I should have listened... Clarks Brulees are not for wide feet!

marianna

Although it's late in the season, I just bought a pair of the popular Brulees. I have wide feet and a few of you warned me that they might not work... but I didn't listen. Alas, I wore them for a 12 hour work shift on my feet today and was in horrible pain. The shoe is definitely too narrow for a wide foot! I wanted it to work *so* badly but struck out. Oh well. At least my feet looked pretty today...

So just putting a word of advice out there for other wide-foot ladies -- as tempting as they may be, the Bruless aren't made for our feet.

I wonder if they'll let me return them? I bought them via the Clarks store.

16 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Maya

Veteran

I find this phenomenon very odd. I have extremely wide feet for my size (6 in length, 8 in width), and I find the Brulees deliciously comfortable. My entire pinky toe hangs off the sole, but the straps keep it contained and they're soft enough not to cut in. No one can tell that my foot is wider than the sole, so it doesn't bother me. I have worn these shoes for hours walking around NYC and haven't had a problem, and I'm not exaggerating when I say my feet are SUPER wide. Although, I wonder if it has to do with WHY your feet are wide. I have a friend with wide feet, but hers are more fleshy I guess. Mine are really boney, but my bones are very wide-set. She has complained about shoes cutting into her feet, but I usually don't have that problem (my problem is with rubbing, not cutting). So maybe that makes all the difference.

That's really a shame they didn't work out for you. Do you think you can maybe try stretching them? I guess it's too late to return them so it's worth a try.

16 years ago

taylor

Veteran

Oh boo! returning used and worn shoes is tricky. Perhaps if you keep them as a 4 to 6 hr. shoe instead of 12 hrs. That is a long day for the first wearing:) Streatching as Maya suggests is a good idea:)

I have wide feet too.;(

16 years ago

marianna

Veteran

Well, my feet are chubby, so the fat on the side of my foot spilled over the edge of the Brulee and every time I took a step the base of the shoe would cut into my foot. I had marks on my feet showing the exact area of "spillage." If I didn't have the chub on the side of my foot they would have been great! Very supportive and soft. Unfortunately the base of the shoe is just cut too narrow for my feet. I also have really long feet (size 12) so maybe that makes a difference? The length was perfect though.

I don't think stretching will work because it has nothing to do with the leather. The only thing that will fix the problem is me losing weight, and in turn losing some of the width on my feet! This is probably a good idea.

Taylor, you're right that it was a bit silly of me to wear them for 12 hours straight out of the box! I was really eager to wear a YLF approved shoe! Maybe I will trying them for short periods and see if they feel any better...

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Well if it makes you feel any better, my bony feet provide NO cushioning whatsoever. I need to pad up all of my shoes like mad or my heels are miserable. Also, even in my most comfortable shoes, my feet always hurt after 12 hours! How long did it take before they began to bother you?

16 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Aww, sorry they didn't work out MariannaCecile. Maybe with some wear, eventually they will stretch out enough to be wearable for shorter periods of time.

16 years ago

Anonymous

Please, please, please try to return them. They will take them back I'm sure. This is just a test run on you're part and you should not have to pay for a deficient shoe. Try to explain your situation to them and don't take no for an answer.
This is why I shop at Nordstrom's, there is never a doubt, they stand behind their products!
Good luck and don't be shy about demanding that this is not your fault!!!.

16 years ago

marianna

Veteran

Maya, it didn't take long for them to start hurting. I work in a TV studio so I was running around from the get go and probably after an hour or so I was already uncomfortable. I need to cut off a few inches of fat from my feet and then they'd be perfect!

16 years ago

marianna

Veteran

San, I love Nordies for their amazing return policy too. They will take anything back, no questions asked... so I buy more there because I know I won't be stuck if something doesn't work out.

I may try to return the Brulees. I'm not shy about returning and the shoes don't look really worn or anything. I guess we'll see what happens!

16 years ago

April

Veteran

MC - if they won't take them back (I think the amount of wear on the sole is what determines this), try getting some liquid Shoe Stretch. You paint it on the tight parts and wear the shoes around. I have rescued several pairs of shoes that were cutting into the wide parts of my foot by using this method. Give it a try; if it doesn't help, you're only out a couple of bucks.

16 years ago

Anonymous

Great advice April. A shoe stretcher might work. You can take the sandals to a cobbler and see if they can do something to make them fit better too. They are such good looking sandals and the leather is very soft. I would think they would stretch out well. Let us know how it works out for you.

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

Marianna mentioned that the width of the upper straps is not the problem. The sole is too narrow and cuts in every time she steps, which is not really fixable by a cobbler. I guess the best option is to try and return them

16 years ago

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