Can 4-Inch-High Heels Be Comfortable?
One brand of high-heel shoes claims you don't have to give up style for comfort.
Aug. 7, 2009 — -- Style or comfort? For wannabe fashionistas, it's a constant battle over whether to choose the sexy shoes and have your feet suffer, or pick up a more practical pair of footwear with a far less attractive look.
But now, one shoemaker has said stylish shoes can feel as good as they look. Kenneth Cole has launched a new footwear brand geared at capturing the look without having feet pay the price.
The Silver Edition 925 collection features a patented cushioning system for shoes that the company claims you can wear all day and night, in comfort. It also has memory foam throughout the sole, a flaxseed pillow to support arches, a flexible rubber sole and sheepskin lining for comfort and breathability.
Priced between $135 and $160, the collection includes a 4-inch pump, a 3-inch sling back,a 4-inch ankle bootie and two different kinds of flats.
But the new collection begs the question: Can a high-heel shoe truly ever be comfortable?
"GMA" technology contributor Becky Worley tried out the shoes to see if they lived up to their claims. Here's what she found.
Becky's Take
The new heels are cushier than regular high heels and the new technology is like a Tempur-Pedic bed for your foot.
A Heel of a Difference
One place where you can really notice a difference is in the heel. Traditionally, there's just one screw that goes into the heel and it feels like it is being driven up into your foot.
With the new version, however, the screws are dispersed so you don't feel the weight driving up as much into your knee and leg. The weight is much more evenly distributed across the heel in terms of weight and shock.