At first, I was going to steer clear of the Back To School phenomenon, since Shoefly doesn’t currently sell any kids shoes.  And then I remembered that we are in the middle of one of the biggest back-to-school waves this country has seen.  The dismal economy has generations of adults returning to school after years in the workforce.  Not to mention all of the traditional college and grade-school students who will return to the classroom this fall.  And so, I’m bringing you a Back-To-School Shoe Special that students of all ages can use.  Instead of delving into the details for each school-bound demographic, I’ll lay out a few ground rules for all students, accompanied by pictures of great back-to-school shoe deals from Shoeflyer.com.

1) Look Good. I always find it easier to raise my hand and be an active participant when I know I’m put together. Since you look at your shoes all day, they definitely impact your own evaluation of how you look. Get a pair that will leave you feeling peppy and ready to participate.

2) Be Comfortable. Choose shoes that you can wear all day without any pain, since you never know where your day as a student will take you.  Otherwise, you risk limping along on those wickedly uncomfortable (but admittedly adorable) heels while you lug a backpack full of books to the bus stop.  Select shoes that have good support.  Flip-flops are nice for a trip to the park, but they’re not supportive enough for a whole day of stomping around campus.

3) Get a Great Fit. Try on shoes in the afternoon, when your feet are swollen.  This will help you find a pair that will feel good even after you’ve been on your feet all day.  Wear socks when you try on shoes, ideally the same type that you would be likely to wear with this type of shoe.  Remember the “So Darned Fast” rule when fitting kids shoes: get shoes that are about a size bigger than what they need, since they’ll grow out of them very quickly otherwise.  (Click here for a few more fitting tips for kids, from yesterday’s Des Moines Register.)