Holiday footwear, are you a shoe-in?

A black pump

It's that time of year where many of us will be attending holiday get togethers, office cocktails, evenings dancing the night away and endless hours on our feet. The choices of what we wear on our feet can make us regret wearing certain footwear. Buying the right footwear for your feet will save you pain, energy and make your holidays much more enjoyable. Beyond the holidays, your feet will thank you all throughout the year.

Here are some tips to begin with for a good shoe shopping experience:

The time of day that you pick for your shoe extravaganza is crucial. Consider buying your shoes at the end of the day since our feet swell. Buying shoes in the morning might make you buy a shoe that will be tight and unbearable in the evening. 

When buying any type of footwear, making sure that your toes fit properly in the toe box is essential. Why you ask? If the toebox is too pointy and narrow, you will have discomfort that will not make you last a whole evening of partying. Your toes will be all cramped up in the toebox, causing painful blisters on the ball of your feet. See shoe diagram below.

Shoe diagram

If your foot is narrow or wide it might be a good idea to ask for a different size in the width of the shoe. A quarter of an inch of space at the widest part of your foot is highly recommended. Sometimes making an outline of your foot while standing is a good idea and might make you reconsider buying the wrong footwear. The heel of your foot should be snug and not loose in the shoe itself. 

Bringing your own pair of nylons is another good idea. You know where your feet have been but you don't know who's feet went in there first. Trying on shoes at the store is a risky business for plantar's warts.  That's a whole other blog in itself.

Kitten heels, pumps, almond toes, sling backs and wedges are some of the many options out there. So many shoes!!! Online shoe planning is always a great idea to start with so you won't be overwhelmed with the choices out there. Shoe envy might take over and you may make impulsive decisions.

Kitten-heeled Mary Jane

If suffering any toe deformities, like bunions and hammer toes, buying a flat shoe, a Mary Jane, kitten heel or a wedge is a better option for foot comfort without passing up on style. 

  

If you are going for a shoe with straps the run across your toes, make sure that straps are not digging into the top of your toes, they might shear off the skin and you will end up with more than a blister! You might need that skin.

Another tip is to feel the inside of the shoe for any seams and ridges that may bother you and create painful pressure spots that lead to corns if ignored and not properly cared for.

Last but not least: Never shop for anything on an empty tummy! Eat well and drink lots of water to keep hydrated.

And don't forget to put your best foot forward!