Cushioned stiletto set to make hurting heels history

Wellington, Nov 11 : Sick of the pain that your stilettos cause to your feet? Well, then try the three-inch polyurethane high heels, designed by a Massey University student.

Aimie Whiting's high heels are an answer to the battle between fashion and comfort. They compress when worn, relieving pressure and strain on feet.

In the new design, cushions sit beneath the heel and ball of the foot, compressing and expanding like squash balls underfoot.

The same squishy plastic extends down inside the hard outer layer of the shoe's heel, so that the entire base flexes slightly with every step.

The '24-hour high heel' is still in the prototype stage, but Whiting hopes to license it to footwear companies for commercial production.

"I like to wear high heels, and I like to go out - I thought, there has got to be some way to make them comfortable," the NZPA quoted Aimie Whiting, as saying.

Fashionistas would not be constrained to buying one kind of shoe, as the squishy base could be used with almost any style.

ANI