Description

Whether it’s a strappy gladiator sandal or a sky high stiletto, Foot Petals creator and shoe fit expert Tina Aldatz shows us how to make our favorite summer shoes comfortable.

Transcript

How to Make Your Summer Shoes Comfortable Allison: There are so many hot shoes styles that I'm excited to wear this summer. But while I love high heels, strappy wedges and intricate flats, they can be really painful. So, we brought in shoe pedorthist expert Tina Aldatz, to show us how we can feel as good as we look in our favorite summer shoes. So, summer is back and I can't wait to bust out my favorite gladiator flats but the problem is there are so many straps. How do we make them more comfortable? Tina Aldatz: Well, this is definitely a hot shoe. The problem with gladiators is that your feet move all around and all these straps have a tendency to cause a lot of irritation and blisters. First thing you want to do is place a ball of foot cushion here, which is going to keep the foot properly positioned in any type of shoe. And secondly, take little thin strips. You can even cut moleskin or something if you’d like to and place those in the areas that tend to irritate you. Another tip is to buy gladiators a little loose rather than tight because your feet have a tendency to swell in the summer. Allison: I have really high arches and the problem is when I wear these flats, my feet really hurt. Tina Aldatz: A simple solution is to place a little arch support in these areas and that’s going to take up some of the space, so your foot doesn’t have to work so hard. Allison: My favorite shoe, the higher the heel, the better, the peep toe pump but the problem is when I’m dancing with my friends all night long, my toes gets squished. I mean how can I fix that? Tina Aldatz: The first thing we want to do is keep the foot properly positioned by placing a ball of foot cushion that’s going to keep it back. And secondly, what you’re going to do is place a little cushion right inside this area and again, you can customize moleskin or you can use any type of a strip and place it in that area. Allison: The shoe happens to be a slingback. So, what are some solutions so it doesn’t dig in to the back of my foot? Tina Aldatz: One of the things that I look for in a slingback and really a good sign of quality footwear is goring. Anytime you can find this elasticized insertion, that’s a really good thing because it's going to keep the feet customized to your foot. Secondly, you can always place little pieces of moleskin or strips along the areas that bother you to prevent blistering and chafing. Allison: What are some tips you know when I'm shopping for them? Tina Aldatz: The first thing is you want to make sure that your ball of foot hits the widest part of the shoe. Secondly, I always look for hidden platforms. It's a genius way to have a little bit more comfort throughout the night. Allison: And I can get them higher. Clogs were Oliver’s spring and summer runways. Girls like Alexa Chung and Mary-Kate Olsen are huge fans of this trend but the problem is when I wear them, my feet don’t feel very secure. Tina aldatz: The thing about clogs is that they’re backless and they’re really stiff. So, the first thing you want to do is look for something that has either a leather lining or sheepskin. That’s going to give you a little more protection. We’re going to place a three-quarter cushion. That's going to stabilize the foot and cause less motion. You want to place a little cushion at the top here to prevent the shoe from digging in or slipping off your foot. Lastly, when I'm shopping for clogs, I’ll always look for a rubber sole because this wood can be very slippery. Allison: I'm really petite, so I love to be in heels all the time. When I go to the beach, I do wear flip-flops but the problem is sometimes in between my toes, it really starts to hurt. Tina Aldatz: Leather or fabric over a plastic or rubber is going to be a better choice because plastic and rubber makes your feet sweat more, which leads to blisters and friction. Flip-flops have no support, so cushioning is always going to be a smart idea. The ball of the foot cushion is going to prevent the foot from sliding forward which is going to stop that fiction between the toes. Another little tip that prevents blisters from occurring is to place antiperspirant or friction block on the straps. Allison: So the recap, what are the three things I need to know when I'm shopping for shoes? Tina Aldatz: Okay, first, platforms are always going to be more comfortable. Second, a ball-of-foot cushion is going to be a perfect choice for every shoe. Third, leather is better than synthetic because it breaths. Allison: My feet are already grateful. I can't wait to use all these tips. Thanks for joining me for Fab’s How-To.