Latest news with #highheels
Telegraph
7 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Strong feet are key to good health and mobility. Here's how I fixed mine
My mother once made a formal complaint to the BBC about the height of the female newsreaders' heels. She didn't approve of the idea that women should be standing for hours at a time balancing on 4in stilettos. Her argument was made all the more potent when, in 2021, BBC newsreader Victoria Derbyshire struggled to shoehorn her feet into her sky-high heels in time to present the morning news. Derbyshire's wardrobe malfunction only served to put a spotlight on the painfully obvious: women have been ruining their feet for fashion's (and society's) sake for centuries. At the time I found the whole thing comical. I too have been known to shimmy my feet into dozens of too-tight shoes at the expense of my foot health. But 51-year-old me can think of nothing more agonising than teetering on high heels no thicker than a breadstick. Anything taller than a kitten heel, and a crackling sensation shoots up the back of my heels. When I take a long stroll through the woods near my home, it's my feet that suffer the aches and pains far greater than my legs. I'm no spring chicken, but I didn't expect my feet to age faster than my face. It's easy to forget that our feet are made up of tendons and muscles that are vital for mobility and stamina. 'The foot and its musculature are just as important as any other muscles. Your feet are the first contact point to the ground and are responsible for making sure the joints above it are as stable as possible, says Dalton Wong, a celebrity fitness trainer. Strengthen your feet and you will be less likely to tumble. After 50, the risk of falls increases sharply. But strong foot muscles improve our balance and reaction time. Stronger foot muscles also improve our gait and act as shock absorbers. If you can stride forward with strong feet, you will lessen the reliance on your knees and hips, reducing wear and your risk of arthritis and painful knees and hips. Foot exercises can even help maintain our arch and help prevent deformities such as bunions – or at least stop them progressing. 'The feet need to be strong, stable and mobile,' adds Wong. 'I recommend adding foot exercises and flexibility stretches for both your feet and ankles into your daily routine.' So while friends my age are focused on toning up the parts of them that are on show (legs and arms), I'm hell-bent on improving my poor foot health. Admittedly, my ankles have suffered a fair few twists over the years, the worst of which resulted in torn ligaments incurred during a friendly tennis match, aged 18. In 2020, I twisted and fractured the same foot during a surfing lesson on a girls' trip to my home town on Vancouver Island, Canada. If only I had carried out the physiotherapy exercises I was prescribed at the time then perhaps my feet wouldn't be causing me havoc now. I trained in ballet until my teens and still I'd forgotten how all-important foot strength is. Ballerinas train their feet daily to be able to withstand the abuse their toes and ankles endure. It has been decades since I practised a tandu, but when I recently attempted the simple exercise of pointing my toes and turning out my feet, my foot muscles immediately cramped up in protest. At the end of last year, I invested in a pair of designer ballet flats, which I find comfortable despite having as much structure as a paper aeroplane. The more I walked in them, the stronger my feet felt. The stronger my feet, the more I walked. The barefoot theory is hotly debated. Many podiatrists bemoan the trend for unstructured footwear, whereas some doctors, such as Rangan Chatterjee, a podcast host and GP who is an avid supporter of wearing Vivo Barefoot trainers, believe in its merits, which include strengthening the feet naturally as they adapt the terrain beneath them without cushioning. What remains true is that even if my footwear is wildly inappropriate, the walking did my feet good. Thus I carried on and began incorporating foot exercises into my week, an easy addition that I've stacked onto my morning routine and has proved powerful in strengthening my ankles, arches, toe dexterity and balance. The three easy foot and ankle stability exercises I do religiously are prescribed by osteopath Amina Shamsi, who works with Wong as part of the One Health team, an integrated health coaching service at Twenty Two Training in Kensington. They are: 1. Towel scrunchies This is particularly good for strengthening your arches and your foot muscles. A must for anyone suffering with plantar fasciitis. Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Place a small towel on the floor in front of your feet. Grab the towel with your toes, pulling it towards you from different angles, releasing and gripping the towel as you go – making sure to keep your heel in contact with the floor. 2. Heel/calf raises A daily must for building better balance and ankle stability by strengthening the ankles and the muscles in the back of the lower leg (the tibialis posterior). Put a tennis-sized ball between the insides of your heels and raise your heels up and down eight to 12 times. Pause, and then repeat as many times as you like. 3. Foot rolls Standing, place a tennis or massage ball underneath your foot and roll your foot backwards and forwards over it as many times as you need. Repeat on the other foot. This helps to release tension in the soft tissues underneath the feet – a great exercise for when you're standing for long periods of time. And even when you aren't. Ultimately, conditioning my feet to act younger has reminded me of two things: that optimum health is rarely found in the grand gestures. It's the little things done continuously that make the biggest difference to how well you age. And, vanity (in my case eking out every penny of my Miu Miu ballet flats) can often be a positive trigger to take the right next step. Pardon the pun. Eight podiatrist-approved tips for stronger, younger feet Helen Braithwaite, a podiatrist from the Royal College of Podiatry, says that looking after your feet is paramount, from the type of shoes you wear to the exercises you do. Follow her tips to better foot health. 1. Choosing the right shoes Thankfully, says Braithwaite, fashion footwear has improved over the years, with technologies included that improve comfort and fit. 'Try to opt for shoes with padding in the arch, midfoot and around the heel that increases in width and depth at the front of the shoe,' she says, adding that you should be comfortable in the shoes you wear. 'Look at the shape of the toe box and match it to the shape of your foot – if you have a wide foot, some retailers provide width-fitting options but in general, squarer styles tend to fit better.' 2. Avoiding blisters 'If you are prone to developing blisters, then using an anti-blister product that provides a protective layer between the shoe and the foot can help prevent them forming, as the friction is applied to the product and not your skin,' suggests Braithwaite. The material your shoe is made from is also important. For example, patent leather is much stiffer than a cloth or suede material, which is more forgiving. 3. Sore heel hints 'If you like a slip-on court shoe, then opt for a design with a tight, firm heel cup to avoid the shoes slipping off – this can pinch or cause irritation to the Achilles tendon,' Braithwaite explains. 'If you are prone to sore heels, then look for a Mary Jane style or something with an ankle strap, as the heel of the shoe will be softer and rounder. Equally, look at an ankle boot. These tend to fit better.' 4. Ankle stability 'Wearing a heeled shoe increases the instability of the foot, and balance can be compromised. Anything above 4cm (1½in) can put added pressure on the ball of your foot as well as increasing postural sway, which can lead to an unexplained fall,' Braithwaite says. 'The style of the heel impacts balance. If you are prone to ankle sprains, then choose a shoe with a block heel or go for an ankle boot that supports the ankle. The more surface area from the heel of the shoe in contact with the floor, the better your stability.' 5. When heels help If the heel pad of your foot is sore and there is soft tissue injury, then wearing a small heel of 2-3cm will help to offload pressure from that area. Do not go higher than 4cm, however, as this will put increased pressure on the ball of your foot. 6. Shoes best for toe deformities 'The fit of the shoe is important to prevent soft tissue injuries. If you have claw toes or digital deformities, then wearing an open toe style, like a sandal or peep toe, will put less pressure on the toes, preventing cramping. Some footwear companies design shoes specifically for bunions which tend to have a wider and deeper toe box,' says Braithwaite. 7. Toe separators Emma McConnachie from the Royal College of Podiatry says that toe separators come in two main forms: individual separators made of foam or silicone, which can be useful to alleviate the discomfort of prominent joints and toes rubbing together; and ones that fit between all toes, which aim to improve the flexibility of the feet. But, says McConnachie, toe separators, while trendy, are not imperative. 'An alternative would be to do regular toe exercises to improve and maintain the flexibility in your toes. Try picking up a cloth from the ground with your toes and repeat this 10 times,' she says. 8. Give yourself a regular at-home pedicure The best pedicure practice for healthy feet and toenails can be performed with regular care at home. Braithwaite says to make sure that the skin is not dehydrated, which will help prevent calluses and cracks from forming. Furthermore, toenails should never be too long, as they will cause damage to the nail bed when pressed against the tip of your shoes. When possible, avoid gel polish (especially hard gel) as nail flexibility is vital to avoiding breaks and nail damage, she adds. Milly Mason, a nail expert, says to use a mask or foot cream with high levels of urea (10 per cent or higher) that is deeply moisturising with natural exfoliating properties. She recommends using this daily. For serious calluses LCN's Urea Chapped Skin Cream with 40 per cent urea is a saviour on cracked heels (which Mason says you should never pick). 'Keep applying a mask or foot cream nightly and eventually the skin will heal. Picking makes cracks worse,' she says. What about bunions? McConnachie explains that bunions, also known as hallux abducto valgus, are deformities of the toe joint. 'These typically are seen in the big toe and where the long bone (the metatarsal) has moved away from the foot, causing the toe to move towards the lesser toes. One of the main causes of this is pressure through the joint, often because of the way that you walk. Wearing heels more than 4cm in height for prolonged periods can increase the speed at which this develops. Wider shoes that accommodate the width of the foot will help to prevent bunions. 'However, a podiatrist can analyse the way that your foot functions and provide exercises, insoles [orthoses] and footwear advice to help reduce the impact on the joint and the pain from the bunion. Your podiatrist may refer you to a podiatric surgeon or orthopaedic surgeon to discuss the surgical options available to you too.'
Vogue Arabia
19-05-2025
- Business
- Vogue Arabia
5 Trends Driving the Downfall of High Heels
You must have noticed it. Less of the loud clomping hitting tiled floors at the office. A decrease in looks of discomfort across female colleagues. Women embracing their natural heights, rather than adding on inches through stilettos. Whether they're wearing square-toed penny loafers, woven ballerinas or sporty trainers, one thing is evident: high heels have fallen from the stature they once enjoyed, signalling a sartorial overhaul of fashion's footwear codes. Here are some wider movements that have contributed to the demise of high heels: Comfort over everything Comfort has not always trumped style in the world of fashion – but it's starting to. Or rather, more creative directors are making clothing and footwear that prioritise comfort. One reason for this design revolution is the fact that more females are heading fashion houses that were previously led by men. When women create for women, concerns like comfort are addressed more authentically. Trends across the wider industry have reflected this transformation in fashion: oversized silhouettes, streetwear and modesty have all become increasingly mainstream. And, if clothes are becoming more comfortable, footwear will never fall far behind. The new workwear codes When the world locked down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, impelling many of us to work from our homes, fashion, well, took a bit of a backseat. From the waist up, we dressed up: collared shirts, chunky necklaces and styled hair. Waist down, not so much. Tracksuit bottoms, workout leggings and fuzzy house slippers, far from heeled, constituted #WFH attire. So now that we're all back to the office, these casual tendencies have naturally followed us to the workplace where we're less inclined to wear footwear that makes us dread the walks from our desk to the meeting room, kitchenette and parking lot. Photo: Amina Muaddi at Level Shoes 'Customers are gravitating toward pieces that feel effortless yet refined — styles they can wear from day to night without compromising on style,' shares Elisa Bruno, CEO of Level Shoes. She says that while comfort may be a key factor, heels remain a strong sales category. 'That said, there's been a clear shift in preferences when it comes to heel height — there's less demand for 100mm stilettos and more interest in wearable silhouettes like kitten heels and sling-backs,' she explains. 'It's less about heels becoming irrelevant, and more about flats becoming the main character this season.' Elisa Bruno Ballerinas are having a moment A recent BoF report found that Mary Jane and ballet flat sales spiked in 2024, growing faster than the entire high heel segment. Leading the pack of luxury brands is, of course, Alaïa, whose mesh flats have somehow surpassed multiple seasons in both relevance and widespread appeal. Decorated with edgy buckles and maximalist bobbles; feminine bows and girly-girl glitter, ballerinas are now available in all sorts of styles, making them fun – and now socially acceptable – footwear for even the most formal occasions. 'We're seeing flats being reimagined through elevated materials, intricate details, and innovative design, making them just as statement-worthy as heels,' shares Bruno. Quickly gaining a cult following globally, Flabelus is one label specialising in this realm, and its popular silhouette combines the dainty appearance of the ballet flat with the traditional craftsmanship of Spanish espadrilles. "The modern lifestyle demands footwear that allows for ease of movement, and traditional high heels often fall short in this regard,' explains Duaa El Sayed, events and press manager for the Middle East and Asia. 'High heels are experiencing a decline, as women increasingly prioritise comfort alongside style.' Sneakers – and sneakerinas – are on the rise Speaking of ballerinas, the latest hybrid shoe taking fashion by storm, influencing brands from Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton to Puma, is a ballerina-based trainer. Or a trainer-based ballerina. Whichever way you call it, the two styles from opposite ends of the footwear spectrum – one dainty and feminine and the other chunky and sporty – have come together in a surprisingly popular blend of aesthetics. Apart from sneakerinas, classic old trainers, upgraded through contemporary colour and textile combinations, have become increasingly acceptable in women's fashion over the past decade. Today, a luxury trainer can be just as much a status symbol as a designer stiletto. Feminism is in fashion Finally, it would be remiss to explore the downfall of heeled shoes without stating the obvious: sexiness is no longer the prime priority for women. Dressing for the male gaze, in shoes designed by the male gaze (Christian Louboutin, we see you) has lost some of its appeal in the post #MeToo era, and with advancements in feminist movements. Advertisements and campaigns – often featuring females in heels – designed to objectify women have come under fire, giving women pause for thought before dragging their feet to purchase them. Of course, this isn't to say that there's anything inherently bad about high heels. At the end of the day, it comes down to comfort and confidence, and if you can achieve both in a pair of heels, more power to you. But if your weary toes are reluctant to squish into any more uber-high shoes, embrace this new era of heel-less footwear and enjoy feeling more grounded, for a change.
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
How the world of work has lured Barbie out of high heels
She walked into the world on high-heeled mules, but as Barbie's many careers gathered pace, her feet became more planted on the ground, researchers say. A rare analysis of nearly 3,000 Barbies released over 65 years found that high-heeled incarnations gradually made way for flat-shoed forms, as workplace rules relaxed and career doors opened for the PVC doll. The steady embrace of sensible flats coincided with Barbie's laudable engagement with professional employment, the study found, leading its authors to conclude that 'Barbieland has a dynamic environment with evolving employment patterns and social policies'. The work, led by podiatrists in Australia and the UK, was spurred by a scene in Greta Gerwig's 2023 movie in which Margot Robbie's Barbie suffers an existential crisis, and an onslaught of screams and retching, when her tip-toed feet suddenly become flat. Prof Cylie Williams, a podiatrist at Monash University in Australia, said the scene prompted a flurry of Saturday night texts with fellow foot specialists. 'When we were kids, Barbie only wore high heels,' she said. 'Did Barbie really get flat feet? Did the actual toy get flat feet?' And so the investigation began. Armed with a goniometer measuring device, back catalogues of Mattel dolls and access to a personal collection of hundreds of dolls, Williams and her colleagues checked the foot angles of 2,750 Barbies released from 1959 to last June. For the first 30 years, when Barbie launched as a fashion model, put in the hard hours to pass astronaut selection – and simultaneously found her calling in an ice-cream parlour – the doll consistently left the factory on tip toes, with feet at a 40-degree angle to the ground. But from 1990, flat-footed models arrived. As Barbie bolstered her CV by taking orders at McDonald's, hunting fossils as a paleontologist, developing video games and flogging presumably overpriced cheese at a farmers' market, she increasingly favoured functional flats. By mid-2024, according to the study in the journal Plos One, 60% of new Barbies had their feet firmly on the ground. According to Williams, the trend reflected changes in workplace norms and legislation. 'So much has changed over the past 30 or so years. There were jobs, like air hostesses and banking staff, where women had to wear high heels as part of the uniform,' she said. Before the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988, women in the US could not secure a business loan without a man's co-signature. Asked if there were lessons to learn, Williams, who had worn high heels all day before her interview with the Guardian, said health experts should stop the 'doom and gloom' messages about high heels and the harm they may inflict. Instead, they should trust that women, like Barbie, would pick footwear suitable for the tasks ahead. 'In a world where Barbie could be anything, her ankles still couldn't bend for 30 years,' said Dao Tunprasert, principal lecturer in podiatry at the University of Brighton. 'This is such an oddly fitting metaphor for the rigid expectations placed on women, including in workplace dress codes that demanded heels. 'This study cleverly highlights how even fashion dolls reflect shifting societal norms. Most importantly, it reminds us that women should have the freedom to choose their footwear, heels or not, without judgment particularly from health professionals. Kudos to the researchers for delivering such an important message in such a fabulous way.' A Mattel spokesperson said: 'After more than 65 years of innovation, the past decade has marked the Barbie brand's most ambitious product design evolution yet, with deliberate changes that ensure every child sees themselves reflected in Barbie. 'Committed to creating dolls that inspire all kids, we've increased the variety offered in skin tones, hair colours and textures, body types and disabilities – right down to more foot positions with reimagined footwear options to support Barbie's bold steps forward.'
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Researchers find high heels not so bad after studying Barbie's feet
Researcher and podiatrist Cylie Williams can only recall one other occasion when she was rushed off her feet explaining a study to reporters around the world. "I have published a lot," Professor Williams told ABC News. "I have probably 170 research papers and in my career as a researcher I have had two — and this is my second paper — hit the media at this level." Professor Williams, who is in the school of primary and allied health care at Monash University, has with a team studied Barbie's feet, the shoes the doll has worn overtime and whether high heels are really that bad for you. It has captured people's imaginations far and wide and has even been picked up by the New York Times. "People are often told, sometimes, that things are really bad and when you go 'they might not actually be. We need to rewire your thinking a little bit there and try and break some myths,' I think that captures people's interest. So, let's step into the methodology and findings. 2023's Barbie movie was a blockbuster of epic proportions. It was a scene from the movie in which Barbie reacts with distress when she steps out of her high heels and onto flat feet that ignited the imaginations of Professor Williams and her team. They studied the feet of 2,750 Barbie dolls — from Barbie's launch in 1959 until June 2024 — and found a shift away from the doll's iconic tip-toed feet primed and ready for high heels, to flat feet for flat shoes. Barbie, they found, chose her footwear depending on her tasks and occupation — from skateboarding to working as an astronaut — and her feet changed over the years to reflect shoes worn, tying into her different jobs and growing diversity. Professor Williams says the researchers also questioned whether high heels are really as bad for feet as women are led to believe. "If you travel around the world and you look at some cultures that rarely wear high heels, you'll hear about back pain and you'll see foot deformity and it will be occurring in men and women, some of whom have never worn high heels in their lives … which means you can't hang it all on the shoes that you're wearing. She says Barbie's journey shows women are already discerning about the shoe choices they make based on comfort, functionality and identity. "I've just done a sprint … to my car and I'm wearing a three-inch heel and it's a block. I've walked over Melbourne streets and I've chosen my shoes today based on what I had to do and that I knew I was going to be on unstable surfaces. And that's actually how a lot of people choose their footwear every day. "So, we don't know that high heels are really bad. "We know that while you're wearing them, they may have impacts on the way that your feet feel and the way they make your body feel but we don't know what the long-term impact of that actually is if you vary your shoes, like most people do every day."
