{ a blog all about the love of shoes }
July 15, 2011 
Comments (0)
I am an ingrown-toenail sufferer, and that’s made me think a lot about my shoe choices over the years. There are some shoes that destroy your feet over time as they put stress on your toes and the skin around your toenails. These shoe-buying tips can save you from serious pain.
High Heel Issues
I have an awesome pair of platform heels that are currently glued to my feet. They are tall and incredibly sexy, but they hurt my ingrown-prone feet. If you wear shoes that tilt your feet forward, that “ramming” at the toe can splinter the nail and cause an ingrown toenail. Ouch! Try switching back and forth between platforms and something low and sensible. I’m still working on this tip myself.
Tight heels with a pointed toe can cause problems for you as well. It’s not just pinching or hitting the toe in high heels that can endanger your feet. Tight, pointed-toe heels squeeze the ends of the feet, and that friction and pressure can damage delicate tissue (especially in warm weather!). If you have wide feet, don’t solely wear pointed shoes: Get some round-toe shoes and wear them regularly.
Shoe Details
One of the easiest ways to damage the delicate tissue around the toes is to avoid wearing socks with your shoes. Not only can the sweat cause a nasty bacterial situation in closed-toed shoes, but it can endanger already ingrown-prone feet by making them slide inside the uppers. Look for shoes with ingenious ventilation via design and fabric modifications, like cutouts.
Uppers that rub against the nail bed can eventually warp your toenail and cause problems for you as well. Shoes that rub aren’t just terribly uncomfortable, but they can cause serious damage over time. If you love a pair of shoes that cause this problem, try powdering your feet before slipping on your shoes for a limited time.
Shoe inserts can cut down on ingrown nail discomfort as well. If your shoes slide around too much on the feet, consider wearing them with inserts, like heel pads, to keep everything in place. If you feel pain along the edge of an open toe, consider padding it from the inside to cut down on pain.
If you do get an ingrown toenail, I have a few suggestions for you. First, you need to resign yourself to flats for a few days, and then get down to looking at your toenail. You’ll often see a tiny sliver of nail embedded in the side of your toe, and the pressure can be relieved by simply tucking a small fold of cotton wool in the end corner of the nail after a foot soak. If your nail is painful for more than a few days, oozes, or smells, you’ll need to get yourself to a doctor or a foot specialist for some pro trimming and perhaps a round of antibiotics. Play it safe.
Mei Sawyer
Mei Sawyer is an internationally published fashion journalist.
June 10, 2011 Comments (0)
Feet have a tendency to become hot and sweaty during the summer, which can lead to odor and that uncomfortable sweaty, slippery feeling between your toes. To keep the summer sweats at bay, follow these easy steps to keep your feet cool and fresh all summer long.
Wash Thoroughly
If you suffer from foot odor, you must wash your feet regularly. For some, this may mean more than taking a shower once a day. Use an anti-bacterial soap, soak your feet in warm water for a few minutes, and dry them thoroughly using a patting motion with a bath towel. Refrain from rubbing feet dry, which can be abrasive, and can actually add to the odor problem. This also helps cool your body temperature down for a bit after the foot soak.
Powder Up
Use a foot powder to absorb the odor and sweat. Sprinkle the powder on your feet when your feet are clean and dry. This should curb the sweating and help absorb the sweat once it does kick in. Corn starch and baby powder can be used, though the latter does not work to neutralize foot odor. For some, the mix of a scented product with foot odor can be bothersome if the powder does not conquer the odor.
Keep Feet Cool
This may seem like common sense, but examine your footwear if you suffer from hot, sweaty feet. There’s no reason to coop your toes up in hot leather shoes in the dead of summer. Swap leather shoes for sandals or shoes made of a breathable fabric that will allow air to surround your feet. And if you have to wear socks, opt for a pair that wicks away sweat in order to keep your feet dry.
Samantha Carerra
June 9, 2011 Comments (2)
A hammer toe is a condition where the toes painfully bend in on each other. The phenomenon is thought to be caused by wearing high heels or otherwise uncomfortable footwear, which forces the toes into an unnatural position.
It turns out, however, that you can stave off this unsightly foot condition without sacrificing your prized collection of stilettos. The following are a few tips to keep your feet hammer free:
1. Limit High Heel Wear: Yes, we know that we all have to suffer for fashion, but perhaps you could limit that suffering to the office or the club, and slide into a pair of comfy flats as you commute to and from the office.
2. Wide Toe Box: When looking for new styles, look for those that have a wider toe box. A square or rounded toe box is less likely to smash your toes and induce a hammer toe over time than say, a pair of ultra-pointy stilettos.
3. Arch Support: Look for styles that have good arch support, as this can help distribute your body weight across the entire shoe. Shoes with poor arch support can cause you to pitch forward, which can lead to some serious toe smashing.
4. Take Your Time: Before making a purchase, either in the store or upon delivery to your home, really try them on. Take them for a serious spin around the store or your living room for AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. And besides checking out how awesome those new shoes make your legs and feet look, also consider how they really feel. Are you slipping (a sign that the size is wrong), are any of your toes feeling pinched?
If, however, after all these precautions, you still develop signs of a hammer toe, do not panic! There are a variety of pads and gel protectors available to help make your shoes more comfortable. But if the pain gets too bad it is recommended that you visit your doctor. He or she can explain your options, which can range from a splint system that can help straighten the toe over time, to corrective surgery.
Lianne Woolley
May 4, 2011 Comments (0)
Are you prone to blisters? I know I am. I’ve been battling blisters for years, and they can be quite the nuisance to say the least. In all of my years of shoe-shopping experience, I’ve discovered that there are certain shoe styles that are less likely to cause these oh-so-extraordinary little lumps of pain. The following shoe styles have spaired my feet from a bounty of blisters; perhaps they can do the same for you:
Shoe Styles
Sensible Heels: Lower heels can decrease the stress felt on your feet, so if you’re looking for a shoe that really feels comfortable, you need heels that are perfect for you. We’re all built differently, and some of us are simply supported better by a lower, blockier heel. When your feet are at their most comfortable, blisters are a lot less likely to occur.
Suede Shoes: When it comes to matte suede vs. shiny leather, suede often wins for me. Why? Because suede shoes have always proven to be much more forgiving to my feet. It might be because shinier leather, especially patent, is more likely to trap sweat, which can then lead to blisters. Our suede indulgent pick of the day: the Fastwist platform ankle bootie in brown suede by Christian Louboutin. Simply extraordinary!
Flexisole Shoes: Shoes with especially flexible soles are less likely to cause pain. When your shoes move with your feet, hugging them perfectly, it eliminates those odd areas of friction you get with other pairs. The hot points are gone, and you’ll actually be able to walk to lunch in your work shoes if you want.
Design Considerations
Open Back Sandals: These sandals completely eliminate one major area where blisters form: the backs of your heels. If you have serious issues with your straps rubbing or slipping, then you should try to circumvent the issue with slip-on sandals that don’t have a back strap. Problem solved.
Lace-Up Heels: If you wear heels, boots, or sandals that lace up the front, the laces will allow you to adjust the shoes as needed. Giving yourself more room or making your shoes snug can help create the perfect fit needed to prevent blisters from occurring.
Do your feet feel better already? In a pinch, don’t forget that when you feel a blister starting to form, you can use a smear of any petroleum-based lip balm to keep it from developing further. Reapply as needed during the day until you can switch to a pair of flats or take off your shoes.
Mei Sawyer
March 10, 2011 Comments (0)
An Ohio woman has filed a lawsuit against Skechers alleging that their Shape-up shoes caused stress fractures in both of her hips.
The plaintiff claims that she wore the toning shoes – which are advertised to help tone muscles, burn calories and even reduce joint stress – while at work as a waitress, but after five months, began to experience severe pain in her hips. The 38-year-old, who has no previous injuries and is said to have normal bone density, was later diagnosed with stress fractures in both femurs and went on to require surgery and physical therapy for her injuries.
While the shoes have proved somewhat controversial in terms of how well they actually tone, experts agree that the sneakers do in fact alter the Read more »
February 16, 2011 Comments (0)
Students at the University of Puget Sound are working with folks from Crocs to develop a new version of the ugly-but-so-comfy shoes beloved by doctors, nurses and little kids!
The team of Exercise Science students is working with the company to develop a flip-flop style shoe that could be worn following exercise to provide comfort to fatigued feet. As anyone who has ran a marathon will tell you, shoes are seriously off limits for at least a day or two after a big race, largely due to blisters, but even a moderately intensive workout on a treadmill can prompt feet to swell so that sneakers feel restrictive and uncomfortable.
While the students have submitted their own designs for the shoe, much of their contribution came from surveying the general public about whether there was a need for such a shoe (yes!) and how much folks would be willing to pay for some post-workout comfort. Read more »
Get our RSS Feed
