Shoe Fetish

Arched without pain

Shoes, we love them and we hate them. They protect our feet but often they do not fit us correctly. Approaching the purchase of shoes with a knowledge of our own foot type can help us to buy shoes that will help our feet to feel good.

What type of an arch do you have? Grab a paper grocery bag and put it on the floor. Step in a pan that has a little water in the bottom and then step on the paper bag. After removing your foot you will then have an imprint of your foot.

There are three basic types of foot imprints which show how your arch works. With high arched feet the front of the foot and the heel do not touch or touch just a little in the imprint. These people have under-pronated feet and they need cushioning in their shoes to cushion the shock transmission to the lower legs.

Normal arched feet get skinny between the ball and heel of the foot but are thicker than a half inch. Smaller are high arched. These shoe wearers experience the least problems and can wear virtually any shoe. A simple structured cushion in the shoe will help with shock.

Flat footed people have an imprint where the arch is the same width as the heel or wider. These feet have over-pronated feet and they need maximum support to protect against shock transmission.

Read the packages carefully of the shoes or inserts that you will use for your shoes. Look for the keywords for your foot type: high arched or under-pronated, normal arch, and flat footed or over-pronated. Buying the correct insert for your feet will go a long way towards helping your feet and legs not to hurt and give you the satisfaction of being able to walk, run, or jog where you want, when you want, without pain.

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: Foot, Foot type, Shoe

Shoes, Designed to Compensate For Bad Foot Design

The shoe has been designed for decades to compensate for perceived problems that we have with our feet. When people walk it sometimes hurts the heel so we compensated for this by adding padding to the heel. Many people have flat feet or fallen arches so we provide them arch supports that are built into the shoe or we apply inserts to accomplish the same thing.

Look at a shoe as it sits on the ground. The toe often points up just a little bit. This helps the wearer to take the next step. Your toes naturally do not point up this way because the whole foot can move semi-independently as you walk through a stride. Because the shoe is a solid structure it cannot move this way and the toe spring is added to not have to drag the toe constantly as you walk.

High heels cause the tendons to shorten for the women who wear them. Often during the spring women who have been wearing high heeled winter boots and then switch to flip-flops experience pain in their tendons as the tendons attempt to stretch back out for the flip-flops.

All this cushioning of the feet and the heels appears now to be all wrong! Chicago’s Rush Medical College did a study comparing impact on the knees between barefoot people and people wearing padded shoes. The surprise was that there was 12 percent less impact on the knee when these people were barefoot!

We still need to wear shoes to be socially acceptable in our society, but take your shoes off at home and walk around barefoot. It will give your feet a chance to breathe and to recuperate from the stresses placed on it by your shoes. If you can take your shoes off at work, then do so.

Maybe it will become acceptable to be barefoot again, maybe not. Nevertheless give your feet a chance at health, take your shoes off.

Filed Under: Latest Trends, Shoes Tagged With: Foot, High-heeled footwear, Shoe

How Your Outfit Can Get You a Second Date

Online dating is a great way for single women to meet their matches in terms of relationship compatibility. If you have been using an online site, you have probably already uploaded your favorite photograph to your profile as a way to show potential suitors how stylish you look.

Now that you have a date booked, you are likely in panic mode. You want to maintain a good impression without going overboard or looking sloppy. So what should you wear? A dress or skirt? A more casual outfit with jeans? The answer depends on a number of factors, from the setting to the style of your date.

The location of your date is the number one factor in terms of your outfit determination. A dinner date is the most common type of first date for people who have started a relationship through an online dating site. Even in this situation, you’ll have some variables. For example, if the setting is formal, you will want to have a polished look with either a dress or skirt outfit. If the restaurant is the local pub or pizzeria, consider wearing dressy jeans with a cute but comfortable top.

When choosing an outfit, make sure you find something that you’re comfortable wearing. The mini-dress might not be a wise choice if it rides up your body. Also, refrain from showing too much skin, and don’t forget to accessorize! Accessories can make our break your outfit. Shoes, handbags and necklaces are the most prominent pieces. Opt for pieces that tie your outfit together. Don’t rummage through your jewelry box and wear every single item in the hopes of impressing anyone. Chances are you’ll look undecided about or inept at accessorizing.

Looks aren’t always everything, but first impressions definitely determine whether you will get a second date or not. By following fashion common sense, you are half way to another date.

Filed Under: Fashion, General Tagged With: Dating, Online dating service, Relationships

Getting a Heel Up On Depression?

Women who wear high heels are easy to spot; they are walking with the “high heel strut.” Look down and there are the heels, forcing them into this unnatural walking rhythm.

Heels up to two inches are generally considered safe for the ankle and foot but stilettos are rarely safe. One uneven surface and a second of not paying attention and down she goes in a heap of pain or at least bruised ego. No matter how hot the outfit looks, when one is down on the ground grabbing their ankle, the mystique is gone.

Heel heights are going back up again. This is a pattern that seems to coincide with rough economic times starting with the Great Depression way back in the 1930’s. It seems that women use their heels to escape the pressures and to get a mental lift as well as a physical one.

The major issue with high heels is the corollary increase in foot and ankle injuries by the wearers. You might look good in the heels as they give you a step up on the competition, but wearing a cast or ankle brace definitely detracts from that look for the next couple months as your injuries heal.

If you have the need for height, keep the heel under two inches. Wedges distribute your weight better and you can wear higher heels in them. Stay away from stilettos.

Massage your feet after wearing high heels or roll them over a golf ball or ice. These tips help your feet to recover from the experience.

High heels can help you attain heights that you cannot naturally reach, but do so carefully and be good to your ankles and feet.

Filed Under: Latest Trends, Shoes Tagged With: Footwear, High-heeled footwear, Shoe

Stop Shoe Stink Now!

You have worn your shoes all day and then you take them off when you get home at night. Whew! They stink really badly.

You have bacteria on your feet which thrive in dark, damp places. Sweaty shoes are wonderful places for them, especially if you do not wear socks. The bacteria eat the dead skin and oil from your feet. Luckily only about 10% to 15% of people have feet that smell bad.

Here are some steps to try and help stop the stink. You might not be able to completely stop the smell but even reducing it can be a great help.
1)    Wash your feet every day. If you have a hand held shower sprayer give your feet a good spraying every day. Make sure your feet are dry before putting your sock on.
2)    Wear cotton, wool or athletic knit socks made to absorb sweat. These socks allow the feet to breath. If your feet get damp, change socks. Wear a fresh pair every day.
3)    Feet sweat more in tight spaces so make sure you have plenty of room in your shoes for your feet to breath.
4)    You might need more shoes than the rest of the population. Your shoes need to be fully dry before you wear them. Putting 24 to 48 hours between each wearing can really help the smell.
5)    Washing your feet with antibacterial soap, putting a disinfectant spray into your shoes or setting the shoes in the sun are other options.
6)    Washing your shoes or insoles will also help for awhile.
7)    Do not wear plastic shoes.
8)    Allow your feet to breathe by going barefoot, especially at night.

Filed Under: Latest Trends, Shoes Tagged With: Foot, Shoe, Sock

The Right Shoes for the Beach

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There are very few sensations that are as nice as a stroll on a white sandy beach with bare feet. But walking on the beach isn’t always as gentle as it appears. At times the sun can turn the sand to a temperature like molten lava. Then there is man made garbage of glass and other sharp objects, as well as natural garbage like razor-edged rocks and broken sea shells.

It is then a good idea to bring a good pair of shoes when you take a trips out to the beach. The goal is to have shoes that can withstand the water and sand and at the same time keep your feet cool. There are a few different shoe styles that do just that.

Flip-Flops

Designed specifically for the beach, flip-flops keep the feet exposed so that they can breathe and feel the elements, like refreshing splashes of water. With foam, rubber or even leather soles, flip-flops are also comfortable to wear anywhere. If needed, they are easy to clean with a little soap and water.

Water Shoes

For the beachgoer that wants to spend just as much time in the water as on the beach, there are water shoes. Typically made out of mesh with rubber bottoms, water shoes are perfect for wading in water and then heading to the parking lot to grab an extra towel.

Crocs

Crocs provide ample breathing room, snuggly fit the feet and since they’re rubber, can handle just about any beach terrain. Their durability make them a great fit for spending a day on the beach and around town.

Boat Shoes

For the fashionable male, there are boat shoes that can just be slipped over bare feet. They’re not the best on sand, however.

While the beach is great for wearing no shoes, there are some shoes great for the beach.

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: Flip-flops, Shoe

Shoes That work you out as you Walk

People have always striven to find an easier way to get a workout, and in less time. There has been diet pills, and very questionable diets. And there have been exercise companies that have made equipment with dubious claims of full body workouts in less time than making a cup of coffee.

However, there is something that can help shape and tone the body just by walking. They are shoes that are specifically designed to slim down the legs, and are aptly known as toning shoes. From their awkward structure, the legs overcompensate during walking, thus working themselves out. A variety of companies are joining the trend.

Skechers

ShapeUps from Skechers were one of the first toning shoe lines on the scene. For men and for women, they come in over 20 different styles. The bottoms are curved to create a rolling movement forcing the leg muscles to work. The shock absorption acts as a cushion.

New Balance

Known for its classic running shoes, New Balance has made a name in the toning market offering two different lines. They are called the True Balance and the Rock & Tone. Like an Olympian on a balance beam, the True Balance line beesf up each leg muscle with its leaning design. On the other hand, Rock & Tone shoes have a similar shape as the Shape Ups with its rolling bottom. To keep fashion sense alive, they are also available in leather.

Earth

Shoes made by Earth are environmentally friendly, constructed out of recycled materials and a manufacturing process that creates the least amount of waste. With an incline of 3.7-degrees, the toes are raised above the heel, spreading the body’s weight in one direction, activating the leg muscles.

Reebok

Based on the unstable, yet highly effective, workouts from balance balls, the EasyTone shoes from Reebok tone and strengthen the legs. Its special features include a smooth design the prevents fiction with the foot as well as an antibacterial insert.

With toning shoes, working out is like a walk in the park.

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: New Balance, Reebok, Skecher

Sticking to a Wardrobe Budget

Buying a new wardrobe can be expensive, but there are ways you can dress great for less and stick to your budget. You don’t want to overspend and then end up feeling bad about it later, so take the time to make sure that you plan your spending. Then, shop around for great online deals. If you don’t determine your budget – not just how much you can spend, but how much you need to spend to get what you want and requires – you may end up out of money before you’ve gotten everything to go with your new wardrobe. After your budget has been decided upon, it’s very important that you stick to it.

There are several ways to stay focused on your budget, and one of them is to use prepaid credit cards. That way you take out the money you’re going to spend on your wardrobe, and you put it on the card. Then, you use only that card for your purchases. There’s no overspending, because the money to do so is simply not available. A prepaid card also helps to protect your personal information and keeps anyone else from running up a balance if he or she gets possession of your credit card information.

First, shop for just what you need. Buy those things, and try to get the best deals. Then, shop for the things you want with the remaining money. That way you’ll be sure that you get the things you really need to have for the wardrobe you’re looking for. If you shop carefully and look for the best deals on online shopping sites, you should be able to get everything you need and also buy a lot of what you want. You may even have left over money that you can use for something else, and that’s a great feeling.

Filed Under: Fashion, Shopping Tagged With: Budget, Credit card, Stored-value card

How to Launch a Shoe Website

If you have an eye for fashion and have been creating some of the hottest shoes in the world then you should be considering the idea of putting your fashion business online. With the boom of the online retail shopping you can certain find a nice place to promote your business and grow your name and your brand. You can find yourself in the next level when it comes to money but you have to do it the right way. Making a false move in the early going could hurt your business in the long run

The most important part of establishing an online presence with your business is listening to your customers. Just because someone purchased from you before, there is no reason to be assured that they will do so again. If you want to gauge the best possible information about your customer base then you should consider offering a customer satisfaction survey considering at the end of transactions as well as later in an email that they can fill out at their leisure.

For many the survey is something that is discarded, but when a customer takes the time to fill it out it can be very helpful in not just providing information, but pointed information in order to help the business grow.

You can ask your customers not just what they thought of the shoes but what they thought of the layout of the website and if they have any interest in shopping there again. You can also determine what the factors will be in bringing them back to the site. This will help you to determine what is working on the site and what needs an overhaul. A business website can be a bit of trial and error and it’s important that your customers provide their feedback. The customer satisfaction survey is a great way to tap into the potential of your business.

Filed Under: Fashion, Shoes, Shopping Tagged With: Business, Online shopping, TOMS Shoes

Winter Shoe Solutions

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When winter rolls around most people have the notion of putting away their shoes and bringing out the boots for the next three or four months. But wearing only boots can at times be unfashionable and impractical when the snow melts.

Finding that happy medium between warmth and fashion can still be found in shoes, built especially for the winter. So when the snow starts to fall, instead of grabbing the boots out of the closet run to the nearest store and grab a pair of shoes that can stand up to the cold.

Waterproof

While the snow more or less comes down dry, it will eventually melt wrecking havoc as slush for any pedestrian walking down the street. For an everyday shoe for winter, it is almost mandatory that they be waterproof. That way the slush slides off easily and doesn’t ruin anything, increasing their longevity. It then makes it easier to get around by not having to avoid messy puddles. Just remember to raise those pant bottoms.

Insulated

The secret to any boot or shoe in keeping the feet warm is good insulation. Many shoe companies have incorporated the insulation technology of Thinsulate keeping toes toasty. However, there are a variety of fabrics that keep people warm during jaunts out in the cold. These include flannel, fleece, shearling and more. Some winter shoes are packed with wool and feel just like you wearing a slipper at home, except you’re out in the blistering cold.

Shoe Covers

There are many instances where dress shoes are required, so winter shoes just won’t do. That could be during work at an office or during a nice night out. For those occasions, there is only on solution: shoe covers. Available in thick rubber, shoe covers can simply slip around the shoes or can be zipped up.

Stay warm, stay dry and keep wearing shoes.

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: Shoe, Thinsulate, Winter