How To Choose Quality Shoes

HOW TO CHOOSE QUALITY SHOES

"You know you are a certified shoe addict if you think there is always room for one more pair"  - Bull Boxer. 

I'm not sure about any of you but when it comes to shoes all my resistance crumbles. 
From story books about Cinderella's glass slipper, to Sarah Jessica Parker's shoe mad character Carrie in 'Sex and the City', shoes have always been a symbol of Style, Mystery and Magic. 

Although I would like to think that every gorgeous pair of shoes was made perfectly to fit your feet that's definitely not the case. 
So in today's blog, I'm going to focus on the fundamentals of purchasing a good quality comfortable but stylish shoe. 

START FROM SCRATCH

Before you even look at another shoe there are a few things that you need to take care of first. 

HAVE YOUR FEET MEASURED 

Just like clothing brands, sizes and cuts of shoes can be different for each shoe brand.   A Good idea would be to have your feet measured for each brand of shoe, you may find in certain brands you may be one size up or one size down. 

TRY SHOES ON AT THE END OF THE DAY

Believe it or not, your feet can change sizes throughout the day and often tend to be more swollen at the end of the day, so this would be the ideal time for you to try on new shoes. 

HAVE A WALKABOUT

This should go without saying, but you should definitely have a walk around the shoe area in the shoes you would like to purchase before you even think about buying them. Also, find out what the return policy is - most shoes are comfortable when you first try them on but walk around in them for an hour and maybe not so much. Find a store with a decent return policy. 

THE DETAILS OF A QUALITY SHOE

There are certain elements you should look for in every quality shoe these elements or characteristics will give you an understanding of why some shoe brands have a higher price point than others. 

WHAT MATERIAL IS THE SHOE MADE OF 

Leather or suede are the preferred material for shoes due to its stretchability and the fact that it breathes but can be controversial having come from an animal, there are however fabulous vegan options from Natalie Portman and Stella McCartney. I think the important thing here is to keep away from synthetic fibres like nylon and plastic. 
Nylon and plastic won't last half as long as good quality leather or vegan shoes and may become extremely uncomfortable after a few wears. 

ALL ABOUT THE ARCH 

The biggest difference between cheap and expensive shoes is usually arch support. The arches allow your feet to support the weight of your body in its standing position with the least amount of stress. Without proper support, your whole body will be affected. 
A more expensive pair of shoes will have one main difference and that is comfort having invested in the proper arch support.

ITS WHATS ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS 

Pay attention to the lining of the shoes, high-quality shoes usually have a cushioned insole made of leather that goes all the way around inside of the shoe and is not made of a synthetic material.  Natural materials like leather allow your foot to breathe and absorbs moisture synthetics won't absorb moisture and will be much less comfortable. 

DON'T BE 'SOLED' OUT 

Take a good look at how the sole is stitched on, are the stitches even and look secure. 
If the sole is glued on, make sure there is no space around the edges where the sole could start to peel off, you want a seamless sole that isn't going anywhere. 

HELPING HEEL 

In order to prevent yourself from slipping high-quality shoes often have a layer of rubber on the heel, this will add grip when you walk on a slippery surface and prevent unwanted accidents. 

So there you have it, the next step, choosing the right shoe to fit your lifestyle and flatter your body shape. If you would like to know more about the right shoe for your body shape I always send out a new blog notification on my Instagram that you can access HERE along with daily style tips.

I love hearing from you, if you have any feedback, opinions or questions please comment below and If you enjoyed this post and know someone who could do with this information please share it with them by clicking on the share button below.
 

Thank you for visiting The Imagepreneur, my name is Darlene Bayley I am a qualified Personal stylist and Style Expert and I have been in the Fashion industry for over 23 years.