Much as it pains me to admit it, I have a bit of a rocky relationship with high heels. My feet are on the wide side, which in practice means I could never wear at least half the shoes I write about and admire - in particular the heels, which tend to force weight forward on to the toes. A few years back I got so frustrated with my failed attempts to wear heels that I all but gave up wearing them.
But after a few long weeks of flat-shoe hell, I started longing to pull on a pair of stilettos once again, and thus began a long road to find the holy grail of comfortable heels. I soon found that there was a solution, but it was not one my wallet would thank me for: I could wear some heels, but only ones that were exceptionally well made; consisting of the sort of leather that more or less breathes with one's feet. Cheaper high street styles, I discovered, were out of the question.
Then a few weeks ago I heard about a new type of heel on the market that was made to be comfortable but look great at the same time - the killer heel that doesn't kill. It sounded too good to be true of course, as this was not the first time I'd heard such a claim being made. But determined in my quest to find such a combination, I gave them a try. The shoes were from Marks & Spencer's 'Insolia' range and you can see me modelling them above. They're cut very elegantly, with a substantial heel and a dainty bow detail, and you can pick them up here for £49.
But how do they compare with my usual heels? Read on for an honest verdict...
I took my Insolia shoes along to a Broadway Premiere in New York I happened to be attending last week (a lucky coincidence; my life is not always this glamorous!) and am happy to report that they were the perfect choice for evening shoes: smart and stylish enough to look great with an evening dress, but comfortable enough for me to make a spirited dash for a taxi at the end of the night.
By contrast my old heels, which I wore this morning to make a comparison, restrict my movement far more; a problem I was not aware of until I'd tried both styles. The Insolia shoes have a springiness to them that my older pair do not, which prevents that horrible 'rigid' feeling when trying to move quickly in heels. While running for a bus en route to work this morning I certainly longed for the Insolia pair!
In terms of comfort I'd have to give them a 4.5 out of 5. The only improvement on this particular style would be a slightly wider fitting (I had to go up half a size from my usual due to the narrowness of the toe) but the balance and softness of the sole really worked. I'd love to try Insolia in a more open-toed style for a breezy and comfortable summer!
Check out the full Insolia shoes range - featuring everything from sandals to smart Mary-Janes here