Whether or not you want to bare bits of your toes at work could entirely depend on you, and your industry. For the most part, I would say it's not a huge deal. if you wear your heels with trousers, most people aren't going to notice a little toe cleavage anyway.
Buy all your high heels with as perfect fit as possible with a ¼” to ½ “ space in front of the longest toe , and fit your shoe to the biggest foot. The longest toe is not always the big toe, so go with whichever toe you have that is longest. Go up a half size if in doubt about the best fit. You should be able to wiggle ...
Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nice and snugly.
Fashion advice also centers around the amount of appropriate toe cleavage. A pump (court shoe) with a "slightly low vamp for a hint of toe cleavage" should not be "too racy for a conservative office". Financial guru Suze Orman says it is "the only cleavage that should be shown around an office".
As a rule of thumb (or toe), you should have about 3/8″ to 1/2″ of room from the tip of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Your big toe is not automatically your longest toe. Pick the shoes that match your foot shape.
Toe injuries and deformities
If you wear high heels every day, over time they could cause toe deformities such as hammertoes or claw toes, bunions, corns and calluses and ingrown toenails. “Excess or abnormal stress on the joints due to the altered position and gait can lead to arthritis and pain,” Dr. Jensen said.
Buying a heel that is larger may feel more comfortable and aggravate a bunion slightly less as it gives the great toe a little more wiggle room, but it won't prevent the formation of bunions any less than a smaller sized heel as they will still alter your gait and the natural biomechanics of the foot.
Since the foot is in a different position when you wear heels, you might need to size up a half size or so to give the foot enough room to lay comfortably inside the shoe. Look out for telltale signs of an overly tight shoe like bulging at the toes or uncomfortable pressure around the back of the heel.
For better comfort, a lot of female celebrities pick their heels half to one size up for public events so that there will be more space for the toes and the ball of the foot to avoid blistering. If heels fit too big on you or your feet slip when you first put them on, stuff some cotton at the toe cap or use inserts.
"Make sure you walk heels first, then toe," Loyd advises on a good technique for walking in heels. "Do not step down on the balls of your feet or toes first." And start with a wider heel until you become comfortable—this type works well on various surfaces and can be worn with longer skirts and wide leg pants.
Leave Half an Inch at the Front of the Shoe
There should be about half an inch between the end of your longest toe and the front of the shoe. If you have small hands, this is about the size of the tip of your index finger. If you have large hands, it's about the size of the tip of your pinky finger.
Interestingly enough, a study by the University of Utah found that, “the heel-down posture increases the economy of walking but not the economy of running… You consume more energy when you walk on the balls of your feet or your toes than when you walk heels first.” So: Run on your toes, walk on your heels!
A half-size represents a 1/8” difference. It may not seem significant but is enough to distinguish between comfort and discomfort. Because there is no standardisation for shoe sizing, a half size difference will also depend on the brand of shoe. With some makes, a half size will be more significant than others.
Gel Pads are a great way to resolve this problem because they support the foot's ball and tighter the heels. From the point of view of health and posture, gel pads are the best solution. They soak up pressure; improve the grip and stability of the feet in the heels.
Believe it or not, thick heels are actually a lot less painful than thin heels. So try and invest in shoes with thicker heels, it will make the whole process a lot less painful!
For high heels between 2 to 3 1/2 inches — go with 1/2 size larger. For high heels between 4 to 6 inches — go with 1 full size larger. For high heels 6 1/2 inches and above — go with 1-1/2 sizes larger.
Having a shoe that's wider will allow your foot to have the proper amount of space it needs not only in length but in width, leading to an overall more comfortable fit.
The best height heel height is between one and two inches. If the shoe is extremely tall, it will cause jamming of the toes and ball of the foot every time you walk. Pay attention to the shape of the toe box, whether it's pointy or curved.
Low heels are typically 1-2 inches, or 2.5-5cm. In low heels, the heel is short enough that the balls of your feet shouldn't be left aching, even if you're on your feet all day. High heels are generally 3-4 inches, or 7.5-10cm.
They occur when there is a decreased blood supply to toes. Various factors can lead to numb toes, such as inflammation, infection, degenerative diseases, etc. Many women report having numb toes after wearing high heels for many hours during a day.
“[A] woman's walk [is perceived] as more attractive when she's wearing heels, due to the heels changing lumbar curvature, exaggerating the chest and hips, and increasing pelvic tilt,” explains an article on PsyPost.
Your big toe and pinky toe should point outwards, not inwards. Rest assured not many people maintain perfect foot alignment after wearing tight footwear. Healthy feet have wide spread out toes (illustration left). The big toe should be able to function separate from the other toes.
Other painful effects of wearing shoes that are too big include: Corns and calluses: caused by excessive pressure on the toes. Metatarsalgia: caused by too much pressure on the balls of your feet. Disrupted natural stride: resulting in Achilles tendonitis, arch pain, and pain in the calf muscles.
The optimal squat foot placement will vary depending on the individual's stance width, hip anatomy, and lift variation. The vast majority of professional squatters, both powerlifters and Olympic athletes, squat with SOME degree of toe out.