Diva Tips!

Tips: Diva Dilemmas Heel Stoppers are made to accommodate. If you are in a pinch and have a Heel Stopper that is too large for your heel, here is what you do in three simple Diva steeps: 1. Cut the small portions of the cylinder off the top, it should end up resembling a thick dental rubber band. 2. Wrap the rubber band around the bottom of the heel 3. Then slide the Diva Dilemma Heel Stopper over the rubber band/heel.

Stretching your leather High Heels 

Stretching your leather high heels a half to full size is easy and simple.

1. Fill a quart size zip lock bag ¾ full of water.
2. Place the bag down into the front of the shoe, sealed zip side facing up.
3. Place the shoes in the freezer till frozen.
4. Remove the shoes from the freezer and remove the frozen bag from the shoes

Your high heel shoes are set to go.  

Take a seat every 20 minutes or so

“Whenever and wherever you can, sit, sit, sit!,” says J. Alexander, the reigning diva of fancy footwork on America’s Next Top Model. “And cross your legs so that all can see your beautiful, fashion-forward, painful footwear. Think of yourself as a model on a photo shoot and stretch from the waist.” So don’t be afraid to give your tootsies a rest every now and then—you’ll last longer with breaks and give people a better view of your incredible shoes. 

Customize and cushion your shoes

When you buy a new pair of shoes, you need to customize them for your feet, says Meghan Cleary, a shoe expert and the author of The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoe Says About You. “Bring them home, wear them for an hour, and anywhere you feel a bit of pain or rubbing, that’s where you want to address because it will become very painful after four hours of wear,” she says. “You mostly feel it on the ball of your foot, because that’s where the pressure has been distributed.” She recommends padding them up with Foot Cushions 

Straighten up—from legs to spine

“Walking in heels is not an easy task, even for us models who wear them almost every day,” says model and runway regular Ali Stephens. “Make sure when you take a step you straighten and extend your leg—it’ll help you move gracefully and elegantly. Otherwise, you can look very uncoordinated, and your walk will appear choppy.” 

Slice and dice the soles of your shoes for safety

A slippery surface plus sky-high heels spells inevitable disaster. Prep your soles with a discreet little pad like Grippy Steps, which affix to the bottom of your shoe and help create some traction on marble, tile and carpet. In need of a quicker fix? “Scratch the bottom of your soles with sandpaper,” J. Alexander suggests, or—even cheaper—head out to the driveway and start scuffing. 

Focus on your core

Yup, getting a feel for where your weight falls in high heels is easier if you try it with your eyes closed first—just don’t take a step! “Before you even walk in them, stand up, close your eyes, put your hand on your core and get a good feel for them,” Meghan Cleary says. “Then open your eyes a little bit, then a bit more, and start taking a few steps while you focus on that core area.” Your body will be forced to readjust and use other muscles to help you balance. 

Be confident

There is absolutely no substitute for knowing you look amazing in a pair of stilettos. All our experts agree: “You have to feel good and make it work!” says model Ariel Meredith. “Don’t let the fear of stumbling keep you from owning these shoes,” advises Ali Stephens, while Miss J. suggests you “think of yourself as a model in attitude and presence,” and Camilla Morton reminds us, “When you wear high heels, you look good and you feel good!” You said it, sisters! 

Tips For Wearing High Heels

• Wear a shorter heel. A 2" heel causes less problems than a 4-inch heel. A shorter heel will give an elongated appearance if it is a thin stiletto type rather than a thick or chunky heel.
• Try to save the use of your high heeled shoes for functions where you will not be on your feet for extended periods of time; treat them as a limited privilege accessory.
• Take your designer shoes to a pedorthist to have them custom fit to your feet. They may be able to stretch the toe box to better accommodate your feet.
• Try wearing a larger size show than usual and insert heel cups indo the backs for a better or more comfortable fit.
• Wear open toe shoes instead of a similarly-styled shoe that causes discomfort in your toes. Partially open toe shoes have become more acceptable in many work environments, allowing you to further customize your shoes to your feet.
• Remember that however appealing those high-heel, high-fashion shoes are, your feet need to carry you around for a lifetime. Treat them kindly!

From American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society