Partying with bare feet is always the best way

I am normally the first one to take my heels off


A standard night out for me would be a nice outfit and trainers or pumps. They’re comfy, practical, and I can dance for hours without pain.

So when the dress code comes in as black-tie, I get the fear.

Like most girls, I love getting dressed up, ask anyone and I am a full on girly girl when I want to be. It’s an excuse to have some fun in an outfit that you could never wear in the daytime, and a reason to get out of your jeans for once and embrace something else entirely.

My best friend’s 21st

But my relationship with heels is something that leaves much to be desired.

Let me start by saying that heels are a beautiful thing. They elongate your legs, let you stand a little bit taller than normal, and they look really really glam.

But oh my god do they hurt.

Every night out is some huge battle with the pain in your feet, and the idea of not wanting to give up. And let me just say that I am aware of how silly that sounds – no one should put themselves in pain as an excuse to look more glam than normal. But it gets a bit embarrassing when people actually comment on how you are always the first person to lose her heels.

But that relief you get when you first take your heels off is indescribable. It’s a mixture of pleasure and pain – your feet literally have to uncurl themselves from the ridiculous position they were once stuffed in, and get used to walking flat again. But once you’ve dealt with the initial agony, it’s plain sailing comfort from there on.

I think at this event I took my heels off as soon as I walked through the door

Maybe I’m a special case – I have weak ankles, which means they can give way and I can face plant at any given time on any given day – just walking in trainers at 12pm down University Avenue has sent me flying (I actually ended up with a cut on my knee). Add in some 6 inch heels and I am literally a walking trip hazard. Weddings have seen me come out with sprained ankles and bruised knees, so you know, I have legit reason to start fearing heels.

But save the fact that they look nice – can people even walk in them? It takes bloody ages to perfect the strut, and some girls once they’ve had a few drinks just look like newborn giraffes learning to walk for the first time, as they try and totter round the dance floor. It’s not a good look, and I would rather just accept defeat early on, than cling to my friend like a koala in the hope that they will save me from my inevitable fall.

Though to be fair, a lot of my friends have mastered the art of walking in heels, and I respect and admire them in equal measure. I have no idea how they do it, and I probably never will.

Always the shortest (note I did try and start with heels)

I have also come in to a lot of issues with venues – they keep thinking I will sue them if I hurt myself. I mean I know the risks, as I have cut my feet on broken glass before, but that won’t stop me from walking down a street in Shoreditch at 11pm at night barefoot, despite being told off by the people I’m with.

And I always get the muddiest feet known to man. Venues have disgusting floors, and often I will come back home with the dirtiest feet and legs. But it’s something you learn to deal with, and I would always rather 10 extra minutes scrubbing my non sore feet from a night of having pure fun and dancing, then not being able to walk the next day.

However, not everyone agrees with me, Izzy Cotogni, a second year student at Durham, claims that ‘they are simply a lifestyle. When you are 5”2 they become part of your anatomy. There’s nothing sassier than striding through a restaurant in a killer pair of platforms. Your legs are longer, bum is firmer – and for me – I’m average height’.

5”2 Isobel finally being normal height

Maybe I just need to practice a bit more, so that I can finally walk the walk in my heels that normally spend a solid ten minutes doing their job, and 5 hours in my hands. But until then, my relationship with heels will be a mixed one – I always claim to love them, but will always be the first one to take them off.