Finding the Perfect Flat Shoe for Style and Comfort

Here's a post from our friends at housershoes.com

Many women think in order to look stylish, dressy and sexy they need to wear high heel shoes and they would never consider a flat shoe when trying to achieve that certain sexy and chic look.  High-heeled shoes can definitely add a dressier touch to an outfit and they can certainly make a woman feel sexy, but they are not the only shoes capable of doing this.  Flat shoes, when worn correctly, can dress up an outfit to perfection and they can be just as stylish, sexy and fun as their high-heeled counterparts.  And flats have the advantage of comfort that high-heels will never beat!!  So give your feet a break from the painful heels this season and slip on a pair of  comfortable flat shoes–you won’t regret it.

Tips for finding the perfect women’s flat shoe for you:

Because flat shoes aren’t as dynamic as heels, look for a shoe in a bright color, such as red.  Pierre Dumas’s Gloria red ballet shoe is a great option for a colorful flat. Also try flats with fun prints like the leopard print flat from Lucky Brand.  You don’t have to stick to the basic neutral colors like black, brown, gray or muted metallics.  Vibrant colors and stylish prints add creativity to ballet shoes and make them much more fun to wear.  Pair these shoes with dressier styles of pants and skirts to look sexy and classy at the same time, or wear them with jeans and leggings for a comfortable and casual look.

Ballet shoes made with textured fabrics are another great option. Jellypop’s women’s Lovely Charcoal flat shoe is a neutral color, but it’s textured fabric gives it a unique look and feel.  This shoe looks great with skinny jeans, a blouse and a cable knit cardigan or throw them on with leggings, a tunic and a colorful scarf.

Many of this seasons flat shoes for women have decorative embroidery and are accented with buckles, gems, bows, straps and ornate flair. The different types of embroidery and embellishments transform the basic flat into a shoe with unique style and personality.  ThePierre Dumas Gloria ballet flat is a fun and creative shoe that has decorative detailed embroidery and comes in an array of different colors like navy with gold designs and a cool cork color with gold designs.  The Pierre Dumas Orly in black or whiskey (brown) are also a great style of flat shoes to consider. The black flat has ornate silver flair and thebrown (whiskey) flat comes with gold flair. The gold and silver accents on both the Gloria and the Orly ballet style shoes make them easy to dress up and also very easy to wear with a more relaxed casual look.  Wear gold and silver  jewelry with dress pants and skirts for a more professional style.  For a fun casual look, pair either style of these flats with boyfriend jeans, a fitted t-shirt and some chunky gold or silver jewelry.

Houser Shoes offers a variety of brands and different styles of women’s flat shoes.   Check out our website and get your perfect pair of flats today at  http://www.housershoes.com

Cross Country Running Shoes

One of the greatest sports I can think of is cross country running. A popular sport in high school and college athletics, and also a popular activity among outdoor enthusiast and runners in general, cross country running offers the opportunity to get out into nature and experience it in a very personal and intense way. If you enjoy running, either for the health benefits or the runners high, you should try getting out to one of your favorite spots in nature, find a good trail, lace up a decent pair of trail running shoes and go running through the forest.

I remember when I first went to purchase a pair of cross country running sneakers as a high school freshman. The sales person told me about durability and ruggedness and other things he had no knowledge about and sold me a pair of low quality tennis shoes. Well, needless to say I paid for that mistake with injuries and terrible times, but I learned a valuable lesson. It is important to be informed before going to shop for an important item like a trail running shoe. Your health and well being may depend on it, and you can’t always rely on the sales clerk to know what he is talking about.

If you are going to be running cross country, you will inevitably find yourself running on every kind of terrain imaginable, from pavement to track to grass to trails through the woods. You will often find yourself jumping over roots and rocks, making sudden inclines or declines and crossing drastically from one type of surface to the next. However, ultimately you are still running, and a running shoe is what you are looking for.

trail running footwear is a running shoe that is generally a little sturdier and focuses on delivering a lot of cushioning and lateral support. The often treacherous and unpredictable paths a cross country runner takes requires a shoe that can withstand a lot of abuse. Trail running shoes are often made to be a little more weather and element resistant, as you will often find yourself trekking through mud, wet grass and perhaps even snow.

One sacrifice trail runners will sometimes make is in weight, as the added protection and durability come at the cost of more material and therefore more overall weight in the mens or womens running shoe. However, as you go up in quality, the trail running footwear will get lighter and lighter, until you find a range of durable, supportive, quality running shoes with the appropriate tread on the bottom and support to survive the rugged sport of cross country running.

Fitting a trail running shoe is exactly like fitting any other athletic footwear. Trail running shoes come in all the varieties that other running shoes do, so choose an appropriate style of shoe for your particular needs. When you try the running shoes on, put on both pair and walk around the store a little bit. Crouch down and bend the toe to see how flexible and comfortable they are, and whether or not they rub around your ankles. Try them on with a pair of socks that are like to the ones you run in, as many cross country runners will have special socks that they wear. Move side to side, jump a little bit and run a short distance.

The shoe should fit snug but not pinch your foot. This is especially important in trail running shoes, because the terrain you will be moving across is so varied and uneven. If a shoe pinches your toes, the result can be anything from twisted ankles to bunions to stress fractures. The runner’s stride depends on a certain range of motion to operate properly during a step, and the trail running shoes you choose should enhance and support that range of motion, not inhibit it.

Hiking Boots: How to Choose Them

Choosing the correct hiking shoe is a decision that can greatly effect the overall enjoyment of your outdoor experience. Hiking footwear and hiking boots have become extremely fashionable these days, and it is important to ensure that you find a pair of hiking boots or hiking shoes that are functional in the type of environment you might expect to find yourself in.

All hiking shoes should share certain qualities. Quality hiking footwear will offer lots of lateral stability, to keep your ankle from rolling. They will offer a sole that is good and strong, with a good pattern on the bottom for traction. A cushioned heel and some padding under the ball of the foot of some kind are common. Whether or not you choose a high or low top, the design of the shoe will be geared toward stability and traction.

There are certain features in higher end hiking boots that separate them from the less expensive outdoor footwear. Various degrees of water repelling or waterproofing are available, and will generally improve with higher quality shoes or boots. Another aspect that improves with the quality of the shoe is weight. Better hiking shoes or hiking boots will weigh less, as this is always an important consideration when choosing any hiking and camping gear.

Choose a pair of boots or shoes that are appropriate for the conditions you will be hiking in. if you are going to be using one pair of shoes for all situations, you can find a shoe that will suit most purposes, but if you pick a pair of shoes designed for extremely cold climates, and you hike in hot weather, you may find yourself uncomfortably warm. The same is true in reverse, if you find yourself hiking through snow with boots that lack waterproofing or insulation.

Fitting a mens or womens hiking shoe is a lot like fitting any other shoes. When you try the shoes on, put on both pair and walk around a little bit. Crouch down and bend the toe to see how flexible they are, and whether or not they rub around your ankles. Try them on with a pair of socks that are similar to the ones you hike in, as many outdoor sportsmen will have special hosiery that they wear. Move side to side, jump a little bit and run a short distance. Try to get the feel of them on a hard surface so you can see how they grip the floor.

The boot or shoe should fit snug without pinching across the widest part of your foot. This is especially important in quality outdoor shoes, because the terrain you will be moving across is so varied and uneven. If a shoe pinches your toes, the result can be anything from twisted ankles to bunions to stress fractures. The foot depends on a certain range of motion to operate properly during a step, and the footwear you choose should enhance and support that range of motion, not inhibit it. Although hiking uses a very different type of motion and step than walking or running on straight flat surfaces, this is no less important.

Make sure that your heel does not slip, but also ensure that your toes are not hitting the front of the toe box. If the shoe seems to otherwise fit, but your heel is still slipping, make sure you have used all the eyelets at the top of the laces. If the shoe is still slipping even when properly laced, then try a different brand or size. Make sure that if you use special replacement insoles in your shoes, that you bring them along and try the shoes on with them.

If the hiking boot or hiking shoe you choose is not already waterproof, or you simply desire added protection, there are many waterproofing accessories available. Silicone and other materials can be brushed or sprayed on the outer part of the shoe to keep the feet dry and comfortable.

Once you have chosen a brand, or if you already know the shoes you want to purchase, there are many options online for quality discount footwear. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable company and check the return and shipping policies carefully. Companies like HouserShoes.com have incredible selections and prices, and excellent customer service standards.

Wherever you get them, take some extra time to choose your hiking boots carefully, and you will build a great foundation for your explorations of our glorious outdoor treasures.

How to Buy Tennis Shoes

Tennis shoes are a little different than other shoes, because of the tremendous need for lateral support. Unlike a running shoe, where the concern is mostly for forward motion, tennis shoes must endure the constant action of sideways starts and stops. Also, tennis shoes will usually have reinforced toe and heel pads because of the fact that tennis players will often drag the toe or heel of the shoe across the court creating a lot of wear and tear in those areas.

Basketball athletic shoes are similar, however most basketball sneakers have a higher top, and tennis shoes are almost always a low or mid top to allow for maximum range of motion in the ankle. Tennis players don’t want to feel any resistance when changing direction.

Fitting tennis athletic footwear is a lot like fitting any other shoes. When you try the shoes on, put on both pair and walk around a little bit. Stand in a stance like you would playing tennis and move side to side, jump a little bit and run a short distance. Try to get the feel of them on a hard surface so you can see how they grip the floor.

Make sure that your heel does not slip, but also ensure that your toes are not hitting the front of the toe box. If the shoe seems to otherwise fit, but your heel is still slipping, make sure you have used all the eyelets at the top of the laces. If the shoe is still slipping even when properly laced, then try a different brand or size.

The sneaker should fit snug without pinching across the widest part of your foot. If a shoe pinches your toes, the result can be anything from bunions to stress fractures. The foot depends on a certain range of motion to operate properly during a step, and the footwear you choose should enhance and support that range of motion, not inhibit it.

Quality tennis footwear will generally have a flatter, tighter design to the pattern on the sole for traction. Unlike running footwear, which has knobby waffles all over the bottom, a tennis sneaker is more likely to have smaller more closely spaced grips. The reason for this is that tennis is always played on a hard flat surface, so maximum contact with the court is both possible and desirable.

You will also notice that usually tennis shoes are wider and flatter, with a lower heel than a basketball shoe or running sneaker. This is because tennis involves a lot more lateral motion, and a high heel would create the likelihood for the ankle to roll over very easily.

Because tennis does not require nearly as much vertical jumping as basketball, or the repetitive forward impact of running, jogging and track sports, the additional cushioning under the heel is not necessary. Most of the support and cushioning in a tennis shoe will be located towards the front, under the pad of the foot where all the tarsals meet the metatarsals.

Shopping for footwear online can offer many benefits, such as finding quality discount footwear. When online shoe shopping, always make sure to deal with a reputable company and website, like www.housershoes.com. Familiarize yourself with the return policy of any online store you deal with, and make sure you know all the shipping costs involved. Again, dealing with reputable online shoe stores is the way to ensure a professional experience.

How to Buy Shoes Online

How to Buy Shoes Online
By: Jack Moe


Remember when the idea of shopping online brought images of pale, overweight computer nerds ordering technical gadgets from the basement of their Mothers house? Then, with the growth and expansion of the internet some intrepid souls caught on to the ease and convenience with which online shopping could be accomplished. However, security became a big issue, and fears of having personal information stolen curbed the rise of this consumer phenomenon.

These days, however, online security is better than ever, most retailers have an online counterpart to their establishments, e-stores have popped up all over cyberspace and millions of people are using the internet as their primary source for all the things they need in life. The days of stigma and fear of internet shopping have long since passed.

Still, shopping online can pose other challenges. Certain products lend themselves better to being purchased online, such as electronics, household supplies and tools. Some items are little more difficult to get right when acquired from the web. The most obvious example would be trying to shop for clothes or shopping for shoes online. Shopping for things like women's dress shoes, mens running shoes or childrens sandals can be particularly tricky, because the sizes and fit from one brand and style to another can be very different. Certain brands may have a higher or lower arch, or a wider or narrower toe box. Another big difference from brand to brand is the size itself. A Dansko shoe may work in a particuloar size, but a pair Cole Haans may be a half size different.
For this reason, always be sure you are dealing with a reputable online store, such as Houser Shoes. Companies like these understand the challenges of online shopping, and it is reflected in the level of customer service you will get. Always, no matter what store you are dealing with, make sure you know and understand the return policy. Also, make sure to check and see if the shipping cost for returns is your responsibility, because if you must return shoes multiple times, these costs can really add up.

If you happen to be buying shoes that you are familiar with, shopping online becomes a dream come true. No gas used; no inconvenience of parking or fighting crowds. If you have a favorite brand or style, replacing them from an online store is very likely to save you quite a bit of money, as an online store has far less overhead than a discount footwear retailer with a physical address. For that reason, finding your favorite styles at an online discount shoe store such as housershoes.com can really cut costs.

If you are not sure what you are looking for, or feel like trying a brand new style, make sure to shop around a little bit. Look at all the styles available from the multitude of online shops. Be honest as to what styles your really feel comfortable with...that model in the picture on the website has been digitally enhanced to look good in those crazy shoes, but when you get them home and try them on, it may not have the same effect! Consider whether you are buying womens dress heels or mens work boots or childrens casual shoes, and stick to it. Its easy to get carried away shopping for shoes online!

Call the customer service number and try to connect with a real person. Any reputable online store will have a great support staff to help with you any questions. Make sure to double check the shipping and return policies, and perhaps inquire about the satisfaction rate for the item you are considering. Ask if the sizes run true, or if there are any special points about the brand you should know.