Uncomfortable high heels in your closet may soon get the boot, once you’ve seen the innovative shoes by an orthopedic nurse turned Italian shoe designer.
The defining step came for Julie Lopez at her daughter’s wedding when her feet, which have bunions, hurt so much she ended up going barefoot during the reception.
Hand crafted in Italy, her Julie Lopez Shoes are wider in the fore-foot but still look great. She added padding, got rid of interior seams that press on toes, and added tiny slits in the sides that offer a bit of expansion that she calls Flex Innovation Technology.
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“In the process of creating a heel that looks and feels great on the feet of women with bunions, we inadvertently got a comfortable, fashionable heel for all women!” said Julie’s daughter Erin, on the company blog.
Their product lines are sold online only, to keep retail markups from driving the cost well over the $250-$300 they wanted to charge for the hand-made Italian shoes.
(WATCH the video below from NBC News) Story tip from Carilyn
I would love a pair but suspect they would be made of leather, which I dont wear as I am vegan.
As someone who has studied and practiced bodywork for over 20 years, I can tell you that the best thing you can do for your posture, balance, feet, and general well-being is to not wear heels, especially very high heels. No matter how great these heels supposedly are for your feet, heels, especially very high heels, put a strain on your body, especially the back and feet. Because your upper body is thrown forward, the buttocks are thrust back, and immense pressure is exerted on the knees and the balls of your feet. The result is that you not only have a lack of balance, but breathing is constrained. Once you have less flow of breath, you start activating the stress response of the autonomic nervous system, leading to tension, both physical and emotional. I have seen many feet of women who are older who wore heels all their lives, and they are not a pretty sight. Bunions and hammer toes are quite common and they live with a lot of pain. They also often frequently have knee and lower back issues.