Inexpensive Women’s Sandals
From LoveToKnow Shoes
When the spring season starts to bloom, many shoppers go on a frenzied hunt for inexpensive women’s sandals. But, buying inexpensive footwear doesn’t mean you have to skimp on either quality or style. Read on as LoveToKnow uncovers the best places to purchase fashionable yet inexpensive women’s sandals.
What to Look For in a Well-Crafted Shoe
Affordable footwear isn’t as common as many people think. First of all, you need to determine what the word “inexpensive” means to you. Fans of Manolo Blahnik may think that shoes hitting $200 are inexpensive compared to the average $550 they drop on a pair of sandals. Likewise, a regular Payless shopper may be looking for footwear that falls under $10.
Even terms like “quality” may be relative to the consumer. Many shoppers who have not experienced the quality of high fashion footwear by designers such as Prada or even lower-level designers like Naturalizer may have a convoluted idea of what defines quality sandals. Hence, here are a few key points to consider when you are purchasing relatively inexpensive sandals:
The Cut of the Shoe
When you purchase a pair of sandals, is the base of the shoe cut adequately to your foot sole? Cheap manufacturing will yield an almost snow shoe effect in that the rounded base of the shoe may stick out very noticeably past the length of your foot.
A well cut shoe should provide minimal visibility of the shoe-base, allowing your toes to be the real focus of attention. Poorly made shoes are lazily crafted and not cut in proper proportion to the foot.
Tight Stitching
It costs money to create a shoe that lasts. One of the first characteristics of a well-crafted shoe is tight stitching. If you’re purchasing sandals for a single event, maybe you just want an inexpensive buy that you can toss out the morning after. However, the majority of people want their cake and the ability to eat it too, so they’re hoping to purchase low-priced shoes that are also high-quality.
Badly stitched shoes will fall apart, and ill-kempt footwear never looks good, especially in the summer when your strappy sandals begin to decay after only three wears!
Stitching is one of the more obvious deficiencies in a shoe. If you’re in the store and surveying a certain type of shoe, keep on the lookout for loose threads. If one or more of the sizes in that particular style is showing loose threads, it’s more than likely that the pair you purchase will possess those same pesky loose stitches within a few wears.
The stitching should also be even. It takes painstaking care to evenly stitch the best shoes; many expensive sandals are made by hand, which is why they are built to last.
Adequate Lining
Good quality shoes will have an absorbent padded liner. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the shoe will be comfortable, as high-designer fashion stilettos are rarely comfortable--though they look fabulous and will last a good while! However, well lined shoes will absorb moisture--a particularly nice feature for the summertime.
Flexible Soles
A decent sandal will have a firm but flexible sole. Whether you’re sporting a wedge or a flat, the sole of the shoe should be pliable when walking. Cheaper materials are not as resilient or flexible.
Where to Purchase Inexpensive Women's Sandals
Inexpensive women’s sandals can be found everywhere, from your local Payless to a nearby Shoe Pavilion store. Fans of online shopping can head over to Zappos where a plethora of women’s sandals are available at discounted prices. However, whenever you’re attempting to save money on footwear, do keep the aforementioned quality tips in mind. You’ll spend less in the long run if you buy shoes that last!
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