We love them. We hate them.  We won’t ever stop wearing them. 

Heels are the staple of every woman’s wardrobe that she loves to hate.  There are pros and cons to wearing heels: they make your legs and butt look great, but at the same time they hurt your feet, you stumble more often, and you almost always end the night with blisters on top of blisters. 

We all weigh these pros and cons on a daily basis, trying to decide if it’s worth it to where the heels.  In the end, most of us usually cave, suck it up, and go with the “beauty is pain” mantra.  Here are a few tips so you can rock your four inch (and higher) heels whenever you want without worrying about whether or not you’ll survive the day.  

1. Test drive the heels before the big day.
Yes, this sounds obvious, but I still usually forget to do it.  Go out on a simple errand and wear your heels.  Make sure your comfortable in them while walking around the store for awhile to ensure that you’ll be fine when it’s time to wear them for real.

2.  Sign up for yoga.
Taking yoga will make you more aware of your core muscles and will help you balance in your shoes.  Plus, it’s a great workout.

3.  Sit down every 20 minutes or so.
I know it’s tough taking a break when you’re having a good time, but this is a must when wearing high heels.  It will take pressure off your toes for a little while and will ultimately allow you to last longer on the dance floor.  Another great part about sitting down, is it’s often easier to show off your new shoes when your sitting with your legs crossed.  If you’re trying to use your shoes to make a fashion statement, then you need to make sure people notice.

4.  Customize and cushion your shoes.
Walk around your room breaking them in for a couple of hours.  Figure out if you need to buy cushions to protect your feet.  You’re mostly supposed to feel the pressure from your shoes on the balls of your feet.  If your feet are in pain or rub somewhere else, cushion them with Dr. Scholl’s or other similar products.  You might look ridiculous in your pajamas and heels, but it’s not like anyone will see you, right?

5.  Stand straight.
Straighten and extend your leg with every step.  This will make you look graceful and elegant, and avoid stomping around in an uncoordinated matter.

6. Slice the bottom of your shoes.
I know you just spent money on these shoes and don’t want to mark them up, but this is necessary.  Either buy grippy steps, sandpaper the bottoms of your shoes, or scuff them up on the driveway to prevent slipping and sliding on smooth floors.

7. Focus on your core.
Close your eyes and figure out where your weight falls when you’re wearing heels.  Slowly open your eyes and take your first steps while still focusing on your core, allowing your body to adjust and use the muscles necessary to help you balance.

8. Be confident.
Own those shoes.  Don’t think about slipping or else you will.  You look beautiful and you should walk like you know it.

These tips are a great way to prevent stumbling around like an uncoordinated baby elephant (which I have actually been compared to before).  Beauty doesn’t always have to be pain and we should be able to look great while feeling great too.

Do you do anything special to your heels to avoid these problems?

[Via Glamour]