Women's Sandals & Slippers

How to choose a heel you can actually walk in

Heel height is only part of it. Two shoes of the same height can be completely different to wear.

• Platform height counts against heel height. A 10cm heel on a 2cm platform puts your foot at the same angle as an 8cm heel, considerably more comfortable than it sounds.
• Wedges and block heels distribute weight across the whole foot. Stilettos concentrate it on a small area, which is why they're harder on the ball of the foot and on grass, gravel and gaps in decking.
• Ankle straps make a real difference. They stop the foot sliding forward, which is what causes most heel discomfort and blisters.
• Under 5cm is walkable for most people; 5-8cm is standing-and-short-distances; above 8cm is sitting with occasional walking, whatever the marketing says.

How to size sandals and slides

Open shoes size differently from closed ones, and it catches people out.

• Measure your foot heel to longest toe and compare against the length chart, more reliable than the size label.
• Measure in the afternoon. Feet swell through the day, and in summer heat they swell more.
• Slides and open sandals should have no overhang at the front or sides. Toes over the edge look and feel wrong, and it means the shoe is too small.
• Between sizes in slides, size down; in heels, size up. Slides stretch and loosen with wear; heels compress the foot forward.

How to wear heels without ruining your evening

• Break them in indoors first, an hour at a time over several days. New heels on the day is how weddings end in bare feet.
• Treat hot spots before they blister. A plaster on redness prevents the blister; a plaster on a blister is damage control.
• Take flats for later. Nobody has ever regretted this.
• Check the surface you'll be on. Stilettos sink into grass and catch in decking gaps, a block heel or wedge at an outdoor event saves the evening.
• Grip pads on smooth soles. New leather-look soles are slippery on tile and polished floors.

How to look after summer shoes

• Rinse off sand and salt water the same day, both are abrasive and corrosive, and salt marks set permanently on leather-look uppers
• Dry away from direct sun and radiators, which crack synthetic uppers and shrink footbeds
• Clean cushioned footbeds with a damp cloth and mild soap. Sweat and sun cream build up and discolour them, and it's much harder to remove once set
• Store heels upright with tissue in the toe so they hold shape, and keep straps unbuckled so they don't crease
• Replace heel tips when the metal shows. A worn tip damages the heel itself and then the shoe isn't repairable. It's a cheap fix if caught early

Choosing for a specific occasion

A summer wedding

Block heel or wedge if there's any chance of grass. Check the height against how long you'll be standing, and break them in first.

Holiday

Cushioned slides do most of the work. Add one pair of dressier sandals rather than several, holiday shoe collections mostly stay in the case.

Everyday summer

Slides with a contoured footbed. Flat, unstructured sandals offer no arch support and cause aching feet over long days on hard pavements.