Fabulous

FASHIONABLE

FEET

PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

Feet have long been apart of fashion even when not the main focus.

Peek into the past

Over the course of history, it has been said that women have done untold things to their body for the sake of beauty. For nearly 1000 years,

it was common practice for women to literally cripple themselves to achieve beautiful feet. This Chinese custom is known as feet binding. Feet binding would begin on a girl, some as young as 2 years old. The child’s feet would be wrapped tightly with cloth. Often the bones would actually be broken and the 4 small toes wrapped under the foot to obtain a pointed look. As the foot grew, the toes would be bound toward heal to maintain a foreshortened appearance. This practice was painful and often disabling. Many became crippled and some died. To us this practice seems obviously absurd and cruel.

Yet it was what women did to be beautiful, to be accepted.

Fancy the future

Let us take a look into the future as seen by Japanese and Italian and other shoe designers. I guess there is one where to go, up.

Perfect the present

Still today, women put their feet through daily abuse. Consider the soccer player and the abuse her feet take. Consider the ballerina and the abuse her feet take. Consider the woman in 4 inch heals and the abuse her feet take. The abuse is apparent every summer when women bare their feet and flaunt those wonderful things called flip-flops. The evidence of abuse stares us in the face, the bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses that litter our feet.

Here are some tips to get your toes ready for summer. What I like to call

Flip-Flop Fabulous

Whether done at home or in a salon,

your feet can be pedicure perfect in less than 1 hour

1. Soak feet 10 minutes to clean and soften them before you begin.

2. Use polish remover to remove old polish

3. Trim nails with clippers and file then straight, lightly buff sides and surface to remove snags. 

4. Gently push back softened cuticles with cotton wrapped orange stick or cuticle pusher and clean under each nail.

5. Cut any hangnails or loose skin from around the nail area

6. Smooth rough or dry skin with a 'pumice' type stone.

7. Message moisture-rich lotion into feet, ankles and legs (better yet get someone else to do it)

8. Swab nail surface with alcohol to remove lotion 

9. Finish off with polish, decorations or leave them bare. 

If you choose to treat yourself to a salon pedicure remember....

Salon should be clean with sanitized foot spas

All tools used on you should be new or freshly sanitized

No razors or needles should ever be used on your feet (unless by a doctor)

Most of all, it should not hurt.

Finding the perfect sandals to display your perfectly pedicured feet.

· Shoes should be ¼ inch longer than your feet. No toes or heals hanging over the edges.

· They should also be as wide as your foot. No little toes hanging off the edge.

· Choose shoes that do not crunch, munch or hunch your feet. No “mushroom” feet

· All toes should fit under straps. No one wants a broken little piggy

· Make sure straps do not rub, scrub or pinch

Tips for common problems:

Corns: Caused by pressure from poor fitting shoes

Solution: Switch shoes often if you just can’t get rid of the ones causing the problem.

Try corn pads (found at your local drug, grocery or variety store)

Soak and smooth with ‘pumice’ type stone don’t try to remove the corn all at once,

do it little by little (remember it took time to build up and it is there for protection)

Calluses: Also caused by pressure

Solution: Again try switching shoes daily to relieve the pressure points

Never try to cut a callus off, instead, smooth the callous with a ‘pumice’

type stone or paddle type and moisture several times weekly until gone.

Cracked Heels: Caused by dry skin, exasperated by open back shoes

Solution: Drink lots of water to keep well hydrated

Moisturize weekly with olive oil before bed time and wear socks to bed

Try heel guard for severely cracked heels (found at your local drug,

grocery or variety store) or make your own by cutting the toes off of thick socks

Sweaty Feet: Cause; most likely genetic

Solution: Change shoes daily and socks twice daily

Wash feet morning and night

Try powder, astringent or antiperspirant

Removable absorbent padding

http://www.summersoles.com/

Bunion: Caused by poor fitting shoes and/or heredity

Solution: Do not try to treat this at home. See a foot doctor

Stained Nails: Could be caused by many things including

stained from polish, caused by fungus or infection

You should consult a doctor to find out which.

You can email your questions and comments to deborahharttinsley@empirecollege.com