Shopping for boy’s dress shoes is a lot more complicated than shopping for girls’. On the surface, it may seem like all kids’ shoes are the same—but that’s not true. There are different types of styles, and they’re sized differently than adult women’s shoes. This means you need to do a little research before you head out to buy some new footwear.
We’ve put together this guide with tips on how to choose the right dress shoes for your son:
Measure your son’s feet.
It’s important to measure your son’s feet carefully. Use a cloth measuring tape and place it at the widest part of his foot, making sure that you don’t measure too close to the toe (this can cause an inaccurate measurement). Measure both feet, average the results, and then use this measurement when purchasing shoes. Make sure your child’s feet are dry and not cold when you measure them—cold feet have been known to shrink.
Consider the shape of your child’s foot.
Your child’s foot shape is a factor in choosing the right shoes. If your child has a high arch, he may experience pain from wearing a shoe that doesn’t fit properly. You can get around this by looking for a pair of shoes with a wide toe box in order to give their toes more room to spread out.
If your kid has wide feet, you might want to look for shoes with extra padding around the heel area so that his foot doesn’t feel cramped inside the shoe while walking around all day long at school or at playdates with friends.
Kids who don’t feel pain when they walk all day long but still want extra support should also consider getting special insoles for their dress shoes so that their feet are supported all day long, especially if they’re on concrete surfaces, often during school hours.
Choose shoes that offer arch support.
Shoes should offer arch support for boys of all ages. The foot needs to be supported and cushioned to develop properly, which means you should be looking for shoes with plenty of cushioning in the sole and a secure fit. Arch support is especially important for children because it can help them avoid serious injuries down the road when they become adults, so if you can’t find any shoes with arch support that appeal to your son’s taste and style, it might be worth making an exception here.
Boy’s dress shoes should fit snugly.
When buying boys dress shoes, you need to keep some things in mind. Typically, they should fit snugly but not too tight. If your son’s dress shoes are too big, they will slide around on his feet as he walks, and this can cause blisters and discomfort. If the shoes are too small, they will pinch his foot. So, if you’re unsure of what size to get, err on the side of getting them a little bigger so that there is no slippage or pinching involved when your little one starts wearing them regularly.
Look for quality construction.
As with any other product, quality construction is everything in Boy’s dress shoes.
When you’re shopping for a pair of Boy’s dress shoes, look for high-quality leather that’s smooth and sturdy. The stitching should be even and strong, with no loose ends sticking out. When you inspect the sole of the shoe, check to see that it’s glued onto the shoe well. This is important because your kid can get blisters if it isn’t well-glued. Finally, just make sure that your child doesn’t walk out with a pair of cheap-looking shoes.
Conclusion
If you choose your boy’s dress shoes carefully, they can be a great investment. The tips we’ve discussed here will help you find the right pair at a great price. Whether your child needs formal or casual footwear, make sure that he has comfortable shoes that fit well. When shopping for boy’s dress shoes online, do your research ahead of time so that you don’t get caught up in an overwhelming array of choices.