CRAIG T. KOJIMA/CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Foot Petals Tip Toes, like the one in black on left, adhere to the front of a shoe to stop dainty feet from slipping.
High-heel inserts
offer feet reliefSexy stiletto heels bear killer looks but, fittingly, can be murder on the feet. Though the looks are just right for festive nights on the town, no one really wants a holiday party to turn into an evening of pain.
Enter Foot Petals Tip Toes, flower-shaped shoe pads that can be positioned on the insole where the ball of the foot would hit the shoe.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA/CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Foot Petals come in a spectrum of colors and patterns, such as animal prints, to coordinate with shoes.
"It's the part of the foot that feels the most pressure" when in a high heel, said Mari Stewart, owner of Rafael, an Ala Moana Center boutique that carries packs of two for about $7.
A step up in comfort, the pads were created to stop feet from sliding forward in high heels, eliminating "toe scrunch" and "ugly overhang."
Featured in magazines such as Marie Claire, Lucky and InStyle, and worn by red-carpet celebrities Daryl Hannah, Mira Sorvino and Angela Bassett, they're a hit at Rafael, according to Stewart.
"When your feet are in pain, there's nothing worse," she said, knowing this firsthand after spending up to eight hours a day on the floor. "It tends to put you in a bad mood."
Poron, a Southern California-based company, manufactures accessories for shoe comfort, but this particular product is made solely for open-toe high heels.
They are virtually undetectable once the shoe is on, but should you decide to slide the tootsies off for a toe-stretch, foot petals, as the name implies, have an attractive flower shape, as if they were designed to be seen.
Rafael stocks them in neutral colors of nude and black, but they also come in a spectrum of colors and patterns, such as animal prints, to coordinate with shoes. Shasa Emporium at Kahala Mall offers a more colorful selection for $9 to $10.
Right now, you can try a free pair by logging on to the Web site www.footpetals.com. You will have to pay the cost of shipping and handling.
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