Summer Shoe Threat-o-Meter

Platforms

Danger ranking: 4. "They're wobbly and compromise the normal gait pattern. The situation is even worse with exaggerated ratios between the toe and heel height"

Best for: Adding height at a crowded rooftop party

Avoid: Climbing stairs in lighthouses or ancient cathedrals; chasing after children

Doctor's note: "For a wedding or other formal occasion, consider styles from Easy Spirit, Aldo or Stella McCartney—pricey but worth it. Try them with a padded insole or arch cushion from the drugstore."