10 replies to this topic

[wheelchairbarbie]

Okay, so I was shoe shopping today and I nearly had a breakdown in the store I was that incredibly frustrated!

I want to wear high heal shoes so badly, but my feet (I'm sure most of you know) are kind of just flat blocks. I can't get my foot into a shapely high-heel, because my feet have no shape.

So I'm asking you girls/women/chicks/ladies, how do you wear high heels?

Is there a way to help train your foot into wearing heels?

What do I do?

I LOVE heels/pumps but I can't wear them!!!


~Jen

Edited by wheelchairbarbie, 26 September 2008 - 12:35 AM.

[City Girl]

I am right there with you sister!!! My biggest goal since my SCI has been to get back into high heels. I keep telling everyone that I don't care if I never run again, I just want to walk in high heels! Other than a pair of running shoes, which I only ever wore at the gym, I didn't even own a pair of flats prior to my accident. I have boxes and boxes of heeled shoes (close to 10K worth) still waiting for my return. I just open my closet and say, "Hang on girls, I'll be back soon." I have everything from 3 inch platform flip flops to three pairs of stiletto slippers: black, white and pink...with the feathers on the mule... Hence girly-girl, I hear your frustration.

First off, before advice, I want to say that you have THE COOLEST handle on this forum! Further, I've read a few of your posts and you are a VERY interesting person for all of 21 years old, way beyond what I ever was at that age.

Now let's talk shoes! I know you've been in a chair since you were young and that you're C-level. Thus, I'm just assuming that you incurred a SCI as a child and consequently, your feet swell. I also know that you're Canadian...a PEI girl! It is officially fall now, why not start with a sexy boot? You can achieve a VERY hot look with boots!

My feet were absolutely huge when I first had my accident. I am normally a 7 in a mule, a 7.5 in a closed shoe, i.e., sneaker, or an 8 in a pointy slender stiletto. Last year, I couldn't even get my feet into a size 9 UGG. I ended up wearing these giant size 9 slippers...they were kind of like UGG knock-offs. They were cute and the best I could do at the time.

Notwithstanding, my feet are pretty much back to normal now, but still occasionally swell. I am walking with assistive devices at the moment so I have to be practical in my footwear...but what's a fashionista to do?

I can, with some effort, manipulate my feet into mules, stiletto pumps & boots, but even holding on to something, I can't even stand in them, let alone walk in them. So, those shoes/boots remained boxed. I did find a really cute flat sandal which I wore all summer and was content with that...although I longed for heels!!! Now that fall is here, however, I am back to trying to figure out what I should wear on my feet.

Nevertheless, I was just out shopping at the Eaton Centre, downtown Toronto, on Tuesday and there are tons of hot looking fashion boots everywhere. Why not try wearing 'compression socks' - I have a couple of pairs in black which I picked up at Shoppers Drug Mart for about $35.00 each. - and buy yourself a sexy pair of boots? I have three pairs of post-SCI boots now which I will wear this fall/winter/spring. I wear them with stylish pantsuits, skirtsuits, dresses and jeans. They look great and I can even walk in them with my canes (one pair is a flat heel and the two other pairs have chunky heels).

I bought one pair at 'Feet First', another at 'Browns', and the third pair at 'Nine West'. I bought two of them on sale last January and one pair for full price the other day on a spluge...$400.00 but I was indulging. For more reasonable prices you can try eBay.

Get your feet used to a heeled boot and then see about a heeled pump, sling back or stiletto next spring.

Let me know how you make out.

Best,
~ City Girl ~

[apeyjj]

I am completely new to this forum, but have been paralyzed for 17 yrs. I totally understand the whole high heels issue as I, too, am still in a muttle when it comes to shoes. My feet still swell & turn bright red & purple (and let's not forget the "cankles" I get due to the swelling! yuck!!) so for high heels I do as the previous gal and wear boots. I do have some high heel mules and I love them, but they don't go with everything... especially here in Texas where it's hot & humid... neither boots or mules look cute with shorts. So I guess I'm no help but I do soooo understand your frustration!!

Edited by apeyjj, 26 September 2008 - 06:40 AM.

[wheelchairbarbie]

City Girl, on Sep 26 2008, 01:32 AM, said:

I am right there with you sister!!! My biggest goal since my SCI has been to get back into high heels. I keep telling everyone that I don't care if I never run again, I just want to walk in high heels! Other than a pair of running shoes, which I only ever wore at the gym, I didn't even own a pair of flats prior to my accident. I have boxes and boxes of heeled shoes (close to 10K worth) still waiting for my return. I just open my closet and say, "Hang on girls, I'll be back soon." I have everything from 3 inch platform flip flops to three pairs of stiletto slippers: black, white and pink...with the feathers on the mule... Hence girly-girl, I hear your frustration.

First off, before advice, I want to say that you have THE COOLEST handle on this forum! Further, I've read a few of your posts and you are a VERY interesting person for all of 21 years old, way beyond what I ever was at that age.

Now let's talk shoes! I know you've been in a chair since you were young and that you're C-level. Thus, I'm just assuming that you incurred a SCI as a child and consequently, your feet swell. I also know that you're Canadian...a PEI girl! It is officially fall now, why not start with a sexy boot? You can achieve a VERY hot look with boots!

My feet were absolutely huge when I first had my accident. I am normally a 7 in a mule, a 7.5 in a closed shoe, i.e., sneaker, or an 8 in a pointy slender stiletto. Last year, I couldn't even get my feet into a size 9 UGG. I ended up wearing these giant size 9 slippers...they were kind of like UGG knock-offs. They were cute and the best I could do at the time.

Notwithstanding, my feet are pretty much back to normal now, but still occasionally swell. I am walking with assistive devices at the moment so I have to be practical in my footwear...but what's a fashionista to do?

I can, with some effort, manipulate my feet into mules, stiletto pumps & boots, but even holding on to something, I can't even stand in them, let alone walk in them. So, those shoes/boots remained boxed. I did find a really cute flat sandal which I wore all summer and was content with that...although I longed for heels!!! Now that fall is here, however, I am back to trying to figure out what I should wear on my feet.

Nevertheless, I was just out shopping at the Eaton Centre, downtown Toronto, on Tuesday and there are tons of hot looking fashion boots everywhere. Why not try wearing 'compression socks' - I have a couple of pairs in black which I picked up at Shoppers Drug Mart for about $35.00 each. - and buy yourself a sexy pair of boots? I have three pairs of post-SCI boots now which I will wear this fall/winter/spring. I wear them with stylish pantsuits, skirtsuits, dresses and jeans. They look great and I can even walk in them with my canes (one pair is a flat heel and the two other pairs have chunky heels).

I bought one pair at 'Feet First', another at 'Browns', and the third pair at 'Nine West'. I bought two of them on sale last January and one pair for full price the other day on a spluge...$400.00 but I was indulging. For more reasonable prices you can try eBay.

Get your feet used to a heeled boot and then see about a heeled pump, sling back or stiletto next spring.

Let me know how you make out.

Best,
~ City Girl ~

Sorry I didn't reply to this sooner, I didn't have replies sent to my email.

I'm pleased that you think I have an awesome username. I just think of myself as a barbie most days because people get to dress me and fix my hair, do my make-up etc. lol And I'm glad you think I'm interesting. haha I've matured a lot in 11 years, so I guess that's why I'm not like the average 21 y/o.

My feet do swell, and I'm like 5'6"-5'7" so I have big feet to start with anyway. It's not like a size 5 bumping up to a size 6. I'm basically a size 8, and to bump up a size the shoes look SO long on my feet and it looks ridiculous.

I never thought about the compression socks. But now that I am thinking about it, do you think regular tights would give a similar benefit? Because I've been meaning to buy some tights to wear when I go to work (whenever I find a job!).

I did find one nice pair of boots, like the short booties, but my foot rest would either need to be lowered or I have to hook my heal over the back of the rest. What would you suggest?

[dancin' johnny]

ermmm, i was going to read all of this but then it got too shoey.

If I were you Barbie I'd stick to wearing your high heels when you are out of your chair luxuriating in bed.
I'd ocassionally go out in my specially adjusted, lowslung high heel chair with its skategrip footplate and its magnetic heel positioning system and treat myself and everybody else to a night of debauchery.
I'd also ask city girl what size she was?

Good job I'm not you I guess!

[lune14]

Johnny!

[Slowlegs]

From my point of view, high heel shoes are nice on a woman but boots are sexy.

[E-DOG]

Slowlegs, on Nov 22 2008, 09:07 PM, said:

From my point of view, high heel shoes are nice on a woman but boots are sexy.

I thought thoe boots were made for walkin'?
And one of these days those boots are gonna walk all over................

I buy my high heels a few sizes too big, then fill in the gaps with window putty or quick rising bread dough.
Throw on some fishnets and a bright red miniskirt, some falsies and a nice top an' I'm good to go!
The boys go nuts!
But for some reason my butt hurts the next morning.
E-dog

[Beautiful]

New to the forum, so my reply is a tad bit late.

I totally know how you feel though! I've been paralyzed since I was 3, and I am at the age now where I want to wear cute heels or boots, but my feet are always swollen. I used to have a nice pair of boots, but they just didn't look the same on me as they would an able bodied person. I have such strange feet, because they're only like a size 4-5, so they're small, but they're wide, so I end up buying size 6 or 7. I wear special socks, and even orthotic shoes at home, but the swelling never goes down completely *le sigh*. I would love to buy more feminine shoes, but it just isn't possible for me. I do however by a lot of flats, and some of them are dressy and casual, so I don't feel so bad about not wearing heels.

But I totally get where you're coming from WheelchairBarbie (btw, that is an awesome name!)

[annec478]

this is such a depressing topic for me.......i just gave away all my heels about a month ago!!! it made me sad and angry to even look at them. in fact i'm crying right now just thinking about it. (silly, i know) the shoe thing makes me more sad than the fact that clothes don't fit me right anymore.
my feet are so sensitive i can't wear shoes without big fuzzy socks to keep them warm and protected. they hurt so bad when they touch anything and they are constantly freezing, even in the summer. i bought a pair of crocks to try but i still can't wear them without socks. and lets face it, they don't complement many outfits. right now i'm trying to find a shoe that is lined with something but all they have are boots and i can't put my foot in them.
oh well.........

[wheelchairbarbie]

I just wanted to reply to this post to tell you all I was successful at buying boots/shoes.

I got these pairs:





I found that getting them in wide width was the best option!