Looking Forward to a Night Out in the City? Here are 3 Reasons to Ditch Your Heels!

(YES - you can totally have fun with flats! Collage credit: www.polyvore.com)

I enjoy wearing heels when I am going to a particular event that I know will allow me to sit at least half of the time. (i.e., LA fashion show, graduation party, movie theater). But the truth is, I believe my feet are still recovering from the days I would wear heels while working 8-hour shifts at Nordstrom (and sometimes 10 to 12-hour shifts during special sales!). And even though that was 10 years ago, my feet have never been the same. So slowly, over time, I've been incorporating both casual as well as sexy flats to accompany my outfits. Not only do I value having a versatile wardrobe, but I am coming to terms with the fact that -- at 34 years old -- I need to be smart regarding what I choose to put on my feet. (Mom, if you're reading this, I know you're smiling and nodding in agreement.)

Like I said, I do love a hot heel! But for the nights out on the town -- the nights you don't want to end early and the nights that don't have to end early -- I suggest adorning your feet with a statement-making flat. 

Here are my top 3 reasons for ditching your heels when getting ready for a night out in the city:  

1) Comfort rules: Recently, my boyfriend and I spent the weekend at Venice Beach, in which we stayed at a quaint hotel just a few blocks from the boardwalk. Knowing this ahead of time, I decided that I was gonna rock my new boho-chic sandals I recently purchased (after winning a Sears gift card from a Twitter contest!) with my black and denim ensemble. It was the best choice I could have made, because even though we were just a few blocks away, we decided to explore and walk around town for delicious bites and drinks. Not once did he ask if my feet hurt, because over and over again, I kept saying, "I'm so glad I wore these shoes!" Bonus tip: Choose a shoe for the night that you've already worn in slightly in order to avoid blisters on your heels and toes, and everywhere in-between. This time around, I lucked out with only minimal discomfort from my first-time wear. Must be a great quality shoe from Sears! (I never would have thought, to be honest...)

2) Extra Exercise: If you're comfortable, you can walk longer! Whether you're bar hopping in LA or in Vegas, it's fun when your plans for the night are not based around how long you can actually bare to walk in your heels. Let's be honest: Complaining about your feet just annoys everybody after awhile, unless you're with gals who are experiencing the same thing, and y'all just decide to end your night early based on foot pain! (been there, done that) And while dancing in heels is much more fun, in my opinion, wearing sexy flats still look great on the dance floor! Plus, the longer you're moving, the more calories you're burning. Yup - that's important to me...and I bet to you too! 

3) Stress-Free Stashing: Now that you have on a hot pair of flats, you don't have to worry about where you're going to stash your "comfy shoe" to change into after your heels have beaten your feet up and...you...can't...walk...any...further. Many chicks keep a pair of flats in the car or in an oversized handbag to help ease an emergency situation. Yes, the pain can actually become unbearable and tear-worthy. While having a pair of flats stashed in your handbag is a smart idea, it does kinda cause you to battle over which bag will have enough room to store a pair of flip-flops or ballet flats. And what if you do leave a pair in the car? Well, make sure you're parked extremely close to where you're hanging out, because the walk back to the car will feel incredibly long when you're limping. 

Want more tips? You may enjoy some of these helpful shopping articles: 

"Shopping for the Right Jeans: 3 Tips to Help Save Your Sanity!"

"3 Shopping Don'ts That DO!" 

"My #1 Tip to Surviving Bad Customer Service: SPEAK UP"