Different sectors of the apparel industry have finally gotten smart about people's bodies. When buying a swimsuit, for example, women are able to shop for tops and bottoms separately in order to find a suit that fits the specific needs of their body. These mix-and-match suits are easily available to the entire population. They are offered by big-box discount stores, elite designers, online shopping centers and mail away orders through catalogues. In fact, it's hard to imagine shopping for a swimsuit without having the option to customize your size. Shoe shopping, however, has fallen behind this new and important custom-fit trend. (And our feet, as we all know, are anything but perfectly matched!) Most department stores require you to purchase shoes the traditional way: in pairs. If your feet don't match, and you don't want to force one foot into a shoe that is too tight or too loose, then be prepared to watch the commission paid sales clerk rub his hands in glee. You are about to purchase two pairs of shoes in order to walk away with one pair that fits!

Mismatched feet are relatively common, with some studies suggesting that upwards of sixty percent of Americans have feet that are two different sizes. Of course, there are several different conditions that can lead to someone needing mismatched shoes. Some result from diseases such as diabetes or polio that can lead to long term foot problems and sensitivities. Lymphedema is a condition that leads to the swelling of the foot due to blockages in the lymph system.

This foot condition is often caused by the radiation treatment required for certain cancers. Other mismatched feet are caused by foot injury or amputation. Some of us are simply born with mismatched feet, whether we come into this world with feet that are two different sizes or a more serious birth deformity such as clubfoot. And finally, some foot problems are our own fault! Wearing shoes that don't properly fit and support your feet can lead to conditions such as calluses, corns and hammertoe that only make your feet more sensitive to improperly fitting shoes.

Mismatched feet require mismatched shoes, especially if you want to prevent further foot, leg and back problems down the line. It can be easy to dismiss the need for differently sized shoes. After all, shoes don't incite in us the anxiety to find a ?perfect fit? that a garment as exposing as a swimsuit does. But shoes ? unlike a swimsuit or almost any other article of clothing ? do more than just cover the body. They directly affect the foot's ability to function. Some shoes even change the shape of the foot. In this way, they are not simply a fashion item but an extension of the body. A proper fit is essential.