Buying a pair of shoes. Sounds easy enough, right? Not so! From getting the size wrong to purchasing at the wrong time of day—two interconnected issues, by the way—lots of guys manage to miss the mark when it comes to acquiring a new pair of oxfords, loafers, or derbies. But if you take a look at the tips below and live by them? Well, you're bound for success. And hey, success looks good on you.
Wear the right socks. If you wear a thick pair of white crew socks when trying on a dress shoe, you’ll only buy a pair that’s too big.
Get sized. By a professional, using the indispensable Brannock Device, and taking into consideration your foot width. Your shoe size can change over the course of your life, so it’s always best to be accurate.
Buy in the afternoon. Your feet swell to their largest as the day progresses, and it’s better to buy a pair of shoes that are a little too big than a little too small.
Check the inside. If the inside of the shoe has no lining and the grain of the leather is exposed, the shoes won’t last as long.
Walk around the store when trying them on. Don’t settle for sitting down and checking the tips of your toes; you need to see how they function with your arch flattened and while exerting yourself.
Don’t wear them outside. Take a night or two to wear your new shoes around the house. As long as the soles haven’t been worn away by walking outdoors, many shoe stores will allow you to return them in the event that you change your mind. (Ask about the return policy.)
Try multiple sizes. This goes double if you're buying online. One brand's size 9 is not necessarily the same as another brand's. And so long as the spot you're ordering from has a generous return policy, it behooves you to order a half-size up and a half-size down from what you think you should be wearing—just to be sure.
With thanks to Jim McFarland and McFarland’s Shoe Repair.
