Advice on Shoes

Shoe Myth
Expensive shoes are always better
Some people believe that the more expensive a pair of shoes is, the better it must be. But are expensive or designer shoes worth the extra money??
Sometimes, but not always.?

There are several factors that contribute to the price of a pair of shoes.?
The materials used play a big role in the final price of any product. Specialty leathers and exotic skins are far more expensive than basic black leather. After all, Swarovski crystal costs much more than simple rhinestones. But there are other, less tangible, factors in pricing as well.?

Creating a quality and comfortable shoe takes research, time and effort - and manufacturing costs and methods can vary greatly. Some popular brands use handcrafting techniques that are paid for every time a pair of shoes is made, instead of using underpaid labor or machines that are paid off after the first few lines are released.
And the concept for many people to wrap their heads around is that talent costs money. When you see a pair of shoes that you're just dying to have, there's a talented designer behind them. Their time, creativity, and ability to create a unique design is as billable as an accountant's skill with taxes.?

All of these things cost money, so a high quality shoe will likely be more expensive than a flip-flop made in your neighbor's garage from a hunk of rubber with two rubber bands for straps.?

But that doesn't necessarily mean that a $300 pair of shoes is substantially better or more comfortable than an $80 pair of shoes. Sometimes designer and brand labels cost more, simply because the consumer will pay it. The best way to determine which shoes are worth the extra money is to try the shoes on for yourself, and rely on the opinions of friends and experts that you trust.

Emphasizing the Good
Rule number two is to emphasize the nice things about your feet. Also an obvious trick, but since we usually tend to focus on what we don't like, it's easy to forget what is good about our feet.?
A French fashion pump will accentuate the graceful curves of high arches, ankle straps can highlight a shapely ankle, and of course slides can show off the perfect set of nails.

Sexy Feet Need Shoes that Fit
There is no two ways about this one; your shoes must fit if you want your feet to look sexy.?
Even the most perfect foot looks awkward if it's hanging over the edge of its sandal -- no matter how hot the sandal in question is.?

And a foot that looks as if it's been crammed into a pump that's too tight will give the impression that your feet are so big you can't find shoes to fit.?

The same can be said for ankle straps. If they're cutting into your skin, loosen them or skip them altogether. They shouldn't be too loose, but if they're too tight, they will look as uncomfortable as they feel.

A Bit of Well-Placed Bling is a Good Thing
Some people apply this theory to all aspects of life, but it IS especially true with shoes.?
Nearly every shoe, and thus every foot, can benefit from just a bit of well-placed bling -- shoes that look pretty will make ugly feet seem prettier, and pretty feet look gorgeous.

There's no need to be a loose cannon about it -- a hint of sparkly hardware, a crystal stud or two, or even a few metallic threads woven into the upper of a shoe will add glamour and sex appeal galore. And when combined with the rules above, will help to make your feet look sexy.

High Heels = Sexy Feet
For those who can't or don't wear high heels, the fact must be reluctantly faced ¨C that shoes with heels actually will make your feet look sexier.?
That's not to say that feet can't look sexy in flats -- they can.

But if you're going to wear flats and you want your feet to look sexy, the shoes themselves absolutely must be on the pretty side (Note: rubber clogs aren't sexy.)
Look for ballerina flats, feminine patterns, and sandals with thin straps.

5 things to Love about High Heels
1) High Heels Make You Taller
Vertically challenged women everywhere will tell you how they love their heels. Even if you don't need extra height, having it can make you feel good. It's truly a heady feeling to slip on a pair of shoes and instantly be 3 or 4 inches taller, and reaching things on the top shelf is a high like no other.

2) High Heels Don't Make You Look Fat
Unlike skinny jeans, cropped leggings, or whatever other torturous styles are appearing on the fashion catwalks, high heels won't make you look fat. Granted, some styles are more flattering than others, but as a general rule, heels are slimming.

3) High Heels Can Make an Outfit
Even a pair of jeans and a t-shirt can take on an entirely different look when a pair of heels is added, and nothing can make a plain skirt pop like the perfect pair of pumps or sandals. Heels add a feminine touch to suits as well.

4) High Heels Make You Feel (and Look!) Sexy
Just putting on a pair of sexy high heels can make you feel sexier, but they also can make you look sexier. High heels change our body stance, making our calf muscles more pronounced, and forcing our backsides and chests out -- it's nearly as if high heels force us into better posture ... and good posture is always sexy.?

5) High Heels Don't Have to Cost a Fortune
While it's easy to spend a fortune on high heels, even inexpensive brands can look great. In fact, there are few things that can cost as little and make you feel quite as happy, as a pair of killer heels.

How to choose the Right Man¡¯s Shoes
Men can often be funny about shoes¡­
Some view shoes as practical necessities, while others may have an extensive wardrobe of shoes and can match them with whatever else they¡¯re wearing ¨C or wherever they¡¯re going. Most men fall somewhere in between.
(Although some of them never stray far from their day-to-day work boot comfort zone, while others won¡¯t go to somewhere where they can¡¯t wear sneakers or trainers!)?
So here¡¯s some general, helpful advice to widen some fashion horizons ¨C to help men find and choose the right shoes.

General Rules for Men¡¯s Shoes
Try to pick a shoe that matches, or is darker than your pants.
Although it is a safe bet, socks do not need to match your shoes. Instead, think of your socks as you would a tie - an item that can bring the whole outfit together.
If wearing a belt, try to match your shoes to it, unless of course, your belt is some multi-colored striped thing.

Men's Shoes for Jeans
You can wear almost any color or style of shoe with jeans, but avoid very shiny shoes that were obviously intended for dressier outfits.?
Boots, lug soles, sneakers, loafers and sandals all work great with jeans, so you may find it helpful to instead let the style of your shirt guide you.?
For example - a sporty, polo shirt might work with loafers or deck-shoes/topsiders; T-shirts go well with sneakers or retro-style shoes; long, artsy button-downs work well with sandals or moccasin-toe oxford styles.

Men's Shoes for Casual Pants
Whether you call them dockers, chinos, or khakis, there are a variety of loafers, oxford and other men's shoes that work well with casual pants.
Let the ornamentation and style of the shoe help guide you towards the look you're trying to achieve.
For example, a tassel or a buckle is a little more on the dressy side, while a woven pattern or heavy stitching is a little more on the casual side.

Men's Shoes for Dress Pants
With dress pants, shoot for the same type of shoe that you might wear with a suit. Shinier materials usually indicate a dressier shoe, as do less bulky heels and soles. Choose a shoe that is the same color or darker than your pants, and if wearing a belt, match your shoes to it.

Color Matching for Men's Shoes
Black shoes work well with navy, grey or black pants.
Brown shoes are best suited to tan, brown, beige, greens, other darker earth tones.
Burgundy shoes work well with khaki, lighter browns, blue and grey.
Tan shoes look great with lighter earth tones, blue, beige, lighter tan or white.

How to buy shoes
Buying a pair of shoes seems simple enough, but then shoes are probably the most important clothing item to determine comfort. So a little extra time when buying is well worth the effort.

Here's How:

Shop for the larger foot. If your feet are different sizes, buy a shoe that best fits the larger foot. If you need to, buy an insole to fill space in the other shoe.

Make sure the shoe fits your heel and your toes. The toe box should provide ample wiggle room, and the heel should not slip up and down when walking.

Go for a walk in the store. Make sure the shoe is comfortable for a short walk around the store ¨C any pain is only going to be worse on a long walk.