Hmm. I'm suspicious of that test. If you wear heels all the time, it shortens your calf muscles, in other words, your relaxed position would naturally be at such an angle.
I still stand by what I said earlier about always wearing flats and/or comfort shoes, and yeah I have always been more comfortable with a bit of heel. But I don't know which came first, and suspect I've shortened my calf muscles from years of mostly wearing a heel of some sort, rather than flats.
Suz, the more you describe your shoe troubles, the more I suspect my feet are shaped very similarly. I never thought my heel was too narrow, but maybe it is. I always just assumed my toe box was on the wider side of average. But maybe it is simply normal, but my heel is more narrow than average? If I size up to a 6.5 it often helps tremendously in the toe box, but the shoe does not stay on - my heel pops out. (whether flat shoe or heeled). If I stick with my usual size 6, my heel stays put but now it's too snug at the toe. If I size up to a wide width size 6, that can work but I have to have an ankle or t-strap to hold my foot in.
My other frustration is the latest ankle-strap trend, shoes like this:
http://www.dsw.com/shoe/audrey.....02&ac
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....99&Ca
... in any heel height... are just not working for me. I really want something like this. The ankle strap is very flattering on my small ankle; theoretically, it should work to hold my foot into the shoe. But the straps are positioned slightly too high - in an awkward place. It's that petite thing again, I think. And that piece on the back of the heel? Hits too high on the back of my ankle and rubs annoyingly!
Likewise, I really really wanted these to work, and Via Spiga shoes often do work for me (the last is perfect shape) but they were a fail because the piece in the front hits too high, in an awkward spot that rubs annoyingly and I can barely walk in them because I can't flex my ankle at all!
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/vi.....38;context
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/vi.....3-1-4-DL_a
... I tried every Via Spiga in the store last week... to no avail.
Booties tend to be a similar challenge for me, not just because the FPE, but also the height of the bootie needs to be just right, and the material must have a lot of stretch and give -- or I cannot flex my ankle. The Fidji's work because they are more like a shootie height and also have gores. The Impo's work because they are very very stretchy and not too high on the ankle.
