Feel Good & Look Good?

By Tamela Thomas, Wellness Manager

Women often sacrifice short-term, and even long-term, comfort and health to wear shoes that "look good." It reminds me of an old Steve Martin story titled "The Cruel Shoes." In case you missed it, the upshot is the woman buying the shoes is willing to force her feet into deformed looking, nail ridden high heels because they were so unusual and she had to make the fashion statement. Although taken to the extreme, the story rings true for most of the fairer sex.

But it's not just women who may find themselves in a less-than-comfortable pair of shoes. This month, shoe designer Luly Yang shares tips for anyone who wants to find a pair of shoes that both feels and looks good—Good news for those of us who want to wear our orthotic inserts and still look professional at work or elegant for a formal event.

Enjoy this month's article, overcome "Cruel Shoes," and then, by all means, get comfortable!

Step Out in Comfort & Style

By Luly Yang, Shoe Designer

As a shoe designer, I marvel at how much our feet bear on a daily basis. While making up just 2% of our bodies, they carry 98% of our weight as we take up to an average of 18,000 steps each day. With shoes that fit incorrectly, this can be a stressful experience.

Our feet need to be properly supported, balanced and protected to do their work for us, transporting us from place to place. Without this support, the alignment and function of our legs, knees, hips, spine and shoulders can be incorrect, causing pain and fatigue.

Many of us may not realize that the dress shoes we don on a daily basis may not fit correctly. Women, in particular, have four times as many foot ailments as men, often because of high heels.

A correctly fitted shoe should not be felt at all. The way to ensure a pair of shoes fits correctly is to have your feet measured from all angles. And to maximize their efficiency and physical support, it is also important to determine the activities in which the shoes will be used.

Dress shoes can be stylish and fit well if you keep a few things in mind when choosing them:

• Shoes that are measured to fit your feet will provide the greatest likelihood of meeting your style and health requirements as well as support you in each step of the day.

• Feet are typically sized differently than one another, while pairs of commercially made shoes are each manufactured in the same size. It is better to buy a larger size than smaller and pad them as needed.

• Shoes with firm soles and soft uppers are best for daily activities.

• Shoes should have extra padding at the ball of the foot and zip soles to minimize slipping on wet surfaces—essential for rainy Northwest weather.

• If there isn't as much support in the back, there needs to be more in the . An ankle or sling-back strap or increased in-step coverage can support an otherwise heel-less shoe such as a slide or mule.

Preventive foot care can increase comfort and energy. Good design can positively affect one's mood to be relaxed, balanced and confident. One option to achieve maximum comfort and style is to have one's shoes custom made. An expert shoe designer works to combine these elements into the finished product.

Designing a custom pair of shoes usually begins with an informal interview. A client is asked to describe the type of surfaces they expect to be walking or standing upon in this particular pair. Each foot is individually measured, taking specific note of the in-step, foot length, shape and heel.

The shape of a shoe, including width, (heel) height and toe shape, makes a difference in overall foot comfort. Open-toed shoes provide the most comfort for some feet. Pointed, narrow shoes can cause more stress on feet. A gradual incline from heel to toe provides the most comfort.

A quality shoe designer will discuss and review heel heights. Where a heel is placed on a shoe, as well as the type of shoe heel, can make a drastic difference in overall comfort. Shoe heels that are located toward the back of a foot's heel make balance more difficult and cause greater fatigue. Shoe heels that are centered on the heel of the foot provide increased energy and support, as well as comfort for the lower back and knees.

Once I had a client who had never worn heels because she didn't think she could. With a flatter, lower heel we were able to slip her into a pair without diminishing comfort or style. When we finished, she looked beautifully confident and felt great—all while dressed for a black-tie event.

By keeping these few key design elements in mind while choosing shoes, it is possible to be stylish and healthy, and avoid years of future discomfort.