The comfortable high heel is the holy grail of fashion. But does it really exist? We ask shoe lovers who – if anyone – makes a pain-free pair
Lorraine Candy, editor-in-chief, Elle
"The easiest and most impressive heels of the moment come from Nicholas Kirkwood. The sculptural look and fierce styling implies they'll be a devil to keep on all day but they are without doubt the most comfortable of all the new designers. I wore his 6in black suede ankle boots from dusk to dawn at last season's fashion shows and it's the first time I haven't changed to flats during the day. I once ran for a number 82 bus in them without mishap, prompting a passerby to shout, 'Ridiculous.'"
Rosamund Pike, actor
"When I'm wearing very high heels, people always ask me rather suspiciously, 'Can you really walk in those?' and when I'm wearing Sergio Rossi the answer is always, blithely, 'Absolutely.' Believe it or not, you can even dance in them."
Kirsty Wark, broadcaster
"Honestly, I find Ferragamo to be the most comfortable. It must be something to do with the quality of the craftsmanship and the materials they use that means I can wear them without resorting to the ever-present flats I have in my handbag."
Nicole Farhi, designer
"I am never comfortable in high heels, unless I hold David's arm (David Hare, Nicole's husband). And therefore it is thanks to David and not the shoemaker. Since I started designing my own shoes, I wear those as I find them the most comfortable. Before that, though, I very much liked Alaïa…"
Elle Macpherson, model and businesswoman
"Christian Louboutin and Charlotte Olympia , because they balance height and comfort with extraordinary attention to detail, without compromising fit."
Brix Smith-Start, co-owner and buyer of Start Boutique, and TV presenter
"It's impossible to answer generically because everybody's foot is different, but with my foot issues (bunions and flattening arches – truly glamorous!) I live in Acne and Maison Martin Margiela. Their lasts are generous and they don't go bonkers for height but they're always a little bit edgy and interesting."
Daisy Lowe, model
"Rupert Sanderson. They give you the best posture and shouldn't be comfy, but actually are."
Jess Cartner-Morley, Guardian fashion editor
"I am going to get thrown off the front row for saying this, but high heels don't have to be expensive to be comfortable. Yes, there are some hideously painful cheap shoes out there – but I've got 4in heels that cost £500 that I can't walk in, and 4in heels that cost £30 that I wear all the time. Marks & Spencer do incredibly comfortable high heels – and they do half sizes, which is rare on the high street and important because heels need to fit. I find the height of heel makes less difference than the style of shoe. Bare, cutaway court shoes that force your toes to clamp on to the sole to hold on are always agony within half an hour; ankle boots or shoes with straps across the front of the foot (not the ankle) are much easier. If you're not confident you can wear a pair of heels all night, always stash a pair of foldable flats in your coat pocket. A 10-minute limp home can have you benched from high heel action for weeks while the blisters heal."
Savannah Miller, designer, Twenty8Twelve
"My most comfortable high-heeled shoes are my Nicholas Kirkwoods… And they are very beautiful, too… An anniversary present from my husband!"
Suzanne Moore, journalist
"As with a lot of things, width matters. Don't be an Ugly Sister squashing your feet Cinderella-style into shoes that are too narrow. My most comfortable heels are vintage Ferragamos. And I love Vivienne Westwood's PVC ones that smell like bubblegum. That's really comforting."
Jane Bruton, editor-in-chief, Grazia
"As a seasoned high heel wearer, I've learned a few rules (the hard, blistery way!) over the years. One: sad but true, a well-engineered shoe comes at a price. Cheap heels hurt. Fact. Two: court shoes may look super chic, but if you want to go the distance, you need a pair that buckles, ties or zips. My current favourites are by Gianvito Rossi. Three: a small platform acts as a shock absorber. I'm loving Donna Karan's (left, bottom) 70s Studio 54 vibe."
Jane Shepherdson, Whistles CEO
"OK, I admit it, I'm a wimp. The highest heel I can comfortably wear all day is about 3in and, boy, is it hard to find a shoe I love with that heel height. Right now I'm wearing a 2in Prada kitten heel which works fine with a cropped trouser, but can look a little prim with a skirt. I have made it my mission to seek out gorgeous, sexy and exciting flat shoes each season, and bingo, this summer they will be everywhere – lovely supple leather flatties with ankle straps, and silver buckles, colour blocking and Perspex insets… Happiness."
Lorraine Kelly, broadcaster
"I have a collection of skyscraper high heels but I wear them only at work. They are like those house cats that never go out: my Louboutins have never seen the light of day or been on a pavement. My comfiest are a pair of Betsey Johnson leopard skin with pink soles. As long as there's a bit of support, I can last for the whole show – but I am sitting down a lot!"
Alexandra Shulman, editor, Vogue
"Unquestionably Manolo Blahnik creates the most comfortable high heels. And they don't make you look like some extra from Star Wars."
Lulu Kennedy, director, Fashion East
"Definitely Nicholas Kirkwood. I've danced all night in them, no exaggeration, and they didn't hurt at all!"
Merope Mills, editor, Weekend magazine
"Chie Mihara started her career in an orthopaedic shoe store, learning about foot anatomy and problems – and you can tell. I'm a less committed heel-wearer since having children but I make the exception for Chie Mihara shoes because I can actually spend the day in them without a second thought. My partner thinks all high heels are ridiculous (torture for beauty) and in my heart of hearts I know he's right. But I truly believe these are at the more forgiving end of the ridiculous scale."
Anita Borzyszkowska, vice-president global PR, Gap
"Of course the honest answer is none of them. But I love the way Pierre Hardy takes classic styles inspired by sportswear or men's shoes and adds a heel, like his high-heeled desert boot or boating shoe. It feels really modern to treat a high heel that way and the lace-up detail gives the foot a lot of support, making them eminently wearable."
Sian Williams, broadcaster
"I wear the same LK Bennett heels day in, day out. Beige, slight platform, goes with everything."
Penny Martin, editor, The Gentlewoman
"I've spent the entire year in a pair of crepe-wedged boots by Pierre Hardy – so unbelievably comfy, yet very lengthening of limb. My head was definitely turned by the cartoon sandals in Louise Gray's spring collection, designed by Nicholas Kirkwood for Pollini; I'm crossing my fingers that those scalloped soles possess secret shock-absorption qualities."
Caren Downie, buying director, asos.com
"It's really all about the construction – if the style has a platform or a wedge, it is infinitely more comfy. But if you want a name, it has to be Margiela."
Linda Grant, author
"I have never owned any comfortable high heels. It depends entirely on the structure of your feet: some women find they can wear them, others don't. I wear heels but comfort doesn't enter into it. I was told Manolos were comfortable. Only if you have Manolo-shaped feet."
Sarah Curran, founder and CEO, my-wardrobe.com
"Miu Miu makes the most comfortable shoes. I wear heels wherever I go and I can always rely on Miu Miu for comfortable killer heels that add an edge to my look."
Alannah Weston, Selfridges' creative director
"My favourite shoes are the quirky cool collections by under-the-radar brands. Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia and Camilla Skovgaard all create shoes with a unique and directional aesthetic I find difficult to resist. For comfort, though, it has to be Rick Owens."
Joan Burstein, owner of Browns boutique
"I'm not the greatest on high heels, sadly. I'm not happy in them any more and prefer having them made for me by Zoraide in Milan, which can be obtained at Browns. I do find I can wear high wedges because they are better for balance!"
Kate Bostock, executive director of clothing, home and beauty, M&S
"On the rare occasions I am not wearing M&S shoes, my favourite designer would have to be Jimmy Choo. He manages to incorporate on-trend designs with a practical heel height. Perfect for a job like mine, where I'm on my feet all day and need to look good."
Alice Rawsthorn, design critic, International Herald Tribune
"Much as I hate to admit it, high heels aren't comfortable, it's just that some are less agonisingly uncomfortable than others. The degree of discomfort depends on whether the shape of the last suits your feet. Mine are skinny with high arches, so Pierre Hardy's shoes tend to fit beautifully. That said, I once splashed out on a stunning but stratospherically expensive pair of Pierre Hardys in Paris – very Aladdin Sane in metallic blue – which feel so perilously like teetering around on scaffolding that I have never dared to wear them – not once."
Fluoro is big news for spring. Here’s Osman Yousefzada with his take on the in-your-face neon trend...
Check out that lip paint!
Miu Miu pants | Zara silk dress | Carvela heels | Gharani Strok faux fur coat
Sunday 31st January, 2011.
On Monday nothing else but wide leg pants and pink lips would do. When style cravings compel, I have no choice but to heed.
Read the rest of the Style Diary segment here.
Photographer Jeff Tse captures model Jessica Elise in this exuberant shoot for Vogue Taiwan. Entitled "Glitterati" the article hones in on hair and makeup - with bouncy curls and MAC cosmetics, the beauty editorial highlights some use of bold jewel tones played against fun hairstyles.
Entire Article: Read it by clicking Jessica Elise is Glitterati.
Related Pictures (4 in total): See them by clicking Jessica Elise by Jeff Tse: Vogue Taiwan or read up on 2011 fashion or 2011 hairstyles if you're not keen on the pictures.
Click for more pictures
Tags: Glitterati,Vogue Taiwan,Jeff Tse,Jessica Elise
