https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:53:24 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930356 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:34:49 +0000 krishnidoux 1930356@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your description made me think it might be athlete's foot. I brush a liquid&nbsp; ("Fungi Cure", Clotrimazole) on and in between my toes when I have the first symptoms and it completely gets rid of the problem. You brush it on, it feels hot - not sizzling, just warm, in a relieving way - you know that it's working. It kills the fungi instantly. Then also put some product on the inside of shoes you have worn without socks.&nbsp;</p> <p>This said, there might very well be an anatomical irregularity too. My hallus rigidus problem on my big toe started off with repetitive nail infections that ended up being caused by the new, irregular rubbing. So the foot irregularity might not be happening at the site of the blisters.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930351 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:10:32 +0000 Inge 1930351@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>I'll also throw in Mephisto as another option. ETA: Depending on the shoe style and how wide your feet are, it's possible you won't need a wide-width shoe in this brand as they are quite roomy to begin with.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.mephisto.com/us/women.html">https://www.mephisto.com/us/women.html</a><br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930313 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 00:59:43 +0000 kerry 1930313@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My toes want wide widths but the rest of my foot isn’t wide. It is high volume though because I have a somewhat high arch and very high instep. My foot is also short as are my toes - most shoe shapes don’t fit my foot shape which is basically pie shaped :)</p> <p>My toes have enough room in New Balance 574s and Vans slip ons. My feet LOVE Birks and Keens. I find Toms roomy enough too. Blundstones work as well. Many purportedly wide-fitting brands don’t work for me - still too tight in the tootsies. </p> <p>I can never find gear sandals where the Velcro straps are long enough over my toes and across my instep.</p> <p>I’m learning a lot from this thread! </p> <p>LaPed, I never thought about which side my toes splayed - I think mine tend toward the pinky side too.</p> <p>SarahD8, my fourth toe does that too - I have never noticed this before! I should watch out for blisters and calluses there and keep that nail short.</p> <p>My daughter’s toes are exactly like her dad’s. And we all have wide toes with high arches and insteps. Feet are funny! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930301 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 22:18:51 +0000 Anonymous 1930301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another one here who gets callouses between those two toes. Just one more quirk of the human body . &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930277 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:51:28 +0000 DonnaF 1930277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And Munros tend not to work for me at all. It is all about individual foot anatomy and, for me, footwear that laces or buckles. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930276 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:33:08 +0000 Thistle 1930276@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, you can also check out Easy Spirit and Naturalizer.&nbsp;</p> <p>I liked them, but not as much as Clarks and Munros. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930275 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:32:33 +0000 Thistle 1930275@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Clarks and Munro. </p> <p>After I had child #2 and then broke my foot, it took me well over a year to fit back into regular width shoes.</p> <p>I totally lived in these brands, and you can get Clarks on sale from time to time. NAS is also coming, and that's a good time t snap up some Munros as they don't go on sale nearly as often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930271 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:26:59 +0000 Suz 1930271@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's foot anatomy. I often get a callous or blisters between my pinky toe and the next one on the right foot. Not on the left foot, just the right. Like <b>LaPed</b>, wide widths don't work on me. And like <b>Diana</b>, I find that keeping my nails very short is a big help!&nbsp;</p> <p>Open shoes sometimes also help -- humidity and friction are not your friends. But in closed shoes I sometimes make use of Angie's silicone toe guards -- just slip one over the pinky toe and you will get relief.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930265 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 18:56:19 +0000 LaPed 1930265@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cindy, I definitely find foot/shoe shape is at least as big a factor as overall width. My toes are wide, but the "splay" is all on the pinky toe side (I have substantial callous on my pinky toes too). Some shoes are cut with more room on the inner, big-toe side, and those are no good at all for me. I look for shoes whose soles bump or curve out on the outer, pinky-toe side. True wide widths rarely work for me, because they end up too loose on my heels and ankles and that gives me blisters on my heels (the heels sliding around ends up chafing). With lace-up shoes, sneakers, boots, I can generally make a D width work, but not in anything slip-on. My go-to brands for comfort are Soft Star, Xero, and Altra, but none of those are remotely dressy, so I'm always on the lookout for polished options that aren't torture to wear. In general, I've found that I do better with made-in-Mexico shoes (Frye, Nisolo, Thursday Boot Co) than with made-in-Italy which I find tend to be too narrow for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930263 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 18:55:32 +0000 whatfashionwants 1930263@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ouch! sounds painful. Simplybe.co.uk have a whole section for wide fit shoes and they're affordable. These gel toe grips could also help if you decide to stick with the shoes you already have...&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.landyschemist.com/profoot-soft-gel-toe-protector">https://www.landyschemist.com/.....-protector</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930257 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 18:28:25 +0000 cindysmith 1930257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I believe the anatomy of my foot might have something to do with the blister on the adjacent toe, because I notice a sort of chafing sensation there if it's time to cut my toenails. Which leads me to joke that "my shoes might fit better if I cut my toenails"</p> <p>there IS a callous on the bottom of the pinky toe, been there for years. Hopefully, a wider shoe will allow my toes to do what they do without hurting each other. If not, I know I have to start looking for different SHAPES in my shoes.</p> <p>As always, you guys are amazing and I appreciate the help! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930256 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 18:03:05 +0000 Diana 1930256@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was going to say the same thing that Sarah did - I also get weird calluses between my toes (although mine rarely hurt) and it’s to do with the shape of your toes. Like, unless you physically forced them apart (which would probably be uncomfortable) they just want to curl against each other. I wonder if those toe protectors Angie linked in her other thread might help. </p> <p>One other thing - on the rare occasions when the weird callus does hurt it’s almost always because a slightly too long toenail is poking at it. I’ve learned that despite having teeny tiny short toenails if they are even slightly long they get stabby. (Funny story - I got a pedicure once and the pedicurist was completely confused about why I kept my toenails so short. I think her exact words were “but they’re so tiny already! You should grow them longer so they’ll look prettier!” NO THANK YOU.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930255 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 17:45:51 +0000 Anonymous 1930255@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am no help as several of the "comfort" brands are not comfortable on my feet...like Clarks. Even a professional shoe fitter could not fit me in Clarks. One woman's comfort is another's pain. Please try a look at Zappos for wide width shoes. Maybe those silicon toe wraps that Angie blogged about would help in the future with toe rubbing and blisters. Have you tried Bodyglide on those toes? Especially between them? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930254 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 17:45:44 +0000 Monica 1930254@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was just checking out Moonsift - its a new way to look for shoes from all over - you rate them and then it brings you ones that suits you.&nbsp; They have a link here:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.moonsift.com/shoes">http://www.moonsift.com/shoes</a><br />Good luck!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930238 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:52:40 +0000 Angie 1930238@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Try brands like Clarks, Naturalizer, Bella Vita, Vanelli, Munro, Camper, Ecco, Ellen Degeneres, Arche, Earth, Dansko.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930232 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:47:42 +0000 cindysmith 1930232@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for the tip, Sarah, I'll definitely look at it from that angle.</p> <p>And Angie, thank you for being the cheerleader, and reminding me that patience is the key </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930224 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:38:26 +0000 SarahD8 1930224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cindy, I get a callus on the inside edge of my fourth toe -- on both feet but more on the right. It is not usually painful but occasionally can be after a day of lots of walking.&nbsp;</p> <p>It is not really an issue of <i>width</i>&nbsp;in shoes (I have narrow feet) but rather toe anatomy -- my fourth toe curves inward and sort of nestles against/under my third, even in bare feet. This isn't the result of any injury, it's just my feet.&nbsp;</p> <p>I hope the wide width shoes work for you! But just in case they don't solve the problem, you might take another look and see if there is maybe a bit of idiosyncratic anatomy at play. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930218 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:28:57 +0000 Angie 1930218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What <b>Becky</b> said.</p> <p><b>Cindy</b>, SO many more affordable brands make wide width shoes these days - it's a non-issue really. You just have to find the shoe that fits!&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930195 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:18:41 +0000 cindysmith 1930195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Becky! I'm off to check them out now </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930179 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:35:03 +0000 Becky 1930179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, also, zappos.com has free shipping and returns. (I think Nordstrom does, too.) So you can try shoes and send them back if they don't work with no cost to you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930178 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:34:25 +0000 Becky 1930178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you haven't already, take a look at zappos.com and Nordstrom's website. They both sell quality brands and have a decent selection. On the zappos.com site you can sort by size, width, and price. That said, you'll find that MANY of the styles that come in wide widths are less than attractive. You'll have to sort through the losers to find the winners. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shoe-shopping-helpadvice-needed#post-1930132 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 11:47:23 +0000 cindysmith 1930132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This past week, I noticed my pinky toe hurt. When I got home from work, I pulled off my shoes and socks; and (with great effort) contorted myself into a position that allowed me to inspect my toe (dude, I'm getting old LOL). I found a blister on the INSIDE of my pinky toe, against the adjacent toe. It was really bad and went very deep, with a shockingly thick layer of skin over it. I trimmed back the dead skin, covered it in antibacterial goo, and wrapped it in a bandaid. The next day, I realized that the adjacent toe had a blister on it as well, on the side that faces my pinky toe. I am still running around with antibacterial goo and bandaids on both toes, mostly barefoot so they aren't smooshed; they're healing up quite nicely and I should be able to remove the bandaids soon.</p> <p>I'm still boggled by the location. Like, how on earth does that even happen? I mean, obviously it happened because I was wearing shoes that were too tight, but how on earth did the blister get so deep!?! How did I not notice it before? (Ok, I'm obviously overwhelmed with doctor's appointments, moving into the new but unfinished house, and a bit of stress at work.)</p> <p>I've come to the conclusion that I need to start buying wide width shoes. Apparently, my feet didn't just get longer; they got wider as well. Now I'm struggling to find wide width shoes that I like. There are, thankfully, lots of wide width/comfort options out there; however, I'm having issues trying to find shoes that balance my aesthetic with comfort and don't shatter the budget.</p> <p>I've found two wide-width options to start, and have ordered them to see if they will fit. The pink ones (ComfortEase brand) aren't necessarily my aesthetic, but they're not NOT my aesthetic (if that makes sense?) A fisherman sandal is an idea I've toyed with in the past, and when I saw a pink one in wide width, I thought "now that's just random enough to possibly work". The tan (light brown?) ones are Hush Puppies, and they're interesting in a minimalist kind of way; the color will go with lots of things, and the style seems versatile enough to work for all but the coldest weather I experience where I live. I also found these unworn pink Clark's wedges at a thrift shop that I've added to my closet; the fisherman will be my work version of pink sandal, the Clark's will be for not-work. (Side note: why are people donating so many new/unworn shoes?)</p> <p>I'm hoping that you fab folks can point me to some sites that sell wide-width shoes that are both stylish and moderately priced. By moderately priced, I mean that 200-ish per pair would be the upper end of the budget. I'm fortunate that several pairs of my shoes are wide enough to work (at least until they wear out), but I'd like to start exploring options now so that I'm prepared when I need to replace a pair of shoes. I have been surprised in the past at how many aerosoles shoes I've liked, and the pairs I have bought have been so comfortable (my blue &amp; black aerosoles sneakers are one of the pairs that doesn't smoosh my toe). Obviously, I'll look at Clark's, because these pink wedges were OMG comfortable; I need to know who else makes cute comfortable shoes.</p> <p>Any tips, sites, or general advice to help me find shoes is greatly appreciated! </p>