SimplySoles Says…

Answers to Your Questions
November 18, 2005

We've had several customers over the year ask us some very valid and thought provoking questions, and have had our own share of personal trials and tribulations with inappropriate or ill-fitting footwear. Although we�re not �professional� problem-solvers, our experience in the footwear industry has made us privy to some useful advice. So here is a compilation of questions, and our sole-savvy advice:

How can I wear peep-toe or low cut shoes to the office?

For many, it�s still taboo to show toes (or toe cleavage) in a business setting. Others simply prefer not to show toes at all, but love the new peep-toe styles. The solution? Opaque tights or knee-hi�s. Shades of wine, navy, or hunter green look splendid with rust and brown shoes. For those of you in less conservative offices, try a brighter color such as goldenrod or purple. Hue and Donna Karan make some cute ones and they�re available at most departments stores such as Nordstrom's, Bloomies etc. Another option is patterned hosiery which provides a lighter, yet more serious look. Obviously it's best to stay away from large patterns and fishnets at the office unless they are nude color fishnets (the only type of nude color hosiery we recommend). We suggest picking small-scale basketweave, herringbone or pin-dot patterns over florals and stripes. Banana Republic has an ample selection.

I�m going to Europe and will be doing a lot of walking, any footwear suggestions?

Many vacation-bound travelers are often concerned about standing out as �Americans� when traveling abroad. Although the younger generation of Europeans does wear sneakers and athletic shoes, they tend to shy away from the big, white, air-pump variety and stick with more streamlined styles that have an inventive flair about them. You should bring comfortable walking shoes with you because the beautiful old roads in Europe tend to be uneven and you certainly don�t want to scuff a heel (or break an ankle) on a cobblestone. Taryn Rose shoes are wonderful for travel because they offer a lot of support, are extremely lightweight and have incredibly soft and supple leather. The Morenatom Strapping Sneaker is another cute alternative for sightseeing abroad. The Skittles by Cydney Mandel with its Indian beading is also a great shoe to pack. Although it doesn't offer a lot of arch support, it's exceptionally comfortable and is easy to slip on and off...a boon at airport security.

My shoes are giving me blisters, what can I do?

All shoes, no matter how good in quality, have a breaking-in period. Generally though, the better the quality, the faster the break-in time. We sell Footpetals and Apara Gel Cushions to help prevent blisters and to improve the fit of your shoes.

Blisters in the heel area? The case is that your shoes are probably too wide at the heel so we recommend sticking a pair of Heavenly Heelz or Heel Appeal inside the back of the heel of your shoe for protection and less slippage. I swear by them. I�ve actually put them into a pair of shoes when I�ve had full-blown blisters on my heels and been able to walk in comfort without pain.

Ball of the Foot Pain? Tip Toes by Footpetals and Gel Steppies by Apara are fabulous at alleviating this pain and make wearing high-heels more comfortable over long periods of time. The Gel Steppies are a little thicker (so if your shoes are really too small, they might take up too much room) but they are machine washable and transferable to other shoes. They are also clear in color so they don�t conflict with the color of your lining (although we confess, they have a medical sort of "breast implant" look to them). The Tip Toes are thinner and a bit more breathable, but need to be assigned to a single pair of shoes as the adhesive is only good once. We offer them in Buttercup (a fleshy yellow) or Black - match the color to your insole lining. In open toe sandals, these ball-of-the-foot cushions also help prevent your feet from sliding over the front when things get hot and humid. You can walk without feeling like a fashion victim.

Shoe is in general, too big? Face it, we�ve all been desperate for a certain pair of shoes (be they the must have of the season or be they on sale). I usually wear a size 7, but confess to having a size 6 up to a size 8 in my closet. It all depended on how desperate I was for the shoes. In times like these though, when the shoe is fantastic but the fit is not quite right, insert a full insole by Apara or Footpetals.

We hope you�ll find the information above useful and look forward to answering more of your questions. Simply contact us via e-mail or at 1-800-909-3679 with your questions or suggestions.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Your SimplySoles Family

PS - We've put some of our best shoes on sale. Go to Featured Sole on Sale for the best shoes, now at the best prices.