Shoe Shopping Woes

Archadia

Shoe shopping is hell for me as my feet are an awkward size and right now, I'm looking for a new pair of work ideally Mary Janes.

I've used the shoe measuring guides from several retailers and consistently get a UK size of 4EEE. I tend to order online because this size is not readily available on the high street and even then I am limited to a few retailers.

My past experience of ordering shoes has not been positive. Even within the same brand, I find no consistency. One pair I try could be too big they slip and another pinch my toes. I once ordered 6 pairs at once - 3 styles, 2 sizes each and ended up returning all of them.

I'm hoping for some help to make it easier for me to find shoes that will work for me.

7 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from Archadia

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Oh boy, that sure sounds frustrating and expensive.

I understand some of the pain dealing with fussy feet.

Do you order in multiples when you find just the right shoes?

7 years ago

Archadia

Active Member

I don't though this is probably something I should consider. Its a good idea.The difficulty is finding the right shoe in the first place.

I just don't understand why if I'm following their guidelines to find and checking my measurements against the sizing guide before ordering why I cannot a good fit.

7 years ago

Liz

Veteran

Of the shoes in your closet that do fit you, are they 4EEE? If so, then i would assume you have the right size as a base starting point. Even then, I don't know any way to find a good shoe fit other than trying on a LOT of shoes.

I am a solid, consistent size in shoes -- going up or down a size never works for me. But I have to try on many, many pairs in that size before I find a pair that fits my foot comfortably (enough room for toes, good arch support, doesn't slip on my heel, doesn't pinch or bind somewhere, etc.).

I suppose the only way to shorten the trying process is to find a brand that usually fits fairly well, and then start with those shoes.

I wish there were a simpler route -- maybe someone else has found one!

7 years ago

catseye

Veteran

It sounds like you measured your own feet to get the size? What is the size of the most comfortable shoes you own? Are they the same?

There is really no shortcut in terms of shoes. Once you zeroed in on a pair of shoes, you can try other shoes in that brand. Most time, you can find out different shoes in the same brand that used the same last. That is your best bet in finding another pair of shoes in a slightly different style. And then you duplicate. I own three pair of the short boots from Born that are the same except color. None of the other booties I tried from Born recently worked.

If you have hard to fit feet, there is nothing you can do but to try a ton of different once. I often had to order 10+ pair to find one pair or not. I have a fairly high success rate with Ecco. Other than Ecco, I probably return 95% percent of shoes I order.

7 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

My success rate on shoes is pretty low, too, so I hear you. Shoe sizing only accounts for length and (sometimes) width of the foot, and disregards other variables such as foot volume, location of arch, length of toes, etc. If you have a pair of shoes that is comfortable, try to figure out the particular last it's built on. Chat with CS reps from the company and see if they can recommend other models that will fit similarly.

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's sad and frustrating but perhaps it helps to know that most of us are in the same boat. Shoe fitting is difficult. As others have said, it helps to try on many and find a brand that tends to work -- though that brand won't work universally. Our US friends are luckier because they have more options for free returns with online shopping, but that would be my own recommendation -- to find the sources for free returns where you live and order like crazy from them until you find the right shoes.

It might help to narrow down some other specifics about your foot shape and read reviews when ordering online. Are your heels narrow relative to your toes? Do you have high or low arches? Bunions? "High volume" or "low volume" feet overall? Pay attention to these features and reviewers who mention them.

Also, try the website BarkingDog. She reviews shoes for multiple conditions and situations.

7 years ago

Archadia

Active Member

Thanks all for the replies.

I have measured my own feet and I've had them done in Clarks with consistent results. I have previously found shoes in a size 4EEE which fit me really well but its not consistent.

I tend to wear boots or trainers but for work, I prefer shoes just because of the type of office I work in and the business dress requirements. I tend to find one pair that works and wear them until they break.

Probably not the best way to manage. I've done an order today of some shoes I hope will work. I'll come back and let you know how I get on. If anyone has any recommendations in the meantime, I'm all ears.

7 years ago

BrieN

Veteran

That does sound like a challenge. I have pretty basic feet, and still have a hard time getting a good shoe fit - LOTs of returning and trying on. I hope your search for the right mary jane is short and fruitful.

One strategy you might employ is purchasing duplicates. Folks here do it with both identical and with a different color of the same model. Once you know the shoe is truly a good match for your feet (e.g. after you've worn it a couple of times), buy it again.

7 years ago

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Are you a 4EEE in the heel as well?

Do you need arch support, or would you be comfortable in something more minimalist?

Companies to try: Naot (generally wide), Munroe (although I find their wide width narrow),maybe Rockport. If you can wear minimalist shoes, then Soft Star and Merrell might work.

7 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Shoe shopping is hard. I can try on 10 pairs at Nordstrom and none will work. I do duplicate shoes. Sometimes I buy a pair at Nordstroms and by the time I decide I want a second pair they are sold out at Nordstrom, but Zappos will still have them.

7 years ago

Archadia

Active Member

Thanks for the reassurance that I'm not alone here.

I was asked a few questions around volume and heel width. Volume wise my feet have elements of both high and low. Heel wise, I think my feet aren't probably a 4EEE there as are times my shoes slip like crazy but are perfect on where I'm the widest (the balls of my feet)

I think part of my problem is I inherited characteristics of my mum's feet but in her case she has a medical condition that has meant she cannot wear normal shoes. Hers are built custom by the hospital.

So it could be worse.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

My SIL has trouble fitting her feet. When she goes shoe shopping, she asks to try on every pair of the shoes they have in stock in her size of the style that she wants. Out of all those supposedly identical shoes she picks out the best one for each foot to make a pair. Fit can vary even in the same size, style and brand. I have done the same thing at places like DSW to get a pair that is most comfortable for both feet as they are slightly different sizes. I do not actually get shoes in different sizes, just the same size. The left and right shoes just may come from different boxes. I hope this makes sense.

7 years ago

Archadia

Active Member

So, as promised, I'm back with an update. This morning I collected my first order which contained a pair of block heels with an ankle strap. Not exactly the Mary Janes I was looking for but the style works for me.

Although these are described as wide fit, the width is a D which is 3 sizes smaller than my measurements but I decided it was worth a try.

As I decided to follow some previous advice, I ordered a size 5 as when I went through my footwear it was the most common size I have (due to the amount of boots and trainers I have.)

I am actually wearing them as I type and here's what I've found out. Overall, these shoes feel loose - the right is really bad. Its very clear to me that the only reason they are staying on my feet is because of the ankle straps. When I bend/flex my feet, my arches come right out of the shoes and also my toes in the case of the right shoe.

I would say though in terms of the balls of my feet where my feet are widest, the shoes are a comfortable fit but considering everything else, its hard to judge.

I love this style though so I am tempted to return these and try a size 4 instead but my gut is telling me that they would be too small. Overall review would be that these shoes have left me rather confused over my sizing probably more so that when I started this thread. I'd be interested to hear other's thoughts on this.

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7 years ago

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