Shoe Trends...Really?!?

From Fashionising.com

Shoes in 2009: Shoe Trends for Spring/Summer 2009

Forget about different toe shapes and heel heights; in Spring/Summer 2009 shoe trends all come down to the details. From fringing to laces to buckles and straps; exotic to fetish to architectural; these are the elements that define the trends. And one thing is for certain: boring just doesn't cut it.

What happened to the comfortable Keds we once used to wear?

Take Care...

If your feet are a pain in your life-- take a look at the shoes that you are wearing. Do you spend your days wearing high heels on your feet? Do your shoes really fit? When was the last time you had your feet measured before you bought a new pair of shoes? High heel shoes and improperly fitted shoes cause health problems such as bunions, heel pain, and deformed toes, as well as nerve damage. A survey completed in 1993 found that most women are tired of wearing shoes that hurt their feet. The women in the survey paid from $50 to $200 for the shoes that are hurting them.



Selecting properly fitting shoes is the first step to eliminating foot pain. Don't pick your shoes because the tag says they are your size--try them on and buy them based on how they fit on your foot. If you haven't had your foot measured in five years or more, you should measure the next time before you buy shoes; feet can change size and shape over the years. And don't measure just one foot--measure both feet. Your feet may be different sizes and you should buy your shoes to fit the larger foot.


Buy your shoes late in the day when your feet may be slightly larger. If your shoes fit properly, there will be 3/8" to 1/2" of space between the end of your longest toe and the tip of your shoe when you are standing up. Don't expect a tight pair of shoes to stretch to fit your foot, if you do--you are asking for foot pain later on. Shoes should have rounded toes that allow your toes room to 'wiggle.' The pointed shoes of the past often left women with toes that overlapped and created extreme pain for women later in life.

Never Dismiss A Problem...

...even if you are wearing a quality shoe!

We see a lot of patients that have bunions and hammer toes, intermetatarsal neuromas, and even what’s called Taylor’s bunion or bunionettes and that’s the bunion on the outside. We treat a lot of patients between conservative care and we also do a lot of surgery. We try the conservative care and when a patient fails that, then we talk to them about surgical intervention. Dr. Vail is well trained and can do a variety of surgical procedures in order to correct the bunion, hammer toes, and Taylor’s bunion or intermetatarsal neuromas.

However, be sure to call for an appointment as soon as you have a problem. The earlier it can be treated, the less difficult it will be to remedy.

Shoe Care

For longer service, keep shoes clean and in good repair.

Avoid excessive wear on heels and soles.

Give your shoes a chance to breathe - don’t wear the same pair two days in a row (you prolong the life of shoes by rotating their use).

Never wear hand-me-down shoes (this is especially important for children).

Shoes for Athletics

Different sports activities call for specific footwear to protect feet and ankles. Sports-specific athletic shoes are a wise investment for serious athletes, though perhaps a less critical consideration for the weekend or occasional athlete; nevertheless, it’s a good idea to use the correct shoe for each sport. Probably a more important consideration is the condition of the shoe - don’t wear any sport or other shoes beyond their useful life. Athletic footwear should be fitted to hold the foot in the position that’s most natural to the movement involved. For example, a running shoe is built to accommodate impact, while a tennis shoe is made to give relatively more support, and permit sudden stops and turns. For sports, “cross trainers” are fine for a general athletic shoe, such as for physical education classes. But if a child is involved more heavily in any single sport, he or she should have shoes specifically designed for that sport.

Shoe Tips for Women

Women inflict more punishment on their feet in part from improper footwear that can bring about unnecessary foot problems. Some of the problems result from high-heeled shoes (generally defined as pumps with heels of more than two inches). Podiatrists believe that such heels are medically unsound, and could attribute to postural problems.

To relieve the abusive effects of high heels, women can limit the time they wear them, alternating with good quality sneakers or flats for part of the day.

They can also vary the heel height. There are comfortable and attractive “walking” pumps (also called “comfort” or “performance” pumps) for work and social activities that blend fashion considerations and comfort, offering pumps with athletic shoe-derived construction, reinforced heels, and wider toe room.Activity has a bearing on the considerations; wearing the right shoe for a particular activity is probably as important a factor in the choice of shoes as any.

Perhaps the best shoe for women is a walking shoe with laces (not a slip-on), a polymerized composition sole and a relatively wider heel with a rigid and padded heel counter, no more than three-quarters of an inch in height.

Shoe Tips for Men

The best shoes for men are good quality oxford styles, shoes ordinarily associated with wing-tip or cap toe designs. Also suitable are slip-ons, dressy loafers and low dress boots.

Men should buy shoes for work, leisure, and special activities, matching the shoe to the activity.

Male office workers should earmark three to five pairs of shoes for business hours.

Cushioned-sole shoes that give good support are essential for those who spend most of their working days on their feet.

There is no question about the need for foot protection for those who work in heavy industry. Safety shoes and boots - those that are waterproof or water-resistant, with insulated steel toe caps and soles of non-conducting materials - help prevent injuries to the feet, and reduce the severity of injuries that do occur.