A PSA for Bigfoots

[kelliem]

This is a PSA for those of you who, like me, have trouble finding shoes that fit.

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I have big, wide feet. Have since I was about 12 years old. This has caused me no end of problems in trying to find cute, comfortable BIG WIDE shoes. I usually end up with ugly but comfortable and they often cost a fortune. None of the major chain shoe stores (Payless, Famous Footwear, even DSW) carries much my size and even if they have the right size they usually don't have the right width. However, I have recently found a place online which not only carries a ton of styles and sizes, they have many of them from a N up to a WWWW width, they have great sales, and an easy return policy! So I feel it's my bounden duty to let others know that if, like me, they have trouble finding shoes that fit, they should check out http://www.shoetrader.com/


(Seriously, I've gone a bit hog-wild. I got these in red and in bronze when they were on sale for $9.99 a pair a couple of weeks ago (not that I have anyplace to WEAR them!). And the same price for these, and then these (in red) were on sale for only $14.99. I have a pair of these on order now so my feet will be toasty this winter. Also $14.99 on sale. You really have to watch for those sales.)

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Comments

[grian-ruadh.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's awesome!

Mmm... shoes...

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Yes! For the first time in years I have some CUTE shoes that don't make my feet hurt!

[raine-wynd.livejournal.com]

My uncle designed the original Easy Spirit shoes (he got tired of his daughter complaining about wearing high heels on her treks across a college campus), and one of the things I learned from him is that most shoes in this country are designed (just like clothes) from a single shoe pattern and then sized upwards. Prior to CAD, shoes were designed from multiple shoe patterns, something I'm given to understand a lot of the European shoemakers still do.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Which is why European shoes cost a lot more but feel nicer. :D

[j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest European shoes for you. Because for some reason Europeans have, on average, wider feet than North Americans.

So I can't wear most European shoes, because my problem with shoes is that most are too wide for my long, skinny feet. And my feet are maybe still a little narrow, though less so after childbirth. However, they're still skinny, which is a different thing! Shoes are so difficult. :(

Another problem with American shoes is that the one last they're sized from was made for men. And men have proportionally wider heels and narrower forefeet than women do. Which is one reason (style being the other) why, even for women with narrow feet, women's shoes tend to pinch in the toes.

*sigh*

Now I'm off to look at the website you recommended, because I've recently decided I need some new shoes. Thanks! :)

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

That's interesting about the lasts. I did not know that. Sadly, I generally cannot afford European shoes.

I hope you find some that work for you. I don't suppose you're an 11N? I have a pair of 11N navy leather mid-heel pumps that were shipped to me by mistake in an eBay sale and they refunded my money but didn't want them back so they're sitting in my closet collecting dust.

[j-s-cavalcante.livejournal.com]

Ah, no. I wear an 8-1/2. My feet are long and skinny relative to me--I'm only 5'3" tall. :) So an 8-1/2 is pretty long for me. Thank you, though! That was very sweet of you. :)

Most cities seem to have local agencies or organizations that collect business clothes for women who can't afford them. There are dozens of chapters of Dress for Success (http://www.dressforsuccess.org/), for instance. I'm sure the shoes would make a big difference to someone out there.

ETA: I've been reading on the DFS website (I have some stuff to donate, too), and apparently all the Dress Barn stores across the country (there are 800?!) will accept interview-appropriate clothes and new, interview-appropriate shoes and ship them to DFS. \o/

[shrewreader.livejournal.com]

Ooooohhhh. Shooooeees.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Hee! Just call me Imelda.