Festive Footwear: Making sure that your Feet have a Happy Holiday

The holiday season are approaching once again and you can be sure of what that means: many events at which to dress up and celebrate the season in style! However, for too many holiday-celebrators, especially women, this can mean having to wear footwear that's as painful as it is pretty. But while fashion comes at a price, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to look great while your foot health suffers. Wearing an small, crammed pair of shoes can worsen serious foot conditions such as bunions, hammertoe, and Morton’s neuroma. High heels can even cause degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis. But there's good news: you no longer need to sacrifice comfort when it comes to style while deciding on shoes. If you think that you're among the countles ladies who would rather focus on family and friends than on her shoes this holiday season, follow these footwear when planning your winter wardrobe.

Smart Shopping:

In an article, podiatrist Elizabeth Kurtz advises readers to go shopping for shoes later in the day. Our feet can swell throughout the day, so your feet are usually their largest later in the day. Kurtz also recommends shopping at a major department store or extended-service footwear store. She remarks “They tend to have an excellent selection of footwear in various sizes and widths". A bit of internet perusing could make your trip even more profitable.

Treat yourself to some riding boots.

If you’re anticipating a holiday get-together where the dress code is “dressy-casual,” this is the perfect opportunity to sport one of the season's most sophisticated looks: riding boots. Riding boots have little to no heel, meaning they make for excellent comfort wear. These shoes pair effortlessly with anything from a casual jeans/sweater outfit to your fanciest evening attire and pea coat.

Narrow your search, not your toes.

If you have a pair of heels with super-pointy toes, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that they can facilitate the development of hammertoes and bunions. The reason is that shoes with a narrow toe (as well as many with square or oval toes) force the foot into an unorthodox position. Variations with round toes are usually the most comfortable and least harmful to the feet. For a cool take on round-toed shoes, get a pair of Oxfords or ballet flats (both of which can be found with extra arch support).

More Modest Heels.

If you can't go without, opt for ones with less than a three-inch heel. The reason? According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Three inch heels can put 7 times more pressure on the balls of your feet than flats.. With over-wear, your heels can cause you to experience, Achilles tendinitis and even Morton's neuroma. To avoid these conditions, limit your heel wearing to only a few hours on special occasions and be sure to sufficiently massage your feet and calves after you take the shoes off.