There are plenty of women’s heel styles to choose from, making it difficult to find the perfect pair for your feet. This guide will help you understand what your options are and make an informed decision on the type of heel that suits your needs.
Kitten Heels
A kitten heel is a short stiletto heel, usually tapered between 2.5 and 5 centimeters in height. Kitten heels have an instep curve, making them ideal for women who have trouble walking in high heels. This shoe's name derives from its original purpose: teaching young girls (or "kittens") how to walk in high heels.
Block Heels
Block heels, a personal favorite, are the ideal compromise between practicality and aesthetics. Because of their block shape and wide base, these heels provide excellent stability, support, and comfort because your weight is evenly distributed throughout the shoe. The block heels' width varies from style to style and form to form, so you have many choices.
Platform Heels
Platform heels combine the height of a high heel with the ease of a flat sole. The thicker sole, which can range in thickness from 3 to 10 cm, adds a few millimeters to the overall height of the shoe while also providing some additional comfort for the forefoot.
Peep-Toe Heels
Small toe-box openings or cuts let you show off your first two or three toe fingers when wearing these heels. This is how the company name was founded. Peep-toe heels are typically a pair of pumps with a cutout at the toe, but you can also find them on sandals, slingbacks, and even boots.
Slingback Heels
Women's sandals like these have a thin strap that slings back or crosses behind the heel or ankle. The strap is attached to the shoe's body, and about half of it goes around your foot's heel to give you a more secure grip and walk.
Wedges
In terms of heel types, wedges are a great choice if you want to wear them all day without fear of them collapsing. The sole and heel of a wedge shoe are one elevated piece of material that slopes upward toward the heel of your foot. The heel of a wedge shoe is triangular, and there is no point where the shoe's toe meets the elevated heel.
Stilettos
In terms of heels, stilettos cover a wide range of styles with long, thin, and high heels. The heel's height varies from style to style and from form to form, but it's usually at least 1 inch and up to 4 inches. Stilettos can be anything from pumps to peep-toes to strappy sandals to gladiator heels, and they're all considered high heels.
Pumps
Pumps are closed-toe heels with a low-cut front and round toes. When comparing stilettos and pumps, note that stilettos have higher heels while pumps have lower heels less than an inch high.
d'Orsay Pumps
The cut-out sides of d'Orsay Pumps, a type of pump heel, reveal your foot's arch. Women's d'Orsay shoes have a side or vamp that is cut very close to the toe box, and while heels are the most common style, the d'Orsay can also be a flat shoe.
Spool Heels
A spool heel is a type of heel that is wider at the top and bottom and narrower in the middle and originates from Europe. The shape resembles an hourglass, but the bottom is narrower than the top.
Ankle Strap Heels
Any heeled shoe with an ankle strap that you can use to fasten your heels with can be called ankle strap heels. Most popular in this category are open-toed sandals with a wide front strap and a thinner back strap with an ankle strap.