Research reveals shoe-buying is a real headache for women

Women love stylish and fashionable shoes and boots but are often frustrated with uncomfortable footwear, despite the price they pay for it, according to the results of an online survey commissioned by Gabor, of nearly 2,000 Good Housekeeping readers.

The survey findings confirm just how important footwear is for women. Nearly 58% of respondents to the survey said they owned 10 or more pairs of shoes - with a staggering 10% owning up to having 31 or more pairs in their cupboards – while for boots, more than a quarter of respondents (26.2%) claimed to own more than five pairs. One in three women (34.3%) said they spend £75 or more on boots and a third (30.2%) said they spend £50 or more on each pair of shoes.

The survey revealed that comfort (98%) is the most important factor followed by style (92%) when purchasing new footwear. But with a quarter of respondents (25.8%) reporting that they often find shoes too narrow and the same number (26.8%) saying that they often struggle to close the zip on the legs of long boots, it appears that many women feel they are often forced to compromise.

Louise Chunn, Editor of Good Housekeeping said: “Our readers know full well that a great pair of shoes or boots, quite apart from completing an outfit, can make us feel incredibly positive about ourselves. But on a more practical level, shoes and boots are also meant to be a hard-working wardrobe items, needed every day to get us where ever we’re going – and normally in a hurry. It’s this combination of factors which explains why we’re prepared to invest so heavily in our footwear.

“But with a quarter of our readers saying that they suffer from cramped toes or rubbed heels and a similar number saying long boots are uncomfortably tight on their legs, it’s clear that while many footwear designers and manufacturers are still unable to satisfy our desire for both style and comfort, many women will continue to waste money on shoes that they find uncomfortable and maybe even un-wearable.”

Commenting on the results of the survey, Charles Clinkard, managing director, of Gabor UK / UK distributor, said: “There are fabulous catwalk-inspired shoes and boots on the high street but among these just a handful of specialists who understand how to combine style with comfort. Gabor is a good example of a brand which effectively combines the two principles. Their shoes and boots demonstrate the latest trends but also come in half sizes and include adjustable elements on boot legs which are all designed to help women achieve a really good fit.”