As a person raised by a mother who couldn’t have cared less about fashion, it amuses me to say that I am a shoe girl through and through. I am a ballet flat aficionado, but my real weakness is a good pair of heels. However, given the fact that I have flat feet, it’s been an endless quest to find a really good pair. But, after wearing countless heels in the name of research and consulting with a podiatrist, both PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey (who stands at 5’3’’) and I (5’6’’) agree: Two inches is the perfect heel height. Here’s why.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Tea Nguyen, DPM, is a board-certified Santa Cruz, California-based podiatrist. She received her medical training at Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery, followed by a medicine and surgery residency at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital.

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The 2-inch realm, admittedly, sounds boring. Why stick with it when you can have 7-inch Valentino platforms? Dickey puts it best. For special occasions, sure, those are fun. But in terms of a daily or weekly uniform, 2-inch heels are “chic, walkable and attractive without looking like you’re trying too hard.” They’re also so versatile. A petite gal at 5’ becomes 5’2’’. Taller people standing between 5’6’’ and 5’8’’ get a boost into tall territory, while the real tall girls don’t feel like they’re looming.

When I consulted Dr. Nguyen, she explained: “The shorter the heel, the closer you are to the ground, which reduces pressure at the ball of the foot.” The 2-inch heel keeps the shoes walkable—because who really has time for car-to-door shoes?

There are other factors that contribute to comfort and walkability, too. Dr. Nguyen notes that a block heel will provide better weight distribution than a stiletto, and that a cork footbed will absorb more shock than plastic.

“An analogy I like to use is picturing a slide on the playground,” she says. “The steeper the slide is, the more gravity is exerted downwards. [This] is the pressure the ball of the foot experiences. Less steep is better for pressure reduction, and flat on the ground is best (zero drop).”

So there you have it. Whether heading into the office or out for dinner, you can catch me in my cute, comfy 2-inch heels.

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