It is nearly impossible to find a single style of sandal that can seamlessly go from the beach to the office to a fancy date. Rather than trying to find one style of sandal that works in any situation, learn which styles of sandals are appropriate for different styles of dress. Begin with a couple of basic styles that are multi-purpose and then slowly add outfit specific shoes to create flawless looks. The right pair of sandals can make an outfit, but the wrong pair can butcher it just as easily. Before beginning to shop for sandals, women should learn how comfortable they are in different heel heights as well as what size shoe they need to wear. Armed with the knowledge of fit and comfort, women can take to eBay to browse sandals until they find the perfect pair for every occasion.
1. How to Choose Sandals for Beach Wear
While gladiator sandals with stiletto heels may look stunning with a bikini and cover-up, keep them off the beach. Comfortable sandals that remove easily be removed are a necessity. After all, the main purpose of beach sandals is to protect the feet from debris and hot sand on the way from the car to the water. An afternoon at the beach demands sandals that stand up to the water and abrasive sand or are cheap enough to be disposable. Cork soled sandals stand up well to wear at the beach and are a definite must when wearing cute cover-ups out in public. For another durable option consider polyurethane sandals which clean up easily, and for a cheaper option, slip on a pair of flip-flops and wrap a towel around the waist on the way to the car.
2. How to Choose Sandals for Knit Dresses
If it is hot enough out for a knit dress, it is time to break out the sandals. This casual style of dress works best with a pair of flat sandals, which makes it a popular choice for a day out shopping. If planning to walk extensively, look for a pair of sandals with arch support. The cork soles ofBirkenstocks mold to the feet as they are broken in, providing arch support. Flip-flops are also a favorite of many women, though be warned that most styles of flip-flop do not provide any arch support. T-strap and gladiator sandals are a dressier option to pair with a knit dress. For women who find flats uncomfortable, choose a wedge heel as it better distributes the weight of the foot. Black and brown are classic color choices for sandals, but consider finding ones in colors that tie in with accents on the dress. Another popular option is to select a pair of sandals with a canvas upper in a pattern that reflects the wearer's personality.
3. How to Choose Sandals for Suits
Leave the flip-flops at home and stay professional in a pair of sandals with a low heel. Avoid wedge heels and platforms. Equally, avoid stilettos. Shoes covered in rhinestones, glitter, or obviously fake jewelry is generally not appropriate for wearing with a suit. Opt for flat gladiator or T-strap sandals that have subtle embellishments for a pantsuit or a summery skirt suit. Lengthen and smooth out the legs with a T-strap sandal with a low heel when wearing a skirt suit. Also appropriate for a skirt-suit or pantsuit, would be a slide with a heel height up to 2-inches. Stick with neutral colors such as black, brown, grey, brass, and copper. If the office has a relaxed dress code, consider selecting a colorful sandal to pair with a monotone suit.
4. How to Choose Sandals for a Little Black Dress
It is difficult to go wrong when choosing which shoes to wear with a little black dress. Break out the four inch strappy heels.. While a pair of black sandals would match a little black dress, they should not be the first option. With a black dress, any color is possible, so choose ones that pop. The only limitations on what works with a little black dress is what is available in the closet. Expand that selection with platform,, stiletto, and wedge sandals in bold colors and patterns. Rhinestones, velvet, studs, and glitter make excellent additions to a classic sexy sandal. For added stability, consider choosing a style of sandal with an ankle strap or two. Go with flats or a lower heel if the evening plans involve being on the feet for lengthy periods. Find a pair that does not hurt the feet, because a grimace ruins the sex appeal of a little black dress.
5. How to Choose Sandals for Jeans
Jeans are the go to choice for many women. Their versatility in function means they work in many different situations. With the right top and the right pair of sandals, a pair of jeans transforms from comfortable to fabulous. Learn which styles of sandals work better for different jean looks.
Sandals for Dressy Jeans
Pair jeans with a stylish blouse, or a suit jacket and a pair of flip-flops looks out of place. Pair these jeans with a gladiator sandal, T-strap sandal , or a pair of sandals with a heel to keep the hem from dragging on the floor. Stay away from sandals with embellishments as the hem of the jeans hides the detail.
Sandals for Casual Jeans
Grab a pair of jeans for almost any occasion. Pair it with a tanktop on hot days, a t-shirt when lounging around the house, or a long sleeve shirt when it starts to turn cooler. When dressing to be comfortable, the stylishness of sandals is not as important and women typically prefer casual sandals.. Slip on a pair of flipflops and be out the door in seconds. A pair of wedge heels wrapped in jute or with cork soles are comfortable and keeps the hem of the pants off the ground. Gladiator and T-strap sandals with embellishments work well with skinny jeans.
6. How to Choose Comfortable Sandals
When trying on sandals, pay attention to how comfortable they are. It is a long accepted tradition that shoes hurt the feet until they are properly broken in, however they should not chafe to the point of blistering. Walk around in the shoes for several minutes. If they cause pain immediately, take them off and walk away from them, there are other options out there. Look for sandals with good arch support for all day comfort. Pay attention to the straps on sandals, as they are the main culprit for causing pain. However, properly placed straps hold the sandal to the foot so they do not slide around when walking or dancing. Other common discomforts result from heels that are too high for the occasion and sandals in which the sizing is slightly off.
How to Choose the Right Heel Height
Walking around all day in tall heels cannot be comfortable, for days where standing and walking are frequent, select a pair of flats or low heels. If sitting is on the menu, switch into four inch heels. Keep a backup pair of sandals in the car in case the heel height becomes painful. If the shoes put a grimace on the lips, keep them off the feet.
How to Buy the Right Size Sandals
The world cannot agree on a uniform system of shoe measurement. Several companies adopt the same chart. Designers, such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, use the European shoe sizes. Keep conversion charts handy when ordering shoes using different systems of measurement.
Women's US |
7
|
7.5
|
8
|
8.5
|
9
|
9.5
|
10
|
10.5
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women's European |
37.5
|
38
|
38.5
|
39
|
40
|
41
|
42
|
43
|
A size chart should not be the end only method of checking fit, especially not when using a chart to convert sizes. Women should regularly have their feet measured to make sure that they are remaining the same size. It is also important for women to know their shoe width. A proper shoe fitting reveals this more easily than a process of trial and error from trying on shoes and seeing which size is more comfortable. However, the final judge of fit is when the sandals are on the feet.
How to Buy Sandals on eBay
Before you begin shopping, decide on the style of sandal you want to buy. eBay has thousands of shoes and if you do not go in with a clear notion of what you are looking for, it is all too easy to lose track of what you are looking to buy. Use the fashion portal to customize the search options until it only provides results of the specific style of sandal you are looking to purchase. Another option is to type into the search bar on any pages "wedge sandals&" and look to see the results. By adjusting the search query, you receive different results. Take the time to browse through multiple pairs of sandals and buy several pairs at once or purchase them individually. The top seller rating that eBay offers clearly identify sellers with a history of reliability.
Conclusion
T-strap and gladiator sandals have the most versatility for sandals; however, even then, they still do not work with every look. Buy several styles of sandals so that there always is a pair of sandals in the closet that match any outfit. Build this shoe collection in one shopping trip or draw it out over several years by purchasing pairs of sandals only as the need arises. Find a comfortable casual sandal as well as a nicer pair for dressier outfits. Color choices are a matter of personal taste, though a black sandal never serves a girl wrong. Play with colors and patterns to bring out a specific color in the outfit or to give a splash of color to an otherwise monochrome color palette. No matter the desired style of sandal, eBay has women's shoe needs covered with thousands of options from which to choose.
