It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the true face of pain rests in ill-fitted shoes. If the shoe is meant for you, it will fit. If it does not, think of all the ways it can affect you. Your walk will be a little askew, shoddy even. Those fifty meters will turn into a football field. Your soul will weep and your toes will hurt. And the pain will follow for the next few days until you change it with the right pair of shoes.

And the right pair is the one that suits your foot type. When the shoe fits your foot perfectly, you know. There is confidence in your walk. Your ankles feel well rested and your soles feel balanced. Your toes have enough space to wiggle around and the next step you take doesn’t make you cringe.

If you’ve been wearing the wrong shoes all this while, lucky for you, we also specialise in fittings. For all your size woes and fitting frights, we have the following guide that will help you get that perfect shoe.

To get a good shoe fit, you must understand what kind of foot you’re cladding them in:

Feet as Flat as Floor

Flat feet are those that have a characteristically low, flattened arch. In terms of biomechanics, flat feet are susceptible to imbalance and are prone to suffer from foot pain and arch pain. They require more support than normally arched feet. Most formal shoes for men, however, are not designed for flat feet, and thus lack the necessary arch support they need. Without that arch support, there is an additional pressure on the inside of the shoe by your feet, causing the mouth of the shoe to widen in size.

People with flat feet should avoid low cut shoes like loafers. Pick a pair that has depth in the construction, and a higher lacing system. Oxford shoes with their closed lacing system will be perfect for flat feet. Slightly less formal than Oxford, brogue shoes also help you achieve the same look. They lock the ankle in and also deter the shoe’s mouth from gaping. They will, however, cause the mouths around you to gape.

Arch It to March It

People with flat feet are not the only ones with shoe troubles. Also known as cavus feet, feet with a high arch and instep have problems with the lacing of the shoe. An abnormally high instep can cause the laces to gape and ruin the shape of the shoe. Most men just try to treat this problem by buying a size bigger than needed. That, however, doesn’t work.

With shoes, size definitely matters. Instead of buying a larger size, wear shoes that have an open lacing. Derby shoes will be perfect here because they tend to give a lot more space to the instep. Their less rigid and open lacing system allows more flexibility for your instep.

Broader the feet, bigger the personality

Broad feet can be identified by wider toes and narrower heels. People with broad feet require their shoes with a lot more wiggle room than normal. If the shoes don’t have wider foot fronts, there will be additional pressure on the sides of the feet, causing them to hurt. While you may think that with time, the leather will expand enough to let your feet stop hurting, that’s just a myth. Let’s not delude ourselves here. If your toes crunch, it’s not going to get better.

Men with wide feet should invest in shoes with square toes. The square toe is devoid of any tapering at the front and thus offers more comfortable and a roomier experience for wide feet. Avoid chiselled toes and rounded toes as they are meant for a leaner fit.

Narrow the feet, nimble the walk

Narrow feet are slender from tip to ankle. People with narrow feet often have difficulties finding the right shoe that doesn’t slip out too often. If the shoes are not lean enough, there is often excess space inside for the feet to slide left and right uncomfortably. That affects the walk of the wearer and given them a very unbalanced look.

Men with a narrow fit should wear shoes with chiselled toes and a tapered construction. A slightly pointed toe cap will offer less volume at the front and offer a more snug experience. It goes without saying that round and square toes should be avoided.