Buying shoes online? Here are 5 tips to get you started!
If you're like us, or most women we know, then it's probably fair to say that you have an affinity for shoes. Some women have a massive high-heel collection, and others are sneaker fanatics. The beauty of shoes is that they truly elevate any outfit and allow you to show off your unique personal style and personality.
But as busy women on the move, we don't always have time in our schedules to take an hour or two out of our day to hit the malls or boutiques. And when you consider the cost of gas right now, shopping online seems the most convenient and efficient route. But unlike buying a shirt online, buying shoes online can be a bit more daunting, as there's not the give and "room to shrink" you get when buying a top or sweatshirt. So if you are buying shoes online, here are five tips to help you now!
#1 Measure Your Feet
We all know what size of shoe we wear, but the fit and comfort of that one size can vary depending on the brand of shoe you are buying. Every manufacturer has different guidelines/measurements of how they make their shoes and size them accordingly. So when buying shoes online, it's important to know the facts, and that fact is what are your foot measurements.
#2 Get to Know Brands
As mentioned above, every brand runs and fits differently. For instance, Adidas runs big and Nike runs true to size. It's important to pay attention to the fit patterns of each brand when buying shoes online. When we were younger, we put fashion over function, but as we've gotten *wiser*, we have become loyal to brands that look good and feel even better. Which makes it a touch easier and gives us more confidence when buying shoes online from brands and stores that we know and trust. Their shoes fit like a McDonald's cheeseburger; they are reliable, predictable, and hit the spot every time!
#3 Read Reviews
To those kind souls who leave detailed and descriptive reviews, we thank you! Reviews are an incredibly helpful tool in deciding whether to order your normal size or if you should size up or down. If the website you're ordering from does not have many or any reviews of the shoe, then do your research on the google machine and read up on others' opinions when buying shoes online.
#4 Be Specific
When buying shoes online, the options are endless. You may need a sandal or heel for an upcoming event and with one or two words into Google, you'll come up with thousands of styles. And that can be overwhelming. And if you're a shoe lover, then you'll want to buy ALL THE SHOES. Unless you have an unlimited budget, then this is more detrimental than it is helpful. So we suggest being as specific as possible in your search and narrowing down those filter options. This will garner options that are exactly what you need, saving you time and brain power when making selections buying shoes online.
#5 Read the Return Policy
Let's face it, returns are a pain to do, even when places like Amazon make it as easy as dropping your returns at Kohl's. No matter what, returns take time and energy, so we'll do our due diligence to eliminate that nagging to-do. When you have a million different places to pick from when you buy shoes online, choose a store that has an easy and friendly return policy. And if you're on a time crunch and ordering for a quickly approaching event, but are torn between two sizes; if your budget allows for it, we recommend ordering two sizes and returning the one that doesn't fit. This way you have the shoes you need and can take your time returning the pair that didn't work.
We hope these five tips for buying shoes online were helpful and be sure to check out our fabulous shoe selection here at 308!