The Basics: Fit

Let’s talk basics for a minute.

Fit: Make sure they do. All shoes are different. They’re cut on different lasts (forms.) At mega companies the last varies from model to model so try them on.

Every few years, get your feet measured. Go later in the day when your feet have swollen. Wear a thin athletic sock.

Try both shoes on, stand up and walk around. Get off the carpet and walk around on the tile. If you don’t do this already, do. It’s fun to resist the urge to dine-and-dash.

Pay attention to anyplace the shoe rubs, pinches or binds. Sometimes it will break your heart because those dope kicks just don’t work. That’s fine, live a little.

Leather shoes will stretch a bit but much less than you think. Look for a shoe in widths or as a last resort, step up a half a size.

Break them in. Don’t wear them out that same night. Take them home and wear them for an hour or so. This is how you really try on a shoe. Take ‘em off for a while and let your feet relax. Repeat, this time for two or three hours. Keep repeating until you feel like wearing them out of the house. If there are any hot spots [EDIT] during the in-home break-in period AND BEFORE YOU WEAR THEM OUT [/EDIT], take them back and exchange or return them.