I have this rule of shoe-buying: Never buy shoes you can’t run in. And while I don’t expect to be running on my wedding day, I do expect to do plenty of walking and dancing. Comfortable shoes are a must.

However, heels are also a must, as I am both short and short-legged. I had my first gown fitting while wearing these (flimsy and uncomfortable) 3 1/4″ heels, so I need to find something about the same height.

The reviewers at Zappos seem to love Nina shoes for their comfort, so I decided to give them a try. Here’s a sampling of what I tried on:

From left to right, top to bottom, they are:

1. Halena, an asymmetrical slingback with a 2 1/4″ heel
2. Vergone, another asymmetrical slingback, this time with a 3 1/2″ heel
3. Fiore, a slingback with crystal accents and a 3 1/2″ heel
4. Fifi, a mesh pump with rhinestones and a 3 1/4″ heel
5. Gretel, a rhinestone-accented sandal with a 1/2″ platform and a 3 1/2″ heel

They were all super-cute on the shelf. But after trying them on, I discovered they were also:

1. Too low, and actually kind of ugly on the foot. The asymmetrical strap provides no support.
2. A better height, but the asymmetrical strap has the same problem as above.
3. Pinchy. The regular slingback provides more support, but still not enough to dance comfortably.
4. Stiff and painful.
5. Precarious to walk in, mostly thanks to the platform.

The Gretel might have worked, but negotiating a 3 1/2″ heel and a 1/2″ platform was a little too much for my uncoordinated self. But I did notice that the around-the-ankle strap helped anchor my foot to the shoe during tricky maneuvers (like…walking in a straight line). So I’m going to look for shoes with those kinds of straps.

After browsing around on the Nina site some more, I found Grant, which I hadn’t seen in the store. It’s a T-strap sandal with a 3 1/4″ heel.

If I don’t find anything promising on my next shoe-buying trip, I might order them off the web site and give them a go.