Size matters: why too small isn’t a good idea

Classics, whether fairytales, movies or novels, offer comfort and security because you know what to expect from them. Take Cinderella, for instance. Who doesn’t enjoy the enchanting tale of her fairy godmother who granted Cinderella her wish to attend the ball? Take a moment to escape from the reality of adulting—juggling home, family, work and exercise. Let’s remember the story of Cinderella stepping into the ballroom in her beautiful ballgown and exquisite glass slippers.

Pause… glass slippers. The lost slipper. Searching for the foot that fits the glass slipper… Suddenly, my train of thought returns to the second blog in our 'Does the shoe fit' series.

In this episode, we discover what happens when you wear a shoe that is too small for your foot.

As we move further into the 21^st century, we’re becoming more aware of the importance of taking care of our health and bodies. It feels like we’re being given more opportunities to explore footwear. Traditional streamlined and pointed formal footwear is giving way to shoes that promote foot health. In our previous blog, we explored comfort and wearing the correct size shoe. In this blog, we consider what happens when your shoes are too small.

Cinderella’s stepsisters fitting her glass slipper is an extreme example. But you may be wearing shoes that are just one or a half size too small. While your feet may seem to fit into the shoes, long-term wearing could affect your feet.

How often have you used a band-aid on your heel or ankle to avoid blisters? Those pesky blisters are a clear sign that your shoes are too tight. But there are also more serious effects of constantly wearing shoes that are too small.

Our toes are supposed to spread out when we walk. This helps to distribute our body weight across our feet so one area is not overworked. When you wear shoes that squish your toes, you can damage the ball of your foot over time by applying too much pressure to this area. When your toes have enough space to move naturally, your balance improves, and you are more stable on your feet.

Depending on your foot shape, the issue may not be related to size but rather to the shoe’s design. Sometimes, even a small change in the design can give your toes more room to move. Woodland Africa offers a variety of trendy shoe styles that cater for different foot shapes. Foot health is a priority, and your local stockist will help you find the best shoe for your foot shape while ensuring it is the correct size. Give your feet the space they deserve.

We're pausing the current series for an exciting new feature in our next blog post. Until then, indulge yourself in a classic you love.