Guidelines for Buying the Right Pair of Shoes

A common misconception is that a tight shoe will stretch over time to fit your foot. This is not necessarily true so you should always buy the shoe that fits your foot correctly to begin with.

If the shoes do not fit, do not buy them. They will not stretch enough so that they will be comfortable, and your feet certainly are not going to shrink.

Use the following guidelines to find the correct shoe size. About 1/2" space should be allowed between the tip of your biggest toe and the end of the shoe. Your feet are longer when standing, so make sure to stand up when being fitted. Try on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are largest (due to swelling). Both feet need to be measured, as they probably are not exactly the same size. Do not buy shoes just because they are high fashion, as they may cause corns, bunions, hammer toes, or ingrown toenails. These symptoms are quite common with stilettos. Women must be taking this into consideration because there are nearly 15% fewer women wearing high heel shoes (more than two inches) to work than there were 10 years ago. More women are becoming practical and are wearing more sensible shoes to work.

Many podiatrists suggest a chunky heel that is one and a half to two inches high with padded insoles and room for the toes to move.

If you do need to wear heels, limit the amount of time you wear them, and trade off with a good pair of flats for part of the day. Also wear comfortable shoes on the weekends or at other times when you are not working.

Shoes with laces rather than slip on provide a better fit. If you wear sandals, make sure they have straps.

In order to cushion the foot when you must wear thin soled high heels, have a thin rubber sole cemented to the bottom of the shoe.

Keep in mind that if you wear pantyhose, they may cause the feet to perspire excessively which in turn encourages fungal infections, such as athlete's foot. Some nylon pantyhose may cause cramping and pressure in the toes which could lead to ingrown toenails and hammertoes.

If you are over 65, choose shoes with lightweight and shock-absorbing soles. Also make sure they are not slippery and that the leather uppers can breathe.

Do not wear high heels if you are pregnant. You will not only be more uncomfortable, with the added weight and swelling of the feet, but you take a risk of tripping or falling. Instead, wear comfortable shoes with thick, supportive soles.

More shopping guides:
Shoe types :: Bedroom clothing :: Work clothing
T-shirts and more :: Staying fit