You've been looking forward to this night for weeks, and somewhere around hour three your feet start to hurt. The ball of your foot is burning, your toes are numb, and you're eyeing the floor under your chair wondering if you can get away with bare feet. That's down to the shoe, not you.
Calla makes all of its shoes for women with bunions and wide feet, handmade in Portugal by master shoemakers. The difference between dancing all night and kicking them off by ten comes down to how the shoe is built, not how it looks when you put it on.
Here are the shoes we recommend for dancing all night:
A high-shine black patent slingback on a stable 4.5cm block heel, cut with a square toe and an open back so it stays sharp without feeling heavy. The discreet stretch panel flexes over the big toe joint, so the joint is eased rather than rubbed through a day that runs from the morning meeting to the evening table. Fits EE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region, designed in the UK
Material
Black patent leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
4.5 cm block heel
Toe
Square toe
Fit
True to size
Width
Fits EE width feet best
Toe box
Wide Calla last with hidden bunion-friendly stretch panel
Footbed
Cushioned insole
Best for
Work wear with tailored trousers, evening with denim and a blazer
Browse more images of the Betty - Black Patent Slingbacks:
Our Review
Black patent is the pair I reach for when I don't know what the day will throw at me, because it looks just as right with office trousers as it does with a midi dress at dinner. The 4.5cm block heel is low and square enough that I can stand on a hard church floor through a christening without my forefoot complaining. What sells it for me is the stretch panel sitting right over my bunion, so the joint flexes instead of catching on a stiff patent edge, which is usually where a glossy shoe like this would rub. The square toe also lets my toes sit flat rather than being pushed to a point. I find the EE fitting true to size, so I take my normal size.
Pros
4.5 cm block heel adds height while keeping a stable footprint
Square toe gives extra space across the toe joints
Stretch panel flexes over the bunion area
Slingback strap holds the heel on a wider Calla last
Cons
Patent finish scuffs show against the glossy surface
EE width fit best so EEE feet may feel snug
Slingback strap can rub the heel during the first few wears
The Claudia court in smooth black leather, a pointed toe on a low kitten heel that sharpens tailoring and lengthens the foot line. The point sits ahead of the toes while the toe box stays wide over the bunion, so a sharp court doesn't pinch the joint. Fits EE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Black leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Kitten heel
Toe shape
Pointed toe
Fit
True to size, fits EE width feet best
Toe box
Wide toe box with hidden stretch panel over the bunion area
Browse more images of the Claudia - Black Leather Pumps:
Our Review
The black Claudia is my pointed court for formal days, the one I wear when a rounded toe feels too soft for a sharp suit. The point lengthens my foot and finishes tailoring cleanly, but the part that matters to me is that the width sits over my bunion while the point extends past my toes, so the shape doesn't crush the joint the way a normal pointed court does. The low kitten heel lets me wear it from a morning meeting into an evening dinner. With a pencil skirt or wide-leg trousers it does the sharp, polished thing I want. I take my true size, an EE.
Pros
Kitten heel gives a small lift suitable for full days on the feet
Pointed toe sits on a wide toe box so the bunion joint has room
EE width cap suits wider forefeet
Black leather pairs with workwear through to evening
Cons
Pointed toe shape narrows visually so very wide feet beyond EE may prefer a rounded toe style
Leather courts need conditioning to keep the upper looking fresh
A classic black leather court on a manageable 5cm kitten heel, with extra width and volume through the toe area for a wide forefoot. The roomy toe and arch support carry a full office day, where a standard court would press on the bunion by mid-morning. Fits EE-EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Black leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
5cm kitten heel
Fit
Fits EE-EEE width feet best
Toe box
Extra width and volume in the toe area, standard at the heel
Footbed
Arch-supported insole
Best for
Work, weekday dressing and any wardrobe slot that wants a low heel
Browse more images of the Ava - Black Leather Pumps:
Our Review
The black Ava is my everyday work court, the pair I put on for a day of meetings because a 5cm heel is low enough to stand and walk in from morning to evening. What makes it work for me is the extra room through the toe area, an EE-EEE that lets my bunion sit without the joint pressing on a hard leather edge the way a standard court does. The arch support holds my foot through hours on office floors. In smooth black leather it goes under any suit or with a pencil skirt. True to size for me across the EE-EEE width.
Pros
5cm kitten heel works for full work-day standing
EE-EEE width cap takes wider feet than most courts on the high street
Extra width and volume in the toe area accommodates the bunion joint
Lamb leather lining over the bunion area flexes with the joint
Cons
Smooth leather sole needs grip pads on wet pavement
Narrower than EE feet may find the toe area roomy
Black leather shows light scuffs at the toe over time
The Emily heeled sandal in soft champagne leather with a gentle shimmer, the daytime-occasion version on a 3.5 inch heel and half-inch platform. The straps conceal the bunion while the platform eases the pitch off the forefoot. Fits up to EE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Browse more images of the Emily - Champagne Leather Heeled Sandals:
Our Review
Champagne Emily is the tall sandal I wear to a daytime wedding or summer party, since the soft shimmer is dressed-up without the brightness of a full metallic. The 3.5 inch heel sits on a half-inch platform, so the pitch is eased and my bunion isn't taking my weight through a long event. The straps conceal the joint and the arch support keeps me standing. It suits the wider-toe, narrower-heel shape of my foot. Fits up to EE, true to size.
Pros
3.5 inch heel softened by a half-inch platform reduces forefoot pressure
Straps positioned to sit around the bunion rather than across it
Lamb leather lining flexes over the joint
Handcrafted in Portugal with arch-supported cushioned insole
Cons
EE width cap rules out EEE feet
3.5 inch heel is at the upper end of the range for long wear
Light champagne leather will show scuffs more readily than darker shades
A tall 3.5 inch (9cm) white leather wedding heel with a pointed toe and a diamante-embellished strap, built on a wide EE-EEE forefoot. The roomy toe box gives the bunion space, so a bride can have the show-stopping heel and still stand for photographs and dance into the evening. True to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
White leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
3.5 inch heel
Toe shape
Pointed toe
Detail
Diamond-embellished strap across the foot
Fit
True to size, fits up to EE-EEE width feet
Toe box
Wide toe box with hidden stretch panel over the bunion area
Browse more images of the Sienna - White Leather Heels:
Our Review
Sienna is the pair I would put in front of any bride who has been told a bunion means flats on her wedding day, because it is a proper 3.5 inch (9cm) heel with a pointed toe and a diamante strap, not a compromise shoe. The forefoot runs wide to an EE-EEE and the toe box has give over the joint, so the height sits on a base that fits my foot rather than crushing it to a point. I could stand through a receiving line and photographs without the burning across the ball of the foot a normal stiletto gives me by the second hour. The soft white leather and the line of sparkle look the part under a gown. True to size, and the EE-EEE range means most bunion feet will get in.
Pros
3.5 inch heel paired with a wide toe box accommodates the bunion joint at heel height
Diamond-embellished strap adds sparkle for bridal wear
Fits up to EE-EEE width feet
Lamb leather lining over the bunion area flexes with the joint
Cons
White leather shows marks and scuffs and benefits from a leather protector before wedding day wear
3.5 inch heel sits at the upper end of Calla's heel range
Pointed toe shape and added strap detail mean it leans formal rather than everyday
The Petra is Calla's flat slingback, a square toe finished with a bow on a low heel, here in black leather. The cushioned insole and discreet stretch panel flex over the bunion, so a low slingback stays comfortable all day. Fits EE, true to size.
Style
Slingback with bow detail across the vamp
Material
Black leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Low heel
Toe shape
Square toe
Fit
True to size, fits EE width feet best
Toe box
Wide toe box with discreet stretch panel across the bunion area
Insole
Cushioned
Best for
Workwear with tailored trousers, midi dresses, denim and a blazer for evenings
Origin
Designed in the UK, handcrafted in Porto, Portugal
Browse more images of the Petra - Black Leather Slingbacks:
Our Review
Black Petra is the flat slingback I wear when I want the look of a court without the height, since the square toe and the little bow keep it smart while the low heel is kind to my feet. The stretch panel flexes over my bunion so the joint isn't pinched, and the cushioned insole supports a full day. The open slingback keeps it from feeling closed-in in warmer weather. I wear it with tailored trousers or a midi for work. Fits EE, true to size.
Pros
Square toe gives the forefoot horizontal room without widening the heel
Hidden stretch panel flexes across the bunion joint
Slingback strap holds a fit that does not need to grip the heel rigidly
Low heel pitch for full-day office wear
Cons
EE width cap is narrower than the EEE flats in the range
Slingback strap can slip on narrower heels and may need adjusting through the day
Leather upper benefits from a protector spray before first wear
The Mia is Calla's two-strap mule, and black leather is the version that goes from day to night in any season. Two wide, padded straps hold the foot instead of thin ones that let a bunion push out at the side, with a soft stretch lining at the pressure points, a roomy square toe and a 6cm block heel. It is true to size and fits up to EEE.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Black leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
6cm block heel
Style
Backless mule with two wide padded straps and an open square toe
Browse more images of the Mia - Black Leather Mules:
Our Review
I can't really go above about 3 inches in a heel, so the Mia's 6cm block heel sits comfortably inside my limit for a whole evening on my feet. What I look for in any strappy shoe is straps wide enough to cover the bunion, because thin straps either dig in or leave it hanging out of the side, and the Mia has two wide, padded ones with a soft stretch lining underneath. The insole has arch support too, which you don't often find in an occasion shoe. Black leather works with a summer dress or wide-leg trousers in winter, and because it's a mule it slips straight on. It's true to size and fits up to EEE, and it's made for mild to moderate bunions; with a large bunion, it only works if your foot is slim everywhere else.
Pros
Two wide padded straps cover the forefoot instead of cutting across the bunion
Soft stretch lining sits at the pressure points
Arch-supported insole, which is unusual in an occasion heel
Backless mule slips straight on
Cons
Suits mild to moderate bunions; large bunions need a narrow to standard foot width
A backless mule holds the foot less securely than a slingback
A clean white leather kitten heel for the bride or guest who wants a low lift rather than a tall occasion heel. The bunion-friendly stretch lining flexes over the joint and the ankle strap holds the foot steady, so a full day from ceremony to evening stays comfortable. Fits up to EE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region, designed in the UK
Material
White leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Kitten heel
Fit
True to size
Width cap
Fits up to EE width feet
Straps
Delicate straps with adjustable ankle fastening
Toe box
Wide Calla last with hidden stretch panel over the bunion area
Browse more images of the Ria - White Leather Kitten Heels:
Our Review
I would point any bride who dreads a tall heel toward the white Ria, because it carries the occasion in tone but keeps you on a low kitten height you can actually last the day on. The stretch lining sits over my bunion and gives as I walk, which matters when a wedding means standing for photographs, walking to a reception and staying until the end. The adjustable ankle strap stops the heel slipping on a smooth venue floor. It is understated next to a tall embellished heel, so it suits a simple column dress or a christening rather than a show-stopping gown. True to size for me at an EE.
Pros
White leather suits bridal and wedding settings
Adjustable ankle strap secures the heel through long ceremonies
Kitten heel reduces pressure on the forefoot compared with a stiletto
Stretch panel flexes over the bunion joint
Cons
White leather marks easily on grass and outdoor venues
EE width cap won't suit EEE feet
Open strappy upper leaves the foot exposed in cooler weather
The Ruby sandal in champagne leather with a soft shimmer, dressy enough for a summer wedding but neutral enough to wear all day. The strap still covers the bunion and the moleskin 'hallux' panel cushions the joint, so an occasion on your feet stays comfortable. Fits EE-EEE, true to size.
Origin
Handcrafted in Porto, Portugal
Material
Champagne leather upper, lamb leather lining
Heel
Flat toe-post sandal
Fit
True to size
Width cap
EE to EEE
Bunion cover
Strap positioned to conceal the big toe joint, hidden moleskin hallux panel
Browse more images of the Ruby - Champagne Leather Sandals:
Our Review
I keep the champagne pair for summer occasions, because the soft shimmer reads as dressed-up at a wedding or a garden party without shouting the way a bright gold would. It is still the bunion-friendly Ruby underneath, so the strap covers my joint and the moleskin panel cushions it through hours of standing for photographs. The arch-supported footbed is what lets me stay in them from the ceremony to the evening rather than going barefoot by the speeches. It sits beautifully against blush, cream and pale florals. True to size on me at an EE-EEE.
Pros
Strap positioned to cover the big toe joint while keeping a toe-post silhouette
Hidden moleskin hallux panel against the joint
Arch-supported cushioned insole under the foot
EE-EEE width cap fits wider feet
Cons
Toe-post style takes a few wears to soften against the skin between the first and second toe
Flat profile gives no pitch under the heel
Light champagne leather shows scuffs at the toe edge with regular wear
The Star is Calla's wide-fit lace-up trainer, made here in soft champagne gold leather with scaled detailing on the tongue and heel, cream laces and a gum sole. Inside, the toe box is roomy and lined without seams, over a moulded arch-supported footbed you can take out. It is true to size and fits up to EEE.
Origin
Handcrafted in Portugal at a family-run factory in the Porto region
Material
Champagne metallic leather with scaled detailing on the tongue and heel, synthetic stretch lining
Sole
3cm gum sole
Fit
True to size
Width
Up to EEE in the toe box, standard (D) heel
Toe box
Wide, fully lined with no inside seams
Footbed
Removable moulded EVA footbed with arch support
Detail
Cream laces
Sizes
EU 36 to 42
Best for
Jeans and a chunky knit, or a satin skirt in party season
Browse more images of the Star - Champagne Scaled Metallic Wide Fit Sneakers:
Our Review
Like the princess and the pea, I can feel any seam or stitching through to my bunion, so the Star has a smooth, padded lining with nothing inside to rub. The champagne version is the one I reach for in party season, because the soft gold leather and the scaled detailing on the tongue and heel catch the light, so a satin skirt and a knit look dressed up without a heel. The cream laces and gum sole keep it easy enough to wear with jeans the next day. The footbed has arch support and lifts out if you use your own orthotic. Take your usual size; it fits up to EEE.
Pros
Smooth padded lining with no seams to rub
Gold leather and scaled detail dress up casual outfits
Removable moulded footbed takes your own orthotic
Fits up to EEE in the toe box
Cons
Metallic leather shows creases and scuffs with wear
Lace-up takes longer to put on than a slip-on
Shine is too much for anyone who wants a plain trainer
What makes a shoe you can dance in all night
A shoe that lasts the whole night gives you a stable lower heel or a structured flat, a fit that stays securely on your foot, cushioning under the ball of your foot, room across your toes, and a sole with some grip. Get those right and you'll dance until the lights come on.
By hour three, your weight has been driven forward onto the forefoot all evening, your feet have started to swell, and if the heel is steep it tips everything further onto your toes. A thin sole concentrates that pressure onto a narrow strip. A pointed toe box forces your toes together just as they need to spread. And a loose mule or a slip-on starts sliding, so you either clench your toes to hold it on or it flies off entirely.
Good shoes do the opposite:
A secured fit (an ankle strap, a slingback, or a closed back) keeps the shoe on your foot through every turn so your toes aren't doing the work of gripping.
Cushioning under the ball of your foot spreads the load across more of your foot.
A lower, broader heel keeps you stable without tipping your weight forward.
Room across the toes means your feet can swell without being squeezed.
A sole with some grip keeps you steady on a crowded floor, though not so sticky that it catches when you turn: a chunky rubber tread can hold your foot still while your body keeps turning, which puts a twist through your knees and ankles. That's why dedicated dance shoes have suede soles.
Across Calla's shoes for women with bunions and wide feet, every pair starts with a wide toe box for room where you need it and a standard fit at the heel so the shoe stays on. The uppers are European leather or suede, which softens and adapts to lumps and bumps over wear. Inside, a cushioned, arch-supported insole and soft leather lining keep things comfortable over hours. Each pair is handcrafted in the Porto region of Northern Portugal at a small family-run factory, on lasts (the molds a shoe is made on) shaped specifically for bunions and wide feet rather than scaling up a standard shoe and calling it wide width. Those features won't make your feet immune to a long night (fit, break-in, and how your own feet respond still have a say), but they stack the odds very firmly in your favor.
How high a heel can you dance in
A broad, lower heel lasts for hours; a thin, high stiletto is painful well before the night ends. What matters isn't just the height but the base and the pitch: a thin stiletto concentrates your weight onto a tiny point and tips your foot steeply forward, loading the forefoot with every step.
Without a platform, the range that's comfortable to dance in is roughly between 3cm and 5.5cm on a broad base:
A block heel at around 4cm to 5cm gives you a stable platform for turns and quick steps.
A kitten heel or a low pump at 3cm to 4cm offers a little lift with very little forward pitch.
If you want more height without more pressure, a platform or a wedge adds centimeters at the front as well as the back, which means the angle of your foot stays lower even though the heel itself is taller.
Calla's occasion and bridal heels use this principle: a half-inch platform under a 3.5-inch (9cm) heel keeps the forefoot pitch closer to a mid-height shoe, so you get the dressier height with less of the pressure that a straight 9cm drop would put on your toe joints. Even so, that still leaves a pitch of nearly 8cm, with a lot of your weight on the ball of your foot.
A tall heel on a thin base still has its place, but that place is the photos, not the dance floor. If the night is long or the floor is uneven, drop to a lower block heel or a flat for the dancing. For a closer look at making heels work for longer, our guide to comfortable heels goes into more detail.
When flats or sneakers work better
Flats, ballet flats, and clean sneakers are the comfortable choice when the floor is packed, the night is long, or heels just aren't for you. But a flat shoe isn't automatically comfortable. A thin, unstructured flat with no cushioning and no support can leave your feet just as sore as a bad heel, only in different places. You still need padding under the ball of your foot, a sole with some structure, and a fit that keeps the shoe on your foot.
Sneakers work well for a casual night out, a festival, or any setting where the dress code allows them. The catch, if you have bunions, is that ordinary sneakers often have side stitching and stuck-on panels right over the bunion joint. That rubs. A sneaker with the stitching set forward, away from the joint, and a seam-free lining inside the toe box does the same job without the irritation. It looks like an everyday sneaker, not a medical shoe. The Calla Star, one of our wide-width sneakers, is built to this spec: the toe box is lined in one piece with no internal stitching, and a removable molded footbed (a shaped insole with arch support) is deep enough to take an orthotic (a custom support device from your podiatrist) if you use one, all on a 3cm sole. If you like the idea of a softer, more flexible flat, our guide to comfortable jazz-style flats is worth a look.
Crowded floor, long night, or heels not wanted: a cushioned, secured flat or a clean sneaker with a supportive sole.
You want the dressed-up look with less wobble: a block or kitten heel on a broad base.
Ordinary sneakers rub over your bunion: a sneaker with the outside stitching set forward off the joint and a seam-free toe-box lining.
Casual or festival setting: clean, supportive sneakers. Nobody's checking your heel height at a festival.
A formal event where heels aren't your thing: a cushioned, structured ballet flat or a smart loafer with arch support.
You've been in heels all day and you're done: switch to a structured flat with some cushioning for the last few hours on the floor.
Shoes for a party or night out
For a party, a club, or any night out where you'll be on your feet for hours, a secured fit and a stable base beat sheer height. The floor is sticky or uneven, you're standing in a crowd before the dancing even starts, and the night runs late. A shoe that stays put and cushions the ball of your foot will outlast a statement heel every time.
If the occasion calls for something sparkly (a festive party, New Year's Eve, a birthday), a metallic or champagne leather looks every bit as dressy as a sky-high stiletto, and on a low block heel or a kitten heel you'll still be wearing them at midnight. We reach for the Calla Ruby toe-post sandal, which covers the bunion behind a hidden moleskin 'hallux' panel (a pad over the big toe joint) in champagne, or the Calla Emily heeled sandal with its straps to keep everything secured through the dancing. If your big toe has drifted a long way toward your second toe, a toe post can rub there, so try the Ruby on at home first or go for the Emily.
We've picked our going-out styles that we'd wear for exactly this kind of night, and they're below.
Dancing at a wedding
A wedding is one of the longest tests for any shoe. You're standing through the ceremony, standing through the drinks, standing for the photos, and by the time the music starts you've already been on your feet for hours. The shoes that feel fine at two in the afternoon need to still feel fine at eleven at night, and that's a very different ask from a two-hour dinner. It's how Calla started: I have bunions myself, and I started the brand in 2010 because I couldn't find comfortable heels to wear to my own wedding. We've written a separate guide to shoes that last through a full day on your feet, and nearly everything in it applies to a wedding.
What works depends on whether you're a guest or the one getting married.
If you're a wedding guest
You need one pair you can wear from the ceremony to the dance floor, because you probably won't get home to change in between. A cushioned low-to-mid heel or a smart, structured flat with a secured fit is the safe call. Skip the towering party heel: it might look right for the outfit, but it won't last until hour six.
Wedding days tell us more about our Calla shoes than almost any other occasion. What we hear back after weddings keeps coming back to the same thing: they could finally wear shoes they actually liked, and they were still wearing them at the end of the night. That's the real test: not how the shoe looks in the mirror before you leave, but whether it's still on your feet for the last song. You can browse our wedding guest styles for the full range.
If it's your own wedding
Your wedding day is the one day you genuinely cannot take your shoes off and go home. You'll be standing longer than at any other event in your life, the first dance is photographed, and the reception runs until you're the last one on the floor.
The pattern that works for most brides is a comfortable occasion heel for the ceremony and the photos, then a lower or flatter secured pair for the reception and the dancing. You get the height you want for the photographs without paying for it on the dance floor later. Our white and ivory heels, sandals, and flats are built on the same wide toe box and cushioned insole as the rest of the range, so comfort isn't something you trade for the bridal look. Styles like the Calla Sienna heel in white leather and the Calla Emily with its diamante buckle have a 3.5-inch (9cm) heel with a half-inch platform in W to WW width, and the platform takes some of the pitch off, though for a long reception a lower pair is still the more comfortable choice. You'll find them in our bridal collection.
Getting the fit right when your feet swell
If you buy shoes that fit perfectly at ten in the morning, they'll pinch by midnight. Your feet swell over a long evening, especially when you're warm and on your feet for hours, and they need more room. A pair that feels snug in the shop will feel tight three hours into the dancing.
Try shoes on later in the day when your feet are already a little swollen, and you'll get a truer reading of how they'll feel at the end of the night. An adjustable or secured fit helps too: straps, slingbacks, and laces can take up or give back a little room as your feet change through the evening. A stretch panel over the toe area gives as the foot swells without you needing to adjust anything.
Width matters at least as much as length. If your foot is a standard length but wider across the toes, sizing up just adds length you don't need and your foot slides forward. Calla shoes come in E, W, and WW width fittings with a wide toe box for room across the forefoot and a standard fit at the heel, so you can wear your true size and get the width where you actually need it. If you're not sure of your width, our measuring guide takes a few minutes and saves a lot of guesswork.
Dancing all night with bunions or wide feet
Please remember that the advice below is general, and if you are experiencing foot pain you need to see your podiatrist.
You can still dance all night with bunions or wide feet. What you need is room across your toes, a soft and giving upper that doesn't press against the joint, a secured low-to-mid heel with a stable base, and no hard seam or stitching right over your bunion. A narrow, pointed shoe forces the toes together and rubs the bump with every step, and that's exactly what makes most party shoes a problem for bunion feet.
The width has to come from the right place. A shoe that's wider across the forefoot with a standard fit at the heel keeps the shoe securely on your foot while giving your bunions the space they need. A shoe that's wide all over, which is what most wide-width shoes do, lets your heel slip and your foot slides forward into the taper. You're looking for a wide toe box that accommodates the bump, not a shoe that's simply bigger all round.
How our shoes are built for it
What we call the Calla Comfort Method gives you extra width and depth in the toe box with a standard fit at the heel. On many styles, a hidden stretch panel in the toe box flexes where you need it most, over the bunion joint, and a soft leather lining means no hard seams rubbing against sensitive skin. Our range has been reviewed by podiatrists, among them Dina Gohil, a podiatrist registered with the HCPC (the Health and Care Professions Council, the UK's professional register for podiatrists). Gohil noted that her patients routinely reject recommended footwear because of how it looks, and called our shoes 'refreshing' because, as she put it in her review of our range, they 'don't look hideous'.
That said, our shoes are built for feet that are wider at the front than at the back. If your feet are wide all over, or you have a very large bunion, you may need more room, and it's worth trying them on to check.
Can the right shoes stop a bunion getting worse?
Not stop, but the shoes you wear do make a difference. Ron McCulloch, the principal Podiatric Surgeon and Director of the London Podiatry Center, says that once a bunion has formed it is usually not possible to reverse the condition without surgery, and the best one can hope for is to slow down progression by taking some simple measures. The most important of those, as he explained in his interview with us, is to wear 'good shoes with a round toe and a relatively low heel', which is the brief we designed our range to meet. Calla shoes don't cure, correct, or reverse a bunion, because nothing short of surgery does. What they do is accommodate the bump so it isn't pressed, rubbed, or squeezed, and that's what lets you stay on the dance floor instead of watching from your chair.
Weddings and nights out come up in our customers' reviews again and again. One of them, Sally, said in her video review that she bought her first pair of Calla shoes for her brother's wedding and didn't think she had ever danced so much in her life. She still had them on at 12 o'clock at night. That's the outcome we design for: a night where your feet aren't the reason you stop.
FAQs
Do I need special dance shoes to dance all night?
No, you don't need special dance shoes to dance all night. Dedicated dance shoes (the kind with suede soles and a flexible split-sole build) are made for ballroom, Latin, and social-dance classes on a sprung studio floor. For a party, a wedding, or a night at a club, a comfortable, secure everyday heel or flat does the job. We'd point you to the Calla Claudia, a 3.5cm kitten-heel pump in soft kid leather, or the Calla Emily heeled sandal, whose straps keep it secure through the dancing. You don't need a specialist shoe. You need a shoe that fits well, cushions the ball of your foot, and stays on.
How do I stop my feet hurting when dancing all night?
Most of it comes down to preparation. Break your shoes in over a few shorter wears before the big night, so the event isn't the first time you've worn them. Stick a gel pad or a metatarsal cushion (a small pad that goes under the ball of your foot) where the pressure builds. If you know you're prone to blisters, put a blister bandages or balm on the rub spots before you leave the house, not after the damage is done. If you have diabetes or reduced feeling in your feet, check with your podiatrist or diabetes team before using adhesive blister bandages, and look over your feet when you get home, because you may not feel a rub starting. Numbness that doesn't wear off once your shoes are off is worth mentioning to your doctor. And keep a pair of foldable flats in your bag for the end of the night or the walk home.
What shoes should I avoid for dancing all night?
Thin, very high stilettos become unbearable around hour two because all of your weight is on the ball of your foot on a narrow, unstable base. Loose mules and slip-ons twist underfoot, risk rolling your ankle, and fly off mid-dance. Brand-new shoes worn straight from the box will almost always blister. And narrow, pointed toe boxes cramp your toes and rub as your feet swell through the night. It isn't height on its own that causes the problem. It's a thin base and a narrow toe working together.
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