We've all done it … fallen head-over-heels, hopelessly in love with a pair of high heel shoes, all the whole knowing that the two of you just were not meant to be! Seeing a gorgeous pair of heels feels like a pine intervention … but it can be ab enormous waste of money and a bitter disappointment if they are just too uncomfortable to wear. Today we give you a rundown on how to make sure you buy comfortable shoes. All you have to do is learn to ignore that gut instinct to go for the bad-boy high heels that look great, but will never treat you right! 

Look for a lower slope 

You don't have to completely forego all six inch heels to make sure you get a comfortable fit. Heels with a lower slope, that is a more obtuse angle from heel to toe, will be more comfortable to wear. This is one of the deciding factors in how often you'll be able to wear your heels comfortably. 

Choose natural materials like leather 

Comfort is also in the way your skin reacts to the materials. Kids' jelly sandals have been around for over thirty years, and parents keep buying them because they are so cheap … but kids just don't wear them. The material sticks to their skin and pulls at it, so your feet feel like they've been in the middle of a washing machine after half an hour of walking. 

Synthetic high heels are often the same. They are oh-so-shiny … but oh-so-painful, too! Leather is much kinder on the foot, longer lasting, and breathable to make sure your feet don't get too sweaty.  

Make sure the shoe fits before you wear it! 

If the shoe fits, you know what to do with it. If it doesn’t fit, and you’re in a physical store, the next step should be pretty obvious as well! Either ask the attendant for a size up or down, or if the problem is more with shape than size, just put those beautiful shoes out of your mind. Shed a silent tear when you get home - but don't waste hundreds of dollars on them. Even if you buy your shoes online, if you do little more than try them on and walk up and down your hall, an online store should accept a return if they truly don't fit. To avoid the messing around, though, know your foot dimension in length and width, and check with online stores before buying that the basic dimensions are right. 

Choose rounded or open toes 

Pointy toes force your feet into a very unnatural position, and encourage corns and calluses to develop on your toes. If you choose open toes or rounded toes, your feet will have some wiggle and breathing room - much more comfortable. 

Check for ball padding or add your own 

Push on the ball of the foot area and see how much padding is included. Look for shoes with more padding here, and add your own extra padding at home in the form of either orthotics or simple gel pads. High heeled shoes always put extra pressure on the ball of your foot - most pads are completely invisible in most shoes, so do yourself the favour! 

Look for thicker heels 

Thicker heels mean that you have to pay less attention to balance, which means that your legs and back are under less stress. If leg and back pain is your main complaint from wearing designer shoes, look for thicker heels. 

Choose wider shoes 

Our feet spread out widthways when the heel is raised up. No matter how little we like to admit that our feet might be a bit wide, if you want to truly enjoy wearing your high heels, look for shoes with room acrossways as well as  lengthways. If you’re buying shoes online, your foot width should be one of those numbers that are always at your mental disposal … like your credit card number! 

Try wedges 

Wedges make it so much easier to walk, just like thicker heels do. If you can’t avoid wearing heels, and you can’t avoid walking while you're wearing them, wedges could be your feet's saving grace. 

Some of the most beautiful shoes ever created have been high heels. It's a pity to let all that chic go to waste in a box in your cupboard, because you can’t stand the pain of wearing them! Use these tips to have your cake, and eat it too.