Lifestyle Choices

Shop with your head, not just your heart, and you’ll be sure to get the most from your foot-wise purchase. Touch the shoes you’re going to buy; rub your hand over suede shoes; the color should be consistent but look different each way. If it doesn’t, the nap is too short and it will wear poorly … If the shoes are unlined, take careful note: does the color come off on your fingers? If the answer is yes, you can bet that it will come off on your feet too … Velvet shoes should be thick and soft looking, feel plushy to the touch … With silk or other fabrics, check the edge where cloth meets sole; if the fabric shows wear before you’ve purchased it, it probably will get worse … Delicate fabrics such as lace should have some back-up material; unlined shoes of this type will quickly lose their shape … Lizard or snake shoes may be rough or bumpy to the touch. That’s OK, but mottled color and air pockets between the lining and the leather are not. The best quality skins will be seamed on the inside, rather than the outside … Patent leather shoes are sometimes better when made of synthetic materials. Synthetic patent looks like the real thing, lasts longer, resists peeling and cracking … Squeeze a shoe before you buy it; the more you can flex it in your hand, the more comfy it will be on your foot … Examine the bottom carefully: an imprint indicating real leather is a sign worth searching for; the shoes may cost more, but they wear better, look snappier, and feel more comfortable … Repair your shoes at the early stages of damage. Replace worn heels, repair split leather quickly, before damage has gone too far … A preventive measure: put taps on new shoes to preserve heels, toes … Indulge in a professional shoeshine now and then; your shoes will look spiffy, and so will you!

If the Shoes Fit

• Bigger is better. If one size is too big, and the other is a bit too small, opt for the larger size; you can always remedy with a pad. Tight shoes, however, will hurt, and can cause corns, blisters, calluses.
• Stick with comfort. Don’t count on shoes stretching a significant amount. Leather shoes may have a bit of give, but not much. Don’t buy them if they feel snug!

• Avoid heels too high to walk in. Teetering and hobbling isn’t chic; it’s just silly and dangerous!

• Stomp on the floor when trying on new shoes. Your toes should not press against the front of the shoe.

• Shop for shoes late in the afternoon because your feet tend to expand during the day. Otherwise, you might find that the shoes you bought in the morning are too tight to wear at night.

• Wear socks or stockings similar to the ones you’ll be wearing with the shoes to get the right feel. Terry gym socks with peau de soie evening pumps won’t do it!

• Remember that the heel counter-the part of the shoe that wraps around your heel—should be firm and hug the Achilles tendon securely.

• Walk on soft and hard surfaces. While most shoe stores and shoe departments are carpeted to save wear and tear on soles, try to find a bare spot. Shoes should feel good on both types of surface.
• Don’t be rigid about shoe size. Just because the size eight narrows you bought last time fit perfectly doesn’t mean that’s the only size for you. Every style is different and may require a modification in your “size” to fit your foot properly. Material, heel height, toe shape all contribute to the way the shoe fits your foot. Try different sizes and widths when you shop.
• Finally, rely on your own sense of how the shoe looks and feels. The salesperson, your best friend, or even your mother isn’t going to wear the shoes—you are. You’ll be happier, look better, if the shoe really fits.

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