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Caring For Your Footwear

 

Over the seasons our shoes can quickly look worn and faded, especially when exposed to sun, water and salt.  Summer wear can be tough on leather, as can winter, and it is essential to keep your shoes looking great all year round!

 

Footloose Leather Conditioner - just as our skin needs moisture, so does the animal skin your shoes are made out of.  Footloose Leather Conditioner contains lanolin (just like the expensive cosmetics on the market) and will keep your shoes clean, soft and supple.  This neutral Leather Conditioner can be easily applied to shoes with multiple colours and is also great for handbags.  Try it on your patent shoes - just leave on for 10 minutes and this will help stop patent cracking in the heat and dry.

 

Footloose Renovating Creams - these pots of magic will put the colour back into sun-faded shoes.  With over 70 colours available, it is easy to pick a colour that matches perfectly.  Renovating polishes are waxed based, so will nourish shoes beautifully and also provide some waterproofing.

 

Footloose Water and Stain - For true waterproofing - especially if you are planning on wearing your shoes in harsh weather.  This spray provides superior water protection and will even protect leather from salt water and rain.

 

Footloose Gel Sole Cushion - ease those aches and pains (similar to the Party Feet found in pharmacies). Come in and compare our price, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

 

Shoe Stuffers - when the day is done, gently slide our new Shoe Stuffers into the front of your shoes to keep leather in the original shape as it cools. These lovely black velour cushions are also great for retaining shape when travelling.

 

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The Footloose Fit

 

Most shoe sales people test to fit in just two places, the tip of the toe for length and across the ball for width. Many others may not test at all but simply ask the customer ‘How does it feel?’ This poor fitting service.

 

There are eight checkpoints for properly fitting a shoe. With a little experience, it can be done in less than 30 seconds. Remember, always check while standing.

 

  • Length fit. Allow about 5mm space from the end of the longest toe. This is approximately one full size.
  • Heel to ball joint. The ball joint should fall exactly into the ‘ball pocket’ of the shoe. If it’s forward or rearward of that joint the shoe is a faulty fit, even if the overall length is correct. Having the joint in the widest part of the shoe ensures the heel stays in the heel seat.
  • Heel to outer ball. The outer ball joint should match the widest part of the shoe on both sides so as to enable the shoe to flex correctly without pinching the foot.
  • Ball or width fit. This can be snug, but not too tight. A tight fit can cause unsightly creases to form over the vamp with wear or the shoe can lose its shape quickly. In addition to this, the foot normally swells about 5% over a days wear so ‘expansion allowance’ should be considered.
  • Throatline fit. Fit the shoe at the foot and the throatline. This is especially important in pumps. Special attention should be given here with the fat or fleshy foot as this is where the foot normally swells. A  tight throatline will cause red rim marks from pressure.
  • Waist and instep fit. In a laced or high-front shoe, check for any tight fit in this area. Too tight and the pressure will affect circulation.
  • Heel fit. Be sure the heel of the foot fits snugly with minimal heel slip.  This allows the shoe to ‘ride’ properly with the foot with each step. Be aware the new shoes are stiff and will not flex properly until broken in.
  • Topline fit. Make sure thee is no gaping or loose fit at the topline such as in an oxford or a pump. This signals one of two problems: an improper fit or a foot fault such as severe pronation or depressed arch.  Although you can’t do anything about the foot fault (except to try another style) you can correct the faulty fir by trying another size or style.

 

Best Feet Forward

 

Looking after your feet is the first step to ensuring you get the most comfortable fit from your new pair of shoes. Your foot has 33 joints, 26 bones and over 100 muscles, so there’s plenty to go wrong. Bunions, corns and ingrown toenails can be the result of ill-fitting shoes or boots so let’s look at how to avoid them and walk a more comfortable walk.

 

Corns - Caused by your skin reacting to friction from rubbing against another toe or a rough inside seam. Avoiding them. The correct shoe fit will stop pressure points like the top of your toes (shoe too short) or the outside of your little toe (shoe too narrow).

 

Calluses - Similar to corns but bigger, normally occurring on the heel or ball of your foot. They are your body’s way of protecting the affected area by hardening the skin. Avoiding them. Choose shoes with good comfortable soles and a good arch rather than thin-soled ones.

 

Ingrown Toenails - Painful and unattractive they are the result of pressure on your nail, which forces it to grow into the skin. Avoiding them. Don’t cut you nails too short or wear shoes that are too short.

 

Bunions - Caused by your genes not bad fitting shoes, although pointed shoes that pinch the toes together won’t help. Avoiding them. Unfortunately it’s in the genes but don’t cramp your toes especially your big one. Bunion pads will ease the pressure.

 

 

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