Women’s feet, though, are like snowflakes—no two pair are alike, and one woman’s cozy oxford can be another woman’s plantar fascia killer from hell. Still, is there some kind of ideal shoe style out there? “Generally it’s something with a one- to two-inch heel,” Positano says. “A little bit of heel height allows for a little less stress on the front of the foot, the heel, and the knee. And the broader the heel on the shoe, the better the weight distribution on the foot.”
As Positano rattles off a few suggested labels that bring to mind, variously, flight attendants and the Continental Congress, I think, Well, that’s not going to happen. Then I spot a certain shiny black Hermès loafer online, roughly two inches high with a wide heel (below left)—a podiatrist’s dream. Of course, just about the time I’ve broken them in, Victoria Beckham-style heels will no doubt be back in vogue. Until then, I’m taking the low road.
