Can I Make the Heel in My Loafers Wider?

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Mme. Shoe Lady-

The heel of my leather loafers is too tight. I bought heel lifters so the shoe heel would fall higher up. It is still too tight. Is there any way to make the the heel of the show wider?
J.R.

Dear Jane,

Yes there is. You can take the shoes to a shoe repair shop where the proprietor will put a leather softening liquid on the shoes and put them on a wooden form to stretch the heel. It is an awkward angle but a good shoe repair shop will have the tools.

However, I very much approve of your attempt to adjust the fit with a heel lifter first. The heel of a shoe has a curve to it. From the sole to the top of the back of the heel the material curves out very slightly and then curves in. I’ve had the same problem you describe. If the curve inward is too sharp, it will hurt the back of your heel. If the height of that curved seam is a bit too long… or too short it will hit your heel wrong and hurt the back of your heel.

But if you stretch it too much, the shoe will not stay on your heel at all!

If the lift didn’t work, I suggest you take one more tiny step toward adjustment before going to have it professionally stretched wider. In a store that carries shoe care supplies, buy a small bottle of leather softener. Thoroughly moisten the area that annoys your heel, not the whole area, just the part that touches your heel. While it is damp, grit your teeth and walk around the house in the shoe. This should both soften and slightly loosen the back.

It may not work. The problem could be the length of the seam (back to the lift) or the thickness of the stitched area. Take it to a shoe shop with a professional cobbler for advice. But be cautious. If you stretch it too much, the heel will slip off your foot.

Good luck.
The Shoe Lady

I Have Bunions. Would a Wider Shoe Help?

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Ms. Shoe Lady:

I have bunions and was wondering if a wider shoe would be more comfortable instead of the regular width. I’ve been wearing a 7R and have found that if the shoe is wider through the toe area, it feels more comfortable. Would a wider shoe be wide through the toe area, too?
P.H.

Dear P.H.

I admire your brevity and will attempt to respond in kind.
Yes.

Ahh. I can’t do it. I must say more. Yes, a wider shoe will be wider in the toe area. But it will also be wider in the heel. And depending on how the shoe was made wider (wider sole or more material across the top) the feel on your foot will be different. Each additional width (N to M, M to W, W to WW) is the equivalent of about 1/4 inch around the circumference of the ball of your foot. See this article to learn more: http://www.designershoes.com/about-size/width

Now let’s take that information and add more!

If you have bunions, you should consider:
1. The shape of the front of the shoe. Square and round toes are fine. Pointed toes are not.

Propet style WPRX61B0304 with removable footbed.

2. The material on the top of the shoe. Stretch is great. Leather or fabric can be “spot stretched” around your bunion by a shoe repair shop person.
3. Soft leather is better than stiff leather. Look for sheep, lamb, goat or deer skin leathers. Look for thinner leathers.
4. Avoid ornamentation that includes seams or double stitching over the bunion area. This will make that area stiffer.

I do hope this helps.

Sincerely,
The Shoe Lady

Long toes, high arches, bad sizing? Please help!

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady-
My foot measures 10.5″ long and 3.75″ wide using the methods suggested on your website.
For everyday footwear (athletic shoes, snow boots, etc) I am comfortable in a size 12 USA (tag category size 12) , or a EURO 43 in mens clogs, etc. However, when it comes to ordering heels , I am at a complete loss! For most of my life, I have been buying a size 11 USA, and just smooshing my feet into them (this doesn’t work well, and they are horribly painful within a short period of time) mostly because that is what is available without ordering special sizes. However, recently I have decided to update my shoe collection and would like to buy some heels that ACTUALLY fit me! But, what I discovering is I don’t know what size that is! If I order a size 12 USA in a heel, my feet have plenty of room, but quite quickly I get a painful sensation in my big toe, with a lot of pressure up towards the toe nail…I assumed this was because my feet were wide, so I ordered some 12 W shoes, and I can’t keep them on my feet! There is also about an inch of space between my heel and the back of the shoe, and my foot slides easily into the front of the shoe, making walking difficult.

However, after measuring my foot I see that I am close to a narrow?! This surprises me as I was thinking ordering an 11W would be the next thing to try! I also have long toes, with my second toe being the longest point on my foot with pretty high arches. I would really appreciate advice on sizes to try…I am not sure if I am wearing the wrong size shoes or if I should be trying to correct with inserts, pads, etc. Thank you so much in advance for any advice!!

My Dear Alicia –

I’m sure you’ve been told that having a second toe longer than your big toe is a sign of intelligence?

You will need it to figure out this problem. It is all about the toes. Although the rest of the population gets to pretend that shoes are designed by the length of your foot from heel to toe, you, my dear, must face up to the hard cold fact that shoes are really designed based on the measurement from the heel to the ball of your foot. Shoe designers assume the toes are normal length. So if your shoes are extra short or extra long, there is trouble. Your best bet is to go into a shoe store that measures feet with what is called a Brannock device. This device measures from your heel to the ball of your foot and tells you your true size. I’m going to assume that you probably really are a size 11 or an 11.5 from the ball of your foot to your heel. The inch of space you say you have between your heel and the back of your shoe worries me, though. This suggests your foot might even be shorter, like a size 10.

Whether you are a size 10N or a size 11N, you will need to pick your pumps based on style. You will probably do best with open toe pumps and sandals.

Colorful Creations Leah Gold

Search on DesignerShoes.com for “peep toe” or “open toe”. You may find closed toe pumps that are longer to fit your toes but to keep them on, look for a “mary jane” style strap over the arch of your foot. You are not going to find a perfect size that always fits because the style and shape of the shoe is so important to you. Sorry. But I know your superior intelligence will help you rise above this small frustration in life.

The Shoe Lady

Question: Are you shopping for High, Medium or Low heeled shoes?

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Barbara Thornton

High heels, I’m thinking 3 inches or more. = 689 votes

Medium high heels, around 2.5 inches to 3 inches. = 569 votes (Last place)

Medium low heels, I like the look of a heel but don’t make me stand on something over 2.25 inches. = 787 votes (First Place)

Lower heels, something between 1 and 1.75 inches. = 669 votes

Flats, ballet flats, loafers with thick soles, etc. Just keep my foot parallel to the earth! = 637 votes

DesignerShoes.com – $100 Shopping Spree Winner

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Barbara Thornton

Irene, in Virginia, wins this week’s $100 Shoe Shopping Spree at DesignerShoes.com! She will be shopping for $100 worth of shoes for her size 13M feet after winning this week’s drawing. We encourage Irene to post pictures of her FREE shoes on Facebook!

Maybe Irene wants these adorable booties by Barefoot Tess!

Ella by Barefoot Tess is a High Heel Dressy Bootie

If you haven’t already Sign Up for ShoeNews for your chance to win $100 Shoe Shopping Spree!

Super Wide Feet !

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

Using your measuring guide my feet are 28cm long and 12.3cm wide. Reading your charts my length is 10½ but my width would require a massive size 13… I have always struggled finding shoes, in fact I never had a comfy pair!

Does anyone make shoes for my size?

Dear Sarah,

After reviewing your measurements a 28cm length puts you at a size 13 and your 12.3cm width puts you at a WW. Have you ever tried on 13WW?

Oh Sarah, yes of course, manufacturers do make a size 13WW. Take notice of the brand and tips scrolling through the photos.

Trotters Melanie Cognac at DesignerShoes.com

Trotters Melanie Cognac is a Mid Heel Casual Slingback. Trotters’s women’s shoe size run is typically six widths, extra slim (AAAA), slim(AAA), narrow, medium, wide and extra wide(WW). Sizes range from 5 to 13

I found you can always take a pair of shoes to a shoe maker. Talk to him about what the problem is. To tight on the sides or causing blisters and they will happily stretch the shoes out, usually for free the first time. 100% worth it !

Annie Venice Zebra is a Mid Heel Casual Sandal. Annie’s women’s shoe size run is typically 6 medium (M), 7 extra wide (WW) to 13 extra wide (WW).

I love Annie Shoes. The fit is true and the styles are very trendy.

Antia Clarissa Mocha Full Grain at DesignerShoes.com

Antia Clarissa is a Low Heel Casual Sandal. Antia’s women’s shoe size run is typically 6 medium (M), to 13 extra wide (WW)

The shoes may be hard on the eyes (in pictures) but they are stylish and suitable to wear with cute jeans, shorts of even a flirty. The photos do not do the shoe justice.

You are not alone. The average women is a size 9, not a 7, that the manufactures want to believe. Embrace your feet and treat them well.

Take care,
Shoe Lady.

How to Measure Heel Height

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Barbara Thornton

HEY! ShoeLady!

I just bought three pair of the Silk by Bella Vita, three different colors. The DesignerShoes.com website says Silk has a heel height of 2.25 inches. I measured it at 4 inches! What’s going on here?!?

Vanessa, Tennessee

Dear Vanessa,

Vanessa –

I understand you are concerned that the heel height on the “Silk” espadrille by Bella Vita is different than what is shown on the website? The website says 2.25 inches. I took my ruler to the warehouse and measured the shoe. It is 2.25 inches. Heel height is measured by holding the ruler in the center of the heel, on side view, subtracting the height of any platform under the ball of the foot and measuring in a straight line down, perpendicular to the bottom of the heel.

Bella Vita Silk Fuchsia Thai at DesignerShoes.com

Silk by Bella Vita is a Mid Heel Casual Sandal

Larger size shoes do often have the heel height scale up a tad… but in a shoe like this, it would be minimal, not more than a quarter to half an inch at the most. My guess is that you measured from the back edge of the heel at an angle down to the bottom of the heel? Remember math class and the hypotenuse triangle? The longer side of a 90 degree angle triangle is significantly longer than the perpendicular side.

The heel height is intended to measure the angle of the foot as it sits in the shoe, and the rise of the heel compared to the ball of the foot. At most, the Silk has a heel height of 2.75 inches.

It’s all math, when you come down to it.

Stand tall in those gorgeous espadrilles!

The ShoeLady

Wide Width Bridal Shoes – Let’s Celebrate !

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Barbara Thornton

Your search for the perfect bridal shoe ends with DesignerShoes.com!

Dyeables Claire White Satin at DesignerShoes.com

Dyeables Claire White Satin is a High Heel Dressy Sandal

Choose DesignerShoes.com! to outfit your entire bridal party—especially those with hard to find sizes!

Touch Ups Daisy White is a Low Heel Dressy Flat

Whether you’re going with traditional, glamorous, elegant, or even casual-you’ll find the perfect shoe in our huge selection of bridal and dyeable shoes! Find the perfect shoe in a shiny satin or silk. Elegant bows and sparkling rhinestone embellishments add sparkle and elegance to the perfect dress. Many selections are dyeable for precise color matching and uniformity for your bridal party.

Special Occasions Deena White at DesignerShoes.com

Special Occasions Deena White is a Low Heel Dressy Slide

Choose from satiny pumps, strappy sandals, classic flats- even flip-flops! Find our selection of more than 200 shoe styles—starting in size 4 up to size 14. Extra wide? No problem! We have over 35 pairs of extra wide bridal shoes! And, more than 150 pairs of wide shoes. Narrow sizes too!

Brianna Leigh Queen White at DesignerShoes.com

Brianna Leigh Queen White is a High Heel Dressy Pump

Brands include Brianna Leigh, Touch Ups, Colorful Creations, Special Occasions, Dyeables, Lava and more.

Touch Ups Venus White Satin at DesignerShoes.com

Touch Ups Venus White Satin is a Low Heel Dressy Sandal

And if that’s not enough, we have handbags and rhinestone shoe accessory clips for the bridal party.

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

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Barbara Thornton

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.