There’s nothing worse than a painful pair of heels, as they can completely ruin the occasion.
Let’s be honest, there’s only so much a couple of plasters can do when you’re wearing a pair of heels, and it gets to the point where the pain becomes excruciating. That’s why finding the right pair of heels is such a mammoth task we face before going out.
Take the Grand National, for example. It’s a pretty long day wearing heels, so it’s important not to opt for something too extra and make sure your day is comfortable. It can be such a challenge to find the perfect pair, but once we’ve found it, that pair then becomes our holy grail shoe.
READ MORE: Grand National 2022 'dress code' and what to wear on Ladies Day at Aintree
For those who are still trying to find a good pair of heels for the races but aren’t quite sure where to look, we’ve done some research. I visited Next, New Look and River Island and tried on seven pairs of heels to find the best heels out there. Here’s my verdict.
New Look pink croc heels
I absolutely love the colour of these shoes, and the fact they had quite a small heel made them a strong contender for the most comfortable. Because of the pointed design, I was unsure whether to give these a five star rating, because I know how uncomfortable pointed shoes can get after a few hours.
After trying these shoes on, I was really impressed with the ‘wide fit’ as my toes didn’t feel squished into the point. They were incredibly soft inside and really easy to walk on and I think the small heel really helped.
I’ll be rating these a five out of five for colour, fit and heel, and think they could add a really nice pop of colour to your races outfit.
Price: £27.99
Rating: 5/5
Buy them here.
New look white wedged heels
I feel like wedged heels are becoming increasingly popular because they’re so easy to walk in, and I found that with these New Look wedged heels. However, they were so high that I can imagine after a few drinks there may be some accidents.
For those who feel comfortable walking in such high shoes, I’d definitely opt for these ones, but they’re probably only a good choice in hot weather (which isn’t always guaranteed at Aintree!)
Price: £34.99
Rating: 3/5
Buy them here.
New Look Emily Atack knot block heeled sandals
I absolutely loved these heels, not just the colour but the style too, because block heels always end up being a lot comfier. The strap around the ankle gave the heel a lot of security and they were just the perfect size in my opinion.
The knot detail wasn’t uncomfortable on my toes, but the heels did take some practice to walk in because of the height of the mid-length heel.
Price: £29.99
Rating: 4/5
Buy them here.
River Island snake print mules
These snake print mules are absolutely gorgeous and look so good on, guaranteed to add a bit of pizazz to your races outfit. They were really comfy on the balls of my feet and felt quite soft and leathery, but there was one problem.
The part of the shoe that separates the big toe from the rest was a little uncomfortable when walking, but definitely wasn’t unbearable. If you can put up with a bit of pain to wear these killer heels, they’re definitely a good choice for you.
Price: £42
Rating: 3/5
Buy them here.
River Island blue heels
I absolutely loved the bold colour of these heels which were placed next to a stunning powder blue suit. The heel itself had a wider, flatter base, which made them a lot easier to walk in as opposed to a thin heel.
They did look a little odd though if I’m being honest, which is why I’m not going to score these heels full marks. If you don’t mind the flatter base of the heel, these are a good safe option and a stunning colour.
Price: £45
Rating: 4/5
Find them at your local store.
Next ‘forever comfort’ nude vinyl shoes
These nude sparkly shoes really reminded me of a Carvela pair I’d seen recently which is why they caught my eye. The ‘forever comfort’ heel is designed with a curvy mid heel and slingback design with elastic to keep your foot in place.
I tried on these shoes and was amazed how easily my foot slipped into them, possibly because of the vinyl. The one thing I’m a little dubious about is the pointed toe after a few hours, and if the elastic will rub.
Nevertheless, it’s a fabulous Kurt Geiger dupe that’s designed to be comfortable, so fingers crossed.
Price: £44
Rating: 5/5
Buy them here.
Next black block heels
I’d say these heels were the most ‘safe’ out of them all. They weren’t too big or too small, and had a nice chunky strap around the back of the ankle that didn’t rub.
For those who are wanting a bit of height but not too much and don’t mind getting their toes out, I’d say these are the perfect pair, they were very easy to walk in.
Price: £28
Rating: 5/5
Find them at your local store.
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