Shoes are not only to protect feet but considered as an important part of individual’s outfit. Time and again Fashion decide the style of shoes that individuals wear and the desire to be fashionable has led to different shapes and styles. Nevertheless shoes are also designed to suit specific needs. In developing countries shoe-manufacturing operations are automated. Shoes may be designed with the help of computer. Components may be cut by a laser and stitched by computer-controlled stitching machines. Due to technological advancement footwear industry is able to respond to change in style very quickly and better focused to customer satisfaction.
Factor that matters in selecting a pair of shoes – Protection, Comfort, Cost and Style. Durability is a very important factor as mentioned by Abhilash in his comment.
There are four main types of shoes, depending on their use -(1) Casual or Fashion(2) Sports(3) Working(4) Corrective shoes. Those special shoes for Astronauts or Army may be included in working category.
Casual shoes are normally having low heel like Slip-on, Moccasin and Brogue. Moccasins were first invented by Red-Indians with no heel. Moccasins, and Slip-ons are shoes that do not have lace or tongue but Brogues have lacing up over a tongue. I prefer slip-ons for normal use. Today, sports shoes with normal sole are very widely used as a casual wear. Floaters are becoming popular in tropical countries even in cold areas during summer. I am never casual when I buy casual shoes otherwise purpose of going for casual wear will be defeated. Casual shoes should be easy to wear and comfortable.
While choosing a Fashion shoe it is very important to make sure comfort of your foot. Men’s fashion shoes are normally with lace and are made of leather, normally with special finish or treatment. Italians are traditionally famous for Men’s Fashion Shoes. Fashion shoes for women are normally the court shoe or sandal style and have high to medium heels but closed shoes are requirements of cold regions. Different materials like leather, satin, tapestry, velvet, synthetic materials like plastic or combination of more than one material are used for women’s fashion shoes.
Sports shoes may be most researched range in shoes and have different features for various sports. For example, football boots have metal, plastic, or rubber studs and have different foot bed to suit wide range of feet. Tennis shoes have rubber soles that keep the player from slipping and also to prevent damaging the clay courts. There are wide choice for jogging to suit your foot and requirements. Once again you have too many choice at your disposal. Better be choosy and take time to choose the one that take care of foot and improve your performance.
Working footwear’s is for Safety and Comfort and to avoid occupational diseases. Leather is permeable and good for breathing. So, these types of shoes are normally made of leather to make it sturdy and longwearing. Workers in many factories wear shoes with steel-toes for protection against injury. People in many trades require footwear especially designed to suit working conditions. Persons who must stand or walk for long periods wear shoes that have a cushioned sole. Doctors in operations theaters wear slippers that can be sterilized. In most of the cases, someone who normally does not use it and will be more concern about budget will select work shoe. But you have right to express your views as a user and get the right one for your feet.
Corrective shoes are designed for such foot conditions as bunions, corns or any other disorder and purpose is to provide relief not cure. Ready-made corrective shoes have built-in corrections for the common foot problems. Tailor-made corrective shoes are specially made for individual as per doctor’s prescription. Special shoes can sometimes be made to fit the exact shape of the feet and these can be made without doctor’s advice. These shoes may be different for two feet. One should be very careful to select such shoes especially in case of kids or mentally retired persons.
Shoes and Related Issues
During the day, feet may come across different level of activities and temperature. Best footwear is always made of leather because it breathes better and does not become too hot. Leather shoe fits well to the foot due to its flexible nature.
Poorly fitted Shoe can cause problems like backache, sore muscles, fatigue, and poor posture. Shoes that are too tight may be cause for corns or very painful in-growing toenails. Such problems can be avoided by taking care when selecting pair of shoes. Most children outgrow shoes within a few months so parents should be careful.
Many fashionable shoes are uncomfortable and can sore the feet. Take the case of pointed shoes that crowd the toes is the cause of painful cuts and corns. High Heel shoes push feet forward and cause for cramp the toes.
Shoes made of some synthetic material do not breathe like leather and do not allow foot moisture to escape. This may be the cause of skin diseases.
There should be free space of about 10 mm between the tip of the big toe and the shoe. Many people have one foot longer than the other. So one should try both feet to select shoe. It is advisable to walk around while trying on new shoes to ensure comfort.
Persons with diabetic problem should be careful in selecting shoes so that foot is not hurt.
What about socks? It is one of the important accessories. Clean cotton socks are always better.
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Some useful tips from a Salesperson(repeated elsewhere)
Never select the size by its number only. Try it before buying it. One may require a longer / shorter shoe because of the design of the shoe.
Feet swell to their largest in the afternoon. Therefore, afternoon is the best time to try and buy shoe. Lunch break seems to be the best time to buy shoes.
Front of the shoe should be wider than the toe so that it is roomy enough for the toes.
Length and width of the left and right foot of the same person may be different. So, try both the pairs. You may have to go for a higher number to accommodate the bigger foot.
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Please remember, Comfort of your foot is more important than fashion.