A Podiatrist Laughs Every Time You Wear These 5 Shoe Trends

They say that beauty is pain, and in the fashion world, we often swap out the word "beauty" for "style." Style is pain? That doesn't sound enticing. We're devout trend followers and appreciators of nice things (don't judge us), but even we can't get behind items that are bad for our overall well-being—even the prettiest pair of stilettos.

Since shoe trends operate on a swiftly moving trend rotation and can determine how comfortable we are throughout the day, we needed to touch base with our favorite podiatrist, Bobby Pourziaee, also known as the High Heel Doc of Rodeo Drive Podiatry, to get the 411 on which shoe trends we should skip this season.

When we told him about the season's biggest shoe trends, he literally laughed at the overall harm the structures can have on your foot's health. Below, read along as this podiatrist breaks down which ones are laughable at best and which you should stock up on ASAP. Don't worry. His recommendations include some of our favorite styles for the season. Apparently, comfort and style actually can go hand in hand.

DON'T WEAR: FLIP-FLOPS 

DO WEAR: SNEAKERS AND RUNNING SHOES

"Even though your toes (and that beautiful pedicure) are out for the world to see, extended use of flip-flops can lead to arch and heel pain. Flip-flops notoriously have no support. Keep them only for the beach or the pool; opt for sneakers instead. By definition, these have optimum arch support and soles meant for shock absorption. Companies like Nike make sneakers and running shoes fashionable, so you can run and take them to the gym, or you can wear them with a cute pair of jeans." — Pourziaee

Shop sneakers:

DON'T WEAR: BALLET FLATS

DO WEAR: COWBOY BOOTS

"Even though these flats remind you of your days in a ballet class in the first position, these shoes also have zero support. They give you a false sense of security because your foot is covered, but the material is thin, and therefore, it can easily be punctured while walking on the street to your barre class (or coffee date). However, cowboy boots are a supportive alternative that will always be a popular trend. Just make sure there's always room for your toes so they aren't squished. Cowboy boots also provide great ankle support." — Pourziaee

Shop cowboy boots:

DON'T WEAR: GLADIATOR SANDALS

DO WEAR: BIRKENSTOCK-STYLE SANDALS

"Gladiator sandals give the illusion of ankle support because of the straps, but the flimsy straps provide minimal support of the ankle and, therefore, can cause an ankle twist or a bad runway fall. A better option is Birkenstock-inspired sandals. Even though your jaw may drop when you see a friend walk into a party with these sandals on, they're actually good for your feet. They provide good shock absorption and arch support. PS, they sometimes make your feet smell if you wear them too long, so don't forget to soak your feet in Epsom salt to help with the odor and to be proactive on swelling." — Pourziaee

Shop Birkenstock-style sandals:

DON'T WEAR: CLOSE-TOED MULES

DO WEAR: WEDGE HEELS

"Close-toed mules can squish your foot because they're narrow. More importantly, they have no ankle or rear-foot support. This can easily allow for a sprained ankle or long-term damage. It's best to opt for something with more support, such as wedges. Wear them instead of stilettos or mules because they give you more support and balance with the wedge." — Pourziaee

Shop wedges:

DON'T WEAR: HEELS HIGHER THAN THREE INCHES

DO WEAR: KITTEN HEELS OR BLOCK HEELS

"General rule: The higher the heel, the closer to god but also increased chances of ankle sprains and long-term damage to the forefoot. Opt for kitten heels or block heels to protect your feet for the long-term." — Pourziaee

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.