Taking care of our overall good health includes taking care of our feet, too. Unquestionably, years of wear and tear, as well as improperly trimmed toenails, poor blood circulation, disease (i.e. diabetes) and wearing shoes that don’t fit as they should, can be harsh on our feet. Any problem with them can be a strong indicator of an underlying medical condition, such as circulatory and nerve disorders, diabetes, and arthritis, to name a few. And, we all know that these conditions could have serious health implications. So, what can we do to prevent foot problems? Here is a small list of the basics.
Besides reducing (if you cannot quit) smoking that does significant good to your health and blood circulation, you can also:
1. Check your feet frequently
You can have a family member, a podiatrist, or a qualified primary care doctor (family practitioner and internist). If an issue is spotted, you may require the special skills of a dermatologist of a surgeon to treat foot problems.
2. Try to provide your legs with as much blood as possible.
Continuous blood circulation to the extremities, especially the feet, is paramount for numerous reasons. To keep blood circulating to your feet, you can put them up when you are lying down or sitting. Stretching also helps, particularly when you have been sitting for a long while. Finally, walking, taking a warm foot bath, or giving them a gentle foot massage will also help.
3. Protect your feet from cold and shoes that don’t fit right, and avoid sitting with your legs crossed.
How to Get a Proper Shoe Fit
Wearing comfy shoes that fit well can save you from troubles related to foot alignments. That aside, here are some tips you might find useful.
1. Have your feet measured every time you are about to hit the stores, looking for shoes to buy. This is because as we grow older, the size of our feet changes. The perfect time to measure them is at the end of a long day, when they are usually largest.
2. The majority of people have one foot larger than the other. Therefore, always try new shoes on the larger foot first. If your shoe fits the larger foot, you have nothing to worry about.
3. Over time, how brands mark sizes has changed. So, next time you want to buy shoes, better see how the shoe fits your foot and don’t pay much attention to the size marked inside it.
4. Your shoe has to have at least 3/8” (and up to ½ inches) space for your longest toe, when you stand up.
5. The ball of your foot needs to fit into the shoe’s widest part very comfortable. Otherwise, you will end up with skin irritations and pain after wearing them for long. If they feel too tight when you try them on for the first time, don’t expect they will stretch to fit. Walk with them for a while to make sure they feel and fit well. If not, just don’t buy them.
6. The heel should have a minimum amount of slipping. This means that when you walk, your shoes should not ride like in a rodeo. The same applies to the soles that should not be slippery at all. Also, consider buying shoes with thick soles that cushion your feet when walking.
7. Make sure the upper part of the shoes are made of flexible and soft material (i.e. leather is perfect- check out how you can make sure you are buying quality leather) that matches the shape of your foot.
Now that you got the basics of a perfect shoe fit, let’s see what you can do to find trendy footwear that highlight your unique personal style!
Tips for a Perfect Shoe Styling
1. Balance is Everything
Yes, ladies. We LOVE shoes. It is no wonder that most of us fight our blues with a brand new pair of these instant mood-lifters! Even when we feel great, the shoe store is our favorite destination to celebrate. What is important though is to have balance. Always have shoes for special occasions, alongside street chic pairs that impress. In other words, we need to have a pair for every moment of our life, from morning jogging to nightclubbing, and everything in between.
That aside, balance (literally) is something to focus your attention to. Simply put, if you can’t walk on a great pair of high-heels, just don’t buy them. It is never an appealing sight to watch a woman losing her femininity as she limps around, trying to wear her heels with grace.
Balance also includes having only one attention-grabber. Let’s say you are wearing an over-the-top dress. Your shoes should be toned down and vice versa. For a low-key look, pick a standout piece to turn heads with your chicness and style!
2. Go Outside your (Shoe) Comfort Zone
Dare to move away from the black and denim and try brights. For example, an electric hue (this season’s trend in handbags, too) can amp up any outfit. See how beautifully pastels, khaki, and white shoes compliment and add to your personal style! However, you should always have a pair of neutrals, for when you want to wear, for example, a scarlet-red dress.
3. Wear Appropriate Footwear
It all depends on your style and outfits at a time. For a conservative suit, sporting peep-toe sandals is not appropriate. A cocktail requires something more classy and chic than your flats. You can’t wear your sneakers to a dinner date. Now, if you are going outdoors, better keep your stilettos in their box as it will be difficult to walk (plus you will ruin them for sure). Instead, go for wedges (if you want height) or flats (perfect with properly hemmed clothes, such as a trouser leg that falls about your ankle or a dress/skirt that ends above the knee). All these are just examples as per what shoes go where. However, if you are in doubt, having a pair of classic black pumps is life-saving!
4. Make a Statement
Nighttime is THE time to fashion steam-raising shoes. So, heel veers emblazoned with bows will make you look super cute while a delicate stiletto sandal is all about getting your sexy self out! Bottom line, always know what you want to achieve from wearing shoes; how you want to look. Now, if you wish to knock everybody out during the day, your peep-toe (or even closed-toe) pumps will do the trick just fine!
5. Mind the Hemlines
If you are sporting sky-high shoes, always make sure your hemlines are about an inch above your knee. Anything shorter than that requires flats or lower heels to keep balance (unless you want to show too much leg altogether).
Here is also how you can find comfortable shoes, without sacrificing style!
