We’ve all heard the story of Cinderella, the classic folk tale a/k/a The Little Glass Slipper involving a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances at the mercy of her evil stepmother and stepsisters whose life is transformed because she can fit her foot into a tiny glass slipper.  The tale has so many variations that span all cultures.  In French folklore it’s called Cendrillon, ou La petite Pantoufle de VerreIn and in a 19th century German version of this rags-to-riches story, the evil step sisters get the brilliant idea of tricking the prince by chopping off parts of their feet to get the slipper to fit.   If it had worked Cinderella might have still been doing housework as one of the wicked women ran off with her prince.   

At one point or another, most of us have had Cinderella fantasies…I personally feel like a hybrid of Cinderella and the Woman Who Lived in a Shoe who had so many children she didn’t know what to do.    In my case though, it’s not the kids that are taking over my life – it’s the shoes;  I have so many that I’ve sometimes contemplated moving to a bigger home to accommodate them…they seem to have taken on a life of their own.  It’s fitting that my collection was featured on French television; even though my forebears were hardly well-off, the term “well-heeled” originated in France.   Legend has it that several centuries ago, the queen wanted to look taller and slimmer and more glamorous so she commissioned a local cobbler to create shoes with higher heels.   This became a fashion trend that only the very rich could afford – so “well-heeled” became a synonym for being rich. 

Most women would agree that nothing makes them feel sexier than stilettos.  This makes perfect sense of course; the term “Vamp”- which is the front covering of a shoe – is derived from the French term “avant-pied” which means “before the foot” and has become a synonym for “Hot Mama.”   And of course, I completely relate to the slogan “If the shoe fits buy it – in every color.”   I love it as much as “Life is Short – Buy the Shoes” …and I think that’s what inspired me to get into the work I do.  I never wanted my foot size or any problems I might have below the ankle to come between me and the perfect shoe.  And my mission of course is to spread the joy…”Shoes for Everyone!” as Carrie Bradshaw proclaimed in SATC2.

It’s fitting that Tony Hsieh who is creating quite a buzz with his “Delivering Happiness” movement is the genius who started a little company called Zappos, which was later bought by Amazon reportedly for billions.   Because what gives a woman more happiness than new shoes delivered to her doorstep?  A rhetorical question to be sure…but I think it’s true…just ask Cinderella…

When I think of corns, I’m reminded of an episode of the sitcom Martin, wherein Gina was forced to work in Sheneneh’s nail shop in order to replace Martin’s Piston’s tickets that she had accidentally thrown out. Sheneneh and Gina’s relationship is contentious, to say the least, and thus Gina is relegated to doing all the menial tasks in the salon. The highlight of the episode was when Sheneneh orders Gina to shave down a customer’s old corns. Gina and I were both this close to hurling, she from working on the gross feet before her, I from laughing way too much at Gina’s gagging. It was absolutely hilarious.

But for many, corns are not a source of comedy. They can be a source of much pain and anguish. In addition to being uncomfortable, corns can be rather unattractive and cause major embarrassment for men and women alike. Many of us have had to deal with corns, but few of us really know what causes them and how we can treat them. Well, I’m here to tell you, so let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

Feet with corns

What is a corn?

A corn is a hard, thickened area of skin found on top of, at the tips of, and in between your toes. It is round and yellow, like a kernel of corn, hence the name. A corn has a central core that descends deep into your flesh at a cone shaped point, killing all the normal cells in its way.

Why do we get corns?

Corns are our bodies’ response to friction and pressure. Corns develop as a way to protect your skin and the bones beneath from bruises and injuries on the spot where your feet experience friction and pressure the most. Toes should be able to lay flat within the toe box of a shoe, and when they don’t, your body begins to respond by generating corns.

Do corns all look the same?

No. Corns are usually yellow, and if they are inflamed, can be a reddish shade. However, corns can take on the color of the person’s skin, and for people with darker pigment, corns can appear as hard, dark colored dots on your toes.

How can we treat our corns?

Short of seeing a podiatrist to be rid of your corns completely, any remedies are temporary ones. If you are seeking relief until you are able to schedule an appointment with your podiatrist, follow these instructions:

Soak your feet in a solution of warm water and Epsom salt. If your corns are painful, you may have an inflamed bursa between the bone and the corn. Bursae are fluid filled sacs that overlie and protect the joints in your body. Soaking your feet will diminish the size of an inflamed bursa, and take pressure off any nearby sensory nerves.

Wear open shoes. Corns are exacerbated by constant pressure. If your shoe keeps rubbing up against the corn, there is increased blood flow to the corn and this encourages growth. Open shoes diminish the increase in blood flow, and will keep growth to a minimum.

By following these instructions, you won’t have to be that woman making Gina gag. Use these and the other tips we’ve provided on this site to help keep your feet beautiful and healthy.

Every year when spring blooms, I look forward with bated-breath to the warm explosion of summer – the pastel-colored cocktails, the whimsy-flimsy straw hats, but most of all, my all-time-favorite-perfectly-designed-washed-summer-skin-stained pair of nude wedge sandals. They are perfect in every way for every outfit, from the flirty feminine straps that form a low V over my toes, making my feet look as slim as Cleopatra’s, to the just-high-enough wooden wedge heels that give me an extra 2 inches without killing me after a long day traipsing around Manhattan in anything from a sundress to a pair of slim matchstick jeans. For the past (um) 3 years, these fantastic sandals have been my favorite part of the season – the cherry on my summer sundae. This summer was no different; I wore them everywhere: Shakespeare in the Park, The Met, Target, Town Hall. You name it, they went there. Maybe they weren’t as cushy as they used to be, but I was still walking tall, most of the time. Until one fateful afternoon last week when I was out having a margarita with a girlfriend and she practically choked on her on her tequila at the sight of them. I could read the “Tacky” sign in Neon lights that was scrolling across her forehead. If that wasn’t enough, she then commented “Maybe its time we did a little shoe therapy…” As I looked down, I had a moment of seeing what she saw — dingy insteps, chipped wood, non-existent sole, worn and waterlogged leather. How had I missed all that? Was it time to throw them overboard and find my new summer lover? When it comes to shoes, how do know when to spit and polish or cut and run?

Here is some advice on knowing the difference~

1) Look for Sole Satisfaction – Take off the shoes in question and turn them over for a serious inspection. How many times have you had new soles put on them? (Remember, the cost of re-rubbering shoes adds up, especially if you live in NYC and are doing it more than once a season) Is the the heal itself still in good shape? A good cobbler can make it look pretty, but if there are serious chunks taken out of it or there is movement in any direction, your shoe is just an accident waiting to happen. Best case scenario, you can give them a make over with some spray polish (you can even overhaul the color for a new look) and a DIY heel replacer (check out this months Real Simple DIY projects for how!)

2) Check your Posture – A shoe that is past its prime will often reveal itself in your posture rather than it’s polish. Poor foot support travels up from the feet through the knees, hips and spine. Check for overcompensation in your posture that might be an attempt to fix this aches and pains.

3) The Burn Factor – We have all experienced that not-so-subtle burning under the balls of our feet. If your a runner, like me, you know you have reached the mileage marker and its time to trade in your sneakers. The same is true for your favorite party pumps. That burning is the warning sign that you are headed for a pedis problems. If this happens in a relatively new shoe, look into replacing it or returning it. The shoe, as we say, does not fit.

4) Mirror, Mirror on the Ball (of the foot, that is) – Put on the heels in question and stand in front of a full-length mirror in an outfit where you can clearly see all of your foot and ankle. Are your ankles rolling in? This kind of pronation can be a sign to move on to new pair, both for your own ability to stay up right (think klutsy girl with bad ankles on ice skates!), as well as a means of preventing future problems. Over-Pronation should be helped by your shoes, not worsened by them. Advanced or excessive pronation can cause a variety of foot issues (like bunions) – which will definitely put a damper on more revealing footwear options.

5) Hitting Rock Bottom – Do a little push test on the cushioning of the shoes in question. You want to find somewhere around a 1/2 inch of give. If it feels like you are knocking on heaven’s door, let them go. If there is still some pillow in there, but they are dirty, try taking a little Woolite on a rag to them. Think spot treatment.

6) Variety is the Spice of Life – Remember, just like eating seasonally and alternating sides of the couch we sit on, shoes need rotation too! If you are like me and wear the same shoe every day, chances are you aren’t doing the shoe or yourself any favors. Keep a shoe in shape longer by keeping it in the mix, as apposed to making it the star. Chance are, when you do bring it out, you will get a lot more Ooh la la!

So the final verdict. Well, for my favorite summer sandals, it was time to put them out to pasture, I am afraid. They served me well for a long time, and it was certainly hard to let them go (I am not confirming this, but tears might have been involved). But in the true spirit of our 3 year relationship, even in their final farewell they left me with one last thrill – the excitement of finding the perfect replacement!