Heel Anatomy

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Hello Everyone!

I hope that you are all well. Its been quite a while since I blogged. I've got so many reasons, some of which I explained on my Facebook page. I'm thankful to all those who care and followed up on the matter :) I missed blogging so much! I'm glad to be back.

Anyway, back to heel anatomy.

Earlier this month, at the Nairobi Elegance Affair, I saw a number of ladies really struggling to walk in their heels. Through their pained expressions and shuffle, I could tell how much they were suffering. I realized how little we know about heels, this being the reason why most ladies keep stumbling when in high heels. This post is for you, lassies, for the love of heels!

Today, we start by understanding the anatomy of a heel.

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Body
The body has three parts, the Quarter, Counter and Seat. The quarter is the topmost part that touches your foot. If the quarter is too high it digs into your foot and causes blisters. If too low it does not offer support. The counter is the stiff piece of material of the heel that helps to maintain the shape of the shoe. The seat is where the heel of your foot sits in the shoe.

Upper
This is the entire cover of the shoe that covers your foot.

Heel
The part of the sole that raises the rear end of the shoe as compared to the front.

Breast
The breast is the inner arch of the heel which affects stability. The further forward the breast, the more stable you are in the heel.

Shank
This is the outer arch of the shoe that faces outwards. It has to be of very good quality as it absorbs all the weight of your body.

Pitch
This is the curve right under the heel.

Sole
This is the bottom of the heel that is made of the insole and the outsole. The outsole is the exposed part of the heel in contact with the ground. It needs to have a good grip, it should be durable and water resistant. The insole is the inner cushion of the heel.

Toe Box
This is where your toes sit in the shoe and can take different shapes; pointed, rounded or squared. The shape of the toe box you pick should complement your height and body shape. Some shoes also have toe caps which are found on the upper front of the shoe. Toe caps make the shoe more aesthetically appealing and/or add strength to the front part of the shoe that receives a lot of stress and wear from frequent use.

Vamp
If you hate the feeling of your feet sliding back and forth in your heels; you need to check the shoes' vamp. It is the front part of the shoe that is in contact with your toes. If the vamp is higher and covers all your toes, it provides more support than a lower vamp that exposes a small part of your toes.

Here is a detailed diagram on the parts explained above:

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Now that you know these facts about your heel, the next post will be on how to walk in your heels. Keep your eyes peeled my dears :)

Beautiful week!

xx
Mimmie