Women and their love affair with shoes can be dated back to the ancient times.  Women collect shoes, without even realizing they are collectables.  We organize them and show them off in our closets like they are pieces of fine art.

After years of trying every height of heel imaginable, I can now say I'm obsessed with flats!  Flats are, in a word, fabulous.  Who knew feet could feel so good, so happy -- even after walking for hours!
I'm not trying to knock high heels off their pedestal. . but ". . . your feet are not meant to be in high heels . . . . all the time." I do love high heels and wear them on occasions. I just don't love them for more than several hours at a stretch. 

Flat shoes are becoming increasingly popular and millions of women have incorporated them into their everyday wardrobe.  Fashion runways lately have been full of chic flat shoes for women.   Flats are suddenly being promoted for polished occasions.   A flat shoe offers speed, better balance and comfort.  Flats are sleek enough to be dress shoes were paired with tailored suits and even with eveningwear on the spring runways from Marc Jacobs to Giorgio Armani.  They are very comfortable, and easy to wear. You can run, dance and be more active. In addition, you can get less tired from walking. 


Flat shoes – ballet flats, tennis shoes, boots and brogues – are designed primarily for comfort. The wearer of ballet flats can run for the bus or train, has less chance of tripping or stumbling. They are made for ease and function and come in a wide variety of styles to fit even the smartest of occasions. However, whilst flat shoes are now fashionable and functional, they are not without their own set of disadvantages that can lead to health problems.  The main risk of wearing flat shoes is that because they do not provide arch support, the user is at risk of fallen arches, where the entire sole of the foot becomes almost flat. 

High Heels instantly make you feel leaner, meaner, and boost your confidence level more than the prettiest of pretty dresses.  High heels are smart, sexy and for some, utterly irresistible and thereby a fashion staple.  High heels, of course, have a mythology all their own and a sheer glamour that is hard to match. They add height, lengthen the calf and arch the foot flirtatiously. A true power heel has a narrow tapered heel and is cut low on the upper foot, intertwining sex and authority.  No one doubts that high heels make your legs look great,  But who wants to dance for hours in heels? Or stay out all night with a date that goes longer than anticipated? Or run to catch the bus, walk on uneven pavement, or stand on less than solid ground. 

That high heels can be hazardous to health is no longer merely a notion but a fact. One of the most common health complaints is back and leg pain. Over time this could lead to sciatica, a condition causing severe pain and numbness. Other conditions that could be caused by high heels are Achilles tendon, which can cause pain and discomfort in the heels and feet, as well as bunions,hammertoes, and pain in the knees. 
Perhaps the most documented health risk of prolonged high heel wear is osteoarthritis, the painful degenerative condition characterised by the breakdown of cartilage within the joints. As this cartilage acts as a shock absorber, when it is worn away, the bones grind together causing pain, swelling and decreased motion. Let us not forget the simpler risks such as the stumble factor and the inability to run. 

It is clear that not one form of footwear will provide everything the wearer requires. The answer seems to be staring you in the face, which is to wear both heels and flats. Sometimes flats can take away from the statement you are trying to make with the outfit, when you really just need a pair of skyscraper heels to finish it off.  In other circumstances, flats are more practical and a lot more comfortable!   

So the great debate begins, are you a heels kinda gal or are you more comfortable in flats?