How Your Dress Shoes Should Fit Stop Buying The Wrong Shoe Size
[0:00:00] Your shoes are the foundation of your outfit.
Having a great pair of dress shoes powerfully increases your style, however it’s important
to ensure comfort and function are overlooked when shopping for shoes.
Poor fitting dress shoes are painful and can cause problems like blisters and bad pain.
Guys, it doesn’t matter how good they look, like all items of clothing, fit is king.
So, are you wearing the right size dress shoes for you?
In today’s video, gents, we’re going to cover exactly how your dress shoes should
fit.
Now, gentlemen, throughout this video, you’re going to see some beautiful shoes.
All of these shoes are brought to you by the paid sponsor of today’s video, Paul Evans.
I want you guys to go check them out.
I’m going to link to them down in the description.
And I’ve got an amazing discount code for you, RMRS100.
That’s for $100 off your first pair of shoes from Paul Evans.
Guys, I’ve been working with the founder of Paul Evans since 2012 and I’ve got over
a dozen pairs of their shoes.
I can tell you I love the different styles, I love the fit, I love the quality.
All of the shoes of Paul Evans are Blake-stitched made with high quality calfskin leather.
They’re all hand-painted made in Italy by cobblers who have been doing this for generations.
Paul Evans also offers free shipping and returns.
Again, gents, I’m linking to them down in the description.
Use that discount code, RMRS100 for $100 off.
It’s not going to be around forever.
It’s a great deal, take advantage of it.
A great place to start is with a Brannock Device designed in 1927.
This device tells you what shoe size you need by measuring the length of your foot from
heel to toe, the length of your arch, and the width of your foot.
Place the heel of your foot against the back of the device and look straight down over
your longest toe to see the measurement.
This number marks the total length of your foot.
Next, slide the pointer to the ball joint of your foot.
This number will give you your arch measurement.
So now, you have the numbers from the two measurements you just took.
Whichever number is bigger will be your shoe size.
Now, it’s time to measure you foot width.
Slide the width bar to the side of your foot and make note of the corresponding letter.
A, B, and C are narrow widths.
D is considered average.
E, EE and EEE are considered wide.
Now that you have your foot measurements, you have a great place to start, however understand
that sizing and widths vary across the brands.
The reason is because each brand has their own shoe last.
A shoe last is a wooden mould which the shoe is formed around.
Now, because each brand has their unique shape their unique last to their shoes, you’re
going to find that there is variation across the brands.
So, the most important way to know if a shoe truly fits is to try it on.
I know Captain Obvious here, but guys you need to know what to look for when you’re
trying on your shoes.
Now, first off, when putting on a dress shoe always use the shoe horn.
Failure to do so overtime can damage the back heel of the shoe.
Now, let’s look at the areas that you need to pay attention to when you’re trying on
a pair of shoes.
The ball of your foot should sit comfortably in the widest part of the shoe.
This is called the shoebox.
It should grip closely around your foot, but not too tight.
You want it to be just right.
When it comes to the length, understand that your mama’s rule of pushing to see where
your toe is doesn’t really matter.
It’s all about the fit in the shoebox.
Now, you want to have plenty of room for your toes, you don’t want them to be crushed
up.
But, understand that different shoes have different shapes.
Some are intended to be longer, some have a pointed end just make sure that your toes
aren’t touching the end of the shoe and you’ll be fine.
Finally, check the heel of the shoe.
Your heel should not be slipping around.
If the back of the shoe is riding up and down when you walk, you’ll need either a smaller
size or to go with a different brand.
Now, I need to point out this rule really applies to laced shoes and boots.
If you’re buying a pair of slip-on Chelseas or you’re getting a pair of loafers, understand
you can have a little bit more play back there in the heel.
It’s also very important to walk around.
Merely sitting or standing in the shoes isn’t enough to get proper feel for the fit.
Lastly, make sure there isn’t any pain or chafing when you walk.
That usually indicates the shoe is too small in length or width and your feet should not
be sliding around inside because this means the size is too large.
All right, guys, here are a few protips.
Tip one.
Only walk on carpet when trying on leather sole dress shoes.
If you walk on hardwood or concrete, you’re going to scuff the bottom of the leather soles
and they’re going to be unreturnable.
Tip two.
Try on new shoes later in the afternoon or evening.
Your feet they’re going to be a little more swollen as the day is gone on and you’re
going to find the right fit that’s going to be comfortable all day.
Tip three.
One of your feet may actually be slightly larger than the other.
In this case, make sure to go with a slightly larger size.
All right, gents, that’s it.
No excuses now for wearing the wrong size shoes.
And, guys, if you’re looking for a company, again, go check out Paul Evans.
I’m linking to them down in the description, I’ve got that awesome discount code, RMRS100
for $100 off.
That discount is not going to be around forever, go use it or lose it guys.
Oh, and by the way, they’ve got frees shipping free returns because fit is king at Paul Evans
and I’m proud to support them, a company I’ve worked with since 2012.
And if you’re in New York City, make sure to stop by the Paul Evans shop in Manhattan.
It’s a beautiful shop with even more beautiful shoes on the inside and that’s actually
where I filmed today’s video.
Now, gents, if you want more information on how your shoes should fit, check out the detailed
support article over at RealMenRealStyle.com.
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