Move over diamonds - flat shoes are a girl's real best friend

Forget about heels, flat shoes are having a moment, so Michelle Murphy is finding it easier to cope with heels not being for her

When it comes to fancy footwear, what images spring to mind? Carrie Bradshaw looking effortlessly chic, hot-footing it around New York in her Manolo Blahniks or Jimmy Choos? Or for those of another generation maybe it’s Imelda Marcos?

Now, picture (just for a minute, mind, because God knows it isn’t a pretty image) bunions, corns, blisters, dodgy-looking toe nails. Who does it remind you of? Older people? People who can’t afford to buy proper footwear? People who can’t be bothered to paint their toenails let alone look after their tootsies?

So, what would you say if I was to tell you that the aforementioned foot complaints are nowadays all too often the domain of the 30 and 40-something fashion-conscious female?

According to podiatrist, Nikki Hanan, these types of foot problems are all too common amongst younger women.

“With the popularity of stiletto heels,” says Hanan, “problems traditionally associated with older people are now presenting in women of all ages.

“Women who wear high heels are prone to ingrown toenails due to the pressure exerted on the forefoot because the foot is essentially thrown forward when wearing heels.”

Another common problem are corns, again caused by constant pressure/friction on the forefoot, not to mention bunions which, according to Hanan, can be either hereditary — as in my own case (thanks mam!) — or acquired by wearing heels as you are “literally standing on your tip toes” when wearing these type of shoes, never more so then when one is wearing designs featuring pointed ends.

So, what then can be done to address these problems, short of having your baby toe surgically removed which Hanan tells me is the latest craze for wearers of high heels in the States (to make more room for your toes when wearing ill-fitting footwear)? As I suspected, Hanan says the most effective treatment is to try to refrain from wearing heels on a daily basis and to wear flat shoes for at least a few days each week.

In addition to this, opt for shoes with a wide fit to ensure that one’s toes are not squashed against each other. I ask about the effectiveness of products such as “Party Feet” gel pads which are quite popular amongst high heel aficionados.

Hanan tells me that, yes, these products can be useful as they can act as a substitute for the fatty padding on the ball of the foot which is often diminished due to wearing heels, adding that anything that takes the pressure off the ball of the foot is a good thing.

As someone who has suffered from fallen arches - aka ‘flat feet’ - all my life, I know all too well the difficulties in trying to find a balance between fashion and comfort.

Being a child of the 80s I can testify that 20 years ago the choices were few and far between (I always thought Start Rite was an ironic name for a shoe range that, given what was then a rather ‘practical’ design, almost scarred me for life.....).

Throw in bunions for good measure and it’s no wonder that I could never really make friends with heels.

Don’t get me wrong, I do own a few pairs and wear them from time to time but usually only under duress, when the protestations from various friends and family of “you’ll have to wear heels with it – you’ll ruin the look of the dress otherwise!” become too loud to ignore.

With this in mind, I was surprised to learn that the arena of feet-friendly fashion footwear is coming into its own. Shane Geary is the Irish agent for German-manufactured Ara Shoes in Ireland which are appealing to younger women with ballerina pumps in strong pinks, oranges and turquoise with a quirky silver toe and heel.

“We strongly believe that well made, good quality, fashion footwear is vital to ensure a shoe that is comfortable and will last over a few years,” says Geary. You wouldn’t guess that his shoes, which are available in wider fittings, are comfort shoes.

These fashion strides, also being taken by much loved high street names such as Ecco, Gabor and more recently Foot Solutions, mean that women no longer need to eschew fashion to overcome problem feet.

So, how best to incorporate flat shoes into your wardrobe given that many of us wear either office attire or at the very least ‘smart casual’ clothes on a daily basis? Dee Kelly-Morgan is style adviser at Cork’s Mahon Point Shopping Centre:

“I tend to work a lot with busy working mums or women returning to the workplace having been on maternity leave,” explains Kelly-Morgan. “Obviously, skinny jeans work really well with a flat shoe which is fine if you happen to be blessed with lovely long legs!

“However, if you are not, Debenhams do a great range known as Sole Survivor whilst Next also do really on-trend styles in wide fittings. Clarkes also offer style whilst providing good support for the foot – in recent years, quality shoe manufacturers have really upped their game in the fashion stakes.”

“There is some really beautiful detail in comfortable shoes these days with lots of lovely metallics and florals available this season.”

So, there you have it – you don’t have to worry about looking ‘down at heel’ so to speak just because you choose to wear flat shoes. Not only can you look as stylish as your high heel counterparts but your feet will thank you too!

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