “Iron Man” in Givenchy boots and Giuseppe Zanotti stilettos with 7-inch heels (her bodyguards had to help her down the stairs). Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw made shoe designers Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo household names with the hugely popular “Sex and the City” television show and movie.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported iconic red soles designer Christian Louboutin is introducing an 8-inch platform shoe next fall. “I hear they can be painful,” he said, “but women keep asking for them.”
But daily high-heel use can come at a painful price.
“They do cause a lot of damage over time. They can shorten your Achilles tendon, cause hammertoes, aggravate bunions, and cause pain at the ball of your foot,” says Dr. Roxanne Burgess of Queen City Foot and Ankle Specialists. She stresses moderation to her patients who wear high heels.
“If they normally wear them eight hours a day, I encourage them to drop to just a couple hours. If someone is wearing 4-inch heels every day, I encourage them to consider wearing 2-inch heels,” Burgess says. “I also advise them to carry their work shoes with them while they're commuting, wearing more sensible shoes as they walk.”
But sensible shoes do not have to be tennis shoes. Barnes suggests wearing ballet flats with support for long walking and switching to high heels at your destination.
“Your feet support the frame of your body,” she says. “It is not the place to skimp.”
Day agrees, and says she is practical about her purchases.
“I look at the width of the toe. I like squared or rounded toe, something that my toes can spread out in. I also buy more platform-based heels that are hardy and easy to walk in.”
For comfort and support, both Barnes and Burgess recommend Cole Haan. Women with a narrower foot might try Donald J. Pliner or Ferragamo. Those with wide feet should try Nine West, Enzo Angiolini and Franco Sarto.
“Find out who is your best shoe maker for comfort, style, and pricing,” advises Barnes.
After you have made a purchase, give the shoes a trial run. Wear them around the house several times to see how they feel. If they're uncomfortable, return them.
“Comfort and style can go together. It's 2008. There's no need for someone to be stylish and uncomfortable,” Barnes says. It's better to have a few great heels that offer support and can go the distance instead of a few cheap finds that offer nothing but a look and pain.
“Your shoe size doesn't change often, so it's worth the investment,” she says.
Fit is important, but there are also shoe accessories to further customize the fit. A metatarsal pad provides comfort to the ball of the foot and a heel cup can help secure a narrow heel.
When your best effort to find comfortable heels doesn't stop your feet from aching in the middle of the day, Burgess recommends kicking off the heels and doing a calf stretch to provide instant relief, and then icing and elevating once home.
Finding the right shoe gives Day a boost when she's caring for her patients.
“When I dress up, I feel smarter. I feel more empowered,” she says. “I feel like a professional. If I dress in a sloppy way, I feel more self-conscious or as if I might not be taken seriously. This is eight to 10 hours of my life every day.
“I can dress conservatively and hate it, or I can choose something for my own enjoyment.”
