am I the only one who has problems finding shoes that fit? Rant - YouLookFab Forum

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am I the only one who has problems finding shoes that fit? Rant

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

There is one thing that I hate to shop for and it is shoes. I am size 6.5 so its not size but I have narrow feet with high arch which is a major pain in itself. As if that wasn't bad enough, i had several feet injuiries in the past which made buying shoes near impossible for me. Why, you ask? I can't wear closed toe shoes because my toe that was broken hurts(and doctors said it healed fine), I can't wear high heels for same reason. I can't wear shoes that cover the sides of my foot for the same reason-I fractured a bone there long time ago and it aches every time I do wear something that covers this area. What am I left with? Sandals, that have a strap between the toe. Oh, yes and I have plantafasiatis too(heel pain so I have to have cushioned shoes with support). Fortunately, I live in a weather warm enough to wear sandals all year around but this makes shopping for shoes nearly impossible for me. Just this weekend I stumbled upon sandals at Famous Footwear that actually fit. It came in two colors, I bought one in each color. My husband thought i was crazy but i don't think he understand how hard shoes are to find for me. "Sigh"

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from ManidipaM

Carole

Veteran

My sympathies, Victoria! It sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I have lots of trouble, also. A very painful bunion prevents me from wearing most shoes. I have found solace with the Fidji brand, in particular. I love their edgy styles but in a comfortable height. I used to waist so many$$$$ on shoes, and I have finally learned what I can and cannot wear. And I won't compromise even for the most beautiful lovely shoe.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

You are definitely not alone, girl...have you tried sites like 'walking shoe company' and 'barking dog shoes'? I think you were very smart to get 2 pair of something that works for you. Most days I still end up in my SAS oxfords (their sandals in the summer), which Ive used for far too many years...and am sick to death of, but one of the few I can wear all day.

Anonymous

I have problem feet too. So far I've been able to find cheapie shoes that don't hurt the sensitive places on my feet. I have come to grips with the fact that I just cannot walk or be on my feet all day. I probably should get orthotics made but I dread the expense and the restriction of having to wear shoes that can accomodate them. Like you I need to be in sandals most of the year.

Last summer I found some sandals at Kohls of all places, it was right after I joined YLF. They were on clearance and I couldn't believe how comfortable they were (and they weren't a *comfort shoe*). After asking the forum, I went back and got them in a second color and I'm so glad I did because I just don't find comfortable shoes all that often. In fact, I think the first thread I ever started I asked about fussy feet because I always feel like I need to choose my shoes first, based on the mood my feet are in, and then decide what clothes I have that will go with them!

I'm still at the same place pretty much. I have to wear flats, so I'm always wondering what elements (skinny jeans, full skirts, walking shorts--whatever) look better with flats or at least OK and not frumpy with flats? Whatever it is, that's what I'm going to wear.

Anyway, I feel your (foot) pain!

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

ah, thanks ladies, I'm glad I'm not alone!
Claire: I got orthotics last year and it does make a difference in how my feet feel which is much better:). I wear them in my sandals(these were custom made and I could get them in black so its not that noticeble at all). I'm kind of in the same place-I can't be on my feet a lot and usually have to build an outfit around my shoes. I do feel envy when I see women wearing great pair of heels though...Ah, c'est la vie:(

rute

Veteran

I have a big problem too.. My feet are so small, it's só difficult to find my number!

Isabel

Veteran

No, you are not. I have a hard time with shoes too. I think that is why I prefer boots. I have very long, narrow feet. A pronounce bunion on one and even slimmer heels that seem to slip out of shoes. ARGHHHHH ! And you can't have shoes tailored.

DonnaF

Veteran

My first set of custom orthotics gave me more pain than relief. The second set fits in almost no shoes so I go without. The removeable footbeds in my Brooks athletic shoes are much better anyway. I would die (well, no, but I would have amputated toes) if I had to wear sandals year 'round since I have Reynaud's in my feet which makes them sensitive to cold. I have bunions on arthritic joints, narrow heels, and my foot padding has atrophied. Cushiony footbeds that don't bend tend to be most comfortable. Zappos, endless.com, and the UPS delivery guy have become my friends! Plus, I follow barkingdogshoes.com. Absolutely get the same shoes in more than one color if they work for you. Just don't do what I did once due to my dark house: I went to work with one black pump and one navy one!

I have no hope of wearing sexy shoes, but I never sport a glamorous look anyway, LOL. My goal is avoiding 100% frumpy; 75-80% is okay given my demographic (late 50s). I swear, you can tell a woman's age by the types of shoes she can still wear.

Lisa

Veteran

Trust me you are not alone in your shoe shopping troubles. I had bunion surgery in the fall and fitting shoes now are even more of a challenge than they were before surgery. It's almost enough to make a girl want to start drinking! Each pair of boots I have added since surgery have taken a LOT of hours of my time, and plenty of days of boots that just did not fit. I am dreading repeating the task for spring/summer shoes. It never ceases to amaze me how many shoes are cut too high in the heel, too narrow in the toe box (wide width does not help me with this), have no flexibility to the sole and material that is too stiff to stretch upon wearing. Add in being short so I have to watch calf height and of course width for taller boots. I have quite a list of criteria my footwear needs to meet. And now I have to add to the list covering a scar, so no ballet flats for me! I wish we could get custom made shoes instead. I would happily pay a higher price for a proper fit shoe.

Anonymous

Victoria, that's good to know about the orthotics. Like DonnaF I've had one pair of custom orthotics made (to the tune of $200) and they caused me extreme pain. After stepping into my sister's orthotics at our last reunion and finding them exquisitely comfortable, I think maybe my old doctor made the molds of my feet in the wrong position (even though he said you were supposed to be lying down with your legs and feet hanging limply off the end of the table during the casting). Other friends here have hard plastic orthotics (which I do not want), so I haven't asked them for referrals. I almost want to fly to Seattle to see my sister's doctor because I want inserts just like hers.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

Claire: just FYI-my inserts were made by me stepping on a "paper" or whatever it was to make imprint of my feet. I was told that it was the most accurate way and never even heard off that you have to lay down. Mine were comfortable right off the bat and that's how its supposed to feel

Sarah A

Veteran

Claire, some places have a biometric sensor you walk across to catch your feet in motion as well. I have had made by stepping in the box orthotics from age 14, until I was pregnant and now with the changes in my feet I don't need them anymore. I had one pair with my feet cast off the end of the table and they overcorrected my problems as well.

Victoria, then best thing I ever did for planter fasciitis was to freeze Dixie cups full of water and then peel off the rim and hold the base when doing and ice massage with the exposed ice on your painful point on the heel and up through any other adhesions in your plantar fascia.

hope it helps.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I have much sympathies for you too... I have a wide foot but a really pointy big toe, so my shoe-fitting is filled with much woe too. Luckily, Born seems to work

MsLuna

Veteran

@Victoria: I feel for you sister!!! I, too have fussy feet, probably from an entire decade squeezing into sexy shoes (haha!) and from running. I used to wear towering high heels back in my 20's and even walked in them (WTF?) everywhere. And now, I can't even wear any heel over 2.5 inches because my arches have fallen. Even then, 2.5" will still cause my arch and ball of feet to hurt. I have a well-reviewed Clark boot that I've been wanting for a year - and now, I can never wear it because my arches hurt so much when I walk in them!

So you're not alone. I have fussy feet as well, and much of my personal style is also all about having the right shoes.

So now, sexy shoes are only going to make it to my Pinterest board - and never on my feet: http://pinterest.com/mskatiekat/shoes-inspiration/

Sadness

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

I don't have any foot injuries, but I can certainly relate!

I wear a 5.5, so my size is generally either not available in store OR it's the display pair, which sometimes means one shoe is damaged/worn while the other still looks new. I, too, have narrow feet and somewhat high arches. For this reason, 90% of slip-ons are a no-go for me, because they fall off my feet. This leaves me with two options: 1) boots/booties (I stuff them with insoles to fill up the empty space) or 2) mary janes, which stay on due to the strap (okay, I could wear sneakers, but they're ugly imho).

I also can't wear closed-toe shoes with which I can't wear some kind of sock, because my feet sweat (gross, sorry) so it is totally uncomfortable to skip socks. I also try to stick with natural fibers (leather) for this reason. The only shoes I own that actually get any wear-time are boots/booties.

Jem

Veteran

Another vote for orthotics for those with aching feet (I realize they don't help with all problems) My feet were cast, I think while I was laying down and I also had to walk on some sort of electronic device. Anyway, I LOVE my orthotics. I've been wearing them for about 10 years. You can get a ton of different styles that fit different shoes. I have some that go into my running shoes and some thinner ones that I stick into my flats. I have even put them in heels before.

ManidipaM

Veteran

No injuries, but small (5-5.5 depending on the shoe design), wide (the average 7 sometimes fits the toebox!), and callused all over.

Cannot do heels higher than 2 inches, or get backache and cramping calves. Cannot do really flat flats for long, or get shin splints.

Cannot wear thong-type things without developing a bunion. Most pumps and slingbacks blister and shred the point where heel meets ankle. So how to keep the shoe on, then? Slides... well, they often slide around, don't they?

Closed toes were a problem for several years because of an infected nail. Open looked ugh. Left with peeptoes and perforated just-so! Nails on little toes curl back on themselves, so toeboxes often still a problem and socks all snag.

Eh well, at least we're a sizeable club of Fussy Feet and needn't feel lonely! Hear that, Victoria?