Spring is here, and with it the season brings special events like weddings and graduations. While you want to put your best foot forward and enjoy these special moments, nothing can ruin your experience more than wearing dress shoes that pinch your feet and make you feel miserable. A shopping trip to The Shoe Market in Greensboro may be the first step you need to take before your big event. The staff will help you find comfortable shoes for every occasion.
“There is a terrible misconception that dress shoes cannot be comfortable,” said PJ Calhoun, manager of The Shoe Market. “Every pair of shoes that makes it into our inventory is comfort first, but we do have shoes that successfully intertwine comfort and fashion.”
Calhoun makes the following suggestions for keeping your feet comfortable for your special occasions.
Start with getting the right fit.
The Shoe Market stocks women’s sizes 5 to 13, 4A to 4E, and men’s 7 to 17, 2A to 6E. A shoe that is too narrow for you is going to squeeze your foot uncomfortably and a shoe that is too wide is not going to give you the support that you need. “Always get the shoe that fits you just right,” said Calhoun.
If you’re looking for extra height, opt for wedges over heels.
The Shoe Market stocks dressy wedges from Aetrex, Dansko, Naot, Pikolinos and others. The advantage of a wedge is the additional material under the ball of the foot. So rather than having the pitch of a traditional dress pump, you’re able to achieve height without shifting the weight of your body onto your forefoot. When you distribute pressure on your feet as it’s meant to be, you’ll avoid achy metatarsals (the long bones in the middle of the foot) and pain in your heels.
If you do want a traditional dress pump, look for ones that have metatarsal support and rounder toe-boxes.
The Shoe Market stocks comfort-first dress shoes from ARA, L’Amore Des Pieds and woman-designed Munro. Each of these brands offers anatomically correct footwear that also looks great. Look for patterns with a wider forefoot to let your toes spread. Natural toe-splay helps with circulation and blood flow and keeps your feet from getting tired as quickly.
For men's shoes, look for patterns with a latex or rubber outsole.
“These offer more shock absorbency than traditional leather-soled options and can help to reduce foot fatigue,” said Calhoun. “Also consider a lace-up over a slip-on shoe so that you can adjust the fit throughout the day.”
Dress shoes for men have come a long way over the last decade and brands such as Ecco, Florsheim, Samuel Hubbard and others have successfully interconnected the comfort of a sneaker with the look of a dress shoe, said Calhoun.
Consider insoles for added comfort.
If you own dress shoes that you love but that just don’t make you comfortable, consider adding an over-the-counter insole. The Shoe Market stocks three-quarter insoles from Aetrex, Birkenstock and Pedag that fit perfectly in dress shoes. These insoles provide both medial and metatarsal support to take pressure off the ball of the foot and heel and to help you carry yourself in comfort. Their composition also provides additional shock absorbency so that you feel less impact on your heels, knees and lower back.
Choosing a pair of dress shoes that are right for your feet doesn’t have to be complicated. With special occasion season on the horizon, you’ll want to have comfortable dress shoes so you can enjoy all the special moments, free of foot pain. Let the experts at The Shoe Market guide you to the perfect pair, because comfort never goes out of style.
The Shoe Market is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, please visit theshoemarketinc.com or call 336.632.1188.
