getting shoes to stay on my feet

Kate

I've found that I really only feel comfortable wearing shoes that are strapped onto my feet. Boots, sandals, and t-strap pumps are all great! Most flats and normal pumps are not, and I end up having issues with my heel rubbing against the back of the shoe, and occasionally slipping out. This is the case even with shoes that are too small when I'm standing still.

Does anyone else have this problem? Does anyone know what causes it? Any potential solutions? I have a pair of black pumps and a pair of brown flats that I wish I wore more often, but they just aren't as comfortable to walk in even though both are perfectly comfortable to stand in for extended amounts of time.

13 years ago

Dressing

37 replies

Latest reply was from fricobatman

FoolOfATook

Active Member

Kate, it could be that your heel is narrower than the front part of your foot. That could account for the slippage.

13 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

I have the same problem but to a more extreme degree. My heel always slips out any open shoe. In my case, I think it is because my forefoot is much wider than my heel. My ankles are also very slim, so even shoes that have an ankle strap don't work.

I have tried shoes with elastic ruching and they fit a little better but not enough to keep them.

http://www.endless.com/Terra-P.....Redirect=1

13 years ago

Marley

Veteran

Kate - I have this identical problem and am yet to find a solution! My heels are just too narrow compared to the rest of my foot - so frustrating!

13 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Same here. Not sure what causes it, but I find elastic toplines and straps helpful. I no longer bother with normal open pumps and flats. They just won't work.

13 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I sometimes have this issue, to the point that I keep heel grips on hand for new shoe purchases.

13 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I have had this problem my entire adult life. My feet are really wide and my heels and ankles are narrow.

I used to solve this by sticking moleskin onto the heel of the shoe, to create an extra lining and make the shoe smaller. Now I buy heel/arch insert supports. They help me fill out the space more, but I often have to buy shoes a 1/2 size larger to accommodate inserts. I am the queen of inserts and insoles, I wear them with ALL my footwear except athletic shoes.

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

This happens to me too! I walk right out of shoes like ballet flats, plus I had a very embarrassing situation years ago where I flung a heavy slide sandal across a restaurant when I sat down and swung my feet! I've pretty much sworn off all shoes without straps. For me, it's because I have a narrow heel/ankle and flat feet, which results in a very low instep (height from the ground to the top of your foot). I also have a bunion on one of my feet, so I can't wear narrow width shoes in general.

I don't like elastic toplines in general because I find the elastic very irritating, plus I want to fuss with it all the time. Other than boots, I find shoes with higher (closer to the ankle) straps the easiest to wear.

13 years ago

kimlee

Veteran

I also suffer from this issue. I have yet to find a truly viable solution. However, I am going to try the tips that CocoLion posted....

13 years ago

rute

Veteran

Same here.. I've already given up on pumps, I prefer booties, oxfords, sandals otherwise I'm always loosing my shoes!

13 years ago

anne

Veteran

I absolutely suffer from this problem. A lady in a shoe shop told me I had a shallow heel (and like others, my feet are wide across the ball.)
It is annoying, especially because I have short legs and am only 5"4 and it is figure flattery 101 stuff to wear low vamp shoes and I just can't!

13 years ago

yardshark

Active Member

I hadn't really thought about it but...yeah, now that you mention it, I have this problem too. I think I only own one or two pairs of pumps that don't have some kind of strap or high vamp, and I gave up flats a long time ago (for more reasons than this, but it's one of them).

I *don't* have wide feet; I wear a 6B (well, 5.5 in some shoes) so it's probably the narrow heel thing, but I was wondering if maybe it's even more of a problem for small feet? Because it seems to me that the shorter the shoe, the stiffer the sole, and the less likely it will move with the bending of the foot. I don't know, just a speculation.

13 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Thanks for all of the great advice, and the reassurance that I'm not alone!

13 years ago

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I just found this thread, and have the exact same problem! The only way my foot doesn't come out of an open shoe is if I wear them too small, which ends up hurting my feet in the long run. I've tried putting those cushioned heel things in my shoes, but they always unstick. My custom orthotics help a bit, but often make the shoe much too shallow and my foot bulges out over the top.

So, straps or laces it is. I can get away with a strap anywhere, though, even if it's closer to the front of the shoe.

13 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

PG this is me too! I never wear ballet flats and rarely a court shoe (low vamp pump?) unless I was to not walk in them! It's a good revelation, stopped me fighting my feet with the wrong styles. I never met anyone who seemed to have this problem IRL! Yay for this forum, now I know I'm not a freak of nature

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Count me into this club! My feet are not particularly wide, but my arches are relatively high and my heels are narrow. And, like Anne, I have shortish legs, so it would be very figure flattering to wear a low vamp shoe. Sigh....

Needless to say, I LOVE my boots in the winter!

I have tried to use the insoles trick and the padding on the back of the heel trick. Neither work at all for me, beyond a few days.

The Ecco last seems well designed for my foot - MOST but not all of the time. Occasionally I am able to find a pair of pumps there that will stay on. Currently I own one pair from three years ago and I am not giving them away. Thank goodness they are a style that won't date badly. I have never found ballet flats that will stay on. Ever. And I LOVE flats!

13 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I love when threads like this are revived! Since this realization I've come to terms with the fact that all of my shoes need to have a way of holding my feet in, and shoe shopping became a bit simpler. Once I wrap my head around what fashion simply doesn't work on my body, I know what to ignore when I'm shopping and suddenly things start falling into place.

Fruitful, I have become so much more aware of my body since coming to YLF, and in a great way. And no matter how it varies from the "norm", there's always a bunch of women here with the exact same situation! No matter how narrow my heels are, "dainty" my ankles are, or how short my neck is, there are always a ton of fabulous women here to keep me from getting too discouraged.

13 years ago

Fruitful

Veteran

Kate, yes to everything you just said!

13 years ago

achillesheel

Member

i have the same problem. i have tried cutting up sponges and inserting them into my shoes and nothing works. now i have another new pair of shoes that are slipping off my heel. i got so frustrated i took one 8" piece of duct tape and wrapped it under my heel and up the sides of my heel leaving about 2" that you then fold back and tape into the sides of your shoe. it seems to be working. does anyone know if they make 2 sided duct tape?

12 years ago

Sjeff

Member

Omg! I have found my people!!! I am in the wide foot bunch- I need to reflect n whether I have a narrow heel, too.... I struggle with fit with shoes ALWAYS... Maryjanes, sandals and boots are my standbys... I have found, however, a few unexpected brands that offer cute and comfortable strapped shoes including Timberland (shocking, right?) and Cole Haan... It can be hard to find things that aren't too matronly... I decided some time ago that I have to buy for fit which means I often spend a bit more than I'd like... But it's worth it not to leave a shoe behind when trying to glide gracefully across the lobby at work!!

Pls share other brands that you'd recommend...

11 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Same problem here; I have one pair of pumps that are taxi only shoes other than that all my shoes have straps to keep them on. That's why I prefer winter - booties/boots/lace ups don't come off

11 years ago

Molly L-R

Active Member

Yep, I have this issue too. No point stressing about it; I know I need shoes with a buckle or laces, so those are the only shoes I look at.

11 years ago

Irene

Veteran

I have a trauma with open shoes.

Ever noticed how most Disney princesses wear pumps and ballet flats? Well, I have. Always. I think I started asking for a pair of ballet flats at the age of 5. Even then, I was obsessed with shoes. Guess what, even at that time my mom used to say the would fall off my feet. They did.

I can't wear non-strapped shoes. My high-heeled pumps have an ankle strap. At least it looks a bit more grown up and can be hidden under pants. I am lucky that my legs are long and mi ankles slim, so it doesn't play that much with my proportions. As most here, my feet are quite long, bony, wide at the front and thin at the heel.

I have a pair of ballet flats and have managed to wear them but always with difficulties, which is not what you want when wearing flat shoes. And more than once I have found myself barefoot in the middle of the street, my shoes laying a few feet behind me. Add in a cocktail fancy dress and it even looks worse. It was kind of raining, also, and I was late to a ball.

Boy, I guess I'm an inverted Cinderella, after all lol

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11 years ago

Carey

Active Member

I have this problem too, but didn't realize it could be a problem with the width of the heel. I do have a wide forefoot and high arches. I've tried padding in the back of the heel, padding in the toe, and inserts of every shape and size, but nothing has worked.

But if the problem is a narrow heel, maybe I need to try moleskin on the sides of the heel, rather than the back of the heel. Has anyone tried that?

10 years ago

annabelle

Veteran

I'm going to Nordstrom to ask their shoe experts for a solution for slipping out of the heel, whether they recommend a pad under the ball or a heel grip. I simply have to find a way to keep these shoes; I told my husband they will be art in my office, if I can't wear them.

In answer to an earlier question in this thread, I've heard and found that Pikolinos run narrow, and I've not had trouble with Ferragamo, in the AA width, which probably is not a solution for those of you with the regular/wide ball end of the foot.

Yoox

MARCO Venezia Pump

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9 years ago

Anonymous

I have this problem due to bunions on my feet that force me to wear wider width shoes. The wider shoes are also wider in the heel, so my feet slide right out. I'd love to know where to find wide width shoes that have narrower heels. I stick to boots, slingbacks, and Mary Janes. Pumps and ballet flats are out of the question.

9 years ago

always trying

Veteran

Many years ago they made shoes like B width and AA heels. These were in more expensive shoes though. I used to get pumps for work at Nordstroms with the narrow heels.

Now I even have trouble with finding boots that do not slip up and down on my heels. I have two pairs of tall boots, cognac and black, and not super crazy about either one , but I really wanted tall boots and just bought the ones that didn't slip on my heels after trying on literally dozens.

9 years ago

Catnip

Veteran

I've always had this problem and have found a solution. It's a shoe made with a combination last... that is, a shoe that is narrower in the heel than in the front. Unfortunately very few manufacturers use a combination last, and these shoes can be very expensive. My feet are a AA width in front and a AAAAA in the heel. For years I wore Ferragamo shoes exclusively for the fit, but then I found Munro shoes. Munro shoes come in many different widths (it seems to be their specialty). Many (but not all) Munro shoes are built on a combination last, and when I find one of these that I really like I tend to buy in multiples. Fortunately Munro shoes are not nearly as expensive as Ferragamo shoes and they wear like iron.
For some reason many shoe manufacturers no longer make shoes in different widths. I suppose it's the one size fits all mentality, and it's probably cheaper to manufacturer just one width. I'm grateful that Munro makes multiple widths and seems to be introducing more fashionable styles.

9 years ago

Ann g

Member

Oh just found this.... knew I couldn't be the only one with this issue. I have corns - not bunions - so cannot wear shoes too tight, but am tired of fwapping around with my heels coming off. And, I've discovered that my toes have been curling to try and keep the shoes on which is giving me terrific foot and calf cramps at times.

I will definitely try munro shoes, but I have to wear black pumps as I appear in court all the time...

I've tried moleskin, stick on heel pads, stuffing kleenex into the toes, but I will now try inserts. Sick to DEATH of having this problem, and the sinking feeling I experience in the morning of days I must wear pumps. I have literally 4 pairs (including ECCO, Earthsoft, Soft, Pikolinos...) of moderate black pumps and they are all the same in this regard.

8 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Same here. My shoes are ties, zips, sandals or shoes with straps that adjust (and sometimes I take have to add more holes to the straps), booties and boots. And the straps have to be at the ankle, not lower. And, I wear an 11, so having a larger foot size doesn't help. I remember 2 pairs of pumps in my entire life, and both were before I had kids and my feet spread more and grew from a size 10. And of those, one I only wore on my wedding day, until I could change into sandals.

8 years ago

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