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Shoe Recommendations

Anonymous

Well, I am packing up yet another pair of shoes to return.

I began to suspect during NAS that Angie's shoe recommendations do not fit my foot even when her description suggests "appropriate for high-volume feet." I can't tell you how many of her suggestions I bought with high, high hopes. Always to be returned.

Today I finally gave up. I'm going to have to go this portion of my wardrobe rebuild alone.

Don't think this is an easy decision. I am certainly seduced by Angie's gorgeous finds and recommendations, but the number of shoes/booties I have returned is staggering.

Perhaps I am once again disappointed, or perhaps I am just plain tired, but I feel a sense of relief. It is not me. It really is the shoes and the fact that I won't compromise by wearing ill fitting shoes.

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

Inge

(website)

Finding great-looking shoes that are comfortable and go the distance can be really hard, Sterling, and yes, it REALLY is the shoes and not you!! So please don't feel too disheartened.

What kind of styles are you currently looking for (and in which colours)? I have high-volume feet, so I might be able to give a few more suggestions.

kate

I so sympathize! I ordered Munro wides or WW three times and returned them three times trying to find the best fit. Very discouraged. But I now realize that whatever brand I try it will be necessary to actually go to a shoe store. I think Naturalizer has wides and there must be others!

Jane

Veteran

Absolutely it is the shoes. I return a lot of shoes. I keep a very small selection of shoes but it takes me ages to choose and select.

I’ve had good luck with Paul Green, brogues, Russell and Bromley (weekend lace up, work heels), Caro, OTK flat boots, and LK Bennett (OTK heeled boots for work). I’ve also had good luck with Think! too.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Part of the issue, I think, must be that there are numerous ways for feet to be “high volume”. My high arches alone would probably put me in that category, but really, that only comes into play when I’m putting on shoes without openings. Width is an entirely different thing, but I think it gets tossed into the “high volume” basket too, as would a foot that’s thick top to bottom.
“Low volume” feet, otoh, check off “none of the above”, and there is only one way to do “none”.

Carla

Veteran

Footwear is a trial, Sterling and when you think of the number of pairs you might try in a B&M store before finding your holy grail, it doesn't seem unusual that you return a high number of shoes ordered from online sources. As my feet have grown fussier, I find I own less footwear and am more likely to keep the winners longer. I also find that I am starting to recognize brands that work for me, and becoming loyal to those brands.

Roberta

Veteran

The struggle is real! I have plump feet, short toes, high arches, and a relatively slim ankle. Merrels have never fit, nor Munro, but Born is always good, hence my current collection of six pairs of Born boots.

Right now my go to brands are Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn and Louise et Cie. Who knows why these work and others don't ? Clark's are hit and miss, ditto Ecco (one pair of each).

Plus you want them to look good if possible, not just feel good! I hear Billy Crystal in my head . . .

anchie

Veteran

Oh Sterling, I have the same experience. I am always seduced by Angie's pick but they are rarely available in my part of the world. And when they are, I jump on the opportunity only to be disappointed with poor fit and discomfort. But it is not problem only with Angie's picks, it takes lots of ordering and returns to find the shoes that fit in general. So, please don't be hard on yourself. Going alone will also have some disappointing results for sure.

ClaraT

Veteran

I echo others’ thoughts! Finding comfortable shoes that look good is so so hard and discouraging... The picks suggested here rarely fit me but serve as inspiration (aspiration? ) You are not alone!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sterling, comfy shoes are hard to fit and find. I get that more than most. Rotten luck.

I buy most of my shoes online and return a LOT. I don’t mind though. It’s the only way I’m going to eventually get what I want.

From what I have pieced together from your posts, it sounds like you need a wide size. Is that right? Also, it's important to understand HOW your feet are high volume. In the toe width, arch, and/or instep? That will determine the fit match to my suggestions. FashIntern is dead right.

Before you order a top pick, ask me about them. Then I can tell you whether the room is in the toe box, arch or instep.

Anonymous

I echo Angie's questions. With more info, we might be able to suggest brands.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Then I can tell you whether the room is in the toe box, arch or instep.

Angie, it would be so helpful if you could include this in your descriptions as a matter of course. It wouldn't take more words to say "has a large toe box" or "good for high arches" than "good for high volume feet" does.

Anonymous

I get it too. I have bony regular width feet but they have too much volume on top for most lace-ups and higher coverage. If you find a brand that works well for you, look at their other offerings.
Try a half or even a whole size larger in some of Angie's picks. An added insole can help. Your feet also may not be the same size. I have to try the left shoe because it is the bigger foot. I buy for that foot and add an insole in the right shoe if it is too big. Often SAs in the shoe department bring the shoes for the right foot. Getting well-fitting comfortable shoes is a bear.

Inge

(website)

I know Angie mentions specific "fit recommendations" for her top picks when she has fitted them on clients with various feet shapes and she's ascertained they work for them. So I find that info very useful. In the past I've also ordered footwear from the NAS without having been able to try them on in person (always tricky;-). I would never have risked that without the fit info Angie provided.

But there are always various factors at play, aren't there > I was nodding along with what Fashintern wrote, feet can be high-volume in different ways (and maybe trying wide widths could be the solution?).

Joyce B

Veteran

Having been there and having done that as well, I can only say that once you find a good pair of shoes it is a good idea to duplicate so that it goes a longer way.
I also have trouble finding good shoes and buy and return a lot. For now the ones that fit me best are PGs but not all fit me right. I can tell you that with time, a lot of effort and expense ( ) I have been able to build a nice collection so do not despair and do not give up, you will find shoes that are good for you.
Congrats on not keeping uncomfortable shoes, it took me too long to learn to not compromise.

JAileen

Veteran

I buy and return a lot of shoes too. My feet are average volume, but my toes are long relative to the size of my feet, and I have a broken toe that wasn’t set properly, so it’s a problem. I order from Nordstrom and Zappos so shipping is free in both directions. I just try out lots of shoes. A couple years ago I ordered eight or nine pairs of sandals. I only kept one or two, I think. Also, when I find something that works, I duplicate it in other colors.

Gaylene

Veteran

I’ve come to the realization the only time ordering shoes online works for me is AFTER I’ve tried on a pair in a store and want (1) a different color, (2) a size adjustment, or (3) a duplicate. Even then, I’ve had to return shoes because there can be a difference in fit because of manufacturing tolerances. This is one area where I just don’t feel comfortable buying online because the number of returns I’d be forced to make just to get one pair of well-fitting shoes wouldn’t work for me.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Sterling, don't feel bad. My feet are pretty unfussy, but I still return way more than I keep -- it often takes me a half dozen pairs of a type of shoe I want before I find the keeper (ie, my comfortable casual black sandal search this summer, or my refined black low-heeled bootie search). Good luck moving forward!

Anonymous

Shoes are really difficult to fit, period. One place to start can be toe shape though. I have the opposite issue, skinny feet, but learned if the toes are almond or pointy they fit much better. For high volume feet, rounder toes possibly.
With high arches (not sure if you have high arches), completely flat shoes dont work at all for me-2 inch or so heels are "neutral."
Still theres a lot of hit and miss.
Have you looked on barking dog shoes for recs? They have a lot for wider feet especially.

Jules

Veteran

I think people have confused ‘high volume’ with ‘wide’. I don’t believe it’s intended that way. I believe it’s more about height of the foot? I agree clarification would be helpful.
However, more importantly, I have absoluely found buying shoes online IN CANADA to be an exercise in frustration. Unless you have access to a large online selection with good sales, AND you are willing to return 90%, I think it’s much easier to hit a good store with multiple brands, or the mall, and just try on, try on, try on. Shoes must fit properly AND be comfortable, and that’s harder to find then we might imagine.
I think it makes sense for Americans because of Zappos and other competing retailers who offer a huge selection on line and often variable pricing too. It does not make sense in Canada unless I already know the brand and style fits and suits me, and those standard, consistent brands have pretty fixed prices and don’t really go on sale so the only advantage is convenience.
As an aside -
Even shopping in store I prefer the mall stores, which is opposite my usual preference for local boutiques with personalized service. Unfortunately my two local independent shoe stores while having excellent stock don’t seem to have patience for me to try on a lot and not buy every time. One does not have enough staff to get the shoes and the other owner has shown impatience with my habits. I need the latitude to try on many styles and yes I’m picky when buying $150-400 footwear, so I will reject most pairs. I’m also a loyal customer who wants to support local business. This is where the model of having the shoes stowed away irritates me... I can decide in 5 minutes without bothering you if I just have access to the shoes! Instead it becomes this drawn out process. At least at the mall I can try on without judgement and the staff are less invested/arrogant than an owner.

kkards

Veteran

if you need wides, i recommend taking a look at QVC....for example searching size 8-8.5W i got 922 options...with prices ranging from $20 to $230...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Footwear is really hard to fit, Sterling. You are not alone. But hang in there. You'll find a few brands that tend to work if you keep at this.

There are indeed many ways a foot can be "higher volume" and what works for one will not necessarily work for another.

I consider my feet "regular" volume (whatever that means!). They are average width in the forefoot, with short toes. Yet sometimes regular width shoes feel too wide...and sometimes they feel too narrow. Toe shape makes a difference, but so does the overall last of the shoe.

Meanwhile, I apparently have extremely narrow heels, or oddly shaped heels, or something. Because I walk out of almost every shoe unless it laces up, has straps to secure it, or is a boot.

Meanwhile like suntiger, my arches are on the high side, which means, like Joy, laced shoes sometimes hurt the tops of my feet. Also like suntiger, I find a completely flat shoe less comfortable than one with a slight heel. (2 inches is my absolute sweet spot but I can go down to 3/4" and up to 2.5" with no problems, and sometimes a flatform will also work.)

Now I also deal with residual plantar fasciitis. I'm mostly "cured" but will get occasional flare-ups. So I usually need an insole or a special heel cup in my shoes.

None of that may apply to you, but what I'm really trying to say is that it can take me a really long time to find shoes that work. Sandals and booties are much easier to fit, which is why I have so many of them, I guess, and so few actual shoes.

Unlike Jules, online ordering has worked pretty well for me (even within Canada). I often ordered online from two local businesses in Kingston who also had online stores (HeelBoy and Becker)-- that worked really well because I could try on in store and they order for the colour I wanted (as Gaylene mentioned).

I do return a lot, but luckily it is not inconvenient for me to drop off the boxes in the mail. Also, I tend to order trusted brands. When I don't yet have a "go to" brand in a given item (as I didn't, for true snow boots, a few years back), I will have to try many, many, many losers before finding a winner.

Now that I am in a bigger metropolitan centre, I've taken to buying in person instead. With more selection, I feel as if it just makes sense.

Anonymous

Off to Zappos with renewed hope.

shiny

Veteran

I hate ordering shoes online because it seems just so ....wasteful! The environmental impact of having the shoes shipped (in bulky cardboard boxes no less) and then shipped back again.

Note I feel the same way about clothes but it's offset by the reality that petites are increasingly "online only" so unlike shoes I have little choice. And also I can return in B&M store which still requires a drive that burns gas, but not as much as shipping all the way back.

I much prefer to shop for shoes in person. I will online order if I know the brand works and I want to duplicate it.

That said I really really wanted white booties this year so I did order several pairs as I couldn't find them in the B&M shops. Kept two, the Blair's and a pair of Impo's. All else went back. The Blair's were a lucky find so I have triplicated.

My feet are what I'd call "high volume." They are on the wider side of normal. I can take a wide, but usually don't need to if I can find a normal shoe that runs on the wider side. I have average arches (which actually may be falling with age). By high volume I mean not the width but the top of the foot. And that I can never wear inserts of any type (except in sneakers) as there just isn't any room. I think my toes are average as well -- though I have found that pointy styles work best sized up a half size.

Finally, I'll add that since I've gained weight it seems my feet have grown a 1/2 size. So I have been slowly replacing all my shoes with 1/2 size up and it makes all the difference. I guess we don't think about our shoe size changing (not counting pregnancy) but it does.

shiny

Veteran

More thoughts to add: I have GREAT success with lace ups! Not sure why that doesn't work for others. Laces enable me to loosen up the top enough for my foot to be comfortable. Works well for travel when my feet swell too. I actually put a shopping moratorium on lace up styles (i.e., gladiator sandals with laces) because I had too many.

I also like stretch styles aka sock boots for similar reason.

And I like Allbirds because the soft merino wool "gives" on top.

That said, it's a rare loafer that works for me. Cuts across the top of my foot in the most unforgiving, uncomfortable way.

cindysmith

Veteran

Oh, lordie, I am there with you. I've been having foot problems, and I just gave away a fortune in shoes. At least they're going to a good home, but it still sucks. But I'm 48, and I have reached a life-stage that is incompatible with shoes that hurt my feet, so they had to go. It's hard to find comfortable shoes that are pleasing to my eye!
I hope you find shoes that work for you!

Anonymous

shoes

Style Fan

Veteran

Sterling, I have a little shoe collection. Tiny. And it is not because I don't love footwear. I adore footwear. I love booties. But my feet are so fussy I can only wear a select few brands. I have narrowed it down and I duplicate.
If I order online I do what Gaylene does. I only order a duplicate or something I have tried on in a store.