Imagine trying to put your D-cup boobs into an A-cup bra  – or vice-versa. Our mental images of these are probably all similar. Now, apply that same concept to shoes. Do you have a mental image? Maybe not. Here’s why. Most shoe brands offer only one width of shoe. When asked, most women will give their number size (length), but not even mention the width. Often the answer to the width question is accompanied by a puzzled look and a “regular??” response. But just like bras, the number size is only half of the importance. Wearing the wrong size and/or width shoe can cause all sorts of preventable issues including bunions, hammertoes, and blisters. But don’t blame yourself if this happens, because chances are, you had no idea.

Remember going to the shoe store as a kid and a salesperson measured your foot in one of those funky silver devices (called a Brannock)? This is still the best way to measure feet, but most people haven’t had this done as an adult. Many stores that sell shoes off the rack don’t offer this service, but there are still plenty of full-service shoe stores that do! If you haven’t had your foot professionally measured recently, that is the first step.

Once you know the size AND width shoe your foot needs, then you will want to find the brands that you love. Wearing shoes simply for the way they look is a huge disservice to your feet! If you think about it, our feet are what carry us through our lives, and every step we take is putting 3X body weight on our soles. If you are wearing shoes with little to no structure or cushioning, your poor feet are going to pay the price.

Most of us don’t want to sacrifice style for comfort, but we’ve also realized that we don’t want to sacrifice comfort for style. Perhaps we did sacrifice comfort when we were younger and are now paying for it with some of the before-mentioned foot issues. The good news is that you do not need to sacrifice either!

Walking Cradles shoes are designed by Jamie Wells, a woman who knows what these problems are and puts as much research and effort into the fit and comfort as she does in the styling. Knowing that style-savvy women want different style shoes for all the aspects of their busy lives, Jamie designs a complete line of casuals, sneakers, sandals, pumps, dress shoes, booties, and boots!

Who has shoes in their closets that are still there only because they are beautiful but never wear them because they kill your feet? I’m seeing a lot of hands go up here! We call these shoes “art-for-your-feet,” and if you simply must wear them for a special occasion when you’ll be sitting down most of the time, then go for it! But if you don’t want to have to kick your shoes off under the table or dance barefoot, you don’t have to – because even Walking Cradles heels and dress shoes incorporate the same Tiny Pillow cushioned insoles that make them so comfortable!

What are Tiny Pillows? They are the signature comfort feature found in all Walking Cradles shoes. Made of non-compacting foam, these tiny pillows of comfort create a massaging effect for your feet and provide cushioning that doesn’t break down like memory foam does. Many of the Walking Cradles styles have removable Tiny Pillows insoles for those who have orthotics they need to incorporate into their shoes. Regardless of the style of shoe, toe character or heel height, the insole of your shoe is so important to your overall foot comfort. But there is more to your overall foot comfort than the insoles.

Do you find yourself wearing the same shoes or same type of shoe every day? After reading this, you won’t do that anymore! Mixing up the heel heights you wear throughout the week is highly recommended by podiatrists. This helps redistribute your weight, giving pressure points like your heels and the balls of your feet some much needed recovery time. This is beneficial to reduce the potential of heel issues like Plantar Fasciitis as well as problems with your lower back and hips.

Whether all this information is new to you, or you’re already in-the-know, Walking Cradles shoes has something for you! Our shoes come in sizes 4-13 and Narrow, Medium, Wide, and Wide-Wide widths. With a complete line of styles, there are absolutely shoes for women of every age and for every occasion! Walking Cradles is proud of our commitment to this unique niche in the shoe market and thrilled to share this timeless advice for ageless women on Better Than Gossip! To purchase Walking Cradles, visit walkingcradles.com and use the code: BTG20 (use at checkout for 20% off entire purchase)