This is how buying shoes is going to change from now on

(Image credit: 2019 Edward Berthelot)

With non-essential stores set to re-open on the 15th June, whilst we are still in some sort of lockdown, our shopping experience is going to be very different.

First off, you will need to follow social distancing rules, and perhaps have to queue outside stores as there will only be a certain amount of customers allowed in at any given time.

Of course, you'll also have to remember to bring a face mask and potentially some gloves too, but what you might not have thought of protecting are your feet, and that's about to change.

Shops including Schuh, Kurt Geiger and Dune will be re-opening and adding extra measures to ensure their customers' health & safety, and that includes spraying shoes with disinfectant and asking customers to put on disposable socks when trying shoes on.

For example, Dune has stated that it will 'encourage you to wear disposable pop socks when trying on footwear', whilst Schuh announced that shoes that have been tried on but not bought will be 'sprayed with disinfectant before being put back into stock'.

And if you're worried about not being able to return shoes bought in those circumstances, then don't worry. Your consumer rights will stay the same, meaning you can still return the shoes after having bought them (as long as they haven't been worn of course).

They will simply be disinfected after being returned, before being put back on the shop floor.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.