The Vampire's Lair
How to Make Your Feet Look Smaller
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Over the years, a number of you have asked me about shoes, everything
from converting from male to female shoe sizes to finding funky shoes in
large sizes. While I do not own a pair of big feet myself, I do know how
to make my size 9 women's feet look smaller than they actually are.
Feet are an important part of your overall packaged appearance and a
pair of shoes can be considered both a necessity and an accessory in your
package. If your feet are big but the rest of you isn't, you have to figure
out a way to make everything about you look more "balanced." The
following advice will show you how to downplay your feet size. If you don't
have large feet, you can still benefit from my advice. After all, information
isn't worthless if you know how to use it.
Say YES to Black Shoes!
The color black is understated yet elegant. Simple yet sophisticated.
Classy, modern, tres urban chic, and wickedly sexy. Better yet, black really
does go with everything. Black shoes look good with even the most outlandishly
colored outfit. Black shoes, and black clothing for that matter, can make
your feet and other body parts appear smaller. Women have been wearing black
to hide their actual or self-perceived weight problems for years. Take heed
on this little tidbit of knowledge and go black the next time you decide
to buy a pair of shoes. |
Say NO to Pointy Toes!
Although shoes with pointy toes may look tres chic, they will also make
your feet look, literally, a foot longer than they actually are! The pointed
end of a pointy-toe shoe isn't designed for the toes to slide into. In fact,
in a pointy-toe shoe, your toes are likely to stop short of the tip of the
shoe by an inch or more. Stick with shoes with round or square toes to minimize
the size of your feet.
Say YES to High Heels!
The general rule is the higher the heel, the shorter the length of the
shoe, from its tip to its heel. That means flats are out for you big-footers.
But don't go out and buy yourself those five or six-inch high stilettos
just yet. You have to learn how to walk in them first! Try not to walk in
your shoes as if you have something hanging between your legs.
Say NO to Big, Bulky Boots!
Most boots are bulky because of the extra material used and the extra
support they provide around the foot and leg. This is especially true of
cowboy and platform boots. Some people who have trouble walking in opera
pumps have little or no trouble walking in boots or boot shoes. Big, bulky
boots are great because they're comfortable, sturdy, and durable, however,
such boots can make your feet look really big.
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Say YES to Stretch Elastic Boots!
Stretch elastic boots are opera pumps encased in a stretch elastic material
that can rise to anywhere from ankle length to as high as thigh length.
The stretch material can make your legs look more toned. However, like shoes,
avoid such boots if they have pointy toes or look bulky. Sometimes a
high-heeled
boot may be accompanied by a slight platform underneath the ball of the
foot. This adds bulk to the shoe and will actually make your feet look bigger.
Chunky, wide-heeled boots are notorious for this. Thin heels are best, but
it's difficult to find a stretch boot with a thin heel.
Say NO to Skinny Heels!
Chunky, wide-heeled shoes look bulky and can make your feet look big.
Stiletto heels can also make your feet look big if the heels are too thin,
because a thin heel makes a shoe look a lot longer than it actually is.
Choose a heel that tapers from the base of the heel to the heel tip. An
excellent shoe looks balanced: the shoe is attractive, the heel is not too
high and not too thin, the shoe has a lot of support for the toes, arch,
and heel, the shoe is made of a high-quality material, such as fine leather
or suede, and the shoe is light and easy to walk in. Some of the shoes you
see models wearing in magazines should never be worn by anyone in the real
world. |
Say YES to Building Up Your Legs!
Skinny legs can make a person's feet look bigger than they actually are.
If you have skinny legs, commit yourself to a leg workout three times per
week to add inches to your thighs. I have seen many women work themselves
to preposterously thin proportions. This is not attractive! If you have
trouble building up your legs, try wearing hip and thigh padding, especially
beneath jeans or slacks.
Say NO to Baubles and Big Buckles!
Aside from being a fashion faux pas, shoes with big "things"
on them that draw an onlooker's attention to your feet can be a problem.
If you have big feet, you may wish to stay away from styles that sparkle,
glitter, or have some other high "gawk factor."
Say YES to Strappy Sandals!
Their lack of material makes them excellent candidates for showing off
more of your feet, especially your heels and arches. If the sandals have
high heels, you can sometimes get away with wearing one-half size smaller
than you normally wear. You have to watch out, though, because you will
look really silly if the heels of your feet extend too far beyond the heels
of your shoes. Choose a sandal that has more than one strap for better support
and don't forget to practice walking much moreso than when wearing opera
pumps or other more supportive shoes. One clear disadvantage to strappy
sandals is it probably won't be possible to wear cushioned insoles in them
unless you figure out a way of cleverly trimming the insoles to hide them
better.
Say NO to Bad Posture!
Correcting bad posture is important for your appearance, attitude, and
confidence. To project yourself in a positive light, you have to stand tall
with your shoulders back and your head up high. Don't overdo it, though,
because you don't want to look robotic or military-like when walking. How
does this relate to making your feet look smaller? Remember that there are
certain things that can draw an onlooker's attention to your feet. If you
have a hunched-over appearance, your eyes will probably be looking at the
floor much of the time. An onlooker who doesn't make eye contact with you
will look in the direction that you're looking towards the ground. This
gives the onlooker another excuse to look at your feet.
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And Most Importantly Try Before You Buy!
Most of the shoes you will see in store displays or in catalogs are size
7, 7-1/2, or 8 women's. A shoe that looks great as a 7 to an 8 may not look
so hot outside that small range. This is especially true of larger shoes,
perhaps due to the poor approximation of heel lengths by the manufacturer.
I have seen wildly sexy opera pumps in a size 7 look atrocious in my size
9 and downright icky in size 12. Why? Comparing a size 8 and a size 9 of
the same shoe, I noticed that the heel lengths were identical! I then compared
a size 6 with a 7. Same heel length. A 10 with an 11. Same again. Half sizes
were the same as the nearest whole size down.
You would think that the manufacturer would have gotten all of the even
numbered sizes right and shortchanged the odd numbered sizes. Nope. The
heel length and the overall build of a larger sized shoe should be
proportionately
longer and larger than the "ideal" size 7 to maintain the size
7's proportions, however, the proportions are not always correct, because
I have seen some manufacturers' heel lengths that were the same for sizes
8, 9, and 10. A pair of opera pumps I bought from J.C. Penney years ago
comes to mind. That's why I advocate a "try before you buy" attitude
when shopping for shoes. Don't rely on store displays or pictures in a catalog.
The best way to find out if a shoe looks good, fits well, and is ultimately
awesome is to go to a store, pick a shoe, get your size, open up the box,
try them on, and walk around a little. Gawking at your own shoe-clad feet
in a store mirror is acceptable and important. Always try before you
buy. |
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Like this column? There's more great advice and cool stuff on Kalina's Web site!
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