The Oscars are the highlight of awards season, and every celebrity guest primed their hair, make-up and wardrobe for last night’s ceremony.
But while they arrived at the Oscars in chauffeur-driven limousines, many still faced the challenge of navigating the red carpet in high heels. So what tricks do celebrity stylists have up their sleeves to help the stars pull through?
Claudia Joseph asked podiatrist Dipesh Raja of Footopia in London’s Chelsea to weigh in on their tips and reveal the best ones for you to try on your next night out.
THE FOOT SPRAY
TIP: Barbie star Margot Robbie jetted around the world to promote her blockbuster film, posing for the cameras in a range of Manolo Blahnik stilettos to complement her sugar-pink outfits. But before she leaves her hotel room, the star reportedly uses $20 Still Standing foot spray to prevent swelling.
TV producer and writer Lyn Butler created the spray, which combines cooling menthol, arnica, aloe and ilex, which are ‘time-tested natural anti-inflammatories and pain relievers’, along with vitamin E and tea tree oil, to give your feet a magical ice bath.
As Margot Robbie gets ready to walk the red carpet, she reportedly uses $20 Still Standing Foot Spray to prevent swelling
Still Standing can be hard to find in the UK, but Haute Heels Soothing Foot Spray, with arnica, aloe and ilex, is an alternative (£6.99, hollywood fashionsecrets.co.uk).
VERDICT: Obviously, some people get comfort from using this spray. It certainly contains anti-inflammatory agents that are time-tested and can relieve soreness and sore feet. But that doesn’t rule out the problems of wearing high heels regularly. 6/10
THE INSOLES
TIP: As one of the most photographed women in the world, the Princess of Wales knows she has to spend a lot of time on her feet. So she’s invested in a pair of £18.95 leather insoles from Alice Bow, which are designed to mold to the shape of her feet.
Cordwainers graduate Rachel Bowditch created the brand because she couldn’t find a pair of black patent heels that ‘looked good, fit my feet and had padding’.
VERDICT: I think it’s a good idea if you wear high heels. They are a happy compromise between wearing custom orthotics – which are obviously better, but too bulky for stilettos – and wearing nothing. 7/10
THE BUNION BUSTS
TIP: When Julia Roberts stepped out in New York City last December, she opted for a pair of £249 bun-busting Ronda boots from British brand Sole Bliss. She also has her gold £199 platform sandals. A-listers Dame Helen Mirren and Olivia Colman are also fans of the five-inch Sole Bliss Remy sandals.
Mirren wore a silver pair to this year’s Golden Globes, while Colman walked the red carpet in hers at the premiere of Great Expectations.
Designer Lisa Kay created the brand for people who have bunions – bony bumps that form on the joint at the base of your big toe.
VERDICT: If you have to wear high heels, these are a good choice. Their construction will accommodate your feet. However, that doesn’t give you carte blanche to wear them every day. 8/10
The Princess of Wales invested in a pair of £18.95 leather insoles from Alice Bow, which are designed to mold to the shape of her feet
THE LARGER SIZE
TIP: As a former actress, the Duchess of Sussex knows many tricks and often wore shoes that were too big for royal engagements. Pop icon Jennifer Lopez and Twilight star Kristen Stewart also size up to avoid blisters on the red carpet.
But since the shoes could slip, they put silicone pads in the heels or fill the toes with tissues or cotton wool.
VERDICT: You should not go for width by adding length. You will have movement of the foot inside the shoe no matter what you stuff it with and there is a chance you will step out of the shoe or injure yourself. 1/10
THE MEDICAL TAPE
TIP: An unusual catwalk trick comes from supermodel Marie Helvin, who tapes her third and fourth toes together with medical tape to relieve pain.
Apparently there is a nerve that splits between those toes which causes pain when you put pressure on it and the tape takes the pressure off.
VERDICT: This idea does not make sense clinically and I do not recommend it. It goes back to the age of foot binding and look what happened there! Do not. 0/10