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Footwear Proportions?

fathenry

Veteran

Hi! When you are picking out footwear, do you consider the proportions of your shoe or sandal with your leg/ankle? There are a lot of chunky and platform shoes out right now, I've got a narrower foot/calf/ankle and in the past steered away from chunkier platform styles because they felt out of proportion with my lower leg and foot. Now I'd like to update. Do you factor this into your shoe choices?

Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from fathenry

Joy

Veteran

Briefly, yes. I have big feet for my size and avoid a long plain vamp because it makes them look too long. A design that is broken up some looks better. A toe cap is my favorite shortening trick, but straps or even a penny type loafer can work. Straps need to fit my narrow ankles or at least look like they do.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yes. My feet are small and dainty and I naturally seem to prefer rather refined footwear. However I do occasionally want something I call “clumpy” and will buy such a pair in full knowledge it is different from my usual preference. A pair of high cork platform orange sandals like that a few years ago drew a rare comment from my 21 y old son that he did not like them, however! They were too high so I got rid of them in the end. Quite enjoyed for a few wears and they had been cheap.

Liz

Veteran

Yes, I factor it in. I have large calves and ankles, and I just feel off-balance and out-of-proportion in shoes with dainty little straps or tiny kitten heels, or in little ballet flats.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have very dainty feet and ankles, and dainty shoes look by FAR the best on me. I do though, wear chunkier sneakers in narrow sizes '80s style. But they have to fit PERFECTLY to look good.

nuancedream

Veteran

I consider the proprtion of the shoe with my leg and ankle. I have higher volume feet with long toes and slim ankles. Dainty, pointy toed footwear is hard to fit and quite frankly, uncomfortable for me. I'm actually more inclined to choose chunkier footwear with excellent arch support. No barking dogs for this lady!

SarahD8

Veteran

I will be the spanner, I guess. For me it depends in part on the outfit. I also have dainty feet/ankles and narrow calves, but sometimes I find that a shoe with a bit of chunkiness is just the thing to ground or punctuate an outfit.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Similar to what SarahD8 says. I have narrower, daintier feet for my size, so those kind of shoes tend to fit me better. However, I often like to wear a chunkier or more substantial shoe to ground my outfits and balance out my heavier hips and legs so I don’t look so ice-cream-cone-ish.

fathenry

Veteran

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions, it is interesting to hear how others deal with this. I picked out a pair of low white Lucky Brand platform/espadrilles with narrower straps. Hopefully they strike a good balance of trendy and casual without overwhelming the foot. I will share an update if they are comfortable as well.

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Anonymous

I’m with Sarah 8 and Janet . My feet are absolutely “ regular “ and I’m lucky in that I can fit most styles . My feet are narrow-ish and my ankles and calves are slim , but I don’t go for dainty . It’s not part of my style . That said , I absolutely consider proportion and the visual impact of the shoe when I’m out shoe shopping . I do have a pretty open mind for new shoe looks though , and am happy to try new things . I don’t always buy them tho

Anonymous

Your new sandals are super cute - and should be very wearable with a bunch of different looks .

Gigi

Veteran

I too am with SarahD8. I have very fine bones and small ankles, but sometimes a chunky shoe is just what the doctor ordered in terms of outfit proportions.

I used to stay away from chunky shoes, but one day the SA in White House Black Market brought me a pair of chunky heeled mules to wear with an outfit. I had already seen the mules online and had assumed that they wouldn't work for me. I tried them on in-store and was in love! They actually looked great. And I now have several pairs of chunky heels in my closet.

I think that there are a lot of factors that can influence whether a chunky shoe looks good on a particular foot. I think things like strap thickness and placement, color, and how much of the foot is covered can make a difference. I think that the only way to know for sure is to try on lots and lots of pairs, and you might be able to find a pattern regarding what works and what doesn't.

rachylou

Veteran

I like a clunky shoe, but I have toothpicks. So I do combat boots but not Doc Martens.

Irina

Veteran

Yes, I avoid anything: heavy looking, with a strap around an ankle, too pointy. My legs and ankles are skinny and my narrow low volume low arch feet are a bit too big for my hight. Can do mules only if they are not too high in the vamp and not too pointy.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I meant to add, I am also picky about ankle straps and where high vamps hit my foot and ankle. Some spots are more flattering than others — there seems to be one bad spot on me that makes my ankles disappear and my legs look like tree trunks. LOL I avoid that.

Anonymous

Absolutely, my feet are long but narrow, especially the heels/ankle bones. Clunky shoes just look all sorts of wrong on me, as do high vamp high contrast ones. I only wear pointy or almond toes to try to make my aa toes less extreme with my 6a heels! #duckfeet

Becky

Veteran

I have wide, high-volume feet and muscular calves, and I think anything too dainty looks silly on me. Alternatively, a look that is too chunky can exacerbate the already "chunky" look of my feet and legs. So I guess I go for the "Goldilocks" look.

Katherine

(website)

Becky, you made me “smile out loud” with your Goldilocks look! I’m going to be using that frequency!
My wide (very) feet, thick ankles, athletic (impressive for a “not on your life” athlete), and short (for my height) legs make shoes one of my biggest challenges. I prefer an elegant look with a low heel and dainty styling, but I also like a dramatic shoe. I think it’s tougher than Goldilocks now that I think about it... fictitious character best fit along the lines of a unicorn.
Why is it that extra wide sizing is only available in a chunky style?

JAileen

Veteran

My legs and ankles must be average because I never thought about them. My feet, though, are another matter. My feet are big. I avoid shoes that make them look big.

Diana

Veteran

I do, but interestingly like *both* chunky footwear and delicate footwear for different reasons. I like the chunky pairs sometimes because they balance out my proportionally wider hips, thighs, and calves, but other times I like narrower, pointier shoes because they emphasize my delicate ankles and feet. Just an excuse to have twice as many pairs of shoes, I guess.

Sal

Veteran

I think good footwear can help elevate an outfit.

I have average sized feet for my height and size and don't try to make them look smaller or bigger. My ankles are slim but my calves are muscular/bulky so getting ankle straps, boots right can really help.

Fathenry - a lighter colour can help with a bulkier style...even a lighter sole.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have average sized feet and am not concerned with making them look bigger or smaller. I like the look of chunky footwear and rarely wear anything else. I do have numerous problems with my feet and am happy with footwear that doesn't cause me pain.

fathenry

Veteran

What interesting solutions and suggestions, thank you very much for sharing!

DonnaF

Veteran

I have low volume feet, fairly small ankles, but very, very muscular calves. My right foot barely bends, so platform footwear works the best for me. Very delicate footwear has always looked out of proportion on me, but when I tried on Doc Marten super chunky sandals they looked ridiculous because I am short (5' 1") and they needed a person of taller stature. I have many, many pairs of clogs which seem to work with my heavy legs.

I have a sugar eye for chunky footwear that veers to the ridiculous (see below), but platforms give me a boost in height without a heel.

Plasma Lugged Platform Boot

View Info

Top Pick

3

Jeffrey Campbell Waterproof Fog Boot (Women) | Nordstrom

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Top Pick

4

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Ahh screw it!!! Excuse the language
Anyways in high school while shopping for sandals, my Dad called me the female Sasquatch to the salesman
I was a US size 9- 10 ish
Now I’m skirting size 11.
F*** it, something, something good grip on terra firma
Though I do look kinda ridiculous in dainty styles

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Smallish feet and I am concerned with the overall proportion rather than my feet specifically.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

Not really, i consider the proportion of the shoe to the outfit more than my feet. I have both chunky and delicate shoes. As long as they fit well I’ll wear it.

fathenry

Veteran

Just wanted to follow up on the sandals in case others are interested in buying sandals this late into the season. I wore these several days in a row, including a 3 mile walk. No blisters and I have really fussy feet. They are a great compromise between platform and streamlined yet don't overwhelm the foot and leg. Only caution I would say is they are not extremely padded and the straps come up higher around the on the ankle. The leather is not extremely soft so if it hit on the wrong place on the ankle that would be uncomfortable. Overall I'm happy and would recommend to anyone who doesn't need a lot of ankle and arch support.