by Bridget Webber

Created on: December 23, 2008   Last Updated: March 21, 2011

Open-toe, or peep toe shoes as they are also known, are a little bit cheeky. They allow a woman's pretty toes to show, just enough without observers seeing the rest of her foot. Many women are not keen on their feet, but this style of shoe gives a woman the chance to enjoy displaying an area of her foot she doesn't mind being seen. In fact, she can feel quite flirtatious just because she's wearing them. Put her feet in stockings first though, and the naughty but nice effect is lost. In fact, what you're left with is really not sexy at all.

It's not just the appearance of stocking clad toes, peering through open toe shoes that's the only problem. It's the discomfort that can arise at the same time. This might sound odd, as after all, stockings are generally worn in order to make shoe wearing smooth and easy. However, when you wear stockings with open toe shoes bits of dirt you pick up while walking in them taint the tips of stockings.

On top of that, the seam in the toe area of stockings tends to move around in an uncomfortable and unattractive fashion. This can leave the wearer bending down to adjust them, hiding the seam under their toes, which is an even more uncomfortable procedure to perform regularly.

It's far better to wear open toe shoes as they were meant to be worn, without socks, pop socks, tights or stockings of any description. This means well manicured and prettily painted toe nails can be displayed, and shoes retain their cheeky appeal.

It also means the wearers feet can be rewarded with air circulation, which is great on a warm day, rather than being enclosed in stockings. This is healthier for feet in many ways, and can feel good too.

There are a few reasons why some women may feel they still need to wear stockings though. They may be concerned about their feet getting hot and sticky, causing them to rub against the material of a shoe. However, this problem can be dealt with before it arises with a little foot care.

Just before the time of year comes around when a woman may feel an urge to wear open toe shoes, she can begin preparing her feet in advance. Feet which are exfoliated with a pumice stone, will be soft and smooth, so less likely to produce the cracks and lesions that can appear in hard skin, which may then be aggravated by shoe wearing without stockings.

A small orthopaedic cushion pad can be stuck inside the shoe, on any areas likely to cause friction. Finally, medicated foot powder can be sprinkled into shoes, and gently rubbed into feet before the shoes are worn. The result is that the wearers feet smell, and feel as fresh as a daisy, and remain comfortable all day long.

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