Thick Ankles and Heavy Calves

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Dear Shoe Lady,
Strappy shoes look awful on me; peep toe shoes seem way to narrow – I have a wedding to attend and the dress I’m wearing is eggplant in color, and comes just above my knee, some what fancy. Can you suggest something that would look nice?

My foot measures 9-1/2 in length, across the toes it is about 3-1/2 wide and the arch of my foot is about 1-1/4 in from the ground. Also a friend says I should wear plain black leather, but I think I should either wear cloth or maybe even patent leather??? Not sure.

Hi Michele,
Eggplant sounds like a beautiful color for the wedding. Black shoes are also good choices (and a wardrobe staple), but I would also look into complementary colors to make what you are wearing pop. In this case it would be yellow or gold in order to highlight the eggplant color. Side note: have you considered an insert for the ball of your foot for peep-toe shoes? It might not be that the shoes are too narrow in the front, but that your foot is being wedged due to slipping forward into the front of the shoe.

Trotters Francesca Yellow Ochre at AskTheShoeLady.com

Francesca by Trotters is a Low Heel Dressy Flat

Francesca by Trotters has intricate embroidery to create a beautiful texture. Flats can still be dressy at an event, and a foot saver if you plan on hitting the dance floor!

Have fun at the wedding,
The Shoe Lady

Converting Euro Size 44 to a US Size

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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

Hard to Find Women’s Size 10.5

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Dear Shoe Lady,
Why is it so hard to find 10.5?

Well Lisa it’s hard but not impossible! Their existence shows that there is a need. It is hard to find most half-size shoes in every style. The reasoning goes back to the manufacturer. It is easier to try to fit someone into a whole size that might be a little too big (or too small in some cases) than it is to mass-produce shoes to fit the unique qualities of every foot. What I have found is that even though I look for my target size, it isn’t a guarantee of a perfect fit just yet. One will always have to factor in the style and shape of a shoe, as well as the length, width, and volume of one’s feet. Generally people can wear a bigger size of sneaker due to the extra padding, but look for a ballet flat that is true-to-size to make up for the lack of extra cushioning.

Browse over 850 women’s size 10.5 shoes at DesignerShoes.com

One of my favorite new shoe arrivals available in women’s size 10.5.

Aerosoles Faximize Black Leather at AskTheShoeLady.com

Faximize by Aerosoles is a Mid Heel Casual Slingback

All the best,
The Shoe Lady

All the best,

The Shoe Lady

Painful Thong Sandals

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Dear Shoe Lady,
What can I do to ease the pain my feet endure trying to wear thong sandals? All the cute sandals are thong type. I have tried using a bandage, but it does not help, just hurts.

Hi Gloria,
I understand the frustration of loving a style that has been less than kind to your precious feet. Before ruling out thongs completely I suggest going to the podiatrist to see if your toes are aligning properly, and there isn’t an underlying foot problem, such as a bunion. Discomfort can appear to be magnified if your big toe is pressing too hard against the second toe. You could also be sensitive to the friction of the material, and might consider looking for one that is closer to satin. If you find that your foot health is not a concern, then seeking another type of sandal will be your best bet. The good news is those alternatives exist! Search for sandals that are similar to thongs, but that cause less friction to your toes.

Annie Bejeweled Silver at AskTheShoeLady.com

Bejeweled by Annie is a Mid Heel Dressy Sandal

Bejeweled by Annie has a tapered front that suggests a thong, but has coverage over the toebox, for a more evenly distributed secure hold.

Good luck on your search,
The Shoe Lady

Womens Wide Feet

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Dear Shoe Lady,
My feet are abnormally wide. I can never find the right shoe size. I am a 11.5 wide and I can never find shoes that look good on my feet, like dressy shoes and tennis shoes. Please help. ASAP.

My Dear ASAP! Cute name!
I too am a women’s size 11.5 and I can tell you, very few places make these sizes. So you need to learn how to think more flexibly about buying by size. First, some homework. Read this: http://www.designershoes.com/about-size/size.

Shoe sizing, when it comes down to hundreds of different manufacturers using hundreds of different factories, can be less than completely precise. And, come to think of it, our feet aren’t exactly precise either. They can change a full size or width between morning and evening on a hot day. Pregnant? Double that.

So take 11.5 wide as your base. Then look at your feet. Are they wider in front? Do you need a wide size because they are thicker from top to sole? Do you need a wide size to accommodate bunions? Keep the shape of your feet in mind when you consider shoes. Look at the shape of the shoe. If your feet are squared at the toes, a square toe box will work well, for example.

Can’t find anything in 11.5W? Look at 11WW. Look at 12M.

But maybe you are saying 11.5W is not fitting correctly. Put all your weight on one foot, standing on a piece of paper. Have someone draw a TIGHT line around the edge of your largest foot. Your foot should be 10.7 inches long and 4.4 inches across the widest width. But be very suspicious of the width. If your foot is thicker (like mine!) you may need to move to a wider width, no matter what the chart says.

If you decide to move to a wider size, here’s another problem. Your heel may slip out of the flats or pumps. And, of course, here is the solution. You just can’t wear flats or pumps. You need to look for flats and pumps with a “maryjane” strap or a high vamp so the shoe will stay on your foot, and still fit across the top.

Take a look at these size 11.5W styles.

And, with a good sense of the shape and thickness of your feet, take a look at these 11WW styles.

Trotters Jaden White Navy at AskTheShoeLady.com

Jaden by Trotters is a Low Heel Dressy Slingback

A shoe that I wear myself!

Happy Hunting!

The Shoe Lady

$100 Shoe Shopping Spree Winner!

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Kathy, in California, 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 Kathy to post pictures of her FREE shoes on Facebook!

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

Aerosoles Cinch Worm Grey Combo at AskTheShoeLady.com

Cinch Worm by Aerosoles is a Mid Heel Casual Mule

Time to start thinking about fall and winter shoe styles!

Shoes Fall Off – Help!

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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

Ladies Size 12 Platform Sandal – Specific Style Request

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Q: Dear Shoe Lady, I am a ladies size 12. I am looking for a platform sandal preferably wood and leather with an adjustable ankle strap. But the front of the sandal has to be high off the ground, only slightly lower than the heel. I want a backsloping telescopic heel, but not too narrow. The sandal should be a rocker that is comfortable to wear all day long. I want to wear it barefoot or with pantyhose. With jeans, slacks skirt or dress.

A: Hi Katrina, Thank you for contacting us! One of the best parts about answering questions is searching for the closet match. I could browse styles for hours. What I came up with are some selections that are in the spirit of your original vision. I hope this will be a good starting point for you.

Samanta Zon Black at AskTheShoeLady.com

Zon by Samanta is a High Heel Dressy Sandal

Zon by Samanta boasts a double buckle for ankle and toebox adjustments, as well as extra padding in the footbed. This shoe can easily be dressed up or down with skirts or jeans. On sale at DesignerShoes.com!

Review all the Samanta brand shoes! One of my favorite brands.

All the best,
The Shoe Lady

My Right Shoe Size – International Sizes

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Q: Good morning,
I’d like to buy a pair of shoes in DesignerShoes.com but I’m not sure about the size. The thing is my feet measure 28cm and my size in Europe is 43. What would be the right size to buy in DesignerShoes.com? For me, the more trustful measure is by CM … so, as of the webpage chart, would my size be a 10 / 10.5 in UK measure?
Thank you very much.

A: Hi Eva,
According to the chart you would be between a 10.5 and an 11 in UK measurements. Before committing to a shoe I would measure again just to be sure you are getting the same length. If you wore a 43, your foot length would be around 26.7cm. The way shoes are made definitely makes a difference in how the overall fit works. Sometimes one can manage a slightly smaller size if there is less padding in a shoe, such as a ballet flat or a sandal. What you have described is a fairly significant difference, but don’t despair! I would love to know what the results are a second time, and in general what types of size 43 shoes you have been wearing.

Forgotten Soles Frankiee Grn at AskTheShoeLady.com

Frankiee by Forgotten Soles is a Low Heel Dressy Flat

Take care,
The Shoe Lady