I must admit that just last week I trounced home barefoot with shoes in hand. But I also admit that it's my own dumb fault, I neglected to break in the shoes before I wore them.

Posted by: Beth | August 24, 2007 4:15 PM

Guilty as charged! I now try and keep a pair of pumps on me if I'm wearing heels. I have a pair of ballet slippers that can actually fit on the inside pocket of a zip-up folder for work emergencies and a regular size handbag for evenings. Then you keep a small cotton shopper for your heels at the end of the day/night. Result? No death from foot pain or hepatitis caught from stepping on something unsavoury!

Or is that just too damn boring and sensible?!

Posted by: Laura A | August 24, 2007 4:21 PM

i don't like gel cushions, they don't really live up to their promises. the ones that are supposed to stop the heels of your shoes rubbing are especially rubbish, they always give me blisters. there's another brand called foot petals, tho, which are kind of soft finish rather than gel, and they work like a dream and don't ever come unstuck. and they come in different colours! they're just a pain to get hold of, except in john lewis.

Posted by: susanne | August 24, 2007 4:25 PM

Haven't walked back barefoot, but most certainly danced in a club barefoot.

Posted by: arelya | August 24, 2007 5:08 PM

I have! The right way to do is to get your husband to wear a big coat with big pockets so you can swap shoes when you get there/when you leave. Doesn't work so well in summer...

Posted by: Nicola Pedley | August 24, 2007 5:08 PM

Yea of course have walked home bare foot, but if i have a larger bag, i try and take flip flops with me, cos they are the thinest things incase of a shoe emergency! it does happen when the heels reach 5inches!
As for gel soles, sometimes they just dont work with certain shoes, but i have got some, and when i do remember to put them in they do work, but not everytime, it just depends on the shoes!

Posted by: cremedecassie | August 24, 2007 5:31 PM

... or if you're happily single ;)))

didn't walk home barefoot but stopped by an old and inexpensive 2x2" (not literally but..) shoestore, looked exactly like my salvation!!! i got a pair of "alpargatas" (those comfy textile shoes) and now i was there, a pair of nice fluffy slippers. the old man at the shop looked at me like a granfather as was seeing my evident suffer and hurried up to get those alpargatas. it's one of the most endearable shopping experiences i have to date :D

Posted by: jimena | August 24, 2007 5:33 PM

I did walk half of a town barefoot, but not cos of heels but...flippers!!god this pair just killed my foot, still got a scar...

Posted by: Tati | August 24, 2007 6:11 PM

I ALLWAYS bring flip-flops in my bagybag :D

Posted by: Fian | August 24, 2007 6:33 PM

yes i have been guilty of this but never all the way home, mostly walking barefoot from the bar to my or another's car ;)

Posted by: christina | August 24, 2007 9:40 PM

Oh and I wanted to comment that foot petals are one of the greatest inventions of the world! They used to be sold at JC Penny but no longer are. You can find them at the Web site: http://www.footpetals.com/cgi-bin/footpetals/index.html

Posted by: christina | August 24, 2007 9:42 PM

Those Kiwi gel pads hardly work at all. And as for bare feet: I made it 48 minutes in the 4" heels that I wore with my wedding dress. Then I was barefoot in the city, prancing about in my big white dress!

Being a flats girl, heels really are a bit killer for me :(

Posted by: Erin | August 25, 2007 7:45 AM

By far the best thing I have found are the fold-up ballet pumps that you can get at www.redfootrevolution.co.uk I carry these everywhere! Just last week I was stood for 2 hours in a queue at security in the airport and even changed into them there. A group of girls behind me were so jealous! They are pricey but absolutely worth it.

Posted by: Laura McInerney | August 25, 2007 10:28 PM

I did walk home barefoot once, in the snow . I was out drinking on New Years eve. Took off my ankle boots to play footsie with my boyfriend under the table. When it was time to leave I couldn't get my boots back on. It was impossible to get a cab so there I was walking in the snow. Happy New Year !
I tried those gel things and found them to just be a nuisance, always sliding off.

Love your site .

Posted by: Carole | August 27, 2007 4:54 AM