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Ask Angie, and everyone, help with Shoes!

Staysfit

Veteran

Per my recent half year summary post, I have been evaluating my shoes for fit and comfort and finding few that work. I have narrow heels and a wider toe although my foot does not measure wide, it’s medium width. I also have a high arch. I want to prevent bunions. Flats that are supportive, stylish and comfy are my goal.

Footwear colors in my wardrobe are limited to navy, taupe and silver/ grey/charcoal.

I tend to prefer closed toe and sleek looking shoes.

I need both lightweight and fall/winter shoes. Some sneakers and oxfords are my current priority. I found some waterproof lace front boots from Vince that fit well.

Thanks!

General

36 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’m on the hunt for “oxfords” too, but want some like this current pair that don’t have any laces. What works for you won’t for my wide foot, and Vice-versa. Yoox has some right now, but they don’t have the studs taking the place of eyelets, so I think they look too plain/boring. There is a similar pair in glitzy silver that I posted to Lana’s thread; maybe you’d like them https://mobile.yoox.com/de/117.....;sizeId=-1

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by Stagiaire Fash

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have some similarities in fit to you —y heels are quite narrow and the rest of my foot is slightly narrow but usually can accommodate a regular medium width. I’ve stopped even trying to find loafers and pumps that don’t slip off my heels — no need for pumps in my lifestyle anymore anyway. I need to find styles that lace or buckle up high on the foot to get anywhere near a secure fit, and even then, I have some slippage. I’ve taken to wearing Ondo no-show socks to prevent blisters and rubbing.

These are my most recent sneaker purchases over the last couple of years — they all have slightly too-wide heels but are better than most. I also have a pair of black platform Linea Paolo sneakers that I can’t find in my Finds — those have a nice refined squarish toe and a narrow profile so they look good on the foot. I’ll see if I can find a link but they’re a few years old.

Vince sneakers tend to be cut a bit on the narrow side, but also pretty low-volume. Might be worth a try. I wonder if Ecco’s work for you?

NEROGIARDINI Platform Sneaker

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Sam Edelman Poppy Sneaker

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Ecco Soft 7 Street Sneaker

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I have some old oxfords that I have not been wearing in recent years but I keep them because I may start feeling them again more — I’ve been on a big lug-sole kick lately and these feel a little too low-profile at the moment. But try looking at Cole Haan, Freda Salvador, and Clergerie.

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Vince Women's Saxon 2 Slip On Platform Sneakers

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Naturalizer Macayla Sneaker

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Adidas Grand Court Sneaker

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Donald J Pliner Donald Pliner Enza Lug Sole Loafer (Women) | Nordstrom

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Freda Salvador | Anthropologie Freda Salvador Oxford D'Orsay Flats

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Lana

(website)

Veteran

I also want to recommend Aetrex shoes and their insoles. I don’t own any of their shoes but love the insoles! They are more rigid than others and this is good because I find with my high instep I can make almost any shoe comfortable enough for me especially flat ones with no support like sneakers.

https://www.aetrex.com/fashion.....EiwAsr7-c2

JAileen

Veteran

I like the knitted sneakers that look like wingtips. I have a couple pairs, in grey and in navy. They look a little nicer than clunkier sneakers, and are lightweight. Mine are Cole Haan and Hush Puppies.

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cat2

Veteran

I have a duck shaped medium width foot, and my favorite brands are Cole Haan, Coach, French Sole New York, Jack Rogers, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman. I wear leather flats, loafers and boots from these brands.

kellygirl

Veteran

I like Jaileen's suggestion. I saw a woman wearing the wing tip style Cole Haan's I think--they were in a lemon yellow knit fabric. They looked super sleek with her white jeans. I feel like CH run on the narrower side all the way around.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Staysfit, first things first! Pass on shoes that no longer work for your feet.

Needing shoes that are wider on the toe toe box but narrower on the heel is not an uncommon challenge. With patience, you will get the right shoes

I have VERY fussy feet and walk a lot. Personally, I am doing best with shoe brands from Italy, Spain, Germany, Denmark, and Brazil these days. Refined, forgiving, supportive, sleek, pretty, well made, good for walking, and very comfy. I am looking at Australian shoes too. So on that note, try brands like:

Hispanita
Carvela
Bella Vita
Wonders
Frankie (Aussie)
ECCO
Paul Green
Camper
AGL
Gabor
Arche
Fly London
Chi Mihara
Veja (popular with clients although I don't find them comfy).
Joseph Seibel
Clarks

https://us.frankie4.com/

I also do very well with US brands Cole Haan, Naturalizer ....... and surprisingly from time to time - J.Crew!

Sorel and Blondo are great Canadian brands. Aquatalia runs narrow so I'm not sure if they will work for you.

I will also give you a heads up on NAS styles in a month!

Anonymous

I also have narrow heels with medium width. Clarks, Vans, Nike, Bogs and Merrell fit me well. Good luck with your search

Staysfit

Veteran

Angie’s suggestion makes sense. I should do a more careful fit assessment of the shoes I already own and pass on those that don’t! First things first!

Question about fit: Is visible protrusion of bones in the toe box a deal breaker if the shoe feels good on my foot? Should I avoid this type of fit? (See examples below).

1. Top view of White Ecco Soft 7’s. It may be hard to see but the base of my metatarsal bones protrude on the lateral edges of both my right and left shoe. These are loose in the heel and perfect otherwise.

2. Top view of taupe Earth brand oxfords. These have very slight protrusion of the metatarsal base on the right (my right foot is slightly bigger than the left). Overall, I think the fit may be better than the Ecco’s because the leather is perforated and very pliable.

I can tolerate wearing both these shoes for an entire day and for long walks. However, since the toe box is slightly narrow, will that cause problems over time?

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Staysfit, not if the leather is soft and the shoes are very comfy. Have you tried loosening the laces?

That said, probably best to give your toes more room. With on trend square toe boxes - that's a good way to go.

I wonder if heel insoles might help slippage?

Staysfit

Veteran

Angie, Which heel insoles do you suggest? Since I have a high arched foot, whatever gets added to the insole would need to leave enough space for my instep, etc.

Also, very good point about the laces. I need to keep them fairly snug at the top so the shoes don’t slip off my ankles/heel, and maybe the correct insole would fix this and make the Ecco’s fit better.

I would definitely consider some square toe shoes.

I also wonder about sizing up and adding some sort of heel insole. That might allow for a larger toe box.

Staysfit

Veteran

I’m looking at some of the new to me shoe brands everyone has suggested. I have read everything above and appreciate all the help. I will be back later to comment!

cat2

Veteran

Oh, one more thought. I find oxfords really hard to fit, they don’t have enough room for my arches. Thus, my many loafers.

Sal

Veteran

I wonder if it is worth meeting with a podiatrist to get advice on shoes that prevent bunions or are good for foot health?

Angie mentioned Frankie4 - I don't have any but they are on my radar as they are podiatrist designed.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Seconding the recommendations for AGL, Arche, Chi Mihara, and Robert Clergerie. At some point or another I have had workhorses from all these brands on my narrowish feet. But it is very individual - right now my most comfortable shoes are Jeffrey Campbell of all things. And Birkenstocks are a perennial back up when I am travelling or walking exceptionally long distances.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

My feet are overall pretty good, unaware of arches issues, have no bunions etc, maybe they are slightly wide at the toe box for their small size (Euro 36). I have Hispanitas and Wonders, European brands which Angie mentioned, and find them good. I will say that “comfort” walking about the office is fine but the same “comfort” is not there for even walking about the mall in most leather shoes. I could not do a 30-minute street walk that comfortably in anything but sneakers I feel. Although I have not tried.

Anonymous

My heels are much narrower than my toes so transitional shoes are a huge problem. I have 1 pair of Clarks loafers but otherwise just mules for transitional weather. But our weather is generally either hot or cold, so most of the time I can wear boots or sandals.
For sneakers I've worn Nike, Merrill, Saucony. I consider sneakers strictly athletic shoes, so no help with fashion sneakers!

Staysfit

Veteran

Yikes, I tried to write responses to everyone and when I hit submit reply it disappeared, so I will need to try again later! So sorry!

Thanks for all the suggestions! I am reading them and truly appreciate your support….now I may need some technical support as well!

Rejoiceandbe

Your description of your feet sounds very similar to mine. I have had good experiences with Riecker and Remonte.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Staysfit, I wonder if the thinnest Superfeet insole would help with the Eccos. That is what I use in mine. Like you, my forefoot is wider (not wide, but medium width), my instep is higher, and my heel is very narrow, Shoes (esp. flats) tend to flip off my feet and it is difficult for me to get a fit with flats. The only way I have been able to wear fashion sneakers is with insoles. I cannot use the "heel grips" that are often sold to keep heels in place -- those have never worked for me.

Anyway, in my Ecco 7s I use the thinnest Superfeet sole. It is not actually high enough for my arch but does provide some support, does not show, and does not lift my foot too high in the shoe. https://www.superfeet.com/en-ca/carbon. There is still some heel shifting, but not as bad as is typical and if I also wear a sock, I don't get blisters. I can wear these without foot pain for long periods.

For reference, in my other Ecco sneaker I use the green insole (high arch). https://www.superfeet.com/en-ca/green

Ecco 'Soft 7' Cap Toe Sneaker

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Staysfit, I was thinking of Superfeet insoles as Suz suggests. Lana too. Yes, you might need to go up half a size, or a size in your shoes. Your toes will thank you!

Inge does this all the time. She has high insteps, and wears an orthotic. She also removes the shoes footbed to insert the orthotic.

I forgot to mention Mephisto! Inge does very well with Mephisto footwear.

Runcarla

Veteran

I have bunions. I think I was born with them - both my mother and father had them Being cognizant, I have been fussy and careful with my footwear, and thus been able to walk (and run) without foot discomfort for 40+ years. I have a thin foot, narrow heel, and wide forefoot (because of the bunions), and require firm arch support. I have some gel innersoles (for my Blundstones) but use the firmer Superfeet in everything else. Funnily enough I’ve had success with some mid price brands:

Naturalizer
Clarks (my one pair of closed shoes (loafers) that I didn’t replace the innersole)
Steeve Madden
Lucky Brand
Franco Sarto

I find Converse comfortable, but then I use the Superfeet. I’m also a big fan of the NoBull sneakers I lemminged after Toban wrote about them last summer.

https://www.nobullproject.com

LJP

Veteran

Take a look at anyasreviews on Instagram . A physiotherapist friend who struggles with bunions herself put me onto this site . I’m not there yet - the look takes some adjusting to - but lots of good info here .

Staysfit

Veteran

Back again, and with luck, my post will work this time!

Rather than try to repeat everything I wrote previously, I will try to summarize: Having read all the helpful suggestions for comfortable shoe brands and possible tweaks to help shoes fit, I am, in my usual way, coming up with a plan for getting things sorted.

After my December edit I am left with 58 pairs of shoes, sandals, boots and booties to cover four seasons. In addition to the general fit issues I already mentioned, I favor a stiffer insole and also find that when a shoe is designed to flex in a location slightly askew to where my foot naturally flexes, I develop pain in my feet between my lateral metatarsals. So, I need to check my shoes for multiple fit, flex and support issues. I have the least difficulty with sandals. It is harder for me to find sneakers and shoes that are slightly nicer than sneakers for work. Boots and booties are also difficult yet I have a fair collection at present. Dressy shoes are the most challenging.

With summer approaching, starting with a sandals fit assessment makes sense. I will sort what to keep, give away, replace or adjust. I suspect I will not need to make new purchases in this category but may give some away.

The sneakers and slightly nicer work shoe category is second and I hope I can also get through this in the summer. This category includes oxfords, loafers and any type of flat or low heeled shoe one might wear with smart casual or casual looks. I anticipate that the toe boxes of most in my collection are too small, the heels too loose and that I will need to try either sizing up, adding an insole or maybe a new style/brand. I also may need to vary sock thickness, although I am less sure how that might work. With this category of shoes, I often wear the Ondo socks mentioned by Janet.

Many thanks for so many new to me shoe brands!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I hope your fancy ones from The Office of Angela Scott ( hope I got that correct) still work!

anchie

Veteran

I must admit that I don’t have a patience to try different brands and models. When i discovered that Ecco Soft 7 works for my fussy feet I just duplicate them in every color I like and it is almost all I wear this days. Do you have something that you know that works for your feet?

Staysfit

Veteran

Anchie, My answer: Birkenstock’s! However, they are hard to wear in the snow and rain. I also do not love how they look. The Earth shoes come close as do some Mephisto’s although I’m not sure I can find them in multiple colors. Both are about three years old already. Ecco Soft 7’s are close, not perfect.

Jenni, I still need to check the OAS shoes (Office of Angela Scott) I hope they fit! I know they work well on my heel.

anchie

Veteran

I agree that Birkenstock are not the best looking shoes, but they also work for my feet too.
Not sure how I feel about their toe box shape.

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