High Heel Hazards

Hazards of High Heels

“Australian study finds women who wear heels regularly strain joints and muscles.”

Did we really need a study for this?  Of course we know that wearing high heels strains our joints and muscles.  But do women care?  Nope.  Heels are an essential part of our wardrobe…We wear them while Pregnant.  We wear them walking down Michigan Ave.  We wear them dancing.  We wear them for week-long meetings!  The Sky (high) is the limit…but all this clearly comes at a price.  42% of women wear shoes even if they hurt (though I think that number is much higher than 42%).    And the sins of our youth (what we do in our 20′s and 30′s, unfortunately come with a price we end up paying while in our 60′s and 70′s.  According to this study, wearing high heels for extended periods of time causes very bad issues.   Of course as I pen this blog, I am also the “victim” of high heels…as I am now sporting a Hammer Toe, which according to credible, medical sources, is the cause of wearing high heels!  Ugh!!  

High heels cause permanent damage such as:

1.  You continue to walk in high heel position, even when not wearing high heels!

2.  They shorten the  calf muscles

3.  Causes a tight Achilles Tendon (no one wants a tight achilles tendon)

4.  Hammer toes; bunions; corns and other unpleasant foot and toe ailments!

How to Alleviate these Pesky Issues

1.  First and foremost do not wear your high heels walking about the streets.  Wear comfortable shoes (does not have to be gym shoes) and put on our high heels at your destination.  I’ve mentioned them before, and I shall mention them again…Fast Flats (or Footzy Rolls)…foldable ballet slippers that fold into the size of a wallet that I put in my purse, and switch with my high heels.  Don’t leave home without ‘em. You can get Footzy Rolls at http://www.abernook.com.

2.  Stretch.  Stretch.  Stretch your calves and legs daily and often (like we vote in Chicago).  And when you are done stretching, stretch some more.

3.  Switch your shoes often (and I’m speaking numerous times throughout the day).  You can bring 2 pairs of shoes to wear at the office or for a day where you are out and about.  You can also leave an additional pair at your office for a quick switch, so you aren’t always bringing 2 pairs of extra shoes to the office.

How to be Comfortable in your Heels

Buy the right size. Sure, seems obvious, but when’s the last time you got measured when you bought shoes? Podiatrists know that feet can grow larger as we get older (and pregnancy can result in longer or wider feet, too). That’s why it’s crucial to have your feet measured every time you buy shoes. Make sure there’s a thumb’s width between your longest toe and the front of the shoe, to give your toes room to move. For heels, this means you may need to go up a size to get a comfortable fit. (Not sure it’s imperative to have your feet measured everytime you buy shoes, as I’d be having them measured monthly, or truthfully, weekly…but at least twice/year).
Stick to round toes. Lucky for us, round-toed shoes are back in style this season! Where pointy toes can wrench your big toe inward, causing joint pain, crunched toes, and even the beginnings of bunions, round toes allow your toes to lie flat and spread out naturally. That makes for much more comfort. And if you can’t swear off your pointy toes completely? Have some round-toed shoes to alternate with the pointy ones.
Don’t go too high. Podiatrists agree that a heel of one to two inches is a good choice for comfort and foot health. And with kitten heels still such a popular look, that’s great news. Avoid three or four-inch heels, which put undue pressure on the ball and bones in the front of your foot.  If you must wear the sky-high heels, try to wear them for only a few hours at a time, switching them out with a more sensible heel.
Tailor your width. Sometimes the toe isn’t the problem — it’s the width. Many fashion shoes come in a standard medium width. But if you have wide feet, medium-width shoes will feel uncomfortable. When you find a pair of shoes you love, see if they come in a wide width; if not, a shoemaker can usually stretch the shoes to widen the toe box, enhancing the comfort of the shoe.
Cushion up. When you have the shoe size and style right, it’s time to think about cushioning. Many fashion shoes come with less-than-adequate cushioning on the area you need it most: right under the ball of your foot. Especially when you’re wearing heels, which shifts your weight fully onto the ball of your foot, ample cushioning will help your feet stay comfy. If your shoes don’t have enough, consider adding some with a shoe insert. A brand called Foot Petals makes Tip Toes ($6.95), a flower-shaped insert that provides great cushioning.

Alternate. Wearing heels for many days in a row can make your feet feel ravaged. To maintain some comfort, switch between heels and a flatter pair of shoes. Although heels elongate your legs when you’re wearing a skirt, they are less important when you are wearing trousers, so give feet a rest on those days

(Source:  Ladies Home Journal)

Obviously no one expects that women will stop dressing up in heels altogether, but if you limit the amount of wear time and the heel’s height you’re, um, taking a step in the right direction. Doctors also recommend: Massaging your feet and rolling them over a golf ball or ice when you take off your shoes at night and gripping a towel and holding your foot up for 15 seconds, three times a day, can also help strengthen the intrinsic muscles of the feet.

I think it’s also important to point out, most shoe designers are Men.  Figures.    The men design these shoes for women, and (for the “most part”), men do not wear these high heels (keep your snarky opinions to yourself).  They have No idea what we endure.  And one more thought to ponder, our obsession with high heels is making foot specialists Rich!

And talk about timely, Business Week published an article this week on the “Best office shoes for women“.  I’ve included a link to the article at the end of this blog…but the author also has some great tips, that I didn’t cover:

Five footwear tips from Katy Bowman:
1. Avoid a pointy, super-narrow toe-box. The less space for toes, the greater chances of developing bunions and neuromas—and the more pressure is placed on toes when you’re upright. (I actually covered this, but wanted to list her complete tips).
2. Opened-back, slide-on footwear requires toe gripping that can lead to hammer toes and foot tension. Find a style with straps that keep the shoe attached to your body so your toes do not have to work.
3. If your ankles wobble with each step, you need either more hip strength or a better-shaped heel. In any event, wobbling around while walking tends to conjure up images of playing dress-up in mom’s closet. (Again, my ankles may be thick, but sadly, they are weak).
4. Dropping an inch off your most frequented heel height is a great way to improve the state of the feet, knees, and back. It depends on your height, but a heel that’s less than two inches high is good. The ideal height is no heel. Placing your feet at any angle does some damage.
5. Invest in a pair of Italian, handmade flats. Find a pair of beautiful boots, embellished ballet flats, or a simple, yet classic, nude staple.

Most comfortable high heel shoe Brands

Taryn Rose

Cole Haan Air – Nike Air technology

Easy Spirit

Dana Davis

High Heel Shoes are a fashion accessory, like a pair of earrings  – NOT to be meant to walk in the street - Dr. Nancy Snyderman

And remember the higher the heel, the higher you are to God (or heaven).   And She with the most shoes wins!  Of course I will not be winning this summer, while I have foot surgery to repair my hammer toes…so I can go back to wearing high heels come fall, 2012!

Upcoming Blogs…MANic Monday:  Dressing for the Big and Tall Man…Mike, this blog’s for you!

Organizing Your Closet…E., this blog’s for you!

Shopping Your Closet…Terry, this blog’s for you!

xoxo,

T.

Related articles

• Bad Impact of Using High Heels (quazen.com)
• The Best Office Shoes for Women (businessweek.com)

The Duchess Effect

“The Duchess effect” is the top fashion buzzword, referring to the way the Kate Middleton can sell out an item in hours just by wearing it in public.  The terms also refers to the way Kate’s fashion choices have led to more accessible pieces and a style that is more colorful and feminine than in the past.

The Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton)  has become renowned for her powerful effect on the economy as most items of clothing she wears become an instant sell-out.  If she is seen wearing a dress, blouse, sweater, or sporting a handbag, that item immediately sells out in the stores.  I have never been one to run and buy a particular item of clothing when a celebrity (or someone famous), wears something, but I do like to follow those trends and happen to Love the looks I’ve seen worn by Kate.  That being said…I’m none too fond of the fact they say that Kate Middleton has single-handedly brought back Panty Hose (future blog, btw)  Although my BFF  Lora sure is happy about that (the panty hose part, not the blog…she thinks I have a ghost-writer.  I do not, sadly, this is just me), as she is thrilled panty hose are back in style!  I personally like to go sans hose, but will wear tights.  Not sure if it’s a requirement of the Duchess of Cambridge to wear hose, but I will reveal the hows and why’s in the blog, “Panty Hose…are they making a comeback”?  Which, no doubt, will be another blog my brother Mark, will find “boring”.

Back to Kate:) ….  She’s following in the near-perfect stylish steps of Princess Diana, but with a more modern flair…and it appears to be with No effort, whatsoever.  Some of the best style icons seem to effortlessly wear their clothes, so it doesn’t appear that the clothes are wearing them.  The clothes just accentuate her look and  personal style.

Kate Middleton is not the first style icon to impart her midas touch to the collections of successful British retailers. Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O, Coco Chanel and Grace Kelly still act as muses for the most successful of fashion collections. But for the first time, with the advances in social media and speed of communication ‘the duchess effect’ can be seen in our own wardrobes faster than ever before. (PRweb.com).

Here are some of my favorite Kate Middleton looks:

Truly, how can you not love this young woman and her sense of style?!  I’ve yet to see her make a misstep!

Happy Anniversary William and Kate!!

On more than 1 occasion this week (and basically every other week, thruth be told) I was and am referred to as a “princess”…and I don’t take offense to that.  Those who know me, understand I’m not really a princess, but I do like cute things, and if Tiara’s were, indeed in style, I’d have many.    However, I’d like the record to accurately reflect what transpired yesterday:  2 Commercial Water Heaters, each holding 115G and 85G , respectively, leaked (well, poured) into the mechanical room.  While wearing rain boots (zebra print) I wet-vac-ed the entire room of 150+ Gallons of nasty, mucky liquid, with the help and camaraderie of my dear, dear friend Susan…and emptied the wet vac more times than I care to recall while Susan swept water in my dirction, and shut off all the pertinent valves (there were 5, btw) and did the “heavy lifting”, as I don’t care to lift heavy things (even when they’re my soaked belongings).    Thank goodness for Fabulous friends, who don’t judge you and your inability to properly access a flood (or lift heavy things) and the “chutzpah” to get things done when required, even when they’re not part of my wheelhouse!  As Susan said, we’re “sturdy girls”, and we can do this.  And do it we did…though I’m still wondering if being “sturdy” is a good thing, but it was yesterday.  And at 1157PM on the night of the flood, I had a dry mechanical room.  No hot water, but a dry mechanical room.  And a friend for life in Susan.  I’m glad she doesn’t live by the mantra, “A friend in need, is no friend”.

Love ya S!

xoxo,

T.

Related posts:  http://dressedtoat.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/and-a-girl-became-a-princess/

Accessories…a girl’s best friend!

I found these tips from Atlantic-Pacific…which has quickly become one of my very favorite blogs!  I love her style and the unabashed risks she takes in combining items one would Never think would go together… but, alas, they do!

Her Top Five Rules for Accessorizing:

1. Accessories don’t always have to complete or compliment the outfit, they can often be the outfit.  Think Black slacks, White blouse, and Great piece of Jewelry!  Or white jacket, black leggings, and Pop the outfit with a colorful handbag.

2. Play with proportions;  mix a statement necklace with multiple delicate necklaces or one large, chunky bangles with a handful of thin ones to create depth.

3. To build a collection that is well-rounded, accumulate pieces, don’t simply buy out of need. Also remember that accessories can be more versatile than you think; your favorite brooch may become your favorite necklace or your staple necklace could become your new accent bracelet.

4. Invest in the classics. Even if you are an of-the-moment trend dresser, invest in a few key accessories that can be the base to many looks in your closet.

5.   Have fun and create your own fabulous style!

And speaking of accessories…and necklaces…This is a handy little chart to give you an idea as to where necklaces actually lay on your chest:

And here are some “can’t-miss” accessories, sure to Pop any outfit!

I think I could Kill for this Prada number

And how about the handbag with this fabulous gown?  Too much to wear to Target or a Bears game?

I’m sure there will be a ball or other festive and fabulous event in which I can wear the 2 above items…and of course will adjust the length accordingly.

Remember the Fashion Formula:

Be Happy!  And a very Happy, Happy Birthday to my dear sister-in-law, Beth!!

xoxo,

T.

Next Week:  The Duchess Effect…all about Kate Middleton, just in time for Kate and Williams one-year anniversary!

Next MANic Monday…Dressing for the “not slender” male.  Any suggestions for a better title are welcome, btw.

Up with Peeps!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!  The long-awaited for and anticipated blog…Up with Peeps!!

Some people have, in my opinion, an unhealthy obsession with Peeps…Peeps are marshmallow candies, sold in the United States and Canada, that are shaped into chicks, bunnies, and other animals (such as ducks). There are also different shapes used for various holidays. Peeps are used primarily to fill Easter baskets, though recent ad campaigns tout the candy as “Peeps – Always in Season”, as Peeps has since expanded to include Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. They are made from marshmallow, corn syrup, gelatin, and carnauba wax. (Wikipedia).

I have to admit, I have NEVER eaten a Peep.  Never.  The thought of that much sugar coming anywhere near my teeth, gives me the Heeby Jeeby’s.  However, with Easter upon us…Peeps are Everywhere.  And they’re not just for Easter baskets anymore.  Instead of a long-winded blog, I thought I’d let a few pics tell the story.

The Ultimate Peep Show

Exhausting…I know.  And to think people  spend countless hours making these…and notice how many, many of these ideas are Non-Edible.  What does that tell you?  Peeps…Pleasing to the eye, with their lovely yellow, blue and pink colors…but it’s Not necessarily a taste that the masses would like crossing their lips. But they sure are lovely to look at.  The Easter Bunny has provided Meredith and Patrick with Peeps every year for Easter, and I can tell you that NEVER have they been eaten.  But, I can also predict Peeps are here to stay, and Meredith and Patrick will also be the lucky recipients of More Peeps in their Easter Baskets!

And, in case you cannot make it to Geja’s in Chicago (one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Chicago, which is a Fondue restaurant where Kevin and I celebrated many anniversaries), you can do this at home:

Peeps Trivia…How long is the standard shelf life for Peeps?  2 years!  And each Peep is only 32 calories!  Wow.

Honestly…these are killing me.  Peeps…the other white meat!

As I received in the cutest Easter card this week:  Cheers to good friends, good times and cute outfits!  (Thanks Colleen)!

A happy belated birthday to my very best friend of 25-years, Lora Stanley, who celebrated her birthday yesterday…which reminds me of a very snappy retort of hers.  A few years back I asked her, “I wonder what I should get the kids for Easter”…and as only she can get away with, she responded… “How about a little disappointment”?   I love her…and I do believe she was just kidding.  :)

Here’s hoping you don’t have a disappointing Easter…Hoppy Easter!!

xoxo,

T.

Check out last year’s blog, Dressing your Easter basket, for ways to fill the baskets:

http://dressedtoat.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/the-easter-baskets-were-filled-and-how/

The Truth about Sport Coats (not that we were ever lying)

“Sport coats are where the well dressed man really distinguishes himself from the pedestrian  dresser”. 

It’s MANic Monday!  And today, it’s All about Sportcoats…and later this week it will be All about Peeps!

Every man can wear a sport coat, but many are unsure what to wear it with.  Can they pair it with slacks, jeans, golf shirt, turtleneck?  What kind of print works?  Tweed, Paisley, Hounds tooth?  Must they wear a tie with it?  Like most fashion “rules”…there are no rules.  Wear what you like, and what you feel looks good…Of course, Using guidelines is always a smart move, if you have No idea what you like or what looks good on you.

• Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.  Gore Vidal

Some Basic Rules…aka Guidelines, for wearing Sport Coats

* Using the blue blazer as the “corner piece”, the wardrobe should contain as many soft earth tones, tans and blues as possible.

* Classic colors like navy blue or black add a more formal appearance to your outfit.

* Colors like tan and white make your outfit more casual.

* Sport coats can be paired with almost any type of pants. Wool trousers, denim jeans, and khakis are just some of the possibilities that can be expertly paired with a sport coat.

* When matching trousers, black should be reserved for only gray sport coats.  After that, use your darker trousers such as browns, grays and navy for your professional wear and the lighter colors such as tan and pearl gray for your more social occasions.

* Pair a light-colored sports coat with dark trousers, such as a patterned tan sports jacket with denim jeans, or a light brown camel coat with dark brown or navy slacks.

The same basic guidelines for shirts and ties with a suit apply to the sports coat, but you can get a little bolder in your selection.

Here are a few Cliff Notes:

*  Keep Patterns small and muted.  This is a safe rule.

*  Bold patterns only after 6 P.M. – I warn against loud, Hawaiian prints.  Ever.

* Sport coats have 2 or 3 buttons.   Only button the Top button when there are 2 buttons, and button the Top 2 buttons on a 3-buttoned sport coat.  When you button all the buttons, it tends to look too constricting.   And please buy a size which can be buttoned.

Stock your closet with a selection of sports coats that are appropriate for different occasions. Choose a patterned jacket and a solid color and then pair them with different types of pants, such as cotton twill, polyester, wool, denim or corduroy to dress the jackets up or down.   Match darker jackets and lighter pants, such as a velvet navy coat with light gray pants or a dark brown sports coat with light khaki pants.  Not sure I know many men, however, who can pull off the Velvet navy coat!

The Navy Blazer

*  Navy Blazer – The true cornerstone.  Comes with brown or metal buttons…When angling towards the shiny, bright, brass buttons…Think Thurston Howell, III…may Not be the look you are hoping for.  But, if you like brass buttons on your Navy blazer or sport coat and not brown or tan buttons, go for it.

This, is, Perfection

• Subtle – again, not loud.  Not too bold.   Fabulously subtle.

SPRING AND SUMMER

Light weight wools and silk and wool blend work nicely.  Also include your cotton and linen blends for a sophisticated look on a warm summer day.  When selecting shirts and ties, always complement the Main color in the coat

.

FALL AND WINTER

Wool and cashmere are great Fall fabrics.  Herringbone and Hounds tooth patterns work well in fall weights and should be treated as solids.

 

The right shirt (J. Hilburn, of course), accessories and footwear can pull your sports coat and trousers together. Take the time to experiment with colors and styles of ties, shirts, belts and shoes to find a look you find pleasing. (ehow.com)

Men’s fashion “rules” and guidelines are sooooo easy…Men can Always look fantastic!!

And speaking of rules…I found this little nugget, and just had to share, as it’s humorous (and I like humor) well-written ( as I sometimes believe I can pull off), and quite tongue in cheek…And since I’m not all about Rules of Dress, but have specific ideas of what I like, I enjoy what this gentleman, make that young gentleman finds appropriate.  (Courtesy of  www.thefineyounggentleman.com)

Rules of Men’s Dress

All style is relative. Some people will disagree with what this blog dictates is good style, and this blog would most likely disagree with them on what they think is good style. As you can imagine, this results in a situation in which there is no single list of men’s dress rules that are comprehensive and absolute. The following are a set of rules that The Fine Young Gentleman stands by. There are some rules that are immutable, such as the one that a man should match the metal of the bit on his loafer with the buckle on his belt with the metal on his suspenders with the buttons on his blazer with the metal of his cufflinks. Then there are some rules that have exceptions, such as the rule that a man’s socks should match the color of his pants. The Fine Young Gentleman’s rules are derived from a variety of sources including tradition, classic rules of men’s dress, common sense and personal taste.

1. Thou shall match the metal of the bit on his loafers, belt buckle, suspenders, blazer buttons and cufflinks.

2. Thou need not match the metal on his watch with the other metals he is wearing, however, it is preferable.

3. Thou can wear black shoes with a navy suit/pants.

4. Thou shall only wear black, brown or oxblood (burgundy) leather shoes for business dress. The only exceptions allowed are white bucks. Blue, green or any other colored shoes are inappropriate.

5. White bucks are badass…just like the Honey Badger.

6. Thou shall match the color of his socks with the color of his pants. As an exception, socks can be matched to something worn above the waist such as a man’s shirt, tie, pocket square or suspenders (braces in the UK).

7. Thou shall match the color of his belt to that of his shoes. This holds true in all situations except when wearing white bucks.

8. Thou need not match the leather on his watchband with that of his shoes and belt, however, it is preferable.

9. Thou shall wear a belt when wearing pants with belt loops.

10. Thou shall never, ever, ever use their belt to hold accessories like beepers, phones, Blackberrys, ID tags and/or keys.

11. If pants do not have belt loops they should have side tabs and/or buttons for use with suspenders (braces).

12. Thou shall never wear a tie and pocket square of the same pattern. The sports commentators who do so look like fools.

13. Thou shall not wear a French cuff (double cuff) shirt without a jacket.

14. Thou shall always doubt salespeople and in-store tailors opinions on fashion, style and fit. The stores they work for pay them, not you. Their motives are to sell products to who will buy them, not necessarily to who will look best in them.

15. Thou shall not wear slip on shoes with a suit. In fact, they should be avoided.

16. Thou can wear loafers with a suit, however, this is mostly practiced in America.

17. Loafers are badass, especially those with bits or tassels.

18. Thou shall not wear flat toe/square toe shoes. They should be avoided like the plague. They are cancerous to a man’s wardrobe. They are aesthetically offensive. Their sole purpose lies in showing men what not to wear. Money spent on these would have been better spent on Enron stock circa June 2000.

19. Thou shall only wear patent leather shoes for black tie (semi-formal) and white-tie (formal) occasions. Patent leather is never acceptable to be worn in a dress or causal setting.

20. Thou shall never wear a long necktie for a semi-formal (black tie) affair, even if that tie is solid black.

21. Thou can wear brown suede shoes for business dress. They are elegant and gentlemanly.

22. Brown suede shoes are badass.

23. Thou shall not wear Chesterfield coats, which are typically signified by a velvet collar, with anything of less formality than a suit. They should not be worn with business casual attire.

24. Thou shall not wear a tie without a jacket. If done so, he will run the risk of looking like a waiter at TGI Fridays.

25. Thou shall not wear suspenders (braces) without a jacket. Sorry hipsters.

26. Thou shall only wear suspenders (braces) that utilize buttons, not clips. Again, sorry hipsters.

27. Thou shall not wear a crew neck undershirt when the top button of a shirt is left unbuttoned. When leaving the top button unbuttoned thou shall wear a v-neck undershirt as The Dude does. The Dude abides.

28. Thou can wear brown suits for business dress.

29. Thou shall only wear shirts with white collars and white cuffs with a jacket. These shirts should not be part of a business casual wardrobe.

30. Thou shall leave the bottom button of vest (waistcoat) unbuttoned. Except when wearing a double-breasted or flat-bottomed vest, in which case the bottom button should remain buttoned.

31. Thou should iron the collar of a shirt before wearing it. Creased collars caused by dry cleaning and hanging do not follow the natural circularity of one’s neck.

32. Thou shall utilize a pocket square when wearing a jacket.

33. Pocket squares are underrated, underutilized and most importantly they are badass.

34. Thou shall not wear a back pack/book bag when in business dress, especially when in a suit. Book bags are reserved for casual wear and students.

35. Thou shall not wear a shirt with any type of logo on it in a business setting, including when in business casual dress. These shirts should be reserved for casual wear.

36. Thou shall wear a tie bar at a slant, not horizontal.

37. Off color shirts with a white-collar should have French (double) cuffs, regardless of whether of not the cuffs are white or the same color or pattern as the shirt.

38. Life is more fun in a tuxedo (dinner jacket).

39. Thou shall never button all three buttons of a three button jacket. Sometimes the top, always the middle and never ever ever the bottom.

40. Thou shall wear over the calf socks as opposed to crew socks whenever possible. For they are far superior in both form and function.

41. Thou shall not wear a solid black suit for business or professional activities. Save it for formal events and funerals.

42. Style is a state of mind.

And yes, I believe he used the term “badass” three times.  I find this hilarious…but many of the rules/guidelines are right on.

xoxo,

T.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.  Thomas Jefferson