Don’t let high heels spoil your night on the town. A department store’s customers have some top tips for saving your soles, as Jaine Blackman discovers

Women’s feet start to hurt two hours and 47 minutes into a night out according to research by Debenhams. “It’s Christmas party season so Oxford will be packed with work nights out and lots of sore feet, it is essential for party goers to be able to stay on their feet all night long and make the most of the festivities,” said Jane Nuttall, store manager at Debenhams, in Magdalen Street, Oxford. Last Friday was said to be the busiest night before Christmas for work parties, but there are still plenty of festivities.

With celebrations well under way, the 200-year-old department store quizzed its customers on their partying habits and found that for those going out at 9pm, 11.47pm was the time a woman’s feet started to feel the effects of being on the dance floor during a night out. The survey of 2,000 customers also unveiled women’s secrets on how to always be the last one standing during the Christmas party season. When asked how to overcome feet fatigue an impressive 67 per cent of women claimed that having back-up flats in your handbag were key to a comfortable night. Over half (58 per cent) of heel-loving fashionistas felt that cushioning up and following the footsteps of style icon Victoria Beckham by using gel pads in the insides of their shoes paved the way for many more comfortable hours on the dance floor. “Seasoning” closes the top three at 40 per cent.

The term refers to taking their new purchases on a regular test drive. For example spending the evening strutting around your front room in a pair of heels and pyjamas is key. “With multiple celebrations often falling on the same night, it is essential for party-goers to be able to stay on their feet all night long,” said Natelle Baddeley, Head of Accessories at Debenhams. “With many believing that the way your feet feel can determine the wellbeing of your whole body, this Christmas is set to be the happiest for festive feet if you follow Debenhams’ real women’s tips to a perfect night on the town.”

Thick heels took fourth place, with 34 per cent agreeing that the sturdier the heel the better. As well as it being kinder on the foot, it also allows women to channel their inner style guru by staying on trend. Professor Karen J Pine, from the University of Hertfordshire, says: “A thicker heel can give a feeling of more stability by counterbalancing those extra inches of height. “This makes the party-goer feel more comfortable and secure in their ability to dance until dawn.”

Preparing and pampering your feet, pre- and post- party, followed closely behind with 30 per cent of customers agreeing. However if all else fails, 29 per cent of women have no qualms about kicking their shoes off and dancing the night away.

It is Christmas after all.

DID YOU KNOW?

Men were the first sex to don the high heeled shoe.
They were adopted by the European aristocracy in the 1600s as a signal of status.
The logic being that only someone who didn’t have to work could possibly go around in such “impractical” footwear.