Casual shoes for a tall MOTG with delicate ankles? - YouLookFab Forum

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Casual shoes for a tall MOTG with delicate ankles?

Ket

Veteran

Hi Fabbers! I find myself needing some shoe help.

What are some good shoe options for someone with a US size 11 shoes, wide forefoot, narrow heel, and delicate ankles?

I really want to wear bohemian styled clogs. (The kind with wooden heels and such.) I've tried a couple of pairs now with great anticipation and delight. And... They look super huge and clunky on me. Tennis shoes/trainers also tend to look very clodhopper on me. Ballet flats are okay though not exciting. Pointy toe flats are much better but hard on my little tailor's bunions. Birkenstock clogs, while supremely comfortable, look like clown shoes on me.

About the only styles and shapes I can wear are rounded toe or almond toe booties or boots, and summery sandals. There seems to be no in-between. Part of me wants to accept this. But it feels like I'm missing out on some variety for spice and comfort.

I'm 5'10 and currently in a US 18. I'm very curvy, with very narrow, tiny ankles and wrists. (It's genetic.) I haven't yet tried is a round-toe loafer. I do wear functional footwear, especially snow boots as I live in a place that gets a LOT of winter and snow. But for fun, casual, and everyday MOTG, I just find myself hitting a wall. Thoughts?? Ideas?!

Shopping

14 replies

Latest reply was from Chiara

Ginger

Veteran

I'm adding examples from my Finds for illustrative purposes. Most of them are probably not still available.

I also don't care for bulky tennis shoes, but I do like more slender profile lace-up shoes. My ankles aren't super tiny (my mother's are!) but they're not large at all. Currently I have several different Keds and Cole Haan oxfords. Keds come in leather and sometimes wool blend uppers, not just canvas, and there's some variety in sole styles. I even got some Keds boots several years ago! Cole Haan shoes tend to be pretty lightweight (at least the ones I've picked) and I pick the more streamlined, thinner soles to keep down the visual bulk. I have both thin leather ones and stretchy wool knit ones.

You could also go with true oxfords with a more rigid sole, like the metallic rose gold ones in Finds. Loafers are a bit bulky for me usually, though the right kind of sleek penny loafer looks pretty good. Another option is the smoking flat; that can be a very pretty option, frequently in velvet. I also have moccasins but that's a pretty niche look; I wouldn't call it smart casual, if that's what you're looking for. Though you can really play with colors and patterns.

A final thought while I'm brainstorming is the right kind of lace-up boots, with or without a combat boot vibe. The Thursday Boot Co. comes to mind, as their boots are more a vintage workwear vibe than combat.

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Cole Haan ZERØGRAND Stitchlite Wingtop Oxford

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Cole Haan 'ZerøGrand' Perforated Wingtip (Women) (Nordstrom Exclusive)

Sale

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Talking Picture Oxford Flat in Rose Gold

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MYLO Embroidered Flat Shoes

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Sperry Seaport Penny Loafer

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Anonymous

Team wider forefoot than heel chiming in! Sandal booties are my transitional weather solution. The navy Clarks are kinda sitting shoes tbh, but the Comfortivas are padded enough for all day wear, and fine for work or off duty days.
My sneakers (aside from my running shoes) are canvas and more streamlined looking than most. I don't really wear them in public- just for biking or to pop over to the pool, but at least they're minimal enough as to not feel clownish.

COMFORTIVA Faye

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COMFORTIVA Faye

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Jonesy

Veteran

I am also 5'10" and wear a size 11 shoe and have narrow ankles. My feeling is that my feet are in perfect proportion to my height--if my feet were a lot smaller, they would look out of proportion :). I wear clogs all the time and to me, they don't look large at all? (See examples, below.) I also wear Doc Martens, which are quite large (they don't come in half sizes and have a very big clunky sole), but to me, again, they don't seem overly large. So...I wonder if there is something to be said about your eye adjusting, if you really want to wear clogs or Birkenstock clogs? Just my two cents, of course!

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cat2

Veteran

I have a duck shaped foot; my clogs are always (from the 70s through now) from Dansko. Maybe some of Dansko’s other shoes would work, like the Mary Janes?

Roberta

Veteran

I don't have your lovely height (#envy), but I do have quite skinny ankles, narrow heels, and wrists for my build. I have ONE pair of loafers that don't slip off my heels as a result. I also tend to go from sandals straight to boots, but I do wear a lot of sneakers. I think I have just adjusted my eye, as Jonesy suggests, to wearing a big white shoe.

I wonder if you have tried mules? I have several pair that I wear as loafers, and they don't have the heel slipping off problem. I suppose it is a different problem if they don't stay on your feet, but I haven't run into that. I wear them barefoot, which is the look I admire with loafers.

I cannot with clogs. They are too heavy for me. Plus I sound like a pony.

Jack Rogers Delaney Snakeskin Print Mule

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ILSE JACOBSEN Womens Tulip 3375 Slip-On

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sabimct

Just chiming in to say that I love the support in this group! I always learn so much!

RobinF

Veteran

I can only relate from the opposite end - I am only 5'2" and feel best in clunky footwear. Dainty feels too dainty IYKWIM. Although I agree there is something to be said for the eyes adjusting - Jonesy looks fab in her clogs.

Ket

Veteran

You ladies gave me some great ideas!!!

Ginger, you have given me some wonderful ideas!! Thank you <3 I think smoking flats and moccasins are what I'm really feeling piqued to try next. I still have yet to try oxfords, though they're a little more outside my aesthetic. I haven't tried the combat boot look yet either. So I'll do some more trying

suntiger, I had some sandal booties! They actually were pretty good on me. Chunkier but I think the peep toe helped make them less clunky on me. I lost a lot of shoes due to a mold issue. So sandal booties are my on list to replace this spring.

Jonesy, It could be my eye needing to adjust? I won't discount that. I tried on clogs for a couple of girlfriends with good taste and both of them felt they were just very clunky and huge looking on me. It could be I just choose to embrace the clunk and go with it.

cat2, I forgot about Dansko! Thank you for the reminder. I actually did have a pair many years ago and liked them. I have to try them again!

Roberta, I wish I could do mules. I love them. Unfortunately, I grip my toes to hold them on and that leads to some pelvic floor and hip issues over time. It is one shoe I miss keeping in rotation!

Ket

Veteran

sabimct, I so dearly agree! It's the one community I always know I can find community, support, and great ideas.

RobinF, Jonesy does look amazing! I'll have to see if my eye adjusts. My girlfriends with good taste said no to the clogs I tried. (Very fun modern take on 70s vibe.) So I'm just not sure what is up.

Val

I have the delicate ankles and the size 11 (eu 42) duck foot just like you Ket, except I’m not so tall, only 5ft6 (167cm). It can be hard to find shoes with the right visual proportions, indeed. There are some details that I’ve found helpful to pay attention to. Does the sole stick out around the perimeter of the shoe? Clunky. Viewed from the side, does the whole sole touch the ground (clunky) or is there a space between heel and toe (less clunky)? Is there a smooth visual transition between the top of the shoe and the ankle, or is there an abrupt (clunky!) transition from thick shoe to thin ankle? I feel like Jonesy’s clogs in the examples she shared hit all the marks for looking less clunky.

Anonymous

Also- it depends what you wear the clunkier shoes with. I don't mind them with long, full skirts or wide leg pants, but with skinnies or pencil skirts its Too Much Feet.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

For flats: espadrilles, delicate thong/flip flops, Keds-style sneakers.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I misread MOTG as Mother of the Groom at first (instead of Mum on the Go) - was about to say congrats lol but I think your kids aren't quite that old yet!

My feet are quite similar to yours (wide forefoot, narrow heel, & delicate ankles - albeit a US8 instead of US11); I've had great luck with FitFlop so far. I find their toebox gives your feet enough room to breathe & the leather stretches (though I can't comment on the bunion aspect) but the heels don't slip off me. I know they sell them in the USA & Canada.

These are my FitFlop Tassels Superskate slip-on shoes - the flatform balances out the look a little without feeling chunky because the rest of the shoe is fairly sleek. I find ballet flats underwhelming on me too, & I suspect that's why - you don't need this exact shoe but maybe slimmer flatform (no huge platforms) &/ or refined lug soles on any shoe (loafer/ ballet flats etc) can make the shoe look a bit more substantial but without overpowering your whole look? That said, I'm a fair bit shorter than you so YMMV - good luck!

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Chiara

I don’t have many suggestions, but popped in to say I share this problem!
Doc Martens, Converse hi tops and clogs all look very ungainly on me, although I love them. I also have to be mindful of colour, anything too dark and shiny just wears me.
In summer, I wear slip-on toe sandals with a padded sole, in winter neat leather sneakers for casual. All by Frankie4 but not sure if that brand will be available for you.