Buying shoes satisfies on a deep level because the payoff is so great. A pair of perfectly cut black pants may quietly do its part to make you look gorgeous, but a great pair of shoes positively hollers for attention and admiration. And on a practical level, many women seem to prefer shoe shopping because it's just plain easier.

Buying the right plus size or wide width shoes.
With the advent of the internet, shoe shopping has never been easier or more fun. Most online shoe stores now offer free delivery and free returns, so it’s easy to audition plus size shoes and wide width shoes in the comfort of your home and see how they work with your outfits (and feet). This will allow you to take the time to spend a little longer to determine if these shoes will be comfortable or will rub you the wrong way (and require band-aids)

How to pair shoes with clothes.

General rules:

• As a rule, very long and very short skirts look better with lower heels.
• Narrow pants look best with lower heels
• The heavier the shoe, the more casual it becomes.

Kitten heels. These low, delicate heels are less va-va-va-voom than the stiletto, but they are just as flattering and even more versatile. They work well with both cocktail clothes and office attire (a suit, a sheath dress or straight, pleated and A-line skirts). Depending on the shoe, kitten heels may be paired with cropped pants.

Stacked heel. This most comfortable of high-heel styles is also the most businesslike in look, making it the perfect complement to suits and trousers.

Stiletto heel. The shoe that has launched a thousand fetishes is sexiest when paired with slim skirts. If you wear stilettos with trousers, you'll get the leggi­est look by wearing the hem of your pants across the top of the shoe, allowing only the toe to peek out.

Loafer or oxford. High-vamped, slip-on or lace-up shoes look perfect with pants--think Katharine Hepburn. Only the very tall and thin should pair them with skirts.

Other flats. Flats look best with narrow and cropped pants. They also look great with long or short skirts; with a knee length skirt, however, flats can look dowdy.

Boots. When paired with pants, boots create a seamless look. They can also be quite hip with skirts, depending on the boot's style. The easiest boot to wear with a skirt is a knee-high. Be sure that it fits snugly to the leg without digging into the flesh and that it hits above the widest part of your calf. Midcalf boots and ankle length boots can create unflattering horizontals and are challenging to wear with skirts. You need thin legs and a sure eye to pull them off.

General Rules to Plus Size Shoe Flattery

A shoe should not only feel like it fits, but look like it does. If your foot bulges over the vamp or hangs off the front, sides or back of a sandal-or doesn't quite fill it up-you need another size or style.

Heel

• The most flattering are slim. While slim all around is best, as long as it's slim from the side, you can have some width when looking at it from the back (which will give some added sup­port and comfort) and still achieve a leg-lengthening effect. A medium height (about two inches) flatters almost everyone.
• If a heel is too high, it will not only make you feel as if you are precariously perched, but it will make your calf muscles flex which can make your legs appear shorter.
• The shape of the heel should match the shape of your body. If you're heavy, for example, a skinny stiletto will exaggerate your weight. A thicker heel style is a better option.
• All shoes-even flats-are more flattering with a bit of a lift.

Vamp/Throat

• The vamp, or top part of the shoe, is most flattering if cut low toward the toes. The throat, or opening, is most elongating in a "V" or "u" shape.
• When worn with a skirt, a high-cut shoe (one in which less of the top of the foot shows) can make the leg appear heavier and shorter.
• Wear high cut shoes with pants.

Toe

• A tapered toe gives the slimmest look. If pointed toes are too uncomfortable, look for an oval or squared-off shape. (Shopping tip: If the heels don't slip off, buy pointed-toe shoes a half to a full size larger, so your toes don't have to compete for space.)

Sole

• Thin soles create the most slimming shoe. When looked at from the side, the sole should be thin-no more than an eighth of an inch thick.

Color

• Usually, a shoe should be in the same color family as your outfit, but not an exact match. (When wearing black, this rule doesn't apply.)
• Often, black is too heavy for a lighter-toned outfit and can cut off leg length.
• White shoes are very stark and create a break in the line of your leg. Try cream or ivory. Remember, light-colored shoes make feet look bigger and show scuffs and dirt more readily.
• A shoe in a vivid color, shiny fabric or with decoration can transform a basic outfit into something more exceptional. Since such shoes can also attract attention and make your feet look bigger, stick to barer styles. They are easier to wear.

Straps

• T-Straps, ankle straps and wide straps over the instep all cut off leg length. The effect is lessened slightly if the straps themselves are thin and move toned to your flesh. Thin straps can be uncomfortable, however.

SPECIFIC RULES FOR SPECIAL BODY TYPES

Short Women

• Very high heels can make you look off-balance. A two-inch height is safe.
• If you wear flats, make sure that they have a little lift. Use the rest of your outfit to elongate, by toning shoes to stockings and skirt or to socks and trousers. Match the tone of top to bottom for even more height.

Thick Ankles/Heavy Calves

• Slingbacks are the most flattering style for you.
• Boots are also a nice choice.
• Always try to wear at least a half inch heel.
• Shoes that are too chunky or too delicate will make your legs look heavier. Avoid square toes, stiletto heels, wedges and platforms.
• Avoid ankle straps and T-straps.
• Boots that hit midcalf are difficult for almost every­one, but especially so if you have thick calves, since the top of the boots will hit at the widest part of your leg.

Long Feet

• Steer clear of very pointy shoes, which will make your feet seem longer. Although you still want a tapered style, look for something that is less severe, like an oval or squared toe.

High-Heel Comfort

High-heel shoes can put seven times your body weight onto the ball of your foot. But even with all of the pain (not to mention the specter of long-term trouble like bunions, backaches and twisted ankles), most women wouldn't dream of giving up high heels. After all, nothing makes the legs look longer or the strut look sexier. So how to have your heels and be comfortable, too? Choose foot-friendly shapes and flexible fabrics, and you'll be taking a step in the right direction.

Rules for Heel Height

• Problems arise mostly from heels that are over two inches high-thus, the kitten heel is a great option.
• If you want to wear shoes with heels greater than two inches, do it in modera­tion. Wear them for only a few hours at a time, and don't wear the same pair every day-let your feet rest for at least a day.
• For the most stability, a shoe's heel should be centered beneath your own.
• The thicker the heel, the more comfortable the shoe. A Louis heel-which is thicker at the top and tip but thin in the middle-is an attractive compromise.
• With a higher heel, a wider toe box is more forgiving.

Materials

• Choose shoes made of breathable materi­als-like napa leather or soft goat-both inside and out. Synthetics make feet sweat.
• Buy shoes made of soft, flexible fabrics, like leather and suede, to allow greater freedom of movement.
• A rubber or polyurethane sale is more flex­ible and cushioned-and, hence, more comfortable-than a leather one.

Look for stability

• Shoes that are secured to the feet, either pumps or those with back straps, are usually more comfortable.
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• Slides can make your feet work harder, and straps that are too thin can be painful.
• Stay away from high-heel thongs. The strap is likely to dig in between your toes.

Cushioning

• Feel inside the shoe for padding in the forefoot.
• If padding isn't built in, buy a larger size and add an orthotic (widely available at shoe repair shops and drug stores). You can get something for the full foot-to-cushion, support the arch and cradle the e heel-or a simple gel pad, to cushion the front only.

Helpers

• Shoes made of leather can be stretched. (You can also try it yourself at home, using a product called Cadillac, which is sold at shoe repair shops.)
• The straps and the toe box also can be stretched.
• Extra cushioning can be added in the form of a very thin rubber sole, on the outside of the shoe, or a pad on the inside, under the insole.
• The heel can be lowered, depending on the angle of the shoe.
• Plastic heel tips can be replaced with rubber ones for a softer walk.

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