Are your heels too high for work?
High heels have an amazing impact on our posture and help to increase confidence, but what affect are they having on our work life?
The daily commute to and from work is not a well-loved pursuit at the best of times, and thanks to our love of heels and the disasters they cause - it doesn't look set to be getting any better.
Research from Compeed has found that whilst most women aim to arrive to work on time and looking their best our heels have another idea.
Nearly half get their heels caught in a grate, over a third have fallen over and 29% have tripped up the stairs.
The survey, which offers a comparison of high heel wearers across Europe, shows that high heel hazards are also adding to commuting times.
10% of British women surveyed report that wearing high heels tags more than 1 hour a month to their journey time.
It appears nothing will prevent some women from doing the daily commute in their high heels; 58% of UK women will wear heels even if they are painful or uncomfortable and 13% of 25-34 year olds surveyed admit they wear their heels even if it makes them late for the office.
The survey also reveals reasons why women are prepared to sacrifice both comfort and punctuality, with heels giving women more than just a boost in height.
Over half of the women surveyed state that wearing heels gives them confidence and 35% say their heels make them feel smart – making it clear why women are determined to wear heels to work despite the pitfalls they face.
Alexandra Papa, spokesperson for the Compeed brand says “Interestingly, it is not just women that are struggling due to their high heels; women’s life / work balance is also impacted by the high heel commute with 20% of London ladies surveyed admitting that their heels have caused them to miss their train.”
60% of women surveyed have admitted to sacrificing their fashion preferences due to discomfort, and confessed to wearing flat shoes to work, then surreptitiously changing into their heels at their desks.
This is definitely our favourite option, we can still run for the train to make it on time and look stylish whilst we're in work - it's a win, win.