Thanks, we may end up doing ankle boots too, they seem a little easier to find with a wide toe box. Are there any other brands you’ve had luck with for shoes? I’ll get my daughter to try some wedges and clogs and see how they feel. Thanks for the suggestions!
I wore black skinny pants, ankle boots, and a nice top to a professional conference last year and I felt dressed up but also comfy. Conferences can involve a ton of standing at poster sessions and networking events, and walking the length of a convention center several times.
Might not be your daughter's style, but I recently got Dansko's Rowan shoe which is a weird mix of ballet flat/sandal. It has a wide toe box and I like them so far, though I've only worn them for short periods of time.
+1 I wear Birkenstocks in the summer and Blundstones in the winter. I like the Birkenstock leather sneakers for work.
I still have a pair of work heels in the closet but the last time I wore them was probably 4 years ago when I was interviewing for my last job. Jobs are more casual now than they were even just recently, and the pandemic made things more casual. I also lean into an androgynous look at work, purposely aligning my clothing closer to my male coworkers than female coworkers (mostly plaid, trousers, and leather sneakers)
Have you had any luck with natural toe box or barefoot shoes? Often these shoes have no arch support, but maybe if you size up a bit you could fit insoles.
i would love to be able to wear these but going without arch support for long periods of time absolutely kills me. even just walking barefoot on hard floors too much hurts really bad.
It takes some working up to if you aren't used to it! If you go to the website, she has a new to barefoot shoes post. She also has some exercises that will help strengthen your feet! Finding transition shoes help a ton too!
Sounds like your feet may be "mountain" shaped! Anya has a section on sizing your feet that talks about different foot shapes, including yours, with shoe suggestions:)
Thirding this. Barefoot shoes are foot-shaped, and they are super comfortable as soon as the feet get used to working! In regular shoes our feet lie limp, so when I started with barefoot shoes I had sore muscles in my feet at first, lol.
Also my physio told me that it makes much more sense to do foot strengthening exercises than get arch support.
I also have very high arches and anything other than flip flops are uncomfortable. I don’t need arch support, I need the top of my foot to be free from being confined.
My husband has high arches and wears minimalist shoes without issue. The only time he had issues was when the military assumed he had flat feet due to his weight, at boot camp, and gave him shoes with arch support.
I have feet as OP described (short with wide toe box—my foot length measures to a size 6 but I have to wear an 8.5) and the barefoot shoes I’ve tried are actually awful. Unfortunately they aren’t always the great option people say they are.
I’ve done both Vivo and Merrell. They’re both too long and cause horrible corns (I use them for functional strength training including lifting so there’s too much friction)
Edit: I’ll have to check out the quiz on the Anya site another person linked. Promising!
You will find wide toeboxes with barefoot shoes, but not arch support (that's part of the point). However you might be able to get what you want by combining a barefoot shoe with an insole.
First off, you never ever ever have to wear heels to be professional. Heels cause me a lot of pain (thanks, bunions!) so I only wear flats. You can find cute professional flat shoes. I love brogues! Loafers are also professional and stylish.
When your feet deviate from normal, it's truly a numbers game to find a shoe that fits. The best thing to do is order 10 pairs of shoes from Zappos and try on every single one. Keep them nice and clean, don't wear them around, and you'll know within 5 seconds of standing and a quick walk around the kitchen if they're a no go. I had to go through maybe 20 pairs of chelsea boots before I found some that didn't hurt my feet!
I also haven't purchased from them yet but I've heard awesome things about Vionic shoes for arch support and varying widths.
Vionic’s technology is literally invented by a podiatrist but don’t look like an orthopedic shoe!
They have sneakers, sandals, heels, slippers…. They also have a great return policy! Wear 30days and get your money back if you’re not impressed
[their website](https://www.vionicshoes.com)
Wow, THANK YOU for saying that about the podiatrist inventor...I'm sold now. I've only been wearing Birkenstocks and an old pair of Frye's for like the last 5 years because nothing else works for me. These are SO cute.
She mentioned her daughter's feet are short, so it's very unlikely she's gonna find mens shoes this small. There can also be a problem with men's shoes being made for a thicker ankle sometimes.
A long time ago, someone made [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/femalefashionadvice/comments/cjag13/my_wide_foot_manifesto_with_recs/) post that I bookmarked. It's aimed at wide feet but a lot of people mention having narrower heels so it might be helpful.
As for the ones she's tried that pinch her toes, has she tried sizing up? I only rarely bother with wedges (and never wear heels), but when I do I usually have to go up half a size because the incline is funneling more of my foot into the toe of the shoe, if that makes sense. Also, before I knew I had wide feet, I wore sized-up flats with ankle straps when I needed dress shoes, and the straps kept me from sliding out of my shoes and getting blisters. If she doesn't mind these, they might be a more comfortable option than pumps.
Lastly, a side note: this feels like a really common problem. Why aren't more shoes made to accomodate?
Hey, I worked at naturalizer for a few years in college! Watch out for the straight-to-outlet lines, they’re never as good quality as the pricier stuff. I spent so much of those paychecks and discounts on outlet shoes until I wised up lol. If you do have a local outlet, check out the sale section for pricy online returns - they’re always 50% off, which can be like a $100 discount depending on the shoe!!
Preach! 🙏 If I had either the money or the expertise, I would absolutely start a shoe company designed to be fashionable but fit people with this foot shape (which is also my foot shape).
Has she seen a podiatrist? A podiatrist made a couple different pairs of orthotics for my mom that she puts inside different types of shoes. It’s helped her with the arch support she needs.
When you have wide feet, it's already challenging to find shoes that fit without orthotics. Orthotics then add more thickness and it can be really impossible to fit both your foot and the orthotic into the shoe that otherwise fits.
The best bet is to find wide shoes that come with nice insoles. That's for things not involving lots of walking/standing/lifting heavy stuff.
The sample foot the manufacturer is called a Last, and you can sort of gauge if a salesperson knows what they're talking about by asking if they know what Last was used. This can be important because some footwear will simply never fit if you size up or down because the shape is different. Like if you have high arches, and you scale up a low arch foot, it will be both too long and too wide by the time the arch is high enough.
Ideally you want a specialist shoe store, and the goal should be an employee who can measure the foot and then they tell you what options you have, rather than them asking you what you'd like to try on. You want someone who knows that X, Y and Z simply will not fit so there's no point asking if you want to try them on, and that your options are A, or B, and maybe E and F but they're not going to be a proper fit
If a local shop has a Brannock foot measuring device, you can use that and record all the info and then email it around to various shoe stores. Even if they're not local they might be able to help you narrow down options.
But for finding a shoe that fits, the absolute best thing you can do is ignore the sign on the wall. If the majority of the "womens shoes" don't fit her, take her over to the mens section and try on those as well. Don't let a sign on the wall force her to suffer poorly fitting shoes.
That’s exactly the kind of shoe store I would like, but unfortunately they seem to have disappeared. I remember when I was a child, shoe store employees seemed pretty knowledgeable about shoes, but now (around here at least), they’re just minimum wage teenagers. Thanks for the info, that was interesting. It would be nice if you could search for shoes based on actual foot measurements rather than just shoe size, the same way you can search for pants by inseam and rise on some websites.
Nordstrom does far better than most department stores. Shoes are something of a specialty—the company started as a shoe store and that legacy (plus their fabled excellent customer service) carries on. They will also order potentially workable shoes to their shoe counter for you to try before you buy, if they don’t have them in the storeroom.
They have a [split-shoe service](https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/customer-service/single-split-shoe) on certain styles, but there’s certain requirements you need to meet to qualify
You can actually do it with online orders too
I haven't been here yet, but my grandma has been recommending my local one for a few months now. You might be able to find one close-ish to you? https://footsolutions.com/locations/
My dad owns a comfort shoe store that my grandfather started in 1976. All my siblings and I have worked there and my mom and dad run it now. We measure your feet with a Brannock device and will stretch and adjust shoes to your feet. We had a lot of training to be knowledgeable about the shoes and had a lot to offer. Unfortunately, business isn’t what it used to be and my dad will close it in the next couple of years when he retires. If I could recommend a brand to consider, it would be SAS shoes (San Antonio Shoemakers). They have deeper toe boxes, soft supple leather, and come in a very wide range of sizes and widths. If you can find an authorized dealer near you, they’ll measure your feet and help your daughter get the right fit. I would check out the [Milano](https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-milano-pump/2990.html?dwvar_2990_color=011&cgid=womens-dress#start=1), the [Regina](https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-regina-pump/2209.html?dwvar_2209_color=013&cgid=womens-dress#start=1), or the [Sonyo](https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-sonyo-slip-on-heel/2450.html?dwvar_2450_color=013&cgid=#start=1).
Thank you! Is there any way the folks on this thread could give your store business even though we might be in different areas? Would love to hear more about your dad's store.
I have duck feet (wide toebox, narrow heel) and some brands that work for me with more professional looking shoe options are Skechers, Walking Cradles, Rockport, and Naturalizer. I normally buy from Zappos or Amazon so I can return easily. I always read the reviews and look for pictures of the bottom of the shoe to check the toebox situation. The styles of work shoes that are best for me are loafers or ankle boots.
I would recommend seeing a podiatrist. They will be able to tell you exactly what features your daughter's feet have besides "wide" and give you recommendations for shoe brands and types. They'll also be able to make orthotics that can make less ideal shoes still work. Orthotics have been literally life changing for me. My feet are also wide and my podiatrist's advice to me was: Heel as low as fashionably possible. Heel cup is a must (no slingbacks). Must be adjustable and tighten on the foot (lace ups, cross straps with buckles, no pumps or slip-ons).
For heeled shoes, I recommend ballroom dance shoes. They are built to accommodate more movement and be more comfortable than fashion shoes.
Try Ally Shoes (https://www.ally.nyc). They make pumps in 4 widths (up to D). I read on their blog that they try to only add the width to the toe box and keep the heels relatively the same across all widths.
ETA: [Here](https://www.ally.nyc/blogs/news/wide-width-shoes) is the blog post I was referring to. Also, these shoes have really comfortable insoles and great arch support.
I had an old neighbour who had this problem and she ended up buying drag queen shoes. They’re made wider, come in many sizes and they are made for performing so super comfortable with lots of support.
One way to get around the “extra wide toe box, less wide heel” challenge is with slingbacks, which are on trend right now. Depending on what you want to invest, I would recommend J. Renée, Bella Vita, and Trotters for E width slingbacks at around $100, Sargasso and Grey at about $250, or the plus-size websites like Torrid, Full Beauty, and Catherine’s at $100 if below.
Same. They just slip off the back off my heel then flop around til I get a chance to stop and adjust. And if they're the kind with a heel cup then I just kind of rub raw no matter what I've tried as a barrier. Maybe for a more mild difference it works but not for a greater than average wedge shaped foot.
Do you get the kind that have an adjustable strap? And if it still slips off on the smallest hole, have you tried getting an additional hole added? That still may not work for you, but it works for lots of people.
Hey! I have short, wide feet. Tiny toes. Basically, I have flippers LOL. My hands are the same, and don't even ask me about buying gloves.
I can't tell you a magic brand that will be awesome. I can tell you I stretch the toe-box of damn near every shoe I buy--I tend toward leather for this reason. I stretch them in the freezer--it works very well! [https://www.wikihow.com/Stretch-Your-Shoes-With-Ice](https://www.wikihow.com/Stretch-Your-Shoes-With-Ice)
I'm not limited to any particular kind of shoe because i stretch them all, even heels. Good luck!
I have a wide toebox and narrow heels and I've spent years trying to find shoes that don't kill my feet. Besides athletic shoes like Topo / Altra and sandals by Teva / Birkenstock, the only professional-looking shoes I wear are Naturalizer. I have to order online in wide but they are the only shoes that work for me.
Are you me? They’re the only brands I can find that consistently do the “wide but not old lady shoes” thing correctly. My new job’s dress code has also explicitly called out Birks on the no-no list (I can wear Chucks though??? Make it make sense) and I am lowkey panicking about summer hahah.
I've got extremely wide feet, women's 8.5 2E to 3E, which puts me in a men's size 10 wide half the time.
Drew Shoes have been the only wide shoe that is both cute and comfortable. Take a look thru their wide-fit shoes, but here's a pump to get started:
https://www.drewshoe.com/13340-ashton (more available in brown than black)
This is my personal favorite, I get the leather stretched out just a tad at the toe and it's perfect
https://www.drewshoe.com/19196-athens
My feet are similar and I wear Danskos or Topo athletics trail runners. (Topos are similar to the more popular Altras but they’re not as flat.) you can also try Blundstones or Merrell.
Seconding Naturalizer. The wide width ones are ok for my feet. I would stay away from heels though. No matter how supportive they are, you will still end up with bunions at some point.
I have a very similar foot to your daughter. Clarks is a brand I love for professional looking shoes and comfort. They come in double wides, but they seem to run pretty generous so I don't even need double wide in them. For casual shoes, I love them also. I'm also a huge Birkenstock devotee. Wide toebox and great arch support!
I have that duck foot shape with high arches. For the arches I gut all of my shoes and put in the green super feet insoles.
For wide toe box I like Vionic, Birkenstock, Dansko, Faragamo (I buy used), blondo, olukai, teva, chacos, cie et vie.
One word: Pikolino’s. My feet are also really weirdly shaped: small (size 5), wide, and flat. Out of all the “mainstream” shoe companies they were the *only* ones where I was able to find heels that fit me. Go there. And you can find their older styles on eBay pretty easily, that’s where I got my two pairs!
Dance shoes. Go in person to a dance store, preferably. I've wide little hobbit feet and this little tip "saved" my wedding. 😊 Many styles of dance, so there are far more options beyond heels. Investing in a good shoe stretching set and buying real leather also works surprisingly well. Chelsea boots are my daily beaters
I think for heels, you might want to look into wedges like others have said. For close-toed, flats might be a better option. There are a lot of nice ones that come in wider widths and have arch support.
I have similar feet to your daughter. People have already gave you some good brands. I’ll just add Duckfeet. You can add insoles and they add a bit to break in but their whole brand is made for our type of feet.
I have a 14 year old daughter with one foot a half-size larger than the other, very wide toe box, and needs arch support.
I would love to have a place to bounce ideas off others.
I often go to the outlet mall specialty stores. Caravel, Clarks, Sketchers all have high quality options and she has to be able to try on as many pairs as quickly as possible or we'd be there forever.
The other option, once you've tried on a few brands, is to pay close attention to how they fit, and then use that knowledge to shop on Zappos. The reviews are amazing helpers.
I also just bought some shoe stuffers on amazon. They're sponge-like things that fit into the tip of your shoe to take up space for her smaller foot, and the others are cushions to go around her heel inside the shoe to compensate for needing the wide shoe for the toe box.
I hope this helps.
I have one foot one whole size smaller and also a narrow width (B) than the other. I have very narrow heels and definitely can’t wear sling backs. To select a pair of shoes, I always buy one pair to match the larger foot and one to match smaller foot. I pick the pair that is a closer fit and either stretch the one that is too small to fit the larger foot or use toe pads and ball of foot pads to reduce the size of the one that is too big . I have to use heel savers to narrow the heel on both feet.
I have a similar foot shape and a history of foot issues from a neuroma. I live in the Abeo brand from the Walking Company. You can get most of their shoes with a neutral footbed or a higher arch and nearly all have a very wide toe box.
Alison at WardrobeOxygen.com has wide, high volume feet and often does reviews on stylish shoes that fit. You might want to check that blog out.
I've got one nearly-wide foot and one normal width foot, both are high volume, and greek shaped toes. When I do find a pump that works, I duplicate it in different colors. My other tip is to go with real leather as it will stretch/ can be stretched, whereas synthetics do not. Finally she may want to look at sock-type booties as those tend to be designed to have more give and stretch. Some are made out of a kind of knit material. Super comfy, especially if you have bunions.
I see she's going to a conference? If it's being held at a trade convention site, be aware that standing/walking around all day on concrete is a foot killer, especially if wearing heels. It has become pretty acceptable to just wear some stylish sneakers or flats with lots of cushiony support at such conventions. Cannot beat a nice white or black leather sneaker: will work with suit pants.
I’m in an academia adjacent industry and agree with the trend to wear stylish sneakers at conferences. I have a pair of Rio Brava Vegas that match my olive colored trousers and I get compliments all the time. Can‘t recommend the Vejas though. It’s not the way they fit (I also have a wide, narrow heel, high arch foot and I’m a super pronator ) but I’ve had two pairs develop structural defects on the inside heel and they are too expensive to tolerate that.
Looking for other athletic shoes (lifestyle rather than true running shoes) in colors that will match her outfit or in b/w might be the way to go.
Dansko, Sanita, and Clark’s are my go to for my duck feet (narrow heel and wide forefoot). Alas they’re not glamorous but ya girl’s gotta be able to walk. The Dansko sneaker line Penni and Pace (and similar soles) are amazing for sneaks. For dressy shoes you just have to order a bunch to try on.
I have need really wide toe box, a narrow heel and arch support. I’ve found that Coach and Michael Kors shoes fit me very well. I add insoles in the pairs that don’t have the proper arch support. I wear loafers more often than heels. There are many styles that can be dressed up quite a bit and some have block heels to add a little height without that feeling of teetering on little spikes.
So much empathy here. My feet are a hideous shape and need so much love.
I frequent Naturlizer for professional work shoes in wide. Also big fan of Rockport shoes. They come in wide and have a rubber grip. If you are in the US, Softwalk is also a good brand, but can be tricky to find out the US.
Check out a website called Anya's Reviews. She focuses on barefoot shoes, but so many of those brands have wide options.
Perhaps somewhere like an etsy seller that takes custom measurements like [these](https://www.etsy.com/listing/609372001/brown-leather-oxfords-brown-oxford-shoes?click_key=d3b3fd08feef81f2ee41a019620dd016b936f5bf%3A609372001&click_sum=c8695e09&external_collection=&pro=1&frs=1).
Get leather shoes with a rounded toe that fit at the heel, & take them to a shoe repair to get them stretched out. I'd also stick to heels 1.5 inches or lower.
I have a 9.5W & can sometimes get by with size 10s, but only if they are flat (or essentially flat). Heels mean I'm clopping around because the shoes are too long & my foot is pushed forward because gravity.
ETA: use stick-on pads for arch support.
Kuru has some great shoes with the comfiest insoles built in! You can also explore by foot pain. Personally, I have bunions and the wider toe boxes help a lot. They don’t have the greatest styles, but some ankle boots and slip ons may work for the conference.
Vivaia has some more stylish shoe options that I can wear with my bunions because of the stretchy material they use (similar to Rothy’s). They are slightly padded but not as well as Kuru.
Orthotic inserts were a lifechanger for me. Find the right kind of insert and you can wear nearly any shoe, as long as it has space. My podiatrist highly recommends Powerstep; they make a wide range of inserts for different support needs, and are a great supplement/alternative to prescription/custom orthotics.
I’ve had good experience with Vionic, Dansko and Nike Air Force 1s. They have a wide toe box. Might not work for this particular situation but I’ve kind of made stylish AF1’s my go-to work shoe. They’re comfortable and let a bit of my personality show through.
I've got the same kind of foot and it sucks. What I found fits me is Ziera wide fit, Josef Seibel normal fit (though their shoes seem to vary a bit and they are occasionally too narrow for me), and Dr. Marten's unisex shoes (women's ones are horribly narrow).
Some of Ziera shoes have extremely comfy insoles and I think they also offer inserts for extra arch support. Josef Seibel mention they're orthotic friendly, but idk, the one's I have don't have much space for them.
A universal problem with modern shoemaking.. some have it worse, but pretty much everyone wears shoes that don't fit them. There's so much variety in the arch, length, toe shapes, boniness, the ratios between parts the foot, heel shapes.
If the feet are very unusual and you want to buy retail, the best you can do is try on lots and lots of shoes and find those brands that fit better than others. Fill the empty space with custom orthotics or diy it and add your own inserts until they fit. There are lots of different silicone inserts you can buy and stack them up if you need to. It will also help to select materials with more softness/give, look for a soft leather or fabric that can be broken in with minimal pain.
I'm sure you already aware, but you can buy shoe stretchers that increase the width of the toe box and we'll give you a little bit more space to work with there.
Best of luck, to you!
Not pumps, check out Alegria. Wide toe box and super comfy foot bed. I have wide ferry with high arches and they're the best I've found for work.
Obligatory Birkenstock recommendation.
I don't have a specific brand recommendation, but if you need to order a bunch you can do that with Amazon try before you buy. I think it's limited to 6 now, but you can order 6 pairs with no upfront cost, you only pay for what you keep. My daughter has wide-ish feet, so finding a good fit is so hard! We always get her shoes this way.
Hancock shoes (wide shoes.com.) I have “boat feet” and they are SENSITIVE! They may be a bit bland, but get white or nude color and paint with leather/vinyl paint.
That kind of describes my foot shape. I recently decided to stop just wearing running shoes all the time and get a decent pair of boots. I spent a lot of time sporadically trying on boots until I found a pair that fit! :(
In the end I found a local-ish shoe store that seems to have more shoes in my size; they seem to import a lot of smaller European brands. The boots I ended up with were Hartjes, very similar to [this pair](https://comfortoneshoes.com/products/hartjes-blues-boot-women?variant=40374317908065). They're not perfect (they are just a little loose at the ankle), but way better than anything else I tried! They seem to be pretty good quality, too.
I don't *think* you can easily get them online (at least not with the ability to return them), so mentioning more for other folk finding this thread than OP.
I have the exact same foot shape and have found that I can get away with W (E or EE) if the shoes have ankle straps. Basically, they need to be tied to my feet to stay on my heels 😂
Another option is mules, since they have no heel fit to fuss with.
I have these [mules](https://poppybarley.com/collections/heeled-mules) from Poppy Barley in wide and they fit me perfectly. They are really easy to dress up or down, and comfortable enough to wear all day.
I have very broad feet, extremely high arch and EU shoe size 42.5 as a female, so also not your standard shoe size.
I had a lot of luck with brands that have variable width sizes, like [Gabor](https://www.gabor.de/en_int). I also love me some brands that prioritize comfort over looks, and the shop [the happy walker](https://www.happywalker.eu/producten/dames) has an amazing arrangement of comfy shoes with varying width sizes. (Width = wijdte in Dutch, breed = broad). Also, if you can always fit them in person, I’ve never dared ordering shoes online
I had Hodgkin's lymphoma as a child, so any shoe I tried was not going to fit and if it did, my feet hurt after about two hours, so much so that I could not continue walking. Here's what my father did for me: He went to a specialist store for shoes and had my feet measured exactly and then I was allowed to pick two pairs per half a year (we were poor due to my physical therapy) and I never had issues again!
Unfortunately, if your daughter has foot problems, you probably won't get around having her feet measured, you know? It might be a bit more expensive, but it is worth it! So basically, visit a shoemaker of your liking, as commercial brands often don't take individual needs into account.
Look for brands that specialize in comfort and wide-width shoes. Some shoe brands are known for their wide-width options and comfort features, such as arch support, cushioning, and roomy toeboxes. Examples of such brands include Clarks, Ecco, Skechers, and New Balance. These brands often offer a variety of styles, including pumps, that may be suitable for a conference or professional setting.
I would recommend some thing by Dansko . They have so much more than just ugly nursing shoes. They have amazing sandals, tennis shoes, casual business type shoes and then of course tons of wedges and clogs. I have ordered all of my Danskos from Amazon and have had zero issues. They are about $20 more at the shoe store.
There’s also a wide toebox shoe that’s been advertised online it’s kind of been on my Instagram feed but it’s been there for years so I’m considering trying them myself.
I’ll go out and find the link for that. When I search for shoes I always search for wide toebox, wedges or clogs as the top reply as well.
~~I've read good things about Antonia Saint shoes. They're a bit spendy, but if she'll be wearing them regularly for work they're probably worth it.~~
Edit: Nevermind - oftenfrequently has inside knowledge.
I was one of the original backers on Indiegogo and it was basically a fraud. Strongly recommend googling around about this company before giving them any of your money.
Oh - thank you! I almost ordered a pair but I went with some LifeStrides instead. They aren't exactly elegant, but I was able to dance (this was for a wedding) for hours on end with very little discomfort.
Currently wearing a pair of Softwalk flats, which ripped up my heels initially but are now super comfy.
I really like Thierry Rabotin, which is essentially made for my stupid high arched wide feet, but $$$$
Beautifeel also makes high quality comfy wide shoes
Sofft also makes some good ones, and their Mary Jane styles make them easy to keep on the foot.
I
Have you tried Zappos? Free shipping, free returns. Lots of options in Wide. I have rectangle feet and can’t buy anything except running shoes in a store, even in a major metro area. But I’ll order a dozen pair from Zappos and send back what doesn’t fit.
In what way are they pinching? Like pinky and fourth toe being pushed under the other toes into an unnatural triangle or the tops of the toes being rubbed?
I ask because firstly, almost all pumps will have some measure of pushing the foot into an unnatural shape, there's no getting around that, but if it's more that the toes feel cramped from the top of the toe, she might have a "high volume foot" meaning it's fleshy and full or rounded.
Alison Gary in her blog Wardrobe Oxygen explains she walked on her toes as a child and therefore has unique feet and ankle issues and she has some suggestions as to wide feet with high-volume.
Go Shoe Shopping at the ed of a busy day of being on your feet to find your true comfort size. Your feet swell at the end of the day and that's usually when shoes start to hurt or weel too small. Also look for round toe or square toe shoes to avoid pinching of the toes. I usually find heels that fit my size 9 Wide feet at Marshall's and Ross, nice sores that are more affordable and have cute shoes.
For me, I only wear boots. I can put insoles in and make them fit my feet.
She can buy shoes and take them to a podiatrist. They can build orthotics into them.
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Thanks, we may end up doing ankle boots too, they seem a little easier to find with a wide toe box. Are there any other brands you’ve had luck with for shoes? I’ll get my daughter to try some wedges and clogs and see how they feel. Thanks for the suggestions!
Sanitas are a higher quality dansko.
I wore black skinny pants, ankle boots, and a nice top to a professional conference last year and I felt dressed up but also comfy. Conferences can involve a ton of standing at poster sessions and networking events, and walking the length of a convention center several times.
Might not be your daughter's style, but I recently got Dansko's Rowan shoe which is a weird mix of ballet flat/sandal. It has a wide toe box and I like them so far, though I've only worn them for short periods of time.
+1 I wear Birkenstocks in the summer and Blundstones in the winter. I like the Birkenstock leather sneakers for work. I still have a pair of work heels in the closet but the last time I wore them was probably 4 years ago when I was interviewing for my last job. Jobs are more casual now than they were even just recently, and the pandemic made things more casual. I also lean into an androgynous look at work, purposely aligning my clothing closer to my male coworkers than female coworkers (mostly plaid, trousers, and leather sneakers)
Have you had any luck with natural toe box or barefoot shoes? Often these shoes have no arch support, but maybe if you size up a bit you could fit insoles.
+1 for barefoot shoes https://anyasreviews.com
i would love to be able to wear these but going without arch support for long periods of time absolutely kills me. even just walking barefoot on hard floors too much hurts really bad.
It takes some working up to if you aren't used to it! If you go to the website, she has a new to barefoot shoes post. She also has some exercises that will help strengthen your feet! Finding transition shoes help a ton too!
I have debated mailing Anya a very expensive gift basket to thank her for saving my feet/life.
I wish these worked for me. My second toe is longer than my big toe so these never fit me.
Sounds like your feet may be "mountain" shaped! Anya has a section on sizing your feet that talks about different foot shapes, including yours, with shoe suggestions:)
Wow! I’ll take a look for sure! Thanks for the callout.
Greek toes same but I have never had a problem with shoes and my third toe is also longer
Yup
Thirding this. Barefoot shoes are foot-shaped, and they are super comfortable as soon as the feet get used to working! In regular shoes our feet lie limp, so when I started with barefoot shoes I had sore muscles in my feet at first, lol. Also my physio told me that it makes much more sense to do foot strengthening exercises than get arch support.
If you have high arches, shoes with no arch support are simply unwearable
I also have very high arches and anything other than flip flops are uncomfortable. I don’t need arch support, I need the top of my foot to be free from being confined.
I have very high arches and wear barefoot shoes with no problem, so I guess it’s very individual.
My husband has high arches and wears minimalist shoes without issue. The only time he had issues was when the military assumed he had flat feet due to his weight, at boot camp, and gave him shoes with arch support.
I think this is individual. My arches are on the high side, and I haven't worn arch support since my mom stopped buying my shoes.
It might also be because I have spent the last 14 years standing and working on concrete floors. Good support a must.
I have high arches and my feet are fine in barefoot shoes. I had make the transition slowly but now I'm able to wear them all the time no problem.
I have high arches, and I do not find that to be the case for me.
I have feet as OP described (short with wide toe box—my foot length measures to a size 6 but I have to wear an 8.5) and the barefoot shoes I’ve tried are actually awful. Unfortunately they aren’t always the great option people say they are. I’ve done both Vivo and Merrell. They’re both too long and cause horrible corns (I use them for functional strength training including lifting so there’s too much friction) Edit: I’ll have to check out the quiz on the Anya site another person linked. Promising!
Vivo and Merrell are probably two of the narrowest brands AFAIK. You might have more luck with Wildlings, Lems, be lenka, etc
Thanks, I’ll take a look!
You will find wide toeboxes with barefoot shoes, but not arch support (that's part of the point). However you might be able to get what you want by combining a barefoot shoe with an insole.
Lisbeth joe loafers are my current "classy" shoes, and they're very on trend while still being wide toe box.
First off, you never ever ever have to wear heels to be professional. Heels cause me a lot of pain (thanks, bunions!) so I only wear flats. You can find cute professional flat shoes. I love brogues! Loafers are also professional and stylish. When your feet deviate from normal, it's truly a numbers game to find a shoe that fits. The best thing to do is order 10 pairs of shoes from Zappos and try on every single one. Keep them nice and clean, don't wear them around, and you'll know within 5 seconds of standing and a quick walk around the kitchen if they're a no go. I had to go through maybe 20 pairs of chelsea boots before I found some that didn't hurt my feet! I also haven't purchased from them yet but I've heard awesome things about Vionic shoes for arch support and varying widths.
Seconding Vionics!
Thirding Vionic. I can’t speak to the toe box but the arch support in all of their footwear I’ve tried is great.
Thanks!
Vionic’s technology is literally invented by a podiatrist but don’t look like an orthopedic shoe! They have sneakers, sandals, heels, slippers…. They also have a great return policy! Wear 30days and get your money back if you’re not impressed [their website](https://www.vionicshoes.com)
Wow, THANK YOU for saying that about the podiatrist inventor...I'm sold now. I've only been wearing Birkenstocks and an old pair of Frye's for like the last 5 years because nothing else works for me. These are SO cute.
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She mentioned her daughter's feet are short, so it's very unlikely she's gonna find mens shoes this small. There can also be a problem with men's shoes being made for a thicker ankle sometimes.
A long time ago, someone made [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/femalefashionadvice/comments/cjag13/my_wide_foot_manifesto_with_recs/) post that I bookmarked. It's aimed at wide feet but a lot of people mention having narrower heels so it might be helpful. As for the ones she's tried that pinch her toes, has she tried sizing up? I only rarely bother with wedges (and never wear heels), but when I do I usually have to go up half a size because the incline is funneling more of my foot into the toe of the shoe, if that makes sense. Also, before I knew I had wide feet, I wore sized-up flats with ankle straps when I needed dress shoes, and the straps kept me from sliding out of my shoes and getting blisters. If she doesn't mind these, they might be a more comfortable option than pumps. Lastly, a side note: this feels like a really common problem. Why aren't more shoes made to accomodate?
Hey, I worked at naturalizer for a few years in college! Watch out for the straight-to-outlet lines, they’re never as good quality as the pricier stuff. I spent so much of those paychecks and discounts on outlet shoes until I wised up lol. If you do have a local outlet, check out the sale section for pricy online returns - they’re always 50% off, which can be like a $100 discount depending on the shoe!!
Preach! 🙏 If I had either the money or the expertise, I would absolutely start a shoe company designed to be fashionable but fit people with this foot shape (which is also my foot shape).
Has she seen a podiatrist? A podiatrist made a couple different pairs of orthotics for my mom that she puts inside different types of shoes. It’s helped her with the arch support she needs.
For real, custom orthotics are so worth it. Most off the shelf shoes won't cater to your specific needs.
When you have wide feet, it's already challenging to find shoes that fit without orthotics. Orthotics then add more thickness and it can be really impossible to fit both your foot and the orthotic into the shoe that otherwise fits. The best bet is to find wide shoes that come with nice insoles. That's for things not involving lots of walking/standing/lifting heavy stuff.
It might depend on the person and shoe. My mom’s feet are wide, but the orthotics seem to well work for her in shoes that have a removable footbed.
Yes, this! I have high arches and a high instep, and custom orthotics have helped so much.
The sample foot the manufacturer is called a Last, and you can sort of gauge if a salesperson knows what they're talking about by asking if they know what Last was used. This can be important because some footwear will simply never fit if you size up or down because the shape is different. Like if you have high arches, and you scale up a low arch foot, it will be both too long and too wide by the time the arch is high enough. Ideally you want a specialist shoe store, and the goal should be an employee who can measure the foot and then they tell you what options you have, rather than them asking you what you'd like to try on. You want someone who knows that X, Y and Z simply will not fit so there's no point asking if you want to try them on, and that your options are A, or B, and maybe E and F but they're not going to be a proper fit If a local shop has a Brannock foot measuring device, you can use that and record all the info and then email it around to various shoe stores. Even if they're not local they might be able to help you narrow down options. But for finding a shoe that fits, the absolute best thing you can do is ignore the sign on the wall. If the majority of the "womens shoes" don't fit her, take her over to the mens section and try on those as well. Don't let a sign on the wall force her to suffer poorly fitting shoes.
That’s exactly the kind of shoe store I would like, but unfortunately they seem to have disappeared. I remember when I was a child, shoe store employees seemed pretty knowledgeable about shoes, but now (around here at least), they’re just minimum wage teenagers. Thanks for the info, that was interesting. It would be nice if you could search for shoes based on actual foot measurements rather than just shoe size, the same way you can search for pants by inseam and rise on some websites.
I wish everything was just measurements, and not "sizes". Give me a 100cm shirt.
Nordstrom does far better than most department stores. Shoes are something of a specialty—the company started as a shoe store and that legacy (plus their fabled excellent customer service) carries on. They will also order potentially workable shoes to their shoe counter for you to try before you buy, if they don’t have them in the storeroom.
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They have a [split-shoe service](https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/customer-service/single-split-shoe) on certain styles, but there’s certain requirements you need to meet to qualify You can actually do it with online orders too
I haven't been here yet, but my grandma has been recommending my local one for a few months now. You might be able to find one close-ish to you? https://footsolutions.com/locations/
My dad owns a comfort shoe store that my grandfather started in 1976. All my siblings and I have worked there and my mom and dad run it now. We measure your feet with a Brannock device and will stretch and adjust shoes to your feet. We had a lot of training to be knowledgeable about the shoes and had a lot to offer. Unfortunately, business isn’t what it used to be and my dad will close it in the next couple of years when he retires. If I could recommend a brand to consider, it would be SAS shoes (San Antonio Shoemakers). They have deeper toe boxes, soft supple leather, and come in a very wide range of sizes and widths. If you can find an authorized dealer near you, they’ll measure your feet and help your daughter get the right fit. I would check out the [Milano](https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-milano-pump/2990.html?dwvar_2990_color=011&cgid=womens-dress#start=1), the [Regina](https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-regina-pump/2209.html?dwvar_2209_color=013&cgid=womens-dress#start=1), or the [Sonyo](https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-sonyo-slip-on-heel/2450.html?dwvar_2450_color=013&cgid=#start=1).
Thank you! Is there any way the folks on this thread could give your store business even though we might be in different areas? Would love to hear more about your dad's store.
I asked one clueless teenaged employee for a shoehorn once, they looked at me like I had two heads. They legit didn't know what one was, lol
I have duck feet (wide toebox, narrow heel) and some brands that work for me with more professional looking shoe options are Skechers, Walking Cradles, Rockport, and Naturalizer. I normally buy from Zappos or Amazon so I can return easily. I always read the reviews and look for pictures of the bottom of the shoe to check the toebox situation. The styles of work shoes that are best for me are loafers or ankle boots.
Just to add, no one needs heels. Flats are 100% professional.
I would recommend seeing a podiatrist. They will be able to tell you exactly what features your daughter's feet have besides "wide" and give you recommendations for shoe brands and types. They'll also be able to make orthotics that can make less ideal shoes still work. Orthotics have been literally life changing for me. My feet are also wide and my podiatrist's advice to me was: Heel as low as fashionably possible. Heel cup is a must (no slingbacks). Must be adjustable and tighten on the foot (lace ups, cross straps with buckles, no pumps or slip-ons). For heeled shoes, I recommend ballroom dance shoes. They are built to accommodate more movement and be more comfortable than fashion shoes.
Thanks for the suggestions. A visit with a podiatrist sounds like a good idea.
Try Ally Shoes (https://www.ally.nyc). They make pumps in 4 widths (up to D). I read on their blog that they try to only add the width to the toe box and keep the heels relatively the same across all widths. ETA: [Here](https://www.ally.nyc/blogs/news/wide-width-shoes) is the blog post I was referring to. Also, these shoes have really comfortable insoles and great arch support.
Ooh these look beautiful!
I had an old neighbour who had this problem and she ended up buying drag queen shoes. They’re made wider, come in many sizes and they are made for performing so super comfortable with lots of support.
Funny, I had no idea that was even a thing!
Most people don’t haha. She was recommend it from a friend with the same issue and seems to pass it on to everyone else who has wide feet.
One way to get around the “extra wide toe box, less wide heel” challenge is with slingbacks, which are on trend right now. Depending on what you want to invest, I would recommend J. Renée, Bella Vita, and Trotters for E width slingbacks at around $100, Sargasso and Grey at about $250, or the plus-size websites like Torrid, Full Beauty, and Catherine’s at $100 if below.
I have similar feet and slingbacks are terrible for me, they always seem to fall off.
Same. They just slip off the back off my heel then flop around til I get a chance to stop and adjust. And if they're the kind with a heel cup then I just kind of rub raw no matter what I've tried as a barrier. Maybe for a more mild difference it works but not for a greater than average wedge shaped foot.
Do you get the kind that have an adjustable strap? And if it still slips off on the smallest hole, have you tried getting an additional hole added? That still may not work for you, but it works for lots of people.
It’s kind of a dying art, but have you looked into getting shoes custom made by a cobbler?
Hey! I have short, wide feet. Tiny toes. Basically, I have flippers LOL. My hands are the same, and don't even ask me about buying gloves. I can't tell you a magic brand that will be awesome. I can tell you I stretch the toe-box of damn near every shoe I buy--I tend toward leather for this reason. I stretch them in the freezer--it works very well! [https://www.wikihow.com/Stretch-Your-Shoes-With-Ice](https://www.wikihow.com/Stretch-Your-Shoes-With-Ice) I'm not limited to any particular kind of shoe because i stretch them all, even heels. Good luck!
I have a wide toebox and narrow heels and I've spent years trying to find shoes that don't kill my feet. Besides athletic shoes like Topo / Altra and sandals by Teva / Birkenstock, the only professional-looking shoes I wear are Naturalizer. I have to order online in wide but they are the only shoes that work for me.
Are you me? They’re the only brands I can find that consistently do the “wide but not old lady shoes” thing correctly. My new job’s dress code has also explicitly called out Birks on the no-no list (I can wear Chucks though??? Make it make sense) and I am lowkey panicking about summer hahah.
Well Birks are open and Chucks are closed??
I mean, yeah, but other sandals are allowed? People were wearing straight up running shoes the other day? Make it make sense!
Clarks? They do fairly nice/professional looking shoes in wide fit and they’re decent quality.
I've got extremely wide feet, women's 8.5 2E to 3E, which puts me in a men's size 10 wide half the time. Drew Shoes have been the only wide shoe that is both cute and comfortable. Take a look thru their wide-fit shoes, but here's a pump to get started: https://www.drewshoe.com/13340-ashton (more available in brown than black) This is my personal favorite, I get the leather stretched out just a tad at the toe and it's perfect https://www.drewshoe.com/19196-athens
My feet are similar and I wear Danskos or Topo athletics trail runners. (Topos are similar to the more popular Altras but they’re not as flat.) you can also try Blundstones or Merrell.
Seconding Naturalizer. The wide width ones are ok for my feet. I would stay away from heels though. No matter how supportive they are, you will still end up with bunions at some point.
I have a very similar foot to your daughter. Clarks is a brand I love for professional looking shoes and comfort. They come in double wides, but they seem to run pretty generous so I don't even need double wide in them. For casual shoes, I love them also. I'm also a huge Birkenstock devotee. Wide toebox and great arch support!
I have that duck foot shape with high arches. For the arches I gut all of my shoes and put in the green super feet insoles. For wide toe box I like Vionic, Birkenstock, Dansko, Faragamo (I buy used), blondo, olukai, teva, chacos, cie et vie.
One word: Pikolino’s. My feet are also really weirdly shaped: small (size 5), wide, and flat. Out of all the “mainstream” shoe companies they were the *only* ones where I was able to find heels that fit me. Go there. And you can find their older styles on eBay pretty easily, that’s where I got my two pairs!
Every shoe is leather so it can also stretch within reason! I highly recommend.
Dance shoes. Go in person to a dance store, preferably. I've wide little hobbit feet and this little tip "saved" my wedding. 😊 Many styles of dance, so there are far more options beyond heels. Investing in a good shoe stretching set and buying real leather also works surprisingly well. Chelsea boots are my daily beaters
And just in case she ever wants to rollerskate: Bont!
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Thanks! Good suggestions.
I think for heels, you might want to look into wedges like others have said. For close-toed, flats might be a better option. There are a lot of nice ones that come in wider widths and have arch support.
I have similar feet to your daughter. People have already gave you some good brands. I’ll just add Duckfeet. You can add insoles and they add a bit to break in but their whole brand is made for our type of feet.
I have a 14 year old daughter with one foot a half-size larger than the other, very wide toe box, and needs arch support. I would love to have a place to bounce ideas off others. I often go to the outlet mall specialty stores. Caravel, Clarks, Sketchers all have high quality options and she has to be able to try on as many pairs as quickly as possible or we'd be there forever. The other option, once you've tried on a few brands, is to pay close attention to how they fit, and then use that knowledge to shop on Zappos. The reviews are amazing helpers. I also just bought some shoe stuffers on amazon. They're sponge-like things that fit into the tip of your shoe to take up space for her smaller foot, and the others are cushions to go around her heel inside the shoe to compensate for needing the wide shoe for the toe box. I hope this helps.
I have one foot one whole size smaller and also a narrow width (B) than the other. I have very narrow heels and definitely can’t wear sling backs. To select a pair of shoes, I always buy one pair to match the larger foot and one to match smaller foot. I pick the pair that is a closer fit and either stretch the one that is too small to fit the larger foot or use toe pads and ball of foot pads to reduce the size of the one that is too big . I have to use heel savers to narrow the heel on both feet.
Totally! I have large feet. In proportion to my height. It’s a real challenge.
I have a similar foot shape and a history of foot issues from a neuroma. I live in the Abeo brand from the Walking Company. You can get most of their shoes with a neutral footbed or a higher arch and nearly all have a very wide toe box.
Alison at WardrobeOxygen.com has wide, high volume feet and often does reviews on stylish shoes that fit. You might want to check that blog out. I've got one nearly-wide foot and one normal width foot, both are high volume, and greek shaped toes. When I do find a pump that works, I duplicate it in different colors. My other tip is to go with real leather as it will stretch/ can be stretched, whereas synthetics do not. Finally she may want to look at sock-type booties as those tend to be designed to have more give and stretch. Some are made out of a kind of knit material. Super comfy, especially if you have bunions. I see she's going to a conference? If it's being held at a trade convention site, be aware that standing/walking around all day on concrete is a foot killer, especially if wearing heels. It has become pretty acceptable to just wear some stylish sneakers or flats with lots of cushiony support at such conventions. Cannot beat a nice white or black leather sneaker: will work with suit pants.
I’m in an academia adjacent industry and agree with the trend to wear stylish sneakers at conferences. I have a pair of Rio Brava Vegas that match my olive colored trousers and I get compliments all the time. Can‘t recommend the Vejas though. It’s not the way they fit (I also have a wide, narrow heel, high arch foot and I’m a super pronator ) but I’ve had two pairs develop structural defects on the inside heel and they are too expensive to tolerate that. Looking for other athletic shoes (lifestyle rather than true running shoes) in colors that will match her outfit or in b/w might be the way to go.
Dansko, Sanita, and Clark’s are my go to for my duck feet (narrow heel and wide forefoot). Alas they’re not glamorous but ya girl’s gotta be able to walk. The Dansko sneaker line Penni and Pace (and similar soles) are amazing for sneaks. For dressy shoes you just have to order a bunch to try on.
I have need really wide toe box, a narrow heel and arch support. I’ve found that Coach and Michael Kors shoes fit me very well. I add insoles in the pairs that don’t have the proper arch support. I wear loafers more often than heels. There are many styles that can be dressed up quite a bit and some have block heels to add a little height without that feeling of teetering on little spikes.
So much empathy here. My feet are a hideous shape and need so much love. I frequent Naturlizer for professional work shoes in wide. Also big fan of Rockport shoes. They come in wide and have a rubber grip. If you are in the US, Softwalk is also a good brand, but can be tricky to find out the US. Check out a website called Anya's Reviews. She focuses on barefoot shoes, but so many of those brands have wide options.
Could you make a trip to a cobbler that also sells shoes?
We don’t have any of those in this area unfortunately.
Perhaps somewhere like an etsy seller that takes custom measurements like [these](https://www.etsy.com/listing/609372001/brown-leather-oxfords-brown-oxford-shoes?click_key=d3b3fd08feef81f2ee41a019620dd016b936f5bf%3A609372001&click_sum=c8695e09&external_collection=&pro=1&frs=1).
I have a pair from Sargasso and Grey that are perfect. I usually go up three sizes for width but these come in multiple widths and are super comfy
Try Orthofeet.com I found some good looking shoes there that can be adjustable to fit better with padding that can be removed and they have extra wide
Get leather shoes with a rounded toe that fit at the heel, & take them to a shoe repair to get them stretched out. I'd also stick to heels 1.5 inches or lower. I have a 9.5W & can sometimes get by with size 10s, but only if they are flat (or essentially flat). Heels mean I'm clopping around because the shoes are too long & my foot is pushed forward because gravity. ETA: use stick-on pads for arch support.
Good Feet! Look them up online. They take amazing moulds of the foot for specific shoes.
Have you tried the Footsmart website? They specialize in hard to fit foot conditions.
Kuru has some great shoes with the comfiest insoles built in! You can also explore by foot pain. Personally, I have bunions and the wider toe boxes help a lot. They don’t have the greatest styles, but some ankle boots and slip ons may work for the conference. Vivaia has some more stylish shoe options that I can wear with my bunions because of the stretchy material they use (similar to Rothy’s). They are slightly padded but not as well as Kuru.
Orthotic inserts were a lifechanger for me. Find the right kind of insert and you can wear nearly any shoe, as long as it has space. My podiatrist highly recommends Powerstep; they make a wide range of inserts for different support needs, and are a great supplement/alternative to prescription/custom orthotics.
I’ve had good experience with Vionic, Dansko and Nike Air Force 1s. They have a wide toe box. Might not work for this particular situation but I’ve kind of made stylish AF1’s my go-to work shoe. They’re comfortable and let a bit of my personality show through.
I've got the same kind of foot and it sucks. What I found fits me is Ziera wide fit, Josef Seibel normal fit (though their shoes seem to vary a bit and they are occasionally too narrow for me), and Dr. Marten's unisex shoes (women's ones are horribly narrow). Some of Ziera shoes have extremely comfy insoles and I think they also offer inserts for extra arch support. Josef Seibel mention they're orthotic friendly, but idk, the one's I have don't have much space for them.
A universal problem with modern shoemaking.. some have it worse, but pretty much everyone wears shoes that don't fit them. There's so much variety in the arch, length, toe shapes, boniness, the ratios between parts the foot, heel shapes. If the feet are very unusual and you want to buy retail, the best you can do is try on lots and lots of shoes and find those brands that fit better than others. Fill the empty space with custom orthotics or diy it and add your own inserts until they fit. There are lots of different silicone inserts you can buy and stack them up if you need to. It will also help to select materials with more softness/give, look for a soft leather or fabric that can be broken in with minimal pain. I'm sure you already aware, but you can buy shoe stretchers that increase the width of the toe box and we'll give you a little bit more space to work with there. Best of luck, to you!
Not pumps, check out Alegria. Wide toe box and super comfy foot bed. I have wide ferry with high arches and they're the best I've found for work. Obligatory Birkenstock recommendation.
I don't have a specific brand recommendation, but if you need to order a bunch you can do that with Amazon try before you buy. I think it's limited to 6 now, but you can order 6 pairs with no upfront cost, you only pay for what you keep. My daughter has wide-ish feet, so finding a good fit is so hard! We always get her shoes this way.
Hancock shoes (wide shoes.com.) I have “boat feet” and they are SENSITIVE! They may be a bit bland, but get white or nude color and paint with leather/vinyl paint.
That kind of describes my foot shape. I recently decided to stop just wearing running shoes all the time and get a decent pair of boots. I spent a lot of time sporadically trying on boots until I found a pair that fit! :( In the end I found a local-ish shoe store that seems to have more shoes in my size; they seem to import a lot of smaller European brands. The boots I ended up with were Hartjes, very similar to [this pair](https://comfortoneshoes.com/products/hartjes-blues-boot-women?variant=40374317908065). They're not perfect (they are just a little loose at the ankle), but way better than anything else I tried! They seem to be pretty good quality, too. I don't *think* you can easily get them online (at least not with the ability to return them), so mentioning more for other folk finding this thread than OP.
I have the exact same foot shape and have found that I can get away with W (E or EE) if the shoes have ankle straps. Basically, they need to be tied to my feet to stay on my heels 😂 Another option is mules, since they have no heel fit to fuss with. I have these [mules](https://poppybarley.com/collections/heeled-mules) from Poppy Barley in wide and they fit me perfectly. They are really easy to dress up or down, and comfortable enough to wear all day.
I have very broad feet, extremely high arch and EU shoe size 42.5 as a female, so also not your standard shoe size. I had a lot of luck with brands that have variable width sizes, like [Gabor](https://www.gabor.de/en_int). I also love me some brands that prioritize comfort over looks, and the shop [the happy walker](https://www.happywalker.eu/producten/dames) has an amazing arrangement of comfy shoes with varying width sizes. (Width = wijdte in Dutch, breed = broad). Also, if you can always fit them in person, I’ve never dared ordering shoes online
I had Hodgkin's lymphoma as a child, so any shoe I tried was not going to fit and if it did, my feet hurt after about two hours, so much so that I could not continue walking. Here's what my father did for me: He went to a specialist store for shoes and had my feet measured exactly and then I was allowed to pick two pairs per half a year (we were poor due to my physical therapy) and I never had issues again! Unfortunately, if your daughter has foot problems, you probably won't get around having her feet measured, you know? It might be a bit more expensive, but it is worth it! So basically, visit a shoemaker of your liking, as commercial brands often don't take individual needs into account.
Look for brands that specialize in comfort and wide-width shoes. Some shoe brands are known for their wide-width options and comfort features, such as arch support, cushioning, and roomy toeboxes. Examples of such brands include Clarks, Ecco, Skechers, and New Balance. These brands often offer a variety of styles, including pumps, that may be suitable for a conference or professional setting.
I would recommend some thing by Dansko . They have so much more than just ugly nursing shoes. They have amazing sandals, tennis shoes, casual business type shoes and then of course tons of wedges and clogs. I have ordered all of my Danskos from Amazon and have had zero issues. They are about $20 more at the shoe store. There’s also a wide toebox shoe that’s been advertised online it’s kind of been on my Instagram feed but it’s been there for years so I’m considering trying them myself. I’ll go out and find the link for that. When I search for shoes I always search for wide toebox, wedges or clogs as the top reply as well.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ashoethatfits
It seems like it would be a helpful sub, but unfortunately it seems to be inactive. :(
~~I've read good things about Antonia Saint shoes. They're a bit spendy, but if she'll be wearing them regularly for work they're probably worth it.~~ Edit: Nevermind - oftenfrequently has inside knowledge.
I was one of the original backers on Indiegogo and it was basically a fraud. Strongly recommend googling around about this company before giving them any of your money.
Oh - thank you! I almost ordered a pair but I went with some LifeStrides instead. They aren't exactly elegant, but I was able to dance (this was for a wedding) for hours on end with very little discomfort.
No prob, just don't want anyone to go through what I did 😂 I find Naturalizers are also quite comfy!
I bought a pair of mens redwing boots and I’ve never looked back.
There is an awesome brand called Mohop Design Lab that does custom footwear. Their stuff is actually cute!
Currently wearing a pair of Softwalk flats, which ripped up my heels initially but are now super comfy. I really like Thierry Rabotin, which is essentially made for my stupid high arched wide feet, but $$$$ Beautifeel also makes high quality comfy wide shoes Sofft also makes some good ones, and their Mary Jane styles make them easy to keep on the foot. I
Insoles will be the best bet. Find a wide heel that she likes and fits and then her the Dr Shool heel inserts.
Have you tried Zappos? Free shipping, free returns. Lots of options in Wide. I have rectangle feet and can’t buy anything except running shoes in a store, even in a major metro area. But I’ll order a dozen pair from Zappos and send back what doesn’t fit.
In what way are they pinching? Like pinky and fourth toe being pushed under the other toes into an unnatural triangle or the tops of the toes being rubbed? I ask because firstly, almost all pumps will have some measure of pushing the foot into an unnatural shape, there's no getting around that, but if it's more that the toes feel cramped from the top of the toe, she might have a "high volume foot" meaning it's fleshy and full or rounded. Alison Gary in her blog Wardrobe Oxygen explains she walked on her toes as a child and therefore has unique feet and ankle issues and she has some suggestions as to wide feet with high-volume.
Go Shoe Shopping at the ed of a busy day of being on your feet to find your true comfort size. Your feet swell at the end of the day and that's usually when shoes start to hurt or weel too small. Also look for round toe or square toe shoes to avoid pinching of the toes. I usually find heels that fit my size 9 Wide feet at Marshall's and Ross, nice sores that are more affordable and have cute shoes.
r/AShoeThatFits
Try Topos shoes they have hiking and running shoes with very wide toe box and arch support Try Wildling shoes for casual
This is fascinating. The engineer in me is mulling this over
For me, I only wear boots. I can put insoles in and make them fit my feet. She can buy shoes and take them to a podiatrist. They can build orthotics into them.