Shoes

Each person’s feet come in all different shapes and measurements.  However, no matter where you go, manufacturers makes and sells shoes with standard sizes.  This makes finding shoes that are comfortable and well-made hard to find, especially if you have specific requirements such as strong support for arches or slip resistance.  That’s why we are here to help you understand those standard sizes you see at the store, provide you with a guide of how to measure your feet and inform you of the latest trends so that you can find the right shoes that fit you for any occasion.

 

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Shoe Stores

Here are the best stores to find shoes for specific occasion and where you can find the recommended shoes in the chart above.

1. Formal/Dress/All Occasion Shoes: Nordstrom; Macy’s
2. Athletic Shoes: Nike; Adidas; Dick’s Sporting Goods
3. Specialty Golf Shoes: In The Hole Golf
4. Trendy Wedge/High Heels Sneakers: Amazon
5. Unique Trends of Boots: Amazon
6. Slippers: Pottery Barn

 

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Shoe Buying Guide

Whether you’re buying shoes in a store or online, here is a basic guide to help you find the right shoes and know what to look for.

1. Checking Shoe Quality.  You should always check shoes for details about their quality and choose reliable footwear brands.
   • Buy shoes from a brand known for quality and comfort.  One way to find quality footwear brands is by reading customer reviews.  Many well-established footwear brands are known for their reliable, functional footwear.  Buying a pair of shoes from these brands ensures you are getting a high-quality product.  Most of these companies have also built their reputations on good customer service so their shoes are likely to be covered by a generous warranty.
   • Examine the soles of the shoes to see if they are sturdy.  You should avoid flat shoes with very thin bottoms, which are likely to break or wear away quickly.  The soles of good shoes should be sturdy enough to provide cushioning for your feet while you are walking.  They should also provide protection for your feet from sharp objects.  Always examine the bottom of the shoes before trying them on to see how thick and strong the soles look.
   • Verify that the insole and arch offer adequate foot support.  Avoid buying shoes with flat insoles, which will not hold your feet in place properly.  Consider shopping for shoes with insoles and arches that are slightly raised or curved to support your feet.  Note that some shoes will have insoles that are removable and can be washed periodically.
   • Look closely at the seams and edges of the shoes for any loose material or visible glue.  Check the seams for uneven stitching or looped threads.  Poor craftsmanship is most evident in the small details on a pair of shoes.
   • Make sure the heels are securely attached to the shoes.  If you are looking for shoes with pronounced heels, check them carefully to make sure they are well constructed.  If the heels are sewn on, make sure the stitches are even and secure.  If the heels are glued on, check for any gaps where the soles could start peeling off.
2. Finding the Best Fit.  When shopping for shoes in person, always try them on and make sure they are comfortable on your feet.
   • If possible, go shopping for shoes in the afternoon.  This way you will be sure to buy shoes that accommodate your feet at their biggest, preventing tightness and discomfort later.  This is because your feet expand naturally as you walk throughout the day and are usually at their most swollen point in the afternoon.
   • Wear the same type of socks that you’ll be wearing with the shoes.  Trying on shoes with the wrong socks will likely leave you with shoes that are too loose or tight.  To give you a better picture of how the shoes will actually look when you wear them and get an accurate idea of how they fit, wear socks with the same thickness as those you intend to wear when you go shopping for shoes.  If you are shopping for sandals or other shoes you won’t wear socks with, try them on your bare feet or bring a pair of nylon knee-highs/booties to wear.
   • Ask the sales person to measure your feet using a foot sizer.  Knowing the exact size of your feet can make shopping for shoes much simpler.  If you know your measurements, it will give you unique information which may prompt you to shop for special styles or brands of shoes.  For example, if your feet are wider than average you may want to shop for extra-wide shoes.
   • Leave 0.5” (1.3cm) between your big toe and the tip of the shoes.  Your feet shift in your shoes when you are standing or walking, so your shoes should be slightly roomy.  As a rule, 0.5” (1.3cm) is the ideal amount of space to have between your foot and the shoe material.  Test this by sliding your index finger behind your heel to make sure it fits.  This is a more accurate way of testing if the shoes fit than simply pressing down on the toes of your shoes when you try them on.  If your finger doesn’t fit, try on the shoes in the next size up.
   • Make sure that you are comfortable standing and walking in the shoes.  If you experience pain, tightness or difficulty walking, consider a different size or style.  Good shoes should not have to be ‘broken in’ to feel comfortable on your feet.  When you try on shoes, stand up in them and take a few steps around the store to see how they feel.
3. Shopping for Shoes Online.  If you shop online, always buy from reliable websites that offers free returns.
   • Review the comments left by buyers.  When you are looking at a pair of shoes online, scroll down to look for comments and reviews of the shoes.  Customers who have already bought these shoes may provide valuable information about how the shoes fit.  Always avoid buying shoes that have received numerous poor reviews.
   • Make sure the return shipping is free.  Shopping for shoes online is always a bit of a gamble and flexible return policies are important.  Only buy shoes from websites that offer free return shipping on products that don’t fit.  Many companies will provide you with a prepaid shipping label for stress-free returns.
   • Compare prices on different websites to get the best deals.  Make sure to factor shipping fees and taxes into shoe prices when comparison shopping.  You can find quality shoes at a steep discount online, particularly because of the competition between websites.  Once you find a shoe model you like, research it online and compare the prices on several reliable sellers.  If shoes are out of season or discontinued, it may be at a fraction of their original retail price.
   • Shop on websites that feature large, multi-perspective pictures.  For example, an informative website may show pictures of the shoes from the outer edge, inner arch and overhead to show the insoles.  When online shopping for shoes, you will have to rely heavily on images to gauge the product.  Shop on websites with clear pictures that are big enough to show details such as stitching and texture.

 

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Foot & Shoe Measuring Tips

Most shoe manufacturers today use a measuring system called the length of the “last” to make shoes.  A “last” is a template shaped of a pair of human feet and often made from wood.  The “last” comes in all assorted sizes and is the easiest system for manufacturers to use because it identifies only the tool used to produce the shoe.  It makes no promises about manufacturing tolerance or for what size of foot the shoe is suitable.  It leaves all responsibility and risk of choosing the correct size with the customer.  Further, the “last” can be measured in several diverse ways resulting in different measurements.

To add on another layer of complexity, the sizes of each person’s left and right feet are often slightly different.  This makes finding the perfect shoes that are comfortable very difficult.  One way to solve this issue and help you find the right fit, shoe stores will measure both your feet and advise you to purchase a shoe size based on the larger foot as the shoe stores do not sell pairs of shoes in non-matching sizes.  The Brannock Device can be found in many shoe stores today and is the instrument used to measure your feet.  This measuring instrument was invented by Charles F. Brannock in 1925 and the following formula is used to find your shoe size:

• Male shoe size: 3 x foot length in inches – 22
• Female shoe size: 3 x foot length in inches – 21

The devices also measure the length of the arch, or the distance between the heel and the ball of the foot.  For this measurement, the device has a shorter scale at the instep of the foot with an indicator that slides into position.  If this scale indicates a larger size, it is taken in place of the foot’s length to ensure proper fitting.  For children’s sizes, additional wiggle room is added to allow for growth.  The device also measures the width of the foot and assigns it designations of AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, EE or EEE.  The widths are 3/16” apart and differ by shoe length.  The most common letter designations of the width are N (narrow), M (medium), R (regular) or W (wide).  Some shoe stores (mostly athletic shoe stores) and medical professionals use optical 3D surface scanners to precisely measure the length and width of both feet and recommend the appropriate shoe model and size.

Here is a table to show feet lengths and converted to the most common shoes sizes in the U.S. and U.K, using the Brannock system.  As an example to guide you, if you measure the length of your feet and it comes out to be 8.5” you would then plug that into the Brannock formula 3 x 8.5 – 21.  The length of your feet would then be 4.5”.  However, to give yourself some wiggle room in shoes you want to consider going up an inch or half inch so then your feet length is 5”-5.5”.  When you look at the table below, your shoe size comes out to be either a 6 or 6.5.  This example is for a female size.  For males you would use the formula 3 x length of feet – 22.

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