How To Choose High-Quality Shoes

This post focuses on making sure you get the most out of your shoes in both quality and fit. Here are a few guidelines to follow when shopping to help you pick shoes that will last you for a long time. Some are common sense and others are little details that make can make all the difference.

1. Examine the sole, and make sure it is firmly attached. Soles can be either stitched or cemented to the base of the shoe, and both are acceptable. Make sure the stitches are even in length and not loose at any point, and make sure there is no excess glue or unglued areas along the sole.

Example of Stitched Soles

Examples of Glued Soles

2. Check the heel! The heels of women's high-heeled shoes are usually made of plastic and covered with leather. The higher the price, the higher quality the plastic.

3. Inspect the shoe's interior. Leather or suede are the best materials because they absorb moisture. A high quality shoe will be fully lined from front to back.

Leather Interior

Suede Interior

Leather Interior with Suede at Heel

4. Consider the shoe material. Shoes with an oiled, natural finish are durable, while patent and polished leather shoes resist dirt.

Natural Leather

Patent Leather

5. Examine any buckles or adornments on the shoe. They should be reinforced with smooth, even double stitching. Rhinestones should be secure.

6. Look for the words "Vero Cuoio" on the sole of the shoe. This is Italian for 'real leather'. Usually this is extremely high quality Italian leather. A few of our brands that boast the Vero Cuoio seal are Betsey Johnson, Beverly Feldman, VANELi, Cindy Says, Nina and Olivia Rose Tal.

For more information about fit and picking a high quality shoe, follow this link.