The Most Unlikely Winter Pairing Is a Puffer and Heeled Boots

Puffer coats and high heels—hear me out. It's not completely groundbreaking, nor is it extremely Instagrammable, especially compared to red-hot novelty trends like a pint-size purse. But the two pieces together make a surprisingly stellar visual. I've always associated the puffer with casual clothes, a marshmallow silhouette that would call for a heavy-soled sneaker or snow boot. As for heels, they require maybe a long tailored wool coat or a leather trench. The two opposites never matched up for me. They felt confused and even cumbersome. All that puff! All that height!

It wasn't until I noticed the signature It girls of Instagram stepping out in the look that my mind changed. First, Bella Hadid wore the puffer-and-heel getup in January in Paris. She sported micro sunglasses, a Fendi Zucca logo shirt, a Michelin Man orange puffer coat, and square-toe black leather boots with a healthy heel. More recently, Kendall Jenner wore a similar outfit, choosing a heather green and caramel puffer coat with faded boot-cut jeans and square-toe snakeskin boots. Clunk, clunk, chic!

It's not so wild that puffers and heels have made their way onto the streets, as the unwieldy coat has experienced a revival of sorts. Take Ienki Ienki, a label from Ukraine, whose funky, exaggerated silhouette is now sold at retailers like Barneys New York. Other puffers of late have come with playful graphic prints, courtesy of Danish label Saks Potts. They have even become works of art thanks to Moncler's Genius project, as reimagined by Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. (Ezra Miller made waves with his recent red carpet look.) So why not dress these puffers up with a pair of heels and quite literally elevate the outerwear? I myself am sold. This winter, find me warm in a North Face and teetering in heeled boots.

Most Women Love High Heels, But Doctors Warn They ‘Can Really Damage Feet’

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Most women know and love a good pair of high heels. Often, the higher the better. However, doctors warn high heels can really damage your feet, causing a lot of pain.

It is informally called "Big Toe Arthritis." A new implant made out of contact lens material may provide you some relief.

Patient Elizabeth Carbonell explains, "I knew that I needed surgery to the point that I was limping."

Carbonell has suffered from foot pain for years. She blames her love of high heels her entire adult life.

"I guess I was very vain when I was younger and I was always in high heels, to the point I would go to school in high heels, go to university in high heels, go to work in high heels," she says.

However, a few years ago, the pain in Carbonell's feet and the rest of her body became unbearable.

"That type of walking hinders you in other ways because it causes lower back problems," Carbonell says, wincing at the memory of her pain. "That's one of the biggest red flags in my case when you realize that you have such terrible pain in your lower back. And it's all due to your feet and the way you're walking."

Carbonell ended up opting for surgery on her left big toe. But it only led to more problems and three surgeries. Even now, years later, she says it is painful. Her ability to move the toe is compromised.

"It was a complete disaster."

Still in pain, limping and somewhat traumatized by how wrong things went in that last surgery where her toe joint fused and was made unmovable, Carbonell waited for just the right option for her other foot.

"The whole idea of having to re-do something like that again was just horrible in my mind," she says.

"When we talk about big toe arthritis, we're talking about this area here," says Carbonell's orthopedic surgeon says as he points to the bone of the big toe on a skeletal model.

Doctor Amiethab Aiyer with the University of Miami's Health System is using the new Cartiva implant in surgeries for big toe arthritis.

Still pointing at the first joint of the big toe, Doctor Aiyer explains, "It's this area here where my finger is that is particularly affected by this. That's when we really start talking to the patients about adjusting shoe wear."

If that fails, the talks switch to surgery.

About two million people across the U.S. have ‘big toe arthritis", most of them women. Dr. Aiyer says you get big toe arthritis a couple of different ways, with varying degrees of severity and pain.

Inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis, gout, a fracture or broken bone are all often to blame. And of course, high heels.

"Loading of the joint in that particular fashion as the toe is sort of brought up with the high heel definitely causes more force and more stress on the joints in that area and definitely may be a reason why we see when patients come in with BTA early on big bone spurs that have formed in that particular spot."

Doctor Aiyer continues, "Depending on the stage of the disease has really sort of dictated how we treat this. With lower stages or earlier grades, predominantly when there is a big bone spur on the top, you can make an incision on to the top of the big toe and remove the bone spur all the way to actually gluing the joint shut and fusing the toe when it's really bad arthritis."

"He recommended I do this joint fusion and the technology is nowhere," Carbonell says.

The Cartiva implant is made with the same material used in contact lenses. It is durable and slippery, acting much like cartilage.

"Interestingly a lot of people still use metallic joint replacements that do involve some degree of screwed mechanics or some degree of screw material," says the doctor. "The advantage with the Cartiva is the pain relief lasts for close to five years. In addition, people get between five and seven degrees more motion at the end of the surgery. You still have to make that dorsal incision, that incision on the top of the big toe to get down to the joint. The operative time is about 40% shorter. On average, a fusion can be done in about an hour whereas on average this takes anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to complete."

In contrast to the surgery on her left foot, three months after this procedure putting Cartiva in her right foot, Carbonell was quickly out of bed and off the crutches.

"I'm very pleased. The recuperation time has been wonderful," she says happily. "Within six weeks. I was walking and doing therapy."

Her right toe is still swollen. However, Carbonell's wearing flat shoes and does so all the time now. And when she can, she tries to pass along some advice informed by her own many years in pain.

"I see these beautiful young women destroying their feet. I wouldn't want other women to suffer the way I have. The issues that come along later in life aren't worth it, it's really not worth it."

Runners Conquer Drag Race With Heels, Glitter, and Creatively-Decorated Pumpkins

 Clad in a leather jacket, a nervous participant puffed away on a cigarette at the start line. Elsewhere, as club music pumped through nearby speakers, Miss Davida Jones waved to her fans, dressed in a Halloween-themed satin robe over black lace lingerie.

At the start line, participants gripped pumpkins by the stem or held them tight and secure under their arm, similar to the hold of a running back with a football. It was clear that the 2018 High Heel Drag Race would not be like any other 200-meter contest.

Matt Hanson, president of race sponsor New Hope Celebrates, which promotes diversity and inclusivity, said the event started back in the 1970s or '80s as a gag among some friends, but it has really taken off the last few years.

"Since the '30s, there have been houses that LGBTQ people would meet and have drinks and get to know each other at little private drinking clubs," Hanson said. "We love to celebrate everyone in this town. That's what this event kind of says, we have straight people running, LGBTQ people, allies, everyone's welcome."

This one-block race in New Hope, Pennsylvania, is quite simple. Runners must wear heels and some type of drag or skirt—the outfits ranged from custom-made dresses to tight, colorful bodysuits.

"This is a Bobbie Pinz wig. This is a custom-made one-piece, I forget who made it," said Steven Ennis, as his fishnet-wearing, Jersey Shore-inspired character Coco Loco. "The boots are like a Hustler brand boot that I rhinestoned."

Then, they must carry a pumpkin up a 100-meter long hill, where a table with art supplies awaits. After decorating the pumpkin, they must make it back down the hill in one piece.

"It's a hodgepodge of love and awesomeness is what we're seeing here tonight," said participant Kelleen Gebler, founder of the New Hope Run Club.

Gebler is an avid runner, but her runs are usually completed in Brooks or Newtons. Speaking to Runner's World as Kiki, she wore purple heels and her friend's prom gown.

"Go big or go home is my decorating strategy," Gebler said. "And glitter. Glitter always wins."

An estimated 1,500 spectators packed into the one-block section of Mechanic Street to take in the sea of sashes and sequins. Festivities included runway-style introductions and a performance of The Pointer Sisters' classic "I'm So Excited."

When the race finally began, only a handful of the 15 participants took off at full speed. It was evident the rest were putting health over glory.

"It's day number one in high heels," said first-time participant Bruce Burns. "I definitely don't have any intentions of winning the race, but at least I'll walk home."

Aviva Daniels of New Hope was the first across the finish line with a time of just over 30 seconds. When asked about the large smile drawn on the pumpkin, Daniels merely said, "That's how I feel." For the victory, Daniels was awarded a night out at various local bars and restaurants, valued at about $200.

In total, the 2018 running raised $2,700. The funds raised will benefit New Hope Celebrates and go toward LGBTQ-friendly events in the borough, such as the annual Pride festivities.