Shoes Galore! Shopping for Shoes.

If The Shoe Fits...

It's never easy to decide whether a shoe fits well until you've spent some time walking around in it. As Will Rogers once put it, never judge a man till you've walked a mile in his shoes--and the same is true about judging a shoe. Unfortunately, it usually isn't to try out shoes as extensively as necessary to really get the feel for the shoe without rendering the shoe used--and therefore, non-returnable--in the process.

There are a few helpful hints to determining whether a shoe fits properly, however, without the wear-inflicting activity. First of all, wear the shoes around the house while you'll be spending a large amount of time on your feet. For example, if you bought a new pair of heels for an event that will involve dancing and standing around (a wedding, perhaps, or a cocktail party), try cooking a meal while wearing the shoes.  The time you spend on your feet, cutting, cooking, and cleaning will help give you an idea of what it would be like to wear the shoes to the function in question.*

Second, spend as much time as possible wearing the shoe in question while in the house. If you have stairs in your home, go up and down the stairs to stimulate repeated strenuous walking activity.  The more time you spend in the shoe itself, the more it will contour to your foot--and the more you will be able to tell whether the shoe actually, in reality, fits.

 Third, spend time standing and walking along different surfaces in your home. If possible, meander around floors of different materials--spend time on the wooden living room floor, and the tiled kitchen, and the carpeted bedroom to get a real feel for how the shoe feels when walking on different surfaces.  These experiences can tell you a lot about the shoe itself and your foot within it.
 

*Note: opening a box of Mac & Cheese does not constitute "cooking a meal".  If this is your idea of cooking, try eating standing up while wearing the shoes and roaming the kitchen for an alternative shoe-evaluation method.
 

Finding The Perfect Heel

Heel height and width has always been a matter of much discussion and debate. Suffice it to say that the on-again-off-again love affair with the wedge has certainly opened up options! 

If you're like me, then you're not a great high heel walker. Because of that, I'm very picky about what the heel on my shoe looks like. I can't handle the thin, spiky heel, and tend to go for something with a little bit more stability to it.  Make sure you pick the heel carefully, because no matter how elegant the shoe may look, you'll still look like a doofus if you trip every 3 feet.
 

BOOTS

As everyone who has experienced a winter (sorry to all you folks out there in Miami...) knows, boots are a must-have for those cold, snowy, frigidly painful days.  Shopping for boots can be pricey, but investing in a good pair of boots is crucial. Make sure your boots have a non-skid sole, because otherwise, you'll be slipping and sliding all over the place. 

Of course, there's more than one purpose to a boot.  Boots have become fashion accessories as much as any other type of shoe.  Many of these boots are not actually cold-weather friendly--sorry, ladies, but that 4 inch stiletto heel just won't give you good traction. 

Oh, the Options!

Before buying shoes with ankles straps, make sure they don't rub awkwardly when you walk.	Red shoes can add a bit of pizazz to any outfit! Open toed shoes are a must for any wardrobe.	Purple shoes may not be the most practical, but every woman should own a pair.	This strappy sandles are a perfect accompaniment to that summer little black dress.

The Information Age

 One of the best ways to learn about the quality and feel of a shoe is to read online reviews of the shoe or similar shoes from the same brand before purchasing. Many online shoe retailers have discussion boards where wearers comment on the site themselves--Zappos, for example, has user comments about each shoe on the same page as the shoe description.

How to Shop for Shoes Online

Shopping for shoes online is a bit more complicated because, of course, you can't try your shoes on before you leave the store.  However, shopping online is incredibly more convenient and frequently cheaper than the average trip to the mall.  Therefore, here are a few helpful tips:

1. Shop for brands you know.

If you are looking for a new pair of shoes and aren't picky about the brand, start with a brand that you already own.  Shoes sizes may vary across brands, but it's a good bet that if you're a size 8 in one pair of Aldo shoes, you'll be a size 8 in another pair of Aldo shoes.

2. Look at return policies

Some online stores offer free returns if you don't like the shoe or it doesn't fit. Zappos.com is among my favorite for this.  If you don't have to worry about paying for shipping, it's no big deal to buy a few pairs that are similar, try them on at home, and decide which pair fits best before sending back the rest and receiving a full refund.

3. Compare, compare, compare

Sometimes you can find the very same shoes for far cheaper on a different website than the first site you happen upon. Be sure to run searches in google, and especially to compare shoe prices on the actual designers' websites versus the stores' websites, etc.  

Where to Shop?

Zappos.com With over 2 million items in stock, Zappos.com offers the best shoe selection anywhere -- online or offline. Zappos.com adds new styles to their site on a daily basis so that their selection is always fresh and up to date. Zappos.com offers name brands such as Adidas, Birkenstock, Reebok, Nine West and many more. It's hard not to find the item you are looking for at Zappos.com, with 500 name brands and over 90,000 styles ready for shipment. Receive great offers at Zappos.com from ShopAtHo...

BootBay.com

Some Fantastic Deals

Shoes are often an expensive part of a wardrobe, so finding a few great deals can make all the difference.  Check out sites like Zappos for great clearance sections--Zappos has tons and tons of shoes on sale and clearance, clearly displayed by clicking the "On Sale" link on the Zappos home page.  ShoeBuy also offers great discounts. Don't underestimate the benefits of a coupon for free shipping or the like--online shipping fees can run between $4 and $10, so free shipping can make a big difference. Be sure to check on your favorite coupons site for free shipping coupons at different online shoe stores before starting to shop.

Happy Shoe Shopping!