The right socks

When trying on shoes, make sure you are wearing the appropriate socks. For instance, if you are trying on boots that you would wear with heavy socks, don't try them on with thin nylons.

The right time

The best time to try on shoes is usually at the end of the day, when your feet are most swollen. The point of waiting until the end of the day is to make sure that the footwear can fit you at your widest-- kind of a "worst case scenario" check.

The right foot

The first shoe you try on should be for your larger foot. For most people, their larger foot is the opposite from the hand they write with. For example, if you're right handed, your left foot might be bigger. Always fit the pair of shoes to this foot.

The first step

Stand up with your shoes on. Walk around. You should be able to wiggle your toes in the front of the shoe. For most footwear, your toes will be able to touch the top of the shoe, but there should be 3/8" to 1/2" of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Different styles can sometimes dictate a different amount of space at the end of the shoe for example " pointed toe" style.

The right shoe

Don't buy shoes that are too tight. If you're at the point where you're hoping they will stretch to be comfortable, they probably won't. It's true that soft leather and suede give slightly, moulding to your foot, but they will not dramatically increase in width or length. There's a difference between a "snug", comfortable fit and a "tight", uncomfortable fit. A few laps in the store should help you decide how you feel.