Buying Women's Shoes Online

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Buying Women's Shoes Online

Sizing between brands, heel height, materials and breaking them in

Shoes are the hardest clothing category to buy online because sizing is genuinely inconsistent, and a few checks reduce the returns considerably.

Measure your foot in centimetres

Stand on paper, mark the longest point and the heel, and measure. Do it at the end of the day when feet are largest, and measure both since they differ.

Many brands publish an insole length in centimetres, which is far more reliable than a size number that varies between countries and between makers.

Width is the forgotten measurement

Going up a size to gain width makes the shoe too long and the foot slides forward, which causes toe pain and blisters. Look for brands offering genuine width fittings.

Heel height and comfort

Anything above about eight centimetres shifts a large proportion of body weight onto the ball of the foot. A concealed platform reduces the effective angle while keeping the height.

A block heel distributes weight over a larger area and is far more stable on uneven ground and grass than a stiletto.

Materials

Leather moulds to the foot and stretches across the width, never in length. Synthetic uppers do not stretch and stay the shape they arrived in.

Check the lining, since an unlined synthetic shoe causes rubbing and holds moisture.

Breaking them in

Indoors on carpet, an hour at a time, across several days. Any rubbing at home becomes a blister on a full day, and a cobbler can stretch a specific tight spot.

Caring for shoes

Rotate between pairs so each dries between wears, use shoe trees or stuffing to hold shape, and brush off dirt before it dries. Suede needs a brush and a protector spray rather than water.

Have heel tips replaced before they wear into the heel block, which is a cheap repair that prevents an expensive one.

Comfort for long days

Gel pads under the ball of the foot, blister plasters applied before they are needed, and a foldable flat in the bag are all standard practice rather than a failure of planning.

Occasion shoes

For a wedding or a long event, choose a heel height you already wear rather than discovering a new one on the day. A block heel sinks into grass far less than a stiletto.

Order early enough to break them in properly indoors over several evenings.

Practical

Check the returns window and who pays postage, and keep shoes and packaging pristine until you have decided. Try them on carpet rather than a hard floor.

New leather soles are slippery, so scuff them or have a thin rubber sole added.

WHERE TO BUY

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