A few friends and I have the same problem. It’s not something we like to talk about, but it’s a problem that many women have. It is never discussed publicly, though it might be hinted at to see if anyone else has the same problem.

Once women with this problem find each other, they know they have found kindred spirits. I have size ten feet, and for a woman, that can be embarrassing. Others like me know that when it comes time to find large shoes, it can be a struggle to find what we like in our size. Many styles are made in large sizes, but some just aren’t. I don’t think it’s fair.

Having to buy large shoes can be like having facial hair. No one wants to admit it, or talk about it, but the problem is very wide spread. I don’t know why we do this to ourselves, but we do. There are times when I am shopping for my large shoes and I wander into the size six department just to see what it feels like to have normal sized feet. In all fairness, my feet aren’t that bad, but it is hard when someone asks what size I wear and I have to mumble that I take a ten, and sometimes, a ten and a half.

If you buy large shoes, you may not want to venture into the other sizes like I do. It only leads to heartache. I have found many shoes in the smaller sizes that I have fallen in love with, and I race off to my own size to see if they are there. Half of the time I cannot find the same shoes in the large shoes, and that really makes me sad. I love shoes, even if I have to wear a large size, and when I can’t get what I want, in a small way I feel cheated. Surely there is a reason why not all shoes are made in my size.

My large shoes friends and I keep in close contact. We don’t talk about shoes much, but it was a point that brought us together. We all shared the same problem and that instantly made us friends. We are friends that understand each other. Though we don’t all wear the same size of large shoes, we are pretty close.

It’s a shame that things have to be this way, but there are days when I go shoe shopping and I count my blessings. At least I’m not a size eleven. Those ladies really have it rough.

Its a fact: ask almost any woman what her favorite thing to shop for is, and she won’t say groceries. She’s inclined to say shopping and shoe shopping tops the list of favored shopping trips. Women gravitate towards shoes.

Shoes are often the closest we’re ever going to get to wearing works of art. Unlike other articles of clothing, shoes have zillions of styles from which to choose. There is a shoe cut, height and color to perfectly match any outfit in your wardrobe.

However, like all shopping, shoe shopping can be more tiring then you might expect. Snobby sales people, trouble finding the right size, wondering whether or not that is really a good pair of shoes - it’s enough to drive any woman crazy. Luckily, there are some hints and tips to make your shoe excursions just a little less of a chore.   

Before a serious shoe shopping expedition, you need a plan. First, decide which stores you’re going to visit. If you’re pressed for time, narrow down the stores to the ones with the best quality at the lowest prices.

Are you looking for the perfect pair of shoes to stun your boyfriend or beloved or just to please yourself? What’s your budget? The marriage of budget and loveliness has to match. Establish your maximum expenditure and see what you can get for your money. You may be surprised to find you can afford two pairs if you shop the discount designer shoe shops.
 
Now is the time that you must turn into a tough shoe-buying machine.  If you’re going into a shoe boutique, you’ll likley find some very snobby sales people.  They might insist that that the shoe simply does not look good on your unworthy foot. Some sales people are persnickity, and may require you to wash your feet before initiating them in store-provided socks.

Once you’ve battled your way through the clerks, you can actually try on a pair of shoes. If you know your shoe size, don’t buy a pair of shoes before you’ve tried them on. Slip them on, and then walk around the store for a little bit. The shoes should be reasonably comfortable, and not pinch.

Shoe shopping can be absolutley draining, but the time spent will pay off in the end. Be sure you aren’t exploring uncharted territory.   Dodge the tricky sales folks by washing your tootsies and finding the perfect set of shoes. Finally, walk around  for a short time to determine the comfort and durability of the shoe in question. Shoe shopping can be a lot of fun!

Anyone who has done a lot of walking, for work or pleasure, knows the value of a good pair of walking shoes. Nurses and waitresses, for example, drop the fashion factors and go for the comfort of good walking shoes. If you’ve suffered from blisters and a tight, uncomfortable fit in a pair of good looking, but painful shoes, you’ll see the sense soon enough.

Whether you’re a traveler hoofing it around seeing the sights, or someone with a job that involves more or less constant walking, you’ll soon forego a “fashion” shoe in favor of a pair which does not result in painful feet.

This is not to say that a good pair of walking shoes must, of necessity, be ugly things you wouldn’t wear for anything else. In the United States, people don’t generally walk as much as people in other countries. Walking shoes can actually border on the stylish, but with the benefit and value of true comfort.

Once you’ve returned from an outing hiking around the hills or parks and find you need to soak your feet to relieve the pain of your afternoon’s enjoyment, you’ll be in the market for a pair of good walking shoes. So how can you know what to look for?

A soft leather, shaped like your foot is your best bet for the traveler who will be walking miles in the course of their vacation. A slipper style is best suited to this type of walking. This means the shoe should have a firm last and rounded toes with a proper fit in length.

If your requirements involve hiking over hill and dale out in the country, you’ll want walking shoes with a higher cuff to give the support you’ll need. Depending upon how often you engage in this activity, the relative softness or stiffness should stand up to the wear you’ll give the shoes. If you’ll be trekking through the wilderness and camping in the snow, you’ll want a thicker leather with waterproofing. This type of walking shoe may require that you break them in on short jaunts before subjecting your feet to miles of walking in a brand new pair of walking shoes.

If your profession requires that you be on your feet for a full eight hours every day, such as in the case of the nurse or waitress, there are shoes designed especially for the purpose. These styles of walking shoes tend to be more utilitarian and less fashionable. However, they are also carefully designed to give you the comfort you need to avoid foot problems over time.

Again, soft leathers with firm support and toe sections which are rounded, just like your foot, are de rigeur. Besides, if you’re in one of these professions, it’s unlikely people are focusing on your shoe style quotient.

Whatever your walking activities may entail, if you walk extensively, be sensible and look for an attractive and above all, comfortable pair of walking shoes. Your feet will thank you!

All creatures, great and small, are a sacred part of nature. Buddhists believe that even the smallest living thing, such as an ant or flower, has a soul.  The grace and tranquility that animals lend to the great outdoors is being destroyed. 

Greedy and selfish fashion hogs are consuming the resources the earth provides us. For example, ivory was once a fashion craze, at the expense of the lives of majestic elephants. Today, we see this cruelty echoed in leather foot wear.

However, the gentle vegetarians, known as vegans, are doing their part to preserve the natural world. Forsaking not only the foods from animals, but furs and leathers as well, the vegan may think that his or her feet are left with little choice. Luckily, vegan shoes are plentiful, produced from synthetic materials that beautifully mimic the real thing.

Vegan shoes are not limited to day-wear like tennis shoes or slippers. There are business shoes, boots, high heels, and outdoor hiking shoes. Entirely man made materials produce extremely fashionable vegan shoes. Textures range from luscious looking faux suede, to shiny and impressive leather replacements, to everyday sneaker material.

When you go hunting for a pair of vegan shoes, there are a few things to keep in mind. Mass producers of vegan shoes have a certain “kosher” quality to them. Manufacture of this footwear is overseen and designed by those concerned with the safety of animals, and in  the interest of the wearer. While the idea of wearing a dead animal may be less than appealing to some, the appearance is known to be quite attractive.

With this is in mind, the manufacturers have created vegan shoes that could fool even the most experienced fashionette.

Tennis shoes are the most commonly worn shoe in America. Designed  for comfort and mobility, tennis shoes can be worn with anything excluding formal or business wear. Their water-resistant quality can be achieved quite effectively with pleathers (synthetics) and vinyls. One of the plus sides of vegan shoes is that they are more easily washed and cared for than animal skins.

Boots are many people’s favorites, especially during winter time. Their larger and thicker structure protects us from the elements, while their shaped heels and leggings provide a nice accent to any outfit. This season, the suede look has become particularly popular. With man-made synthetic fibers, vegan shoes can be on the feet of any animal-friendly person.

The vegan looking for business shoes may have found himself in a difficult shoe search. Wingtips and office shoes are almost always made from leather. Like all other shoes, the business shoe has been successfully imitated with pleathers and vinyls. Unlike regular business shoes, vegan shoes don’t need to be buffed and cleaned nearly as often.

As animal slaughter continues, conscience prompts many to turn to  synthetic vegan shoes to combat human cruelty. Tennis shoes, boots, heels and business shoes can be as earth friendly as the rest of your wardrobe.

I have always loved boots. From womens cowboy boots to high heel boots, from Doc Marten boots to snow boots, I adore them all. My favorite, however, have always been Ugg boots. They are simple, stylish, well made and well designed.

The problem is that they are also expensive. I don’t want to have to spend 80 dollars or more on boots. I am a pretty thrifty girl, after all. I like to stretch my money pretty far. I would rather save up than spend a lot of money on fashion. That’s why I can’t resist an Ugg boots sale.

The other day, I went crazy on a shopping spree. You see, my favorites shoe store  had dozens of Ugg boots on sale. Normally, I can exercise a lot of self-control. In the face of all of those Ugg boots for sale, however, I couldn’t help myself. I began to stock up. I reasoned that they would last me for a long time.

If I bought all of my footwear at this one Ugg boots sale, I would be stocked for years. I would not have to buy any new boots for almost a decade.

The problem was that, as soon as I was free of the Ugg boots sales influence, I saw the flaw in my logic. I was acting as if buying like crazy at the Ugg boots sale was a reasonable thing to do. I was pretending that I was just being pragmatic. I was also pretending that I would love the same style of boots for years to come.

I know that isn’t true. I know that my tastes change almost every year. Now, however, it is too late. Thanks to the Ugg boots sale, my closet is entirely stocked with one style of footwear. Although I could enjoy wearing these kinds of shoes for a few years, I don’t know what will happen after that. I think I just wasted hundreds of dollars!

Thinking about it, I think sales are just a gimmick to make us buy more than we would otherwise. I did not need to stock up at that Ugg boots sale. I could’ve bought just one pair at full price and been better off for it. The fact that I thought I was getting a deal, however, made me feel free to spend more money than I would have otherwise.

Instead of buying one pair of slightly overpriced shoes, I bought five pairs of discounted ones and ended up spending three times what I could afford. It just doesn’t make sense!