Confessions of a Shoe Lover: I’m no Carrie Bradshaw

The other day I read this fun InStyle article about a writer who donned 4-inch stilettos—the same ones Meghan Markle likes to wear—for an entire evening. It’s a really humorous and relatable piece that you should definitely check out when you have some time to spare.

Anyways, it got me thinking about the shoes I have in my closet. I own a fair share of shoes that I bought simply because I fell in love with them at first sight (what can happen when you opt to shop after a stressful day at work). Have I worn them all? Yes...if you count me sashaying around my apartment like I’m auditioning for Top Model.

Truth is, some of my shoes are more for eye candy and daydreams than they are for walking around in.

For example, I have a stunning pair of white heels I bought from Aldo like, 5 years ago, that I have yet to wear. They’re still in a box. Same goes for one of my most prized possessions: a pair of black patent leather Louboutin pigalle pumps that I received as an over-the-top birthday gift. You should know that I wear these while watching TV and drinking wine in my apartment all the time...I just haven’t built up the courage to stand on them for more than 5 minutes at a time (plus, I look like a baby giraffe that’s just learning to walk).

I love high heels. They make me feel like a mature, beautiful, confident, badass bitch. Problem is, I don’t wear them often because they hurt like hell and sometimes I get a bit scared I will twist my ankle from such great heights. I plan on training to wear my pigalle pumps for something really special, I just need to figure out what that special occasion is. As of now, I have (mostly) shied away from stilettos and towering platform heels for fancy events.

Over the past couple of years, I have built up a collection of heels that clock in at about 2 to 3 inches in height. I’m still hesitant to jump on the kitten heel bandwagon because I feel like I’m admitting defeet (see what I did there?) if I do.

When shopping for ‘comfortable’ heels, here are things to look for:

• Thick heels or wedges

• A modest platform for the balls of your feet to rest on

• Trendy color, texture, or shape

Got these Halogen heels from Nordstrom for about $90. I wanted mustard-colored heels and found these babies.

Found these at Forever21 (online) for about $30. There was a time when Forever had really neat, trendy-looking sandals and heels. If only they’d offer more than sock booties and clear shoes right now…

Another pair from Forever21 (online) for about $40. I like Forever because they offer size 5 shoes, which not a lot of fast-fashion stores do.

Found this classic pair at Nordstrom Rack. Think I paid around $60 for them. They are classic and I can wear them for hours and not feel like I’m dying.

This Nine West pair caught my eye at Nordstrom Rack. I think they were something like $40. I love the pointy toe and inverted heel shape.

I’ve worn these to multiple weddings…3 so far, I believe. Bought them at Nordstrom for around $70. They’re comfortable for several hours and hide well under long bridesmaid dresses.

Be wary of chunky heels that look like they’re straight out of the nineties (unless that’s the look you’re going for). This is why you might want the shoe to have a bit of a modern twist--like metal trimmings, an unusual heel shape, or a trendy color.

When it comes to wedges, consider what kind of texture or material you want the platform to be made of. I’m not personally a fan of the cork look and tend to gravitate towards wood, leather, or rope. Are you planning to wear these shoes in the daytime? Evening? With a dress or denim?

I think it also helps to know if you want to go with an open-toe or closed-toe look. I’ll like having both options since I don’t tend to get pedicures often. And when I do decide to hide my toes, I like to look for heels with a pointed toe. They just appear so classy and Devil Wears Prada-esque to me. Plus, I think it levels up the lower heel height.

Last but not least, consider how much you want to pay for a pair of heels. If you find a comfortable pair that has a timeless look, it could be worth it to spend that dough. If you feel that the heels are cute and trendy but may not have a super long shelf-life, maybe look to fast-fashion stores with more affordable shoes and save a bit of money for future shoe inserts.

Got any tricks you live by to survive a night in heels? I would love to hear them!