Brace yourself: Beyonce is stepping down—from her high heels, that is.
After spending nine months teetering and tottering through pregnancy, superstar Beyonce Knowles has traded in her signature sky-high footwear for flats. “I never thought there would be a day when I wouldn’t wear heels,” Knowles told People in their “2012 Most Beautiful” issue. “Now that I have a child, I walk around holding her all day, I’m buying loafers and oxfords. I love them, because they’re comfortable… And shorter heels too.”
Beyonce may be on to something here—not only can heels get uncomfortable, but they’re also seriously rough on your body.
“We were not designed to wear high-heeled shoes,” says Philip Vasyli, Australian podiatrist and founder of foot care and footwear company, Vasyli International. “Wearing heels can put weight on certain parts of the foot that aren’t used to sustaining extensive pressure, causing friction and inflammation.”
Additionally, high heels can cause compression on the inside of your knee, which compromises your joints, messes with your posture, and strains your lower back, according to research from Iowa State University.
So what’s a heel-loving girl to do? Go lower, of course—but Vasyli says that wearing flats isn’t necessary. In fact, low-heeled shoes might be your best option.
Many women have pronated feet, causing uneven distribution of weight while walking, he says. A slightly raised heel can alleviate this. The ideal heel high varies by person, depending on the height, weight, and occasion: sitting at your desk all day in heels could leave you feeling a-OK, while wearing heels during work that keeps you on your feet would be ill advised. In general, though, Vasyli recommends about half-inch to 1-inch-high heel. Walk in anything higher than 3 inches, and your normal gait will be affected.
And if you’re ready to kick heels to the curb for good? That’s no reason to give up on sexy footwear altogether. Take Beyonce’s word for it: “I’d always thought, ‘The higher the heel, the sexier.’ But now I’m like, ‘These are really sexy,’” she told People, of her new low-heeled collection.
To start your own, begin with these top picks from Women’s Health contributing accessories editor, Jennifer Yoo:
Always sexy, a tough motorcycle boot:
Moto boot by KORS, $ 125
Fringe and thigh high? Double the va va voom:
Thigh high boot by Nine West Vintage America, $ 179
Suede loafer with an eye-catching high shine metallic cap toe:
Loafer from DV by Dolce Vita, $ 79
Bare your leg with a cropped boot:
Ankle boot by Matt Bernson, $ 231
Leopard print in neon is a bold yet subtle attention-grabber:
Ballet flat by Gap, $ 39.95
It’s black, it’s an exotic skin, it’s bonafide hotness:
Flat croc boot by Zara, $ 229More from WH:
The WH Shoe Finder
Fix Your Feet Problems
The Ultimate DIY Pedicure
Master mouthwatering recipes that fill you up and slim you down with Cook Yourself Sexy, the ultimate guide to a hotter, healthier, and more confident you.