Women’s Shoe Width Conversion

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,
I’m hoping that you can help. In the UK I’m a women’s size 7 with a width 6e. Please can you tell me what size that would convert to? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Rachel,
You would be looking for a size 9 shoe with at least a double-wide width. I highly recommend taking a look at our size chart to get the closest fit possible. It is based on shoe length in either inches or centimeters as well as shoe width. Knowing your size is always one part of the search. The other part considering your foot’s volume, and the way a shoe is manufactured! Start there, and please let me know what the results are. In the meantime browse DesignerShoes.com selection of women’s size 9WW.

I love dramatic shoes and here is one of our top sellers available in size 9WW.

Bella Vita Athena Multi Snake Leather at AskTheShoeLady.com

Athena by Bella Vita is a Mid Heel Dressy Pump

Take care,
The Shoe Lady

Converting Euro Size 44 to a US Size

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,
I’m living in Netherlands and my size is 44 but I don’t know which size should I order. I chose 3 sandals.

Dear Moska,
You have come to the right place. We know enough about shoe sizes to know that we can not trust a “44” size sold in the Netherlands. It just might include a French made shoe and the French, somewhat perversely, do not always follow the measurement conventions for a size 44 Euro.

So we always go back to your foot as the key source of information. Look at this chart: http://www.designershoes.com/size-chart

If your foot does fit a typical Euro 44, it will be about 27.3 CM long. Euro sizes do not come in different widths. But USA size do. We find that the Euro sizes run a little bit wider than the USA “Medium” widths. You will need to select the best width for your foot. In order to assess this correctly, I STRONGLY suggest that you follow closely the instructions for measuring your feet. A little difference can mean a lot in determining the right size. I also suggest you read one of the articles about shoe width to help you determine what width is best for you.

The brands you select are all very different. Dyeables has the most experience with building consistent sizes on a variety of different dressy styles. Ellie specializes in a specific niche – fun, highly attention getting high heels. Montaege is a new brand so they don’t have a lot of experience but our customers do seem to like the fit.

If you are a size 44 Euro, you will be a size 12 USA. Lucky for you! When you shop at DesignerShoes.com you are shopping at the ONLY shoe store in the world that promises you…. we will not even carry a shoe style unless it comes, at LEAST, to size 12!

Aerosoles Blind Date Tan Leather at AskTheShoeLady.com

Blind Date by Aerosoles is a High Heel Casual Slide

Do your reading lesson. Measure your feet. Write again if you have any questions. Be prepared to shop!

Best to you!
The Shoe Lady

Shoes Fall Off – Help!

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: Dear Shoe Lady, I have two pairs of flat sandals that have a strap that goes behind my ankle. the strap falls down and the shoe falls off. Is there a place i can buy straps to maybe go around my ankle to keep them on?

A: Hi Sharon, Before finding new ankle straps, let’s explore another issue that might be happening. If your shoes fall off after the straps fall down, maybe you can look into measuring your feet another time. Your shoes might be a little too big, and the ill-fitting strap is the first step to the slippage.

If you are feeling crafty, a different kind of closure system for the ankle straps could work. Thin velcro as a second binding where the straps overlap might do the trick. If the ankle straps are removable, you could also go to the fabric store and find ribbon and sew in a closure as well.
Without going the do-it-yourself route, there are pads available to attach to the inside of the straps to prevent slipping. It is the same idea as footpads for high heels that help to avoid the always unwanted sliding and creeping to the toebox. You may also try cutting strips of moleskin and lining the straps too.

Annie Jade Black-pewter at AskTheShoeLady.com

Jade by Annie is a Low Heel Dressy Sandal

Good luck,
The Shoe Lady

Transsexual shoes

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: I want to know how to find women’s shoe’s in my size I’m a male to female transsexual who wears a size 12ww in mens shoe’s.

A: The general rule of thumb in converting mens sizes to womens is to add around 1 to 1.5 to the current number. If you wear a 12ww the size range in womens might be between 13 and 14. It isn’t an exact science, but the fun part is trying different styles within that range. You may also search directly for your target sizes and closest widths on DesignerShoes.com. Mens shoes are generally wider than women’s shoes, so I recommend getting certain styles stretched when necessary for maximum comfort. Consulting our Size Chart is a helpful jumping off point.

I own a pair of these amazing boots. Summer isn’t boot weather but they work under jeans or with a cute skirt or dress depending on my mood. I have large calves and don’t find these snug. Very supportive.

Samanta Viv Boot Black at AskTheShoeLady.com

Viv Boot by Samanta is a High Heel Dressy Boot

Learn How to Measure your Feet CORRECTLY!

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: How should I measure my foot to determine if I need wide or extra wide sizes?

A: Julie-
This is a simple question with a complicated answer. Fortunately, I’ve written it all down for you right here: http://www.designershoes.com/about-size/width

DesignerShoes.com Size Chart

Let me know if you have more questions?

Fitting shoes for me – Quality Matters!

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: Dear Shoe Lady, i LOVE the samanta viv pump in beige and the ellie black 8400, my foot measures 28 and a half cm long by 10.25 cm wide using your measuring guide. what sizes should i look for in these shoes? thank you!

Samanta Viv Pump Beige at DesignerShoes.com

Viv Pump by Samanta is a High Heel Dressy Pump

8400 by Ellie is a High Heel Dressy Pump

A: My Dear Isobel,
You sexy thing. You should be looking at a USA size 14. It sounds like you have a relatively narrow foot so you may need to add an inner sole to keep these pumps pumping. The Viv Pump runs on the wide side. I believe the Ellie 8400 is a good medium.

I hope that answers the “fit” questions. But please keep in mind there is a HUGE difference in the quality and styling detail for these shoes. The Viv Pump by Samanta is in a “couture” class, using premium materials, comfort features and styling like the hidden platform. The Viv Pump is all leather and is a shoe for your lifetime. Ellie is meant to be a special occasion shoe to get you noticed but don’t expect a lot of hard ware. It is a fun HIGH heel, but it is not leather.

The Shoe Lady

International Sizes?

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: My shoe number in EU is size 40. I have ordered size 9.5. Is that correct?

A: Dear Lisbeth – With no additional information on the shape, width or girth of your feet, 9.5 would be our best guess for you. If they fit, that’s great. But whether or not they are a perfect fit, please read our articles in our website: How to Measure your Feet Correctly so you will know more about measuring your feet, assessing the shape of the shoe and getting the best fit when you shop on line.

Aerosoles Temptress Grey Combo at DesignerShoes.com

Temptress by Aerosoles is a Low Heel Casual Loafer

Thanks!
The Shoe Lady

Hammer Toe Tips

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: My elderly aunt has very painful and difficult feet to fit. She wears a size 11.5 and needs a wider rounded toe to accommodate her hammer toes, but has a narrow heel. Also, she does better with her heel slightly higher than her toes, but not more than 1 inch.

Can you recommend any shoe styles for me to look at for her??

Thank you so much.

A: Dear Kristen-

Aren’t you the perfect grand daughter! Were you trained or do you come by this compassion naturally? A well brought up young lady is such a treasure!

I am in total sympathy with your grandmother, who I am imagining as an otherwise spry, relatively young 70. Hammertoes are ….. well they are the pits. Surgery doesn’t really work well. Those little Dr. Scholls cushions are helpful but annoying because they slip around. The hammertoes get corns and that is painful. So keep that compassion flowing.

Yours truly, the Shoe Lady, is a size 11.5 with a narrow heel and with hammertoes. So I bring more than the usual amount of expertise to this shoe question.

I recommend the big toe box, for sure. When you can’t find a big toe box in shoes, shoes for a dressy occasion for example, get shoes that are either soft leather or fabric (like dyeables) and take them to a shoe repair shop to have the toe box stretched upward to accommodate those hammertoes.

Look at DesignerShoes.com’s SoftWalk brand styles:

For example, Jupiter style:

Softwalk Jupiter Navy at DesignerShoes.com

Jupiter by Softwalk is a Low Heel Casual Flat

Mary Jane straps are a great design feature when you want a wider toe box but have narrow heels. It keeps the shoe on your foot!

Look at DesignerShoes.com’s Trotter’s brand styles:

For example, Heloise style:

Trotters Heloise Pewter Metal at DesignerShoes.com

Heloise by Trotters is a Mid Heel Dressy Loafer

A woven leather will give more flexibility on the top vamp. The vamp comes higher up your foot so it stays on your foot better. The texture makes any “toe bumps” less noticeable.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy styles that have reinforced leather, or toe cap seams across the top of the vamp where those hammer toes will hit. That makes me wince just thinking about it! A seam or a thicker piece of leather will be like steel or a rod against those poor defenseless toes.

Best to your Grams!

The Shoe Lady

Flat Arches are a Challenge

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Amber,

Your feet are closer to average in length and width than you think. By those two dimensions, you are a size 9.5W, not even an extra wide. The flat arches and the orthotics are the challenges. There are several brands that make styles with removeable inner soles which allows your orthotics to take up the space designed for the inner sole and makes a better fit. Soft Spots and some Naturalizers offer this feature, for example.

But let’s assume you don’t remove the inner soles. Women with flat arches tend to find that the edges, the “throatline” of their shoes gap. I recommend, for this reason and so you can test different widths, wide or extra wide, that you look at “Mary Jane” style pumps. These shoes designed to have a strap over the top of your arch.

Take a look at some of these Mary Jane shoe styles. They come in wide and extra wide widths.

Studio, black suede a Mary Jane style pump by Soft Spots

Thanks,
The Shoe Lady

Get Friendly With Your Feet

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

I always wear down my shoes on the inside bottom of the heel area. Is this significant?

Marli

Dear Marli,

EVERYTHING about shoes is significant! Your shoes are telling you that you are probably a PRONATOR. Don’t worry, you will neither be arrested or required to change your voter registration. But knowing this will help guide you in your selection of shoes. A pronator has a type of foot that rolls far inward during the weight-bearing phase of the stride. This type of foot is characterized by a very low or flat arch.

Arches in your feet are more than just decorative features. According to the folks at Northwestern Health Sciences University: Discovering what type of shoes, (especially running shoes) you need has a lot to do with simply looking at your feet, which is the first step to finding the right shoe for you. There are three different foot types, based on the height of your arches. A quick and easy way to determine your specific foot type is called the “wet” test. Pour a thin layer of water into a shallow pan; wet the sole of your foot; step on a shopping bag or blank piece of heavy paper; step off and look down; and analyze the shape of your foot and see if it matches with some of the foot types mentioned below.

Normal (medium) arch: If you only see about half of your arch you have the most common foot type, meaning you are a normal pronator (your foot can support your body weight without problem). You can wear just about any shoe but may be best suited to a stability shoe that provides moderate arch support or medial stability.

If you are a lightweight runner, you may favor a stability shoe with a moderate level of arch support or medial stability. Lightweight runners may want neutral-cushioned shoes without added support or a performance training shoe that provides some support but less weight for a faster feel.
Flat (low) arch: If you see almost your entire foot, you have a flat foot, meaning you are an overpronator (your foot and ankle have problems stabilizing your body and shock isn’t absorbed properly). Mild to moderate overpronators need stability shoes or motion-control shoes that have devices such as dual-density midsoles and supportive “posts” to reduce pronation. Severe overpronators, as well as tall, bow-legged runners or people over 165 pounds need firmer support devices.
High arch: If you see just your heel, the ball of your foot and thin line on the outside of your foot, you are an underpronator (meaning the force of impact is not evenly distributed, resulting in too much shock traveling up your legs). Neutral-cushioned shoes are recommended for you because they have a softer midsole to encourage pronation. No stability devices should be added because they reduce pronation.

And, of course, I recommend reading up on shoe fit here, too. http://www.designershoes.com/about-size/measure-feet

Aren’t you glad you asked?!?
The Shoe Lady

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