How to Bargain Shoe Shop

Shoes are to woman what dogs are to man; a best friend and there's almost nothing a women wouldn't do to find her next great best friend. Finding a shoe bargain is like finding a pot of gold, so here are a few tricks of the trade to mastering the bargain shoe hunt.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Socks and/or nylon sockies.
• A large bag
• flip flops, slides, or any of your favorite slip-on shoes

1. If you're looking for something specific you should dress accordingly. For example, if you're looking for knee-high boots, you should be wearing a skirt or jeans that are baggy enough to roll past your knees or tight enough to be worn under the shaft of the boot. If you're looking for dress sandals you should be wearing something that can bare enough of your legs that you get a feel for what the shoes might look like with a dress.
2. Where shoes that can be easily removed time and time again. You don't want to be hassling with your shoes every time you see something you wnat to try on. Flip flops, flats, or any slip-on works great for shoe shopping.
3. Always carry nylon booties and socks in your bag. Although most shoe stores will have a box for your use, there is no guarantee. You should always try on shoes wearing a barrier; it's common courtesy (you wouldn't try on a bathing suit sans underwear, right?) It's also nice to have a pair of socks, either tube socks or dress socks, depending on what you normally wear with common loafers or boots.
4. Take your time trying things on. What feels great in the heat of the moment can be a big regret in the long run. Anything feels good for less than a minute so make sure you give your feet time to decide if they're truly comfortable.
5. Try both shoes on! The average person has one foot that is slightly larger than the other. In general this doesn't affect the sizing of your feet, but if a shoe runs small it may feel fine on your slightly smaller foot and uncomfortable on the larger foot or vice versa. In this case, you'll want to go one size up.
6. Walk around the store and try to get onto different surfaces. Some new shoes have very slick bottoms and can feel like ice skates on smooth surfaces or thin carpet, so you'll want to get a feel for these things before you buy, especially if you plan on wearing them immediately.
7. Look at yourself in a full-length mirror. For some reasons shoe stores are littered with angled, mini, seat mirrors which aren't adequate for shoe buying. If you can't find a full-length mirror ask an employee for assistance.

Tips & Warnings

• Dress so that you're able to try on all types of shoes
• Bring socks and nylon booties
• Always look at yourself in full-length mirrors