Women’s shoes came out roughly the same time men started to wear footwear. Ancient Egyptian women wore sandals, and so did Roman ladies. By 15th century, shoes with high heels, or chopines, were invented to protect the hem of the wearer’s clothing from mud and dirt. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, narrower-heeled shoes became popular for women and were especially known for being their decorations of laces and ribbons. By 18th century, women were wearing highly-decorated leather and silk shoes with arches. Slippers fastened by ribbons were all the rage during the Victorian era, with cloth boots featuring elastic side panels for outdoor walking. Now, women’s shoes come in all sorts of designs, from the classic to the outlandish, and can be made of almost anything from leather to high-tech plastic polymers.

Where to buy women’s shoes

You can buy women’s shoes from department stores, shoe boutiques at the mall, online shoe trailers and even through garage sales and flea markets. Department stores are your best choice if you want affordable shoes that you can fit and buy right away. For convenience, you can buy shoes online, which has the advantage of having a lot of styles, brands, and sizes to choose from. Online purchases do not come with the additions for mall rental and service fees. However, they usually take a few days to arrive, and in some instances, you have to pay for the shipping. For unique, vintage but cheap finds head for the flea market or scour garage sales.

Tips on buying women’s shoes

The first and most important thing to look for when buying women’s shoes is a good fit. To do this, shop for shoes in the afternoon, because this is when your feet is at its largest size. Try on both shoes to make sure that no shoe is too tight. Some women may have feet that are slightly different in sizes, and a shoe that fits well on the left foot may not fit as well on the right. Your shoe size could change from time to time, so check the measurement of your foot before heading to the shoe store.

Make sure that there is no pinching at the toes and at the heels by leaving about an inch of space between the toes and the shoe tip. Finally, do not scrimp on shoes that you will use on a day-to-day basis. Look for shoes that use good materials. Sturdy shoes are often backed with a leather lining and triple or double stitching for extra durability.