Rah Ali knows how to pick a high heel.
The former star of “Love and Hip Hop: New York” launched her shoe line, Encore, in 2013, and since then she’s been continuing to cement herself as the “Stiletto Expert.”
“It’s really not so much about the heel, it’s the instep. Because when you put your foot into a shoe, actually, it’s the instep that bothers you, it’s not the actual heel,” Ali shares of the ache-inducing portion of a shoe. “Sometimes when say, ‘I really like high heels but it hurts my feet,’ it’s not the heels. Maybe get a thicker heel. So you can do, maybe a wider one or a platform. And even sometimes a wedge will give you that height you want, but it’ll be more comfortable.”
Ali says another factor when it comes to finding the right shoe is looking past the typical designers that are located in department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus.
“There are so many amazing designers that are not necessarily ones that you may see in a department store … you have to search and look for what’s best for you,” she explains, noting that the Brazilian brand Pour La Victoire, which is available at DSW, has a lower price range than the Italian luxury brand by Giuseppe Zanotti, whose shoes are found at Saks and Bloomingdales.
“It’s a great shoe,” Ali says. “And when shopping I always tell women to look for styles that you can wear season after season. For instance, a traditional black pump, that’s something you can wear to work, right? You can wear it today if you had it on. But if you’re going out on date night, you can also put on a sexy black pump. So if you’re spending a little bit more for your shoe, it’s OK because it’s getting its wear, you’re getting your money’s worth.”
Ali cautions against going for more trendy looks, like one of fall 2019’s trends of Jeweled Princess Shoes, which will likely take several seasons to come back into fashion.
One thing she won’t have to worry about coming or going back into fashion is her radio show. As she continues to build her businesses up, the author, TV personality and entrepreneur can add radio host to her résumé. She’s been broadcasting “It’s OnSite” with co-host Richard Lomax since September.
