Ben Franklin probably didn't say "show me a grumpy man and I'll show you a man with bad shoes", but he should have. They say that shoes make the man, and they're right on that one in more ways than one. Good, quality shoes do more than make you look good - they make you feel good. A pair of high quality shoes makes your feet happy, and when your feet are happy, the rest of you is in a much better frame of mind to deal with your day. Poorly made and ill-fitting shoes are at the root of many a miserable day, and here's why.

Poorly made shoes hurt more than your feet.
Your feet are your skeleton's foundation. When there's a problem with the foundation of a building, the symptoms can show up in cracks in the walls or ceilings, floors that tilt in the wrong direction - even in electrical and plumbing problems. The same is true with your body. When your shoes don't support your feet properly, your legs and hips and spine and shoulders and neck try to compensate. Taking any of those out of alignment can cause discomfort, pain and other problems.

You're far more likely to notice the discomfort of things like bunions and blisters caused by rough seams, heel pain from poor support and generally aching feet from shoes that constrict them. Between the obvious pain caused by shoes that aren't made well and the more subtle effects of poorly fit and low quality shoes, you can end up in constant low-level pain. Who can think clearly and be cheerful when their feet and their body are in pain?

How high quality shoes can help
Well-made, quality shoes like those made by Naot support your feet in a number of different ways. Naot shoes are designed to keep your feet happy. The heel cup is designed to keep your heels steady, preventing your ankles from tilting when you walk. The shank that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot gently encourages your feet to distribute your weight evenly. A roomy toe box gives your toes the room they need to move and grip the ground while you walk - even if they're not actually in contact with the ground.

The materials that go into making up your shoes also make a big difference. Real leather breathes, wicking moisture away from your feet and letting air circulate around them. That means cooler feet, less chance of infection and a lot less stinky feet.

What to look for in quality shoes
Now that you know why quality shoes are important, let's talk about how to choose a good pair of shoes that will support your feet - and your body - properly.

-First, look at the shoe.
Style may be important to your eye, but there are other things to look for. Are the seams straight and evenly stitched? Is the leather smooth and well-finished? Does the shoe LOOK well-made?

-Feel the shoe.
Take the shoe in both hands and try to twist it. It should have a little give, but not bend out of shape easily.

Try to bend the shoe in half so that the heel and toe meet. Again, it should have a little give, but you shouldn't be able to fold it. The shank of the shoe should prevent the shoe from bending beyond the ball of the foot.

Push up against the bottom of the toe of the shoe. The front of the shoe should bend easily so that your toes and the balls of your feet can do their work.

-Poke around inside the shoe.
Go on, push your hand inside the shoe and feel around. You should feel no protruding seams or rough areas. The inner surface should be comfortably padded and smooth. The tongue of the shoe should have enough padding to let you lace shoes without cutting into the top of your foot.

-Check the materials.
The uppers and lining of the shoes should be leather. Leather breathes and molds to fit your feet comfortably. You may not be able to look under the shoe's hood, so to speak, but you can ask about other materials. A steel shank is the most supportive, and leather soles will wear far better than most manmade materials.

-A few last things:
Excellent quality shoes like Naot clogs and sandals can be pricey, but it's money well-spent. Still, like anything else, shoes do show wear. You'd hate to find a pair of shoes that fit perfectly and make you feel so good - only to have to replace them in just a few years. A good quality pair of shoes will last you up to ten years - if you care for them properly. Look for shoes that can be resoled and reheeled easily. Naot shoes are among the most versatile in this respect - you can replace the entire shoe bed when needed to keep them feeling fresh, new and comfortable for years.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/clothing-articles/quality-shoeswhat-traits-to-look-for-326962.html

Let's face it- Women often go crazy over shoes: stilettos, pumps, wedges, open-toed, slip-ons; generally any kind of footwear. If a brand is "in" chances are that women either have it or want it. Juicy Couture, Marc Jacobs, Christian Dior, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, and Yves Saint Laurent are some of the designer shoes that can bring a glazed and uncomprehending look to the eyes of an otherwise sensible woman.

Women know that the one thing that would perfect their look and complete the whole ensemble is the proper pair of shoes. The wrong pair can ruin the look no matter how nice the dress fits or how perfectly made-up one is. Wrong shoes, wrong look. It is as basic as that.

Which designer shoes should one go for?

Designer shoes do not get popular because of their name alone. In all reality, shoes don't get tagged as "designer shoes" until their designer becomes famous through a combination of factors, which include quality of craftsmanship and elegant designs along with having the right connections, the proper endorsers, great performance at fashion events, and a creative marketing and branding program.

Womens designer shoes are more than just footwear; they are esteemed footwear. When choosing designer shoes, one should check which ones are popular with celebrities since they are known for endorsing only prestigious apparel. This way, one can be sure that the shoes you buy are accepted and well recognized as a designer brand.

Should one go designer or generic?

Designer shoes, aside from being stylish and fashionable, are always crafted from the best material so you can be sure they will last long. Quality shoe designers have a reputation to maintain and uphold so they need to provide only shoes that will stand the test of time as well as those with extraordinary designs. Therefore, shelling out a few hundred dollars extra to buy a pair of womens designer shoes can prove to be a wise investment in the long run as they will be durable and never go out of style.

By buying designer shoes, you could even save yourself a few hundred overall since you won't need to replace your shoes several times. While there are standard shoes that look attractive and cost about a quarter of a designer pair's pricetag, they might only be good for a few occasions. A couple more strenuous rounds on the dance floor might render them finished.

Designer shoes also give you status. They tell the world that the wearer has excellent taste and the money to buy only the best. You can be the envy of everyone at a party because of your expensive and stylish designer shoes. Valuing other people's opinion may well be superficial, but one can't deny that public opinion does matter a lot to most people. The thought of being seen as fashionable and trendy can also give a woman the confidence she needs for any occasion.

Designer shoes are a woman's best friend after diamonds. You could be wearing something fabulous but if the shoes do not fit, you could ruin your whole look. On the flip side, the right designer shoes can help you pull off a more difficult and less fashionable outfit with style and grace.

What is hot right now?

A refreshing new trend is custom womens designer shoes. Morgan Miller, known as the Queen of Sole, has come up with an entirely new approach which has women shopping for shoes like kids in a candy store.

At her boutique shoe store in Miami's South Beach, Florida, you pick a base (from cork wedge to stiletto), choose the strap (from solid leathers to exotics like lizard and ostrich), and select the accessories (Harry Winston jewels to Swarovski crystals). Champagne is served while you wait for on site couture cobblers to craft your design. 30 minutes later your custom unique design is served on a Tiffany silver platter.

Many celebrities have already created their own shoes, including actress Gabrielle Union, pop artist Brooke Hogan, The 40-Year-Old Virgin's Stormy Daniels, Victoria's Secret beauty Marissa Miller, Stacey Keibler of Dancing with the Stars, and American's Next Top Model winner CariDee English.

This trend has gained popularity because women often have issues locating the right shoes for a particular event. Shopping in traditional shoe stores has several problems: one's size is often not available, the shoes are cookie cutter, and/or they may not fit one's individual foot comfortably. Morgan Miller overcomes all of these with her exciting new Miami shoe store boutique.

In the past, it used to be all about the brand. Luckily enough, Morgan Miller has pioneered her artistic concept which allows women to express themselves and tell the world that it is NOT about the brand, it is about THEM.

There are many aspects of a shoe that can determine whether it will be comfortable for walking. Most people simply slip it on while in a shoe store and perhaps spend a minute walking back and forth on the carpeted floor. They may guess how the shoe will feel with a different pair of socks, or how much the shoe may "give", but this is the extent of analyzing the shoe's comfort.

However, the majority of shoppers reject many shoes without even trying them on. They may decide that the heel is too high, the material isn't appropriate, or the toes are too pointy. These choices are usually correct; folks often reject styles that aren't visually appealing -when in fact, shoes frequently look differently on feet than in a shoe box! It takes self-education to find the best walking shoe for one's needs to realize long-term satisfaction with the purchase.
Mephisto Shoes wants shoppers to have a basic understanding of what to look for in shoe construction and features. As proud designers of quality walking shoes, they believe that those who are seriously interested in walking should have seriously comfortable footwear!
First, the old rule of utilizing natural fabrics holds true for shoes as well as clothing: plastic or vinyl can't offer the response to sweat and temperature like canvas or leather, and can abrade skin after awhile. However, some synthetics do a good job of providing durability, and several "wonder" materials provide excellent shock absorption. Some linings (such as Gore-tex) allow for outstanding heat conduction, moisture protection (both from inside and outside) and "breathability". These features allow a walker to cover a great distance before experiencing any sense of burning soles or clamminess, which can quite annoying, if not actually uncomfortable.

Second, shoes with a construction geared towards flexibility often can make walking feet feel as cradled and cushioned as tennis shoes or moccasins when new, but soon become stretched out. This leaves the user with the disconcerting feeling his feet are slipping around. Although the fit may change only a half inch or so, it may be enough to form painful calluses and bunions. Mephisto shoes make excellent use of every resource in the industry to keep this from happening to their products. Their styles utilize padding, elastication, supports, reinforcements; goring and ventilation …all which help the shoe conform to the shape of an individual's foot, without becoming too soft.

The next requirement the buyer should consider is where his walking will be taking him. It's obvious that the terrain of an indoor mall differs from a street, which differs from an outdoor trail, so it's clear that different types of shoes are needed. No matter how well made a shoe may be, if it's not suited for the walking environment, it may not be totally comfortable. (For example, a low-cut, lightweight sneaker wouldn't offer ease of walking on uneven forest ground like a sturdy hiking boot would, especially a style with toe caps and appropriate soles or heels.) Worrying about slips and injuries due to improper shoes can definitely lower the comfort level of any walker.

Another consideration is that nature had a reason for shaping a foot as it has. It perfectly accommodates weight, balance and changes of both. It's only when mankind forces the foot into shoes that are in opposition to its shape that problems occur. Mephisto Shoes enhance the foot's support and shape to increase its purpose, providing the ultimate in comfort while doing so. It does this with a variety of designs and colors to meet personal preferences. Consumers have found the Mephisto Shoe line to include "something for everyone" without compromising nature. But, as with all shoes, buyers must remember that the shape of walking shoes is much less important than how they feel. Narrow toes, spike heels, and high soles have no place when it comes to walking. All pose a dangerous risk of injury and pain and, as such, are not recommended by podiatrists for any use other than that of a short and temporary nature.

Finally, walkers need to buy the shoe that they enjoy wearing. Some people don't like tying laces while others like to adjust shoe tightness. Certain folks are only comfortable in the most fashionable design, while others don't want attention. Since most people won't wear anything that makes them feel emotionally uncomfortable, it's a bad idea to buy anything that doesn't have personal appeal. Along with an ability to suit individual tastes, Mephisto Shoes fit the bill when it comes to offering high quality, well made shoes that ensure the best comfort available in walking shoes today!