The ultimate high-heel survival guide

Step One: How to shop for heels
The first step to surviving high heels is selecting the right ones. If you're a high heel newbie, don't opt for five inch stilettos. You have to choose what's comfortable (yes, high heels can be comfortable!). If you feel like you might fall, don't buy the shoes unless you know they're reserved for an evening where you'll be seated most of the time. Or, try a platform instead because they're easier to walk on. Before you swipe your card and bag them, walk around the store with both shoes on. You need to be absolutely positive that the to-die-for Carrie Bradshaw heels don't hurt your feet or squeeze your toes. Another key point: buy the right size. If you don't have at least a half inch between your big toe and the toe of the shoe, try going a half size up. Your footsies will thank you for it. When it comes to the comfort of a well-made shoe, price is not always the most important detail (unless you're trying on a pair of Louboutins or Manolos). Splurge a little more if you can afford to because good shoes are less likely to hurt your feet or cause back pain.

Step Two: How to wear high heels
Now that you've got the right shoe, you have to learn how to wear it properly. Lesson one: never attempt to wear a brand new high-heeled pair of shoes to the office. Eight hours in a tight new shoe isn't always comfy. Wear them around the house first and break them in, then move on to wearing them to a party or out for dinner. When you finally do wear them to the office, bring a pair of flats to wear on your way home. Another comfort tip is to add heel cups or insoles. You can also try comfort pads and place them under the balls of your feet to help absorb shock. Anti-friction products might also be useful because they will prevent your shoes from irritating your skin. High heels are usually slippery underneath, too so try an anti-slip pad. It's a thin sticker with a rough surface and it will keep your shoes from slipping and sliding. There's absolutely nothing elegant about a woman in high heels, sprawled on the floor after an embarrassing wipe out.

Step Three: Care for those footsies
If you want your feet to love your shoes then start by loving your feet. Give yourself a foot massage and try soaking them in warm water regularly. Get rid of hard, dead skin with an exfoliating stone file. Follow with a moisturizing balm or even a foot scrub or mask. Slide on a pair of slippers when you're done to keep your feet protected. After eight hours in five inch heels, they deserve it, don't they?

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