According to podiatrist Emma Supple, anyone can work out their Perfect Heel Height in just a few minutes. All you need is a chair, tape measure, pencil and a willing friend.
HOW TO MEASURE UP
1: 👠Take off your shoes, sit down and hold one leg straight out in front of you, relaxing your foot,’ says Emma.
If your foot sits naturally at a right angle to your outstretched leg and does not dangle, then you have less mobility in the talus and will be more comfortable in flat shoes than in high heels.
If the top of your foot falls forwards, in the straightest line possible following your leg, you are a natural heel wearer.
2: 👠To find your optimum heel height, get a friend or partner to help stretch the tape measure from your heel in a straight line parallel to the floor, then place a pencil at the ball of your foot at right angles to the tape.
3. 👠Reading the tape measure where it hits the pencil will give you your ideal heel height.
If your anatomy dictates that you’re best off in higher heels, then pop on a pair of stiff flat shoes and chances are you will trash them rather quickly. Your foot moves more as you walk, which means you’ll be working the shoes twice as hard.
There is a maximum height for heels, though. Emma says she wouldn’t recommend more than three inches for day-to-day wear, even if your measurement suggests that four or five is perfect.
What’s your perfect heel height?