Canadian Needs Wide Shoes

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

I live in Montreal, Canada and i’ve been looking for comfortables, stylish, wide shoes but it’s difficult to find that on stores.

I’ve heard Aerosoles has good reputation on comfort and I’m interested in one model you offer from aerosoles but I’m a little bit confused with the size chart.

I’ve normally a 9 size wideeeeee size, but according to your webiste it owuld be a 10.5 size.

My measure is 26 cms lengh, 11 cms wide.

As I’m in Canada and i’ll have to pay customs and shipping I want to be pretty sure on my size for your website.

Oriana

My Dear Oriana,

I commend the wisdom of your frugality. But I am perplexed. Is wideeee a width designation in Canada?

If you trust the measuring you did on your feet, I think you should be wearing an 8.5 WW (extra wide). Alas, Aerosoles does not make their styles in extra wide, only in wide. But there are several brands that DO make extra wide that you may like. I suggest you take a look at Bella Vita, Naturalizer, Soft Spots, Softwalk, and Trotters. Or search by 8.5 WW.

I urge you to PLEASE think about the shape of your feet in relation to the shape of your shoes, too! Read about wide feet here: http://www.designershoes.com/about-size/width

Feel free to contact DesignerShoes.com at info@designershoes.com if you have any specific shoe questions.

Thanks,

The Shoe Lady

Thanks for your answer!

By wideeeeeeeee, I just meant that I have always problem finding shoes that fits comfortable when shopping on normal stores.

I’ve attached a foot print I took some days ago, I guees is Round, could you suggest me what foot style to shop on your website?

Regards,

Oriana

Ah HA! You are not measuring correctly. Look at the shoe diagram on this size chart page: http://www.designershoes.com/size-chart

Shoe manufacturers assume the “ball to heel” measurement when they make shoes and also assume the shoe wearer. Has average length toes. If toes are longer or shorter, the shoe will not fit well.

You need to have the lines perpendicular so that each of the angles created by the lines is a 90 degree angle, all equal.

And you need to start by drawing a line that makes the top of the T with the line that goes up the center of your foot. The line that is the top of the T must be perpendicular to the center line and at the top of the longest toe. Look carefully at the size chart diagram and draw your lines and do your measurements again.

The Shoe Lady

Hi Thanks

I change the measures, the length didn’t change a lot, 25.8 cms with a 10.5 cms wide. As well I think they are more into the round or circle form.

that would be between 9 or 9.5 wide for women?

Thanks

Oriana

Dear Oriana-

Based on length and width, you should be looking at a US size 10 wide (W). That is roughly equivalent to a UK 8 or an EU 41. Aerosoles does have some very cute, comfortable flats in size 10W.

Good luck!

The Shoe Lady

Forgotten Soles Styles Run Larger Than Other Styles

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

I have recently bought size 12 W in Forgotten Soles Maui & Waikiki they are a little longer than the Australian size 12 but they will be Ok the width is good, I might add they look great and I have had lots of comments.

I am now going to look at buying 1 or 2 of the following:
Lava Nikki in Gold
Colorful Creations Debra in
Taupe satin
Touch Ups Abbey in gold
Dyeables Fiesta in Chocolate satin
Should I get size 12W or 11 W my shoe measures on your size chart 11.5″ long & 4.25″ wide. I have bunions (no problems) that accounts for the width.

Sincerely,

Rose

Caprie by Forgotten Soles is a Low Heel Dressy Sandal

*************

Dear Rose,

I’m so happy that the Forgotten Soles styles worked for you! But please keep in mind that the sizes in that brand do run generously. The size charts reflect the common “best practices” sizing. But some brands tend to run large or small. Forgotten Soles runs large. So if they were a little long, you should still stick with the size 12W for the other styles.

The other three brands you mention, Colorful Creations, Touch Ups and Dyeables, are all brands that specialize in wedding and dressy evening styles. These more “formal” shoes tend to be cut less generously and do not have such an open sandal type of design as the two Forgotten Soles styles. I suggest you look for a 12WW in these brands.

Australia is a long way from the USA so I want to make sure you ask all the questions you need answered before ordering. I notice that you say in your note that your feet measure 11.5 inches (‘) long. That means you should be wearing a size 15 or 16 in women’s shoes. Since the Forgotten Soles ran only a bit long, I must have misunderstood your measurements. Can you please remeasure and resend?

Thanks,

The Shoe Lady

Dress Shoes for a Wedding for Feet with Bunions

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

Need a pair of comfortable dressy shoes, pumps, sandals, 2 1/2 ” heel to go with a raspberry lace sheath dress. Very bad bunions and big toe that crosses over. Help.
Size 8 1/2. I try to get the widest width I can to go over my very prominent bunions , but sometimes the heel slips then and it doesn’t work. Sling backs are the best option for me when I can find a wide width shoe.

Janice

Dear Janice,

What you want is a deep toe box, that is deep from top to sole, and a soft material on top. I suggest you take a look in the “Bridal-Dyeable” Collection and look for slingbacks with this configuration. Do not buy them too wide if your foot is not really wide. I’ve included a photo of a shoe with a rhinestone oval ornament. It is stretchable (wider only) and dyeable.

Then… get or find a good shoe repair place. You will need to have them both dyed to the color you want AND spot stretched to accommodate the “issues” around your forefeet. Only spot stretch where necessary but do it enough that you will be comfortable.

You should find a much wider range of the heel height and silouette you want in the bridal – dyeable styles. They are all white but can be dyed to match your dress, or maybe a soft grey or paler pink.

Have a wonderful time!

The Shoe Lady

Need Size 11 SLIM Shoes

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Shoe Lady-

Do u carry extra extra Narrow size 11?

Hazel

**************

Dear Hazel-

Do you know that size 11N’s and 11 slims are famous in the shoe industry for being the feet typical of wealthy southern ladies. I’m assuming you are writing from the expansive porch overlooking your estate while daintily sipping a mint julep?

Of course if the shoe industry really believed that, they wouldn’t have come so close to stopping production on size 11N and 11 AAA (Slim, S). As of today DesignerShoes.com has 49 styles in size 11S:

http://www.designershoes.com/?sizewidth=167. I hope they will have more by later this summer when the new Fall styles come out.

Best Wishes,

The Shoe Lady

Translating from Men’s Shoe Size to Women’s Shoe Size

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

I wear a 9 1/2 wide shoe in men’s but I don’t know what I wear in a women’s shoe. I tried on some 12’s but they feel tight. Help please.

S.W.

Dear S.W.

Men’s shoes are designed to be comfortable and fit a normal human foot. This is NOT true for women’s shoes. A men’s 9.5 shoe is 10.5 inches long. That is the same length as a women’s size 11 (or a UK 9 or a Euro 43). But length is only part of the fit equation. Men’s shoes are made wider and a bit deeper (top to sole) than a women’s shoe of the same length. And you wear a men’s wide. So you need to be looking for a women’s 11WW. You said a 12 didn’t fit. I’m assuming it was a 12M (medium). You may be expecting that little extra toe room that men’s shoes have. I suggest you try a 12WW and then a 12W and then an 11WW until you find the size, width and shoe shape that suits your feet the best.

Happy Hunting!

The Shoe Lady

Pewter Formal Evening Dress – What Color Shoes?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

I have a pewter dress but not sure what color of shoes to wear can you please help me ?

Claudia

My Dear Claudia –

Not enough information!

I need to understand the type of dress in order to recommend shoes. If it is a slinky strapless dressy evening gown, I’m going to recommend strappy sandals, as bare as you can get. Think clear straps with maybe some rhinestones.

If it is a pewter colored “business attire” dress with a high collar, long sleeves and knee length skirt, I’m going to recommend black slingbacks.

Help me out with more information!

The Shoe Lady

Dear Shoe Lady,

Thank you so much for answering, the dress is a dressy evening gown.

Claudia

Dear Claudia,

How nice in these casual times to hear my readers are having the opportunity to attend such a dressy event. Perhaps you are planning for the next Presidential Inauguration?

I am going to go with my original recommendation, high heel strappy sandals, thin straps, rhinestones if possible. Clear plastic straps would be fine. Pewter or silver straps, also fine.

Send photos!

Best Wishes,

The Shoe Lady

Long Toes? Short Toes? It Makes a Difference in Picking Shoes

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

I’m a male, and I have an arch length that is much longer than my foot length. I’ve heard two schools of thought on this:

1. Take the higher of the two measures.2. Split the difference of the two measures.

My foot length corresponds to a size 14.5, but my arch length corresponds to about a 17 (I’m not exactly sure on that, because my arch length is off the chart on the Brannock Device, which tops off at 16. My arch length is 9″). Because of the major difference, would it be better to split the difference or go with the higher number? Thanks 🙂

The Shoe Lady <Shoelady@designershoes.com>

May 15

to Heath

Dear Heath –

So sorry. But I can not even find an “arch length” reference on Google! I use a Brannock device and have never heard of anyone measuring the arch length. I suggest you not worry about arch length, worry about foot length and width. Then pick your style of footwear, shape, vamp design, etc., based on whether you have a high or flat arch. Also consider using orthodics for a better fit.

Best of luck.

H E

May 15

to Shoe

Thanks for the response.

I had done some more research since I contacted you and pretty much answered my question.

Shoes are actually made for your arch length; Manufacturers simply count on everybody having regular sized toes. The arch length (heel to ball length) doesn’t concern most people (hence why I and almost everyone else hasn’t heard of it), because most people have arch lengths that correspond to their foot lengths (in other words, they have “normal” sized toes). There are some people, however, who have extra long or extra short toes. This makes the arch length and foot length very disproportionate (short toes correspond to a long arch length and long toes correspond to a short arch length).

I have short toes in proportion to the size of my foot, so the length of my foot will fit well into a size 15 shoe, but the break of my foot is much higher up than the break of the shoe. This makes the shoe too tight on the ball and presses the toes together. The widest part of your foot us supposed to match up with the widest part of the shoe. This can cause big problems in the future and could be part of the reason why I have mild bunions on both feet.

On the Brannock Device, the heel-to-ball measurement is on the opposite side of the width bar. The numbers correspond to the shoe size. When I measure the length of my arch on the Brannock Device, it goes off the chart. My arch length corresponds to between sizes 16.5 and 17. This is the size I’m supposed to wear, even though I will have extra room in the toe box.

People with extra long toes have a special problem: If one’s arch length corresponds to a size 11 but their foot length corresponds to a size 13.5, they can’t simply go with a size 11. Their toes would be squished. These people either have to buy a pair of shoes that are too wide for the rest of their foot to accommodate for the ball, or they have to find a shoe that has a extra longer toe box.

Hopefully that made sense lol.

The Shoe Lady <Shoelady@designershoes.com>

12:49 PM (2 minutes ago)

to H

Dear Heath-

Thank you for the clarification. And the detailed description. I’d never heard this referred to as “arch length” before. But I am painfully familiar with the “ball to heel” length. You are absolutely right, this is the dimension that shoemanufacturers use. And they assume an average toe length. So people with short toes and people with long toes have to take that into consideration when they buy shoes on line. I tend to suggest that they think of the shape of their foot in relation to the shape of the shoe. But non-average toe length alone is often the culprit.

Best to you,

The Shoe Lady

Save 10% and get moving!

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

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