Everything You Need to Know Before Buying Barefoot Dress Shoes
Regarding fashion, there are many ways to elevate your look, and shoes are certainly the most critical element. They’re a great indicator of style, so it’s no wonder that many people focus more on appearance and ignore the discomfort and pain a pair of shoes may cause, especially for formal occasions. Is it worth it, though?
Feet are the base of your body and you need to keep them healthy to prevent back troubles and pain. It’s important to keep them aligned correctly to evenly distribute body weight, which can relieve pressure and pain in different body parts. While you can’t erase years of wearing uncomfortable shoes, you can try to stop the damage from progressing and reduce pain by walking in a pair of minimalist, zero drop shoes. The best thing of it all is you buy barefoot dress shoes and introduce ultimate comfort to your formal outfits without sacrificing style.
Barefoot walking is healthy, however, minimal shoes can put more stress on the foot and for first-time wearers it’s recommended to start by wearing them gradually. To avoid overloading the foot, walk only short distances in the beginning and gradually increase over time. Be mindful and patient with your body, so you can enjoy the benefits of walking in barefoot shoes.
Reasons to Choose Barefoot Dress Shoes
Natural Width
They follow the natural shape of healthy feet and feature a wide or anatomically shaped toe box. This footwear design gives the toes plenty of room without squeezing them when walking and allows them to stretch naturally. The need for constant foot support in the form of stiff shoes and orthotics is a result of our modern lifestyles. Wearing restrictive shoes from an early age, paired with excessive sitting and other factors, limits the ability of our feet to move freely. So, instead of masking our problems, it’s better to look for a solution and let our feet carry us through life freely.
Zero Drop
In terms of shoes, a drop is a difference in height between the forefoot and heel. Barefoot shoes have no drop and promote a natural and upright gait.
Thin Sole
When you wear a thin sole, your feet can feel the surface you’re walking on and give your brain clear information about what to prepare for. If you’re walking on a hard surface, your body can prepare for it, if the surface is cold, your body can react to it, or if the surface is unstable, the body can adjust the feet to avoid injury. Simply put, a pair of barefoot boots or shoes can make you feel more aware of what is around you and help you immerse yourself in the environment.
Flexibility
The rigid sole of classic footwear doesn’t allow the feet to move and flex naturally. Barefoot shoes, on the other hand, offer ultimate flexibility and stretch to make you feel like walking barefoot.
Low Weight
The zero drop dress shoes are incredibly lightweight compared to other types of footwear. Wearing them on formal events that last for hours and involve a lot of moving around can keep your feet happy.
No Arch Support
Modern footwear has made the muscles in our feet less active because unnecessary support leads to weakened tissues. Some feet need to be supported, that’s true, but not all. Learning to use your feet naturally often eliminates the need for support. Just make sure you’re doing it carefully and mindfully.
Stylish
Some may say that these shoes look weird, but probably they haven’t seen the latest designs. The market increased rapidly over the last few years and now you can find barefoot shoes for men and women suitable for casual and formal occasions.
A Few Tips on Getting into Barefoot Shoes
Exercise
Before buying a pair, try to regain foot function first. Getting your feet into new shoes is a big step and changes a lot of things about your body, so it’s always a good idea to pair it with restorative exercise.
Choose Carefully
Beginning with exercises and being barefoot as much as you can is a nice way to start. Then, pick your new pair of barefoot formal shoes carefully, considering adequate fit. And, if you’re looking for something chic, go for minimal barefoot dress shoes.
Do Your Research
Putting on your barefoot shoes may take some time, but don’t worry, because there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this change. It’s important that you understand what they are and how they work, so you’ll know you’re investing in footwear that can make you feel better in your body. Look at this as the first step of a lifelong journey. Love your feet step by step.
Final Thoughts
Your choice of footwear plays a vital role in every outfit, and if carefully chosen it can elevate your look on various occasions. There are so many different types of shoes available these days, that even wearing high heels is made easy. However, if you’re looking for a pair of shoes that brings fashion and foot health together, then go for barefoot shoes. Their design has improved significantly in recent years and today many models are nearly indistinguishable from classic footwear.
