Women and shoes are a potent combination of style and fashion. Some shop only for comfort when buying women's shoes, others are out to look marvelous. Some women want the best of both worlds, looking for cute, wearable dress shoes and casual shoes. There are shoes for every taste, activity and budget. Here is some basic information to help you wade through all those options, so you'll know what kind of shoes will work best for you.
As with any clothing item, what looks and feels good to the wearer is the ultimate deciding factor. Some women will wear only clogs; others can't walk except on 4-inch stilettos. Most women fall somewhere in between. Before visiting the Overstock.com shoe store, look at factors like when and how often you'll wear these shoes, with which outfits you'll wear them, are they day shoes or evening shoes, how long will they be worn, etc.
There's no reason to fear buying women's footwear online. A little knowledge is the key to success. Know your own feet. Know your activities. Know your own personal preferences. Most of all, use good judgment. This will eliminate, as much as possible, any chance for difficulties in size, material or style.
A poorly fitting shirt looks bad but won't damage your health. Improperly fitting shoes can. Women inflict huge amounts of unnecessary pain and grief on themselves wearing the wrong footwear. A 1993 study by the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society found 90 percent of women's shoes were too small; 80 percent said their shoes were painful, and 70-percent had bunions, hammertoe or other painful problems. Whatever shoes you choose, if you choose the right ones, you'll enjoy wearing them for years and minimize your risk of foot problems.
When dress shoes or casual shoes are properly laced or strapped, your heel should not move much (one-quarter-inch or less); this reduces friction-caused blisters. Athletic shoes should be snug enough to keep your foot comfortably where it should be--toward the inside of the shoe. Good support prevents fatigue and lessens the chance of injury. Can you wiggle your toes a bit? Your toes need room to spread out for proper stability. It also helps keep them warm and avoid blisters.
For leather, you should take time every now and then to thoroughly clean and condition it. Numerous products are on the market, so read the labels and choose carefully. For patent leather, commercial cleaners use a mineral oil base (petroleum jelly is a good home substitute) and a clean cloth. Do not use floor polish on patent leather. If leather gets wet, clean it off and stuff the shoe with newspaper to absorb the moisture and air dry slowly away from a heat source.
For man-made plastics, mild soap (like dish detergent) on a damp cloth will probably work best. For cloth or wood, follow the usual care instructions.
Designer shoes usually contain a dust bag, a fabric storage bag that slips over each shoe to keep it from rubbing against its mate. Using them lengthens the life and good looks of your shoes.
Athletic shoes--sometimes wearable for any sport or activity, some are designed for a specific sport; tennis shoes, basketball shoes, golf shoes, etc.
Athletic inspired shoes--a general purpose shoe following the basic design of sport shoes, but not designed for the stresses of serious play.
Ballet slippers--patterned after dancing shoes but of heavier, more durable material.
Boots--shoes with an upper that covers all or part of the lower leg; anklets cover less leg, and booties cover almost none; they vary from totally decorative western boots to hiking boots to tough, industrial work boots.
Comfort shoes--inspired by clogs, form follows function in these modern variants, and their function is to make happy feet.
Flip-flops--usually rubber, with a single front V-strap, once exclusively beachwear, sometimes called thongs.
FUG--short for 'flying ugly boot', an Australian creation with fleece lining and soft sheepskin or lambskin exteriors; wonderfully warm and designed for sockless wear, some use them in all seasons.
Loafers--a slip-on inspired by moccasins, with a closed toe, heel & back, a traditional business casual style such as the classic Penny Loafer, which now requires a quarter.
Mules--a slip-on with an open heel & back.
Oxfords--also inspired by moccasins, a closed toe, heel & back with laces.
Peep toe (also open toe)--any shoe that allows the pedicure to be seen.
Platforms--in addition to the rise of the heel, they have a thicker sole that also raises the front of the foot anywhere from a half inch to several inches.
Pumps/Heels--high heels are over two inches; low heels are one to two inches; flats are less than one inch.
Sandals--a sole with several straps instead of an upper that bind it to the foot.
Slingbacks--any shoe with a single strap that wraps behind the ankle.
Slip-ons--any shoe without straps or laces.
Slippers--light, usually fabric shoes designed for in-home use, though these are seen on the street more and more.
Wedges--any high or low heel shoe with a heel that extends forward to the sole, leaving no empty space between the sole and the ground. Espadrilles are a wedge with rope-like material such as jute or hemp.
Is this shoe going to be comfortable?
Not if it doesn't fit. Our women's shoe sizing guide will help you determine your proper shoe size, so you can buy with confidence. It lists ladies' shoes size equivalents for shoes made in the US & Canada, the UK, Italy, Europe, Mexico, Japan and Australia.
Is the heel height okay?
If it fits well, if it looks good, if it's comfortable, if it's appropriate to your activity and location, then it is okay.
Is this shoe going to fit my daily needs?
If you sit at a desk most of the day, almost any shoe will be fine. If you're discreet and can slip back into them when called away from the desk, the boss might not mind you being shoeless at the desk. If you are on your feet much of the day, however, shoes become vital to the success of the day and your overall podiatric health. If you stand a lot, a low heel and plenty of cushioning is the way to go. If you move around a lot, athletic shoes should be seriously considered. If people make industry-specific shoes (be they ballet slippers or work boots), clearly that ought to be your first choice.
I just bought new shoes for my wedding (or someone else's event), what should I do?
Don't wear them for the first time at the event, especially if they are high heel shoes. Good leather shoes are stiff and a little small when new, because leather stretches. Walk over brick or other rough terrain to scuff the leather soles. If you're not a high heel aficionado, practice wearing them before the event. Unsteady legs and new leather on carpet is a great comedic lead-in to a pratfall punchline.
Have a Plan B. Buy that new designer footwear for the special event, but find another, already broken-in pair that match what you'll be wearing. Take that more comfortable pair as a back up. Once you've made your entrance with the fabulous women's footwear, no one will notice a discreet switch. That way, the really classy designer shoes stay looking brand new.
With new shoes should go new accessories. Look at Overstock.com's selections of handbags, sunglasses and fashion accessories. You will look that much better, and in the long run, you will have saved that much more money.