Buying shoes can sometimes be a real drag; anyone can tell you that much, but buying shoes online brings its own set of rules and obstacles everyone finds frustrating. Instead of having your own Cinderella moment, you end up despairing and lamenting the money you’ve spent because the beautiful shoes you saw and bought online just don’t fit or aren’t good enough for hot Australian weather. Finding the perfect pair of shoes that fit just right is not easy, especially if you are buying them online and don’t have a chance to try them on. Here’s how you can overcome this obstacle:
Measure your feet
Measure your feet before you start shopping by placing them flat on a piece of paper (one at a time, of course) and outline them with a pen or a marker. Use a ruler to measure the length from the very tip of your big toe all the way to the heel. It’s possible that your feet will vary in size a bit but don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal to have one foot that’s “stronger.” Fortunately, different Aussie brands have conversion charts on their websites, and you can use these to see exactly what size you need. Keep your measurements because brands can sometimes have slight variations in sizes, and you don’t want to end up with shoes that are too small just because you didn’t bother to double-check.
Know what exactly you’re looking for
Opening a shoe-selling website of a famous Australian brand with only a “I need some shoes” in mind is a bad idea. It’s going to feel overwhelming looking through different styles, so you better have a plan before you start looking. Luckily, buying women’s shoes in Australia has never been this easy before because you can browse by collection or by style. Start shopping with a definite plan – what style you need and what you’re going to use the shoes for, and narrowing the choice down will be a piece of cake.
Zoom in on the images
Sadly, a great number of shoe-selling websites don’t have a “zoom in on the image” option. This means that you will have a much harder time getting an accurate sense of the finish of the shoe. This really is a great challenge, so finding a website that allows you to zoom in and really inspect the soles, the heel, and the finish of the shoe is a godsend. Photos used on the website should be clear, and there should be photos of the shoes from different angles so that you can check the details. This will allow you to see just how good the finishing is, the exact color, as well as the texture of the materials they used.
Find a store with a good return and exchange policy
No matter how good and how thorough your research is, you will still sometimes get a pair of shoes that just don’t fit right. No matter what the issue is, you should familiarize yourself with the shop’s return and refund policy before you order. Ideally, a shop is going to give you plenty of time to receive, try, and return the shoes you buy, but sadly it isn’t always the case. Some Australian brands are happy to help you out and accommodate you, but there will be shops with a terrible return policy (if any). When you find a store that goes above and beyond for its buyers, stick to them and leave a nice review.
Look for photos of shoes that are worn
There are so many websites where you can stare at photos of beautiful shoes all day long and not actually see how they look like when worn. A lot of times, it will be helpful to see just how the shoes you like look when worn by an actual person. For example, you’ll easily be able to check whether those ankle straps make the leg look longer or perhaps shorter, and just how much toe cleavage there is. When you’re thinking of changing your style, this can make a world of difference because you can also see how it looks when paired with a specific piece of clothes.
Use the right filters
When browsing a website looking for your perfect pair of shoes, it can be helpful to use the right filters in order to narrow down your search. Even if you know exactly what you’re looking for, unless you use the filter on the catalogue, you can end up wasting a lot of time browsing photos of shoes you neither like nor need. A lot of people focus on price too much so they sort the catalogue in a descending or ascending order of the prices. If you get too many results, you can always filter your choices so that there is a specific color, heel size, material, type, and fastening style included in the search.
Read a lot of reviews
Buying shoes online doesn’t mean that you’ll look at pretty photos all the time. Because you can’t try them on before they actually arrive, it can be helpful to read some reviews before you place your order. This way, you can find out whether the shoes you’re thinking of buying run larger or perhaps smaller than the size people were expecting at first. Not to mention that people from different parts of Australia will probably take time to mention how soon their package was delivered, so you know exactly when to expect your shoes to arrive. It’s more work than you might like, but being thorough is never a waste of time.
Buying shoes online is a tricky business, but if you take time to prepare and do research before you make a purchase, you’ll be in a much better position. This is especially important when you’re buying shoes you’re planning on wearing often. The good thing is that the more you buy shoes online, the better you’ll be at it. You’ll have more experience and learn all the tips and tricks that different companies and websites use that will help you find the best pair of perfect fitting shoes.
This guest post was graciously provided by Diana Smith. Diana is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in alternative medicine and latest DIY projects. In her free time she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.