How to find your perfect heel height
When finding the right heels, they can make you feel like a supermodel with a mean and provocative walk. If you don't know this feeling, there is a big chance you've always worn heels with the wrong heel height. No worries though! With this handy cheat sheet, you will be able to find the right heel height for you.
YOUR PERFECT HEEL HEIGHT
The first thing that is very important to know is that comfortable heels are relative. That means there are no specially designed heels that will offer comfort for everyone. The solution doesn't automatically lie in innovative insoles, high-end designer heels, or soft materials but has more to do with the shape of your foot.
If you think about it, this is very logical because some people have narrow, wide, flat, high-arched, or bigger feet. That means that some are born strutting in sky-high heels, while others are limited to lower heels.
“Finding the right heel height depends on your Talus, this is the connection bone between the foot and leg”
THE PERFECT HEEL HEIGHT FORMULA, PHH FORMULA
With this simple formula called the Perfect Heel Height of Emma Supple, you will be able to find the right heel height for you.
It all has to do with the flexibility of your Talus bone. The more the Talus moves downwards while stretching your leg straight and relaxing your foot, the more likely you can wear higher heels ranging from 7cm – 12cm (3’’-5’’). If your Talus doesn’t tilt, you are most likely to handle lower heels better, ranging from 3cm – 8.5cm (2’’ - 3.5’’). I don’t recommend wearing heels that are higher than 12cm (5’’), because after wearing them for long periods, they can result in excruciating pain.
Now that we know how to measure the right heel height for your feet accordingly, I think it's important to know that the incline of heels (distance between the heels and soles) is a critical indicator of whether your heels will be comfortable for you. Understanding the incline of a heel can help you find the best shoes when shopping for heels.
THE RIGHT HEELS INCLINE
Check out the above right image. As you can see: the higher the heel, the shorter the incline. These type of heels will shift your body weight into your toes. That will result in agony. Heels that are 10cm (4'') carry an arch of 130 degrees and up.
The left image shows a small difference between these pairs. This little 1cm change can determine if you will be able to strut on them heels for the whole night out.
Also, heels with 160 degrees (<8cm) or lower arch are much more likely to be comfortable.
But this all depends on the first PPH measurements. The next time you go heels shopping, don't forget to bring your ruler with you and measure the heel height and incline.
So when you are looking for the perfect heels make sure you make a well-thought combination of style and form, and, your physical need and self-image.