We’ve all had shoes that pinch in just the wrong way, or are just generally uncomfortable. After a while, we just want to wear comfy sneakers all day long and get over it. Some of us take the other extreme and seem to ignore all pain coming from our feet. We continue to wear the most stylish shoes available, regardless of how painful they are. These are not the only two options, though. Following a few simple guidelines, you can wear cute comfortable shoes, every single day.
Everyone thinks that flats are an instant answer when it comes to comfortable shoes. They are right in that most heels will be less comfortable simply because of the way that they manipulate your feet, but that alone does not make flats comfortable. Many flats have soles that are too thin. They do not have enough arch support. Also, pointy toed flats will pinch your toes as much as pointy toed heels will. You can find comfortable flats, but you will need to watch out. If you go for high heels, get one with a substantial heel which will allow you to stand with more ease.
The toe of the shoe may be the most important factor. Look at your toes when your feet are barefoot. The shape of your toes naturally should be the shape of the toes on your shoes. The further away from your natural shape you go, the less comfortable the shoe will be. If the toes on your feet naturally come to a point in the middle, by all means, pointy toes are made for you. For the rest of us, we will want to stick with round or square toed shoes.
Another thing people don’t consider is the real size of their foot. Most shoes are measured by the width and length of the feet, not the height. Every foot will be different and very rarely will you fit exactly into your shoe size. If the fit does not seem right, try the next half size up or down.
Finally, there are factors in shoe comfort that people don’t realize until they become a problem. A seam rubbing against your ankle will eventually cause a blister. When you are trying on shoes, check for any seams that are not finished properly. Check for any unevenness in the rubber or leather, as these will rub worse than some other materials. Generally, higher quality shoes, like classified shoes, will have less of these problems.