Choosing shoes in the January sales?

Choosing shoes in the January sales? Then don’t forget this heel-to-toe checklist for value, stability and fit.

1. Happy feet are usually dressed in softer, more pliable leather. It has memory and molds to the foot. Well made shoes also have flexible leather soles. A leather lining is best as it absorbs excess moisture and has enough “give” to allow the foot to swell slightly.
   
2. Invisible construction is important. The better crafted a shoe is the more seamless it should look with no visible glue or staples. Unfinished insides are not comfortable, no matter how cute on the outside.
   
3. Less weight often correlates with greater quality. Heavier shoes (other than work boots) signal bulkier, less refined components.
   
4. High heels can feel wobbly if they’re very thin at the top where they are attached to the sole. Wedges and chunkier heels are more stable because the weight is distributed over a wider area.
   
5. Buying too tight and hoping the fit will ease up over time- is the number one mistake people make. If a shoe pinches, no amount of stretching will make it comfortable.
   
6. Buying too high. We all have a perfect heel height. Check yours and match the heel height to that. Simply extend out your leg and see how your foot falls in relation to your leg. If it points down like a dancers foot then you can wear very high heels; 3-4 inches plus. If it is more at right angles then you are better off in flatties and in between the 1 to 2 inches is best.
   
7. Buying too short is also a no no as this is the way to bunched up toes and sore toenails. Watch too in sandals as the foot should sit squarely on the sole of the shoe and not spill over.
   
8. And finally, watch for that plumb line. Pay attention to where the heel sits on the shoe and avoid heels coming out at weird angles from the shoe. The best is for the heel to sit nicely under the seat of the heel.

"Defying the credit crunch in sky-high heels with price tags to match!"

Good luck in the sales.

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