Will the Width Change if She Gets a Half Size Smaller?

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Hello,
I recently purchased Bella Vita Mimosa Black Snake in a 9.5 extra wide and found that the shoe is a little long and I have extra room in the heel and toe. I’m thinking of exchanging it for a 9 extra wide. However, the 9.5 extra wide fits me nicely width-wise and if the width changes, the shoe won’t fit. So, my question is, is there a difference width-wise between a 9.5 ww and a 9 ww?? Thanks in advance for your assistance!!
-Allie

 

Dear Allie,

The nice people at DesignerShoes.com sent your question over to me because…. it is complicated.  First, your homework assignment is to read about wide sizes, especially the section that pertains to how shoemakers make what they euphemistically refer to as “wide sizes”.   http://www.designershoes.com/about-size/width

In THEORY:  There is some general agreement that a shoe increases 3/16th of an inch around the circumference of the ball of the foot for every increase in width for the same length.

But different manufacturers accomplish the extra width differently. Some may cut more material for the upper part of the shoe. Some may cut the sole slightly wider. Some may only increase the width for every full size length change – or even every couple of size length changes. You never can be sure as the manufacturing processes can differ even for the same style.

Since we don’t know, and probably the folks at Bella Vita don’t know, what the decision was for changing the width dimensions on this particular style, the only way to know is to try the smaller size and see if that squeezes your foot more than you would like.  3/16ths of an inch is not a big difference.  If the length really is uncomfortable for you, it may be worth trying the shorter version and having it stretched by a professional  shoe repair shop if  it is too tight.  If it is just a tad too long, you risk changing the contour of the shoe, where the wider part hits your foot,  which could make the width feel different.

Sorry Allie, no right answer here.  The choice is yours!

The Shoe Lady

 

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Asked Questions

Be pretty in pink! Save 10% on all Pink Shoes!

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Need Size 14 Dress Flat

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Dear Shoe Lady

Hope you can help me in my search of
a good looking flat dress shoe please

Barbara Joe

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

Dear Barbara Joe-

OF COURSE!  That’s my job!
I am assuming by “dress flat” that you mean dressy enough to go to the corporate board meeting at 8 AM, but not quite dressy enough for that black satin pants suit with rhinestone piping on the collar?
If we are on the same page, here are some styles I recommend in size 14.
Barefoot Tess Mckenzie Red
Barefoot Tess Murano :
Barefoot Tess Tuscany Barefoot Tess Murano Coral
Barefoot Tess Tuscany Blue
And, of course, there are more where these came from.  http://www.designershoes.com.  Search by size and heel height.
Happy Shopping!
The Shoe Lady

Tight Toes. Loose Heels. What to Do?

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Hello,
I bought a pair of designer shoes that fit at the time, but last time I wore them the toes were very tight and the heels were slipping off.  The shoes are black patent leather so the at-home remedy of socks and a blow dryer make me nervous!  Also, I would like to wear a gel insert for under the ball of my foot, but since the shoes are tight at the toes, will the insert be useless? What do you suggest?
Thanks!!

 

Dear Aileen,

My first reaction is to figure out the root cause of this weird development.  The shoes fit, then they became too tight in the front and too loose in the back?  My guesses:  weather changes?  some gremlin switched the shoes?  shift in subcutaneous tissues from your heels to your forefeet?
Let’s forget root cause and go to cure.  The cure for this is a visit to a GOOD, EXPERIENCED shoe repair shop.  Warning, these are an endangered species and need all our support.  For example, whenever we buy new shoes, we should take them to a good shoe repair shop and have small taps put on the outside of the heels, where you might tend to wear down the heel, and on the toe.  For you, for this situation, you will want to show the shoe repair person how the shoe fits on your foot and see if she/he can stretch it in just the right places, and just the right amount of stretch to get it comfortable again.  They have the tools.  Also, while you are there, see if they can suggest something to tighten the heel.  This might be possible if it is a slingback.  However, if it is a closed heel pump, I don’t expect much success from adding those pads that stick to the inside back of the heel.  The best luck is to push your foot back into the heel, and gel pads in front might just do the trick.
Good luck,
The Shoe Lady

Dr. Debora Spar Officiates Graduation in REALLY HIGH Heeled Sandals!

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Barnard College President Debora Spar climbed the stairs to the podium for the Barnard Class of 2013 Graduation in probably the highest heels yet worn by any college president … anywhere!  The Shoe Lady is completely relieved that there were no reports of her tripping or falling.

Apparently Dr. Spar has given some thought to shoes as well as other matters pertaining to the lives of women. The Shoe Lady has grabbed a look at her soon to be released latest book,   WONDER WOMEN:  SEX, POWER AND THE QUEST FOR PERFECTION.  The Shoe Lady notes that the position in which the woman on the book cover is wearing HER high heels is far safer than the position the author chose, climbing stairs in these high heeled, colorful and very attractive sandals.  The Shoe Lady does, however, commend her for choosing sandals in the colors of DesignerShoes.com

Ascending to podium on graduation day in 5 inch heels.

Ascending to podium on graduation day in 5 inch heels.

 

Bride Asks How to Measure Heel Height

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Dear Katie-

For your peace of mind…. or what’s left of it after the frazzle of planning a wedding…. you will need to have the shoes on your feet when you try on the dress.  You can not rely on what you read on line.
Most wedding shoe manufacturers, the ones that are really devoted to that business and don’t do other styles, know how critically important the exact heel heights are.  They measure them and make that information available.
But Kate Spade makes a variety of different shoes and may not be paying attention to the importance of exact heel height in wedding shoes.  But let’s say they are.
Some websites may choose to round up to the nearest half inch.  Some websites may measure the heels themselves.  And here is where the real problem comes into play.  There are three ways to measure the heel height, all give different, sometimes significantly different, results.
1.  Traditionally, shoe manufacturers measured heel height from the breast of the heel.  This is the part of the heel that faces forward.  This is the shortest dimension and is no longer considered correct.
2.  Some people measure the heel height by holding a tape measure to the back of the heel, where the heel meets the shoe’s sole, and consider the heel height to be the length of the heel.  But this, too, is incorrect because often a high heel is designed to angle inward, thus making the heel measurement higher than it should be.
3.  The correct way to measure a heel height is to measure the line from the center of where your heel rests in the shoe, the center of the heel as seen from the side.  Measure a straight line down, keeping the measurement line perpendicular to the ground or table that the shoe is on.  This will give you the correct measurement….. but WAIT…. there’s MORE……
This will give you the correct measurement for that shoe which is generally measured in an average size.  But shoe manufacturers can vary on what they consider average.  It should be size 9.  But more likely it is size 7.  Since the heel height is graded to stay in proportion to the overall design of the shoe, a woman who buys a shoe correctly measured, at 2.5 inches, but she buys it in size 11, is likely to find that the shoe is actually 2.75 inches.
So… buy the shoes you want, hope for the best and prepare to add a pad in the heel if the shoe isn’t quite high enough.  But, not to worry, the price for re-hemming is just one more cost of the wedding.
Aren’t you glad you asked?!?
Best wishes on your special day,
The Shoe Lady
*********
Thank you so much shoe lady!!! At this time we are going to try to actually buy the shoes at a bridal shop to be absolutely sure & can measure the heel height ourselves! Thanks again for your great answer & your time! We appreciate greatly!! 🙂
Katie
Nadia-bridal.

Need Silver Ballet Flats in SLIM Width

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Shoe Lady-

Do you know where I can find a pair of slim (3A) silver ballet flats?  I have looked everywhere that I can think of.

Cindy

 

Dear Cindy-

Alas, whether it is the recession or changes in factory operations, shoe manufacturers have moved away from the slim market.  Ferragamo and Stuart Weitzman still make these widths… for now.
You may want to try a new brand, Fit In Clouds.  They make silver ballet flats that stretch over about 3 half sizes.  I advise people to buy large in order to get a wider fit.  You may want to buy a bit small in order to get a narrower fit.
They have about 3 variations on a silver ballet flat.
Thanks,
The Shoe Lady

Women’s C Width Shoes Disappeared

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Dear Shoe Lady,

What happened to women’s C width shoes? I can’t find them anywhere these days, just “W”. Problem is W’s are often too wide because W can be C or D. Should I give up looking for C widths and either squeeze them into B’s (as one sales person suggested) or settle for a sloppy fit with D’s?

Marie

Dear Marie,

I wish the world were so simple.  The reason more people refer to “W” rather than “C” or “D” to denote wide size women’s shoes is because the “C” vs. “D” width implied a precision in shoe manufacturing that wasn’t really there!  As shoe manufacturers moved to more different factories, it became harder to assure that dimension.  And the other change that happened, more shoe manufacturers decided to make extra wide (WW) widths so to control their costs, the cut out at least one of the widths, the “C”.  Narrower footed ladies will also tell you that they cut the AAAAA, the AAAA, many AAA’s, and the “combination last” (one width in the heel, another in the forefoot).
Read more about the REAL truth of wide size shoes, how they are made and how to think about your best size here: http://www.designershoes.com/about-size/width
Don’t assume that you should buy medium widths and they’ll be too tight or wide widths and they’ll be too loose.  I recommend that you try on your favorite brands in your size medium and your size wide AND in half a size smaller in wide.  Do this for a few brands and styles until you can determine a pattern for what is the best fit in each brand.
Then, remember that the fit will also vary according to the style (high heel, ballet flat, sandal) of the shoe!
Happy Hunting!
The Shoe Lady