Like most things you shop for online, there’s always uncertainty associated with purchasing clothing and accessories online, especially when it comes to shoes. Unfortunately, a disconnect exists between how shoes appear on a website and how they look and feel on your feet. Adding to the difficulty is each individual shoe designer’s opinion on shoe sizes.

Shopping for shoes online vs. off-line has its benefits, particularly the discounts online retailers offer on overstocked and out-of-season shoes. Believe it or not, all online shoe stores are not created equally,  return policies  and shipping costs differ from retailer to retailer, sometimes making a good deal to good to be true. Lucky for us, one of our favorite shoe bloggers, Desiree Stimpert, put together  a list of things to look for when choosing an online shoe store.