The designer shoes we sell here are an investment in your comfort and appearance. They are high quality footwear which, if properly taken care of, will serve as a complement to your wardrobe for years to come. To best protect your shoes, we recommend the following:
1. Waterproofing and Stainproofing. At $10 a bottle, DesignerShoes.com Rain and Stain Repellent is an excellent way to protect your shoes from water, snow, mud, and spills. Spray your shoes before wearing, and on a regular basis thereafter.
2. Wear and Tear Prevention. If you plan to use your shoes frequently, you may want to consider a trip to the shoe repair shop. It's a smart idea to have shoe taps and possibly rubber soles put on new shoes as a way to postpone the gradual wearing out process that comes with normal use. A $20 investment now may mean many more years of enjoyment.
3. Maintenance. Finally, we highly recommend cleaning your shoes on a regular basis, depending on frequency of use. The cleaning method depends on the shoe's material. Leather can be polished and conditioned with a leather lotion applied with a soft cloth. We recommend DesignerShoes.com Leather Lotion. Suede looks best when brushed; although special suede brushes are available, a clean toothbrush works just as well. Fabric should be sprayed with a stain guard.
In addition, shoes-- particularly those made of soft nappa leather-- benefit greatly from shoe trees, or shoe keepers. These are wooden instruments which are inserted in the shoe, and help to retain the shape and mold of the shoe. Shoe trees can help to prolong the life of a shoe by 4 or 5 years.
| Shoe Fitting Pointers
1. When trying on shoes, make sure you're wearing the appropriate sock. For instance, if you're trying on boots that you'd wear with heavy socks, don't try them on with thin nylons. 2. The best time to try on shoes is usually at the end of the day, when your feet are most swollen. However, don't abuse this rule of thumb: if you've just completed a sightseeing tour which required 10 miles of walking, and that's not your typical exercise routine, then by all means don't try on office heels that night! The point of waiting until the end of the day is to make sure that the footwear can fit you at your widest-- kind of a "worst case scenario" check. 3. The first shoe you try on should be for your larger foot. For most people, their larger foot is the opposite from the hand they write with. For example, if you're right handed, your left foot might be bigger. Always fit the pair of shoes to this foot. Even though there are about 20 separate parts to an average shoe, the fact remains that they are mass-produced. It's up to you to customize the fit-- a small heel pad, for instance, works wonders. 4. Stand up with your shoes on. Walk around a bit. You should be able to wiggle your toes in the front of the shoe. For most footwear, your toes will be able to touch the top of the shoe, but there should be 3/8" to 1/2" of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. 5. Don't buy shoes that are too tight. If you're at the point where you're praying they will stretch to be comfortable, they probably won't. It's true that soft leather and suede give slightly, molding to your foot, but they will not dramatically increase in width or length. There's a difference between a "snug", comfortable fit and a "tight", uncomfortable fit. A few laps around a carpet should help you decide how you feel. |
| Footwear Facts and Quotes If high heels were so wonderful, men would be wearing them. -Sue Grafton Shoes That Hurt: Eight out of 10 women polled by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons said their shoes were painful. -RuPaul Nine out of 10 women wear shoes that are too small, according to the same survey. I never figured out what they wanted. But they were willing to pay a lot for it. -Andy Warhol Women's Feet are Becoming Larger: In 1986 , 12% of American women had shoe sizes 9.5 and higher. In 1994 , that number increased to 17%. In 1998 , 30.4% of all women's shoes sold were size 9 and above. -David Bowie
The average increase in the protrusion of a woman's buttocks is 25% when she wears high heels. (Harper's Index) If you know more facts or quotes, please send them to us! |
| Basic Fashion Elements
When it comes to liking how a shoe looks, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. However, "fashion" can be parceled into 5 separate categories, as described by Footwear Guru William A. Rossi. How do the shoes you most like fit into these parts?
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| Links to Other Shoe Sites
The internet is full of instructional, wacky, and wonderful shoe sites. Here are a few. . .
Shoe Style Histories
Please email us with other site suggestions! |