Why is there a Lack of Stylish High Heels for Wider Women’s Feet ?

Dear Shoe Lady,

Why do shoe manufactures of wide width women’s shoes only make shoes 2 – 2.5 inches (rarely 3 inch) in heel height? Do you know of a technical reason? I have a wider foot but LOVE the taller heel.

Dear Tamica –

First I must acknowledge that I, myself, do not approve of high heels…. unless you do not plan to walk in them. Wearing 3 inch heels puts SEVEN times more pressure on the balls of your feet than when you are wearing flats. That said, we still approve of giving customers a range of choices for their footwear. Although I can personally hope that the 3+ inch heels are worn primarily while sitting on a bar stool and chatting with admirers.

Naturalizer Beauty Coral at DesignerShoes.com

Naturalizer Beauty Coral is a 3 Inch Wedge High Heel Casual Sandal

The women’s shoe industry works with a lot of impressions about who they think their customers are, but unfortunately, they do not work with a lot of data. If they DID, they would recognize that if they made shoes to size 10 routinely, when size 7 was the average size, then they should be making shoes to size 12 routinely when size 9 is the average size. Alas they don’t.

Aerosoles Soloist Taupe Combo at DesignerShoes.com

Aerosoles Soloist Taupe Combo is a Low Casual Flat Available in Size 12

Just yesterday I was chatting with a shoe company executive about wider sizes and larger sizes for dressy shoes. They are still focusing on the size 7-8 medium market and designing platform high heels. He said it is very hard to get their factories to make platform heels for larger and wider sizes. I’m just sayin’ that’s what he said. So you can blame the factories, most likely Chinese owned.

I also suspect that there is an assumption that a wider footed woman is going to be overweight and older. This is where the lack of data comes into play. It is our experience that, while obesity is a huge problem in the US, you can be obese and still wear a medium width shoe. Women with wider feet are more likely to be younger and athletic, with a muscular foot, or with an ethnic heritage that tends toward wider feet. Shoe manufacturers who believe that a wider footed woman is going to be overweight and older, are also going to assume that this woman is not going to want a stylish 3 inch heel.

Naturalizer Ideal Multi Floral at DesignerShoes.com

Naturalizer Ideal Multi Floral is a 3 Inch High Heel Casual Slingback Available in Size 12

There you have it. In my “humble” opinion.

The Shoe Lady

9 thoughts on “Why is there a Lack of Stylish High Heels for Wider Women’s Feet ?

  1. Pingback: Why is there a Lack of Stylish High Heels for Wider Women's Feet ? | Womens Wide Boots

  2. Pingback: Why is there a Lack of Stylish High Heels for … – Ask The Shoe Lady | Womens Wide Boots

  3. Its a shame that there is so much ignorance about womans body and that we have to depend on these losers to supply us with fashion apparel. I’m 38, 5’3 160lbs and measure 6 1/2 or 7 WW. In my life I’ve had to go as high as an 81/2 M just for the width and lack of choices. My mother wears a size 5 or 5 1/2 N and my father wears a size 9EE…its was herreditary you idiots! I ended up a bit of both of them. My club days were spent hiding my feet for lack of stylish shoes. Even now, a trendy dress makes no difference if I cant find the shoes to go with it. Do us a favor and expand your sizes. Follow Bella Vita, Annie, Fitzwell. Bring it up a notch and you’ll be more successful than you can imagine, because you’ll have more customers than you ever thought possible. Believe me…I am a consumer with a taste for fashion, I just dont have the tools to walk the talk.

  4. Where can a lady purchase a decent pair of color block shoes? I think the 5″ Platforms look like the shoes Herman Munster wore. Not to mention dangerous.

  5. I have been looking for 2 years for a platform wedge in size 5.5 ww. Why does no one make stylish shoes in wide sizes? If they made them we would buy. DOES ANYONE MAKE THESE SIZES IN STYLES I WOULD WEAR?

  6. Dear Mrs. Martinez,

    I couldn’t agree more! As of today you can find 981 styles in WW at DesignerShoes.com. And that should go to about 1100 when they finish adding the new spring styles and brands. Take a look at the DesignerShoes.com website for Antia, Colorful Creations, Dyeables, Lava, Naturalizer, Soft Spots, Softwalk, Trotter, etc. etc.

    Still…. not enough. But I’ll tell you a secret. I’m seeing more shoe manufacturers making their styles in wider sizes. But to do this they are reducing the number of styles they offer to our narrower footed sisters. Try finding a AAA shoe. Just want to let you know to be grateful for what we’ve got!

    Your wide sized sister,
    The Shoe Lady

  7. How wide is medium ? also I am looking for the juliet special occasion by Saugus sandal in white. I am usually a size 7 but I am not sure if medium will fit me. Do you know where I can find that shoe sold in Canada aside from online ? please help me !

  8. Van-
    My first suggestion for stiletto type 3 inch heel shoes is to check this link: http://www.designershoes.com/fantasy. Most of these shoes will not be available in 11W . The best adjustment for 11W is a 12M.
    Alternatively, try this link: http://www.designershoes.com/?heel=49&sizewidth=207. You will need to sort through the 100+ styles for the sandals and pumps that match your criteria, weeding out the wedges, platforms, etc.
    Happy hunting!
    The Shoe Lady

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