- Can it be fixed?
- Often – by a modest amount, depending on how the shoe and the heel are built.
- Safe to fix yourself?
- No. Sawing a heel down yourself leaves it uneven and can ruin it for good.
- What decides the cost?
- How much lower, heel shape and material, covered or plain heel, and the condition of the tips.
- Mail it in?
- Yes, from anywhere in the US.
- While you wait?
- Some small repairs, yes. Call ahead.
Which problem is it?
Put the shoes on and notice what actually bothers you – it decides whether lowering the heel will help.
Just a bit too high
The shoes fit and the heels are sound; you just want a little less height to stay on your feet longer – a convention, a wedding, a night on the Strip. This is the classic case for heel height reduction, and small changes keep the shoe’s balance best.
Toes crushed at the front
Your foot slides forward and your toes get squeezed. Height is part of it – the higher the heel, the more weight lands on the ball of the foot. Lowering the heel can ease that, but it won’t make a shoe that’s too small or too narrow fit.
Platform or wedge heel
On a platform, the sole under the toes is thick too, so what you feel is the difference between heel and toe. Wedges and platforms are built differently from a separate heel, and some can’t be lowered at all. A side photo shows the shop which kind you have.
Wanting a big drop
Turning a tall stiletto into a low heel usually doesn’t work. The arch and sole are curved for the original height, so a big cut leaves the toe pointing up and the shoe rocking back. If you need a much lower heel, a different pair is often the better answer.
What to do right now.
- Walk around at home for a few minutes and note where it hurts – the ball of the foot, the toes or the arch.
- Photograph each shoe from the side, standing on a flat table, so the shop can see the heel and the curve of the sole.
- If you own a pair whose heel height feels right, bring it or photograph it next to these as a reference.
What not to do.
- Don’t saw, file or sand a heel down yourself – it’s easy to cut it crooked or through the part that holds the heel tip.
- Don’t push through a whole night in heels that are too high on marble or tile – a shaky step on a smooth floor is how ankles get twisted.
- Don’t try to solve it with gel pads alone if the heel is simply too high; they help with rubbing, not with the angle of your foot.
When it’s not worth repairing.
Lowering isn’t worth it when you want a big change – the shoe won’t sit right and may feel worse than before. It also doesn’t make sense for heels molded in one piece with the sole, for shoes that are too small, or for an inexpensive pair when a lower-heeled pair costs less. A modest drop on shoes you love usually is worth it.
How we fix it.
- We look at the shoe from the side – the heel, the arch and the curve of the sole – to see how much lower it can go and still sit level.
- We tell you what’s realistic and the price before starting – work begins only after you say yes.
- We lower both heels by the same amount, so the pair stays level and matched.
- If the heel tips are worn or a heel cover is scuffed, we can replace the tips or repair the cover at the same time.
