High Heels with No Grips!! - Fashion vs Winter!!

[louise_heels]

Hi,
Yes I do live in UK, (Leicester)

Yes I’m pleased to say that I managed to slip my heels off for a bit today (yesterday) , esp. during lunch when I can sit and read a paper with just my tights on…actually I was wearing a new pair that are wearing in quite nicely, (cheap pointy courts from Barratts with about 2.75 inch heels)

To illustrate my earlier point about slippery floors and slippery shoes, I popped out at lunchtime to go and buy some things in my local shopping centre and the pavements were soaking wet. These shoes are quite new so they still have most of the shiny finish on the soles.

Well I walked into this shopping centre and almost ended up on my backside. My God it was slippery on that floor!! The floor in this particular centre, like most I seem to find, is shiny anyway but with it being wet as well because of the rain, and me having shiny soles it was way slippy, it felt like a skating rink!!

Another thing, another slip/fall hazard, esp. for people wearing girly shoes…I know they have to put the “slopes” in to make the centres accessible to wheelchair users and I’m all for that but I find the floor surfaces are always shiny and slippery and its not good to be tottering along carrying heavy (breakable!) shopping and not being confident that your shoes will have a good grip on the shiny ramps.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with slippery shopping centre floors?

Thanks.

Louise.

[Guest]

Hi Louise,

When you are in a shopping centre as you describe do you ever consider taking you heels off and carrying them over the slippery surface? I know this is not ideal, but surely it is better than slipping and maybe huting youself or damaging your shopping, as you describe. When I am indoors at a shopping centre and I have been walking outside in the wet, I know how slippery and difficult to walk it can be. I often just slip off my shoes and carry them for safety, - would you consider doing this? As soon as I am back on a mormal surface I just put them back on. I only do this indoors, but it might help in the situation you describe.

Do you usually get a chance to slip off your heels at lunchtime, to give your feet a rest?

Also, I hope you don't mind me asking but do you wear heels at home or something different or go shoeless? At home I am usually shoeless, but when visiting friends I am always a little concerned that my heels might damage their floor or carpet, and am never quite sure whether to remove them or not. Have you encountered this problem?

Hope you have a chance to reply, as it would be great to hear your views on these points.

[louise_heels]

Hiya,

Because the particular shoes I had on in the shopping centre had straps on them I thought it would be a bit of a nuisance finding somewhere to sit in order to take them off. Also, the slipperiest place in the centre was right inside the door, (where all the water + mud gets tracked in on other peoples shoes) so I had to cross the most dangerous area before I could even find somewhere to lean or sit to take my shoes off!!

I did consider taking my shoes off but I decided not to, partly because I didn’t want to get my tights wet and also because it was really busy and I didn’t much fancy walking around with my feet totally unprotected in case somebody accidentally trod on my little feet! I just tried to take little steps to reduce the risk of me slipping but my footing was still less secure than I would have liked.

Btw I have improved the comfort of a pair of 4-inch stiletto heeled Barratts ankle straps no end, so I can wear them for much longer!!!

A while ago I tried something called “Scholl Party Feet”. These are Gel Cushions that help prevent the pain in the balls of your feet for a while but if your feet are at all sweaty the pads start to slip around under your toes and they quickly become uncomfortable,
more trouble than they are worth (but the only option for sandals because they are “invisible”.)

Much more effective, I have found, is to get some “Scholl unisex Pillowsoft Insoles” and cut them with scissors to a pointy-toed foot shape. Then you cut them and round them off at the end of the foot-bed of your shoe, just a little way up the slope of the heel so they cannot be seen when you are wearing the shoes. Hooray, instantly more comfortable high heels!!

And because you cut the insole so they fit snugly in the toe box of the shoe they don’t slip around under your feet. This only works for shoes with closed toes, but it does make pointy heels much more wearable for all day. TRY IT!! Do other forum members have any other suggestions??

I sometimes wear my heels at home but usually I can’t wait to slip them off after a hard day!! I usually take all my work clothes off and wear slouchy things instead. On the point about damaging floors, yes I sometimes worry about this too! I try never to wear any heel with a metal tip when I’m going to someone else’s house for that reason because I know they pit carpets and scratch wood etc. If I have sharp heels with plastic tips on, I think that’s usually ok on carpet but if they have a lino kitchen or a polished wood floor that I might scuff or mark then I’ll take my shoes off.

Hope this helps

Louise.

[Guest]

HI Louise,

Thanks for your reply. When you were on you lunchbreak you did undo the strraps to take take your shoes off? Dop ypou always take your shoes off on your lunchbreak to give your feet a rest?

Have you thought about leaving the straps loose or un-done around the office, - it might give you a little more comfort?

[louise_heels]

Hi

Yes I managed to un-strap them during my lunch break, isn’t it heavenly when you can wiggle your toes and rub painful feet, especially if they’ve been jammed into pointy-toed heels all morning! I can’t pad about in my tights but I can at least slip my shoes off under my desk during lunch. I don’t think I can walk around with my shoes un-strapped for long though, this office is quite formal and I don’t think it will go down very well.

TBH I think I’ve largely solved the discomfort problem, at least things are much improved. I’m going out to buy more insoles to fit into some of my other shoes. Now I just have to come up with an equally good solution to the deal with the problem of the slippery soles that all of my heels seem to have!!!

Thanks,

Louise.

[Guest]

Hi Louise,

You sound really cute, - I bet you are'nt single?

[Guest]

Hi,

I think if your shoes are very slippery, the only practical solution is to carry them over the slippery surface, it is safer than risking an accident.

I work as a secretary for a firm of accountants, and always have to appear smatly dressed. I wear heels to work, but recently found smart slippers that I can wear in work. Now, please don't let the term slippers put you off. I found them in the Accesorize shop, and they are flat black mules with a very discreet pattern on the front. Now, i change into them when I get in to the office and often wear them all day, even in front of clients, and I have not had any complaints about my appearence. Just wondered whether something like this might help you. Wearing heels all day is a bit of a nightmare and also, when you think about it having your feet trapped in hard formal shoes all day can't be healthy for them.

Is this any help, at all?

[louise_heels]

Ooh, I will have to think about getting some of those! Thanks. They sound like an ideal thing for me to have under my desk to slip on if my heels get uncomfortable to give my feet a break. I’ve seen this kind of shoe, I’m sure. I have to say I’m not sure about the look of them, better with trousers than with skirts I imagine. Also I’m not sure how they would wear if you wear them outside?

I think you’re right, wearing heels all day can be a bit of a trial, but I think quite a few of us girls are willing to endure a bit of discomfort in the name of fashion/looking our best/feeling sexy aren’t we? I just so love the look of a shoe with a pointy toe and heel! What about you, what’s your favourite style?

I’ve got to say my DIY pointy insoles really did the trick in the comfort stakes, one problem though, they have the Scholl name and cutting sizes printed on the base in some kind of blue dye and yesterday my feet began to sweat and the dye ran with the moisture and stained my tights.

The problem seems to me that often, fashionable stilettos that start the day looking very attractive and sexy don’t look or feel the same by the end. I’m sure you’ll agree is that it must look (and it certainly feels) very un-sexy if you’re struggling along in heels that you’ve had on all day...you know...the balls of your feet are burning and your heels feel like they’re resting on two sharp pins and you can only manage little steps (like one woman I saw yesterday afternoon who I felt SO sorry for!!) It’s even more un-sexy if you’re teetering along unsteadily (as I have done quite a few times), worse still if the fates really conspire against you and you’re faced with a greasy wet pavement and your shoes don’t have grippy soles. Now that’s a trial! Why do we do it eh??

Louise.

[Guest]

Hi Louise,

Thanks for your reply, - I think you might find the smart slippers I mentioned really helpful. Also, while thinking about this discussion, it occured to me that the slippers are so flat you could carry them in a *a**a* or other bag, - then if you had a problem like the slippery floor you described at the shopping centre you could just change into the slippers and carry your heels, - better than risking hurting yourself or walking on a wet surface in stockings feet - what do you think?

I have two frinds who have both bought a pair of these mule stlye slippers for work after seeing mine. One works in a bank and wears them a lot in work. The other girl works in a travel agents and for some reason hates wearing shoes. She bought a pair of these slippers and wears them all the time in work, even in front of customers!! She loves wearing them and has said how much easier she finds thewm to wear rather than her court shoes. She still wears her courts to work, but changes into her slippers when she is in the office.

I really think they might help you!!

[Guest]

Hi Louise,

I hope you don't mind me joining this thread with my thoughts. I agree with everything you say about wearing heels, but we girls still love wearing them don't we.

I think part of the solution is to take care of your feet, by pampering them and so so. I try to soak mine every evening and apply moisterising cream to them to keep them soft. Also, I try to go barefoot as much as possible at home, and take my heels off as soon as I get in. I also, leave it until I am walking out of the door in the morning before I put my heels on, again so my feet are rested and comfy for the day ahead.


Does any of this help at all?

[Guest]

Hi Louise,

I posted a reply about the slippers I mentioned last night, but you asked about wearing them outside. I guess they could be worn outdoors as they have a hard sole, but I have'nt tried this as I change into them in in the office.

I think they are besrt worn indoors as smart slippers, but they are very, very comfy!!

[Guest]

Hi,

Have you ever thought about wearing the patterned wellies that are very fashioable at the momment. They have rubber soles and avoid the problem of slppery surfaces in heels.

When the weather is bad I wear them to the office all the time and change into my heels when I arrive at work, - is this any help?

[louise_heels]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the suggestions. New slippers are a real relief from painful heels when my feet get a bit sore. Unfortunately I should have invested in a pair of the wellies faster too, then I don't suppose I would have found myself struggling with slithering stilettos this morning coz the pavements were all slushy...dammit! I made it to work without falling but had a couple of slippery moments.

To all shoe manufacturers: How much trouble would it be to make your lovely sexy heels just like you do know but with just a little bit of a grip on the bottoms?...Nothing drastic...just enough to stop me risking slipping over on a greasy or slushy pavement..ggrrr!

Thanks all,

Louise

[Guest]

Hi Louise,

Good to hear from you again, - am I right in thinking you bought a pair of slippers for the office? If so were they the type mentioned smart mules, and can you get away with wearing them around the office?

Sorry to hear about your difficulties this AM, - wellies might have helped, but I am glad to hear you did,nt fall over!! Did you get your shoes wet, and if so were you able to dry them somehow?

Hope to hear from you again soon.

[Guest]

Hi Louise,

Hope you are well, - just wondering how you have been getting on with your heels in all this bad weather?

Did you manage to get a pair of slippers and how have you found them?

Also, what about the fashionable wellies?

Hope to hear from you soon.