How to BUY THE PERFECT SHOES

SHOP IN THE AFTERNOON Your feet swell throughout the day so to get an accurate fit, don’t shop for shoes first thing in the morning. Have a salesperson measure both feet – if one is larger, buy the size that fits that foot.

SUPPORT YOUR ARCHES The sides and back of your shoes should not be easily collapsed or bent. A shoe insert (or an orthotic insert fitted by a podiatrist), can also offer more support.

BE SAVVY ABOUT

SHOE STRUCTURE

Baird suggests you look for:

• A wide toe box: “Avoid shoes that push toes together, particularly into a triangle shape,” Baird says. “As well as corns and blisters, a tight toe box can permanently alter the position of toe joints, causing your toes to become permanently bent, overlapped and squashed together.”

• A heel counter: “This keeps the back of the shoe a little firm to stop pronation (leaning) in towards the arch,” Baird says. “Heels should be snug but not too tight so that you could run your finger around the inside seam.” CHECK COMFORT

Feel inside the shoe for tags, seams or other rough material that might irritate your feet. “A well structured shoe should also have some cushioning – if it’s too rigid it may cause friction blisters callouses and may contribute to bunions,” Baird explains.