How to buy shoes correctly

[moonchn]

Was just wondering, What is the correct 'way' of purchasing shoes that fit.

Because some of us do purchase them from online-overseas whereby u have no way of trying on those shoes and its very frustrating that when they arrive, it either bites or u are just gonna drag ur feet around in them.

would wanna know any ideas to share when it comes to buying shoes?

for me, i hope to find suggestions when it comes to slingbacks, i always get them a definite 100% wrong with the sling CONSTANTLY slipping off. its useless for me to attach in those non-slip gel pads etc.. saw some ppl walking in 'loose' slingbacks.. dunno how they manage but i just cant

[dollishchic]

measure the size of your feet? and usually i would buy a size or half a size smaller, cos shoes tend to expand sometimes. all shoes bites, it depends how to manage it. apply foot glide or gel stickers for double protection

[CaramelGirl]

Buying a pair of shoes seems simple enough, but a few considerations should be made. Your shoes are probably the most important clothing item to determine comfort, so a little extra time when buying can be well worth the effort.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 20 minutes

Here's How:
1. Have your feet measured by a salesperson.
Many people jump ahead to trying on the shoes without checking the length and width of each foot. It is important to know to proper size of your feet and if your feet are slightly different sizes.

2. Shop for the larger foot.
If your feet are different sizes, buy a shoe that best fits the larger foot. If you need, buy an insole to fill space in the other shoe.

3. Make sure the shoe fits your heel and your toes.
The toebox should provide ample wiggle room, and the heel should not slip up when walking.

4. Go for a walk in the store.
Make sure the shoe is comfortable for a short walk around the store--any pain is only going to be worse on a long walk.

5. Don't think a shoe will 'break-in.'
This is a common misconception that shoes should be purchased snug so they can break-in. Wrong! Shoes should fit when you buy them.

Tips:
Stand up when measuring your feet.
Do your footwear shopping towards the end of the day after you've been up and walking for a few hours. Under these conditions your feet will be slightly larger than in the morning. End-of-the-day shopping is the best way to buy footwear.

Remeasure your feet each time you buy new shoes.
Measure your feet each visit as your shoe size can change over time. And never buy a shoe based on size alone--try them on!

Source: http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/befo...t/buyshoes.htm

[unravel_moi]

i have heard that we should buy shoes at night, as they get 'swollen' after a long day's walk I just bought two pairs of booties from an online spree, with my fingers crossed.

I took my measurements and my other shoe bases of similar designs, then compared with the supplier's approx measurement of the shoe. I got the biggest shoe size they got size 40 for that design.

The shoes came and i could fit in them! Except that the heels were slightly higher than what i normally wear. There are usually risks getting shoes online as you cant try them on. I usually try to get half a size bigger if i feel that it is a bit squishy :D

[Glossie]

for me, i hope to find suggestions when it comes to slingbacks, i always get them a definite 100% wrong with the sling CONSTANTLY slipping off. its useless for me to attach in those non-slip gel pads etc.. saw some ppl walking in 'loose' slingbacks.. dunno how they manage but i just cant

Do the slingbacks fit in the first place? Or it's a case of them being all-round loose? Perhaps you'd have to place in some half insoles (front) or something like this even if the fit is snug at the front. I don't usually have the loose sling problem when the shoes fit snug.

http://www.footpetals.com/cgi-bin/fo...0Kushionz.html

Was just wondering, What is the correct 'way' of purchasing shoes that fit.

Because some of us do purchase them from online-overseas whereby u have no way of trying on those shoes and its very frustrating that when they arrive, it either bites or u are just gonna drag ur feet around in them.

I never thought to measure my foot until recently when I began vintage shoe-shopping. Sizing for vintage shoes usually runs smaller so the only way is to go by measurements. For covered shoes, always better to play safe - don't order if they might be too tight even if let's say your foot measures 9.5" and the seller's measurement of the shoe insole from toe to heel is also 9.5". For open-toe slingbacks, you can take the risk.

I have ordered many shoes 'blind', from Birkenstock to GoJane. Success rate is actually higher than with clothes. You do have to pay for the occasional risks. HTHs.

[NeoPrint]

Just wondering whether I should get shoes that fit nicely or shoes that are a size smaller since some shoes do expand..any advice?

[vastocean]

I only buy shoes that fit now. There were some occasions in the past where the shoes were my size but they feel tight and the salesperson told me that the shoes will expand but the tight shoes hurt so much that I usually gave up before they sufficiently expand.

[plain_substance]

totally agree, especially for synthetic material. i won't buy even if they offered to expand the shoes, because it will shrink back by the time i get home. it's just the nature of PVC, even stuffing the shoes with paper won't help.

only real leather shoes will keep their expanded shape, and the correct way to do it is to leave the expander in the shoes for at least 1 hour.

[NeoPrint]

totally agree, especially for synthetic material. i won't buy even if they offered to expand the shoes, because it will shrink back by the time i get home. it's just the nature of PVC, even stuffing the shoes with paper won't help.

only real leather shoes will keep their expanded shape, and the correct way to do it is to leave the expander in the shoes for at least 1 hour.

Oh.. so shoes with synthetic material won't expand at all? Then why do sales persons always tell me that the shoes will expand? No wonder my feet always hurt. I think I've been getting shoes that are too tight.

[moonchn]

i read somewhere before that when you buy shoes, u should always buy a pair that allows ur toes to wriggle freely in the front, about 1 cm spacing.

As for me,
Peep-toes: just nice or my toes will 'sink' out
covered heels: 1 size bigger
pumps: as long as it doesnt 'flap' around
mules: 1/2 size bigger
slingbacks: cannot wear due to feet shape =(
sandals: 1/2 size bigger
sneakers, boots: 1 size bigger

all leather shoes will expand and mould to your feet shape.

do rmb to buy shoes around evening when ur feet has swelled up..but do be realistic, dont buy shoes after a marathon.. it will obviously be bigger than 'usual'

[preciousia]

wow this is helpful.

I tend to buy wrong sizes online and sometimes even when i try them at the stores.

[VinLongo]

even at shops to test them, i have a hard time buying correct size. the thing is the front of feet VS the shoes design.

Then i cannot remember, is our foot biggest in the noon time? There's a time for this n its best to try when feet is at our biggest at this certain time of the day.

[moonchn]

the time ur feet swells is realistically, on a day-to-day basis, the largest ur feet can get. so if u often shop, best to buy in evening, when u have done alot of walking and etc..

by right, shoes are NOT supposed to bite at all. perhaps only in the beginning when ur feet breaks in. with the correct size, they become comfortable quickly..just have to find the right size.. i have never use those gel pads as i find them in the way more of a help

oh ya, my brother told me that if u are a right hand-er, ur left foot is the bigger one and vice versa. so let say i am right hand, i will try the shoe on my left feet first. if it slips in nicely than only to right feet and walk around the shop

[preciousia]

Moonchn Your brother is a smart man. My left foot is indeed bigger and i am right handed.

Sometimes the size fits but the width doesn't. My bones are wider than normal

[preciousia]

Moonchn Your brother is a smart man. My left foot is indeed bigger and i am right handed.

Sometimes the size fits but the width doesn't. My bones are wider than normal