Rishire Writes

When you’re a short girl, I think there’s some sort of unwritten rule that says you have to be able to walk in heels or else people will walk all over you. I’m not saying that people have been walking all over me because I have yet to master the skill; I was just trying to turn a phrase. I think this rule is extremely applicable to us short girls who choose to reside in places like New York City, Chicago, California–really trendy, urban places where even the tall girls are rocking at least one extra inch of shoe. Sure, heels are excruciatingly painful and could lead to foot disfigurement and maybe even back problems, but they give you one hell of a pair of gams! Us girls have to have our priorities.

After months of research and a dozen interviews, I have come across only one way to become comfortable in heels–practice. Practice, practice, practice, and even more practice. People tell me to keep on practicing, to walk in heels for such a long time that they just magically become as comfortable as house slippers. I’m exaggerating, of course, but that’s how it sounds to me. Some day I’m apparently going to wake up and, voilá, heels will feel like flats. That day hasn’t come yet as much as I will it to.

Although heels hurt like hell and I haven’t gotten any better at walking in them, I can’t stop myself from buying more. I keep telling myself that I’ll wear them any time I go out “on the town” or do anything remotely glamorous, but let’s be real, I don’t do anything like that. Ever. I try to compromise with myself, tell myself that I’ll wear a baby heel on days when I don’t have that many classes or I’m just going to be sitting all day at work, but just looking at heels make my feet hurt. What if I trip? What if I sprain my ankle? As much as I love fashion and like myself a good accessory, I’m not down to injure myself for perceived beauty. I won’t stop trying to get used to them though! I see other women click-clacking down the street and think to myself, If they can do it, so can I. Besides, I’ve already bought, like, six pairs.