Your feet are bigger at the end of the day.
That’s not some weird outcome from some oddball slimming concoction you’re taking. They just swell up after all that walking and standing you’ve been doing all day. That’s also the reason why it’s a good idea to go shopping for shoes in the afternoon or at night; if you shop during the day you risk wearing ill-fitting shoes the rest of the time.
Naturally, when you buy shoes, you want them to fit you right. Ill-fitting shoes, from trainers to dress shoes, not only mean pain and bringing back up flip-flops because you can’t wear your tight shoes for more than three hours. It also means bunions, calluses and other foot problems.
Here are 10 other things you need to know when shopping for footwear.
1. Shoe sizes change over time; the size you know several years ago might not be the very size you have now. So before telling your salesperson to go and get a pair of 9’s or 10’s, get your feet measured in the store, while standing, because your feet expand with the weight of your body.
2. Always try the pair on; don’t just rely on the size indicated in the shoe. Different manufacturers have different sizes for every type of shoes. You might be an 8 in a pair of loafers but you might not be that size in a pair of trainers.
3. Pick shoes that are shaped like your feet. This goes the same for your arch as every person has a different foot arch; a high arch is when you’re the middle of your foot print doesn’t show while a flat arch leaves your entire footprint visible on paper. The right arch can mean more comfortable shoes, from loafers to high heels.
4. The heel should fit right; it should not slide up and down when you walk.
5. Never just sit while trying on shoes. Standing will tell you if there is ½ an inch between your toe and the end of the shoe.
6. To get the best deals, try outlet malls and check out clearance sales. There’s no shame in wearing last season’s flats or loafers.
7. When getting trainers, wear the kind of socks you normally wear when you have a pair on. This should give you a good idea if the shoes you’re getting are the perfect fit.
8. The soles of your shoes should give sufficient traction so you don’t slip on surfaces.
9. If your other foot is bigger than the other one (which is true for many people), get a pair that fits your bigger foot.
10. There is no such thing as “breaking in” your shoes. When you try them on, they should fit you comfortably and perfectly, while making you feel cute or sexy or debonair. If the shoes are too tight the first time you put them on, they will always feel tight. No “investment” is worth getting calluses and corn and bunion.