Category Archives: Hard to Find Size Shoes

It’s not true that everyone in the world must wear a size 8 Medium except you. It just feels that way when you are shoe shopping. Just ask an 8M. They’ll tell you they can never find their size either. (The Shoe Lady is NOT sympathetic.)

Fitting shoes for me – Quality Matters!

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Q: Dear Shoe Lady, i LOVE the samanta viv pump in beige and the ellie black 8400, my foot measures 28 and a half cm long by 10.25 cm wide using your measuring guide. what sizes should i look for in these shoes? thank you!

Samanta Viv Pump Beige at DesignerShoes.com

Viv Pump by Samanta is a High Heel Dressy Pump

Ellie 8400 Black at DesignerShoes.com

8400 by Ellie is a High Heel Dressy Pump

A: My Dear Isobel,
You sexy thing. You should be looking at a USA size 14. It sounds like you have a relatively narrow foot so you may need to add an inner sole to keep these pumps pumping. The Viv Pump runs on the wide side. I believe the Ellie 8400 is a good medium.

I hope that answers the “fit” questions. But please keep in mind there is a HUGE difference in the quality and styling detail for these shoes. The Viv Pump by Samanta is in a “couture” class, using premium materials, comfort features and styling like the hidden platform. The Viv Pump is all leather and is a shoe for your lifetime. Ellie is meant to be a special occasion shoe to get you noticed but don’t expect a lot of hard ware. It is a fun HIGH heel, but it is not leather.

The Shoe Lady

Long Narrow Feet !

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Q: I have a long, narrow, foot, with one foot being a full size larger  than the other – more like a 12 AAA on one foot and 11 AAA  for the  other. You told me quite some time ago about the problem you are  having with shoe companies eliminating the narrow sizes and your hope  to find some that would be more accommodating to the needs of so many  of us. Whenever I order 12 N, I literally walk right out of both of  the shoes – a lot of the “cute” shoes only go up to 11 M (no narrows)  and I’ve ordered some of those, but in every case, have literally  “walked right out of both shoes” –  to the point where it’s almost a  danger for my foot to slip and is a huge effort even to try them out  on the carpets!

I LOVE the looks of the Naturalizer Cyanne blue denim

Naturalizer Cyanne Spring Denim - DesignerShoes.com

Naturalizer Cyanne Spring Denim – DesignerShoes.com

naturally, it doesn’t come in a N in the 12 and even if it did, it would probably be too wide & I’d walk out of it. My question is whether you think an 11N might “work” – not for mall or street walking, but enough so that I could cover my route when I volunteer at the hospital? Open toe shoes are not allowed and I need something that I can not only stand in, but be able to walk throughout the hospital. Sneakers don’t quite “cut it” and in the warm weather, I really like to wear a skirt occasionally and not just slacks all the time, so would like a good-looking, comfortable, shoe that is not “dangerous” for me to wear!!!!

I had wondered if the elastic vamp might be of some help in holding the shoes on and if the denim would be a soft enough fabric so that there would be some “give” to the shoe for my longer foot.

Will be interested in your opinion.

Charlotte –

I just handled a similar question. The shoe makers aren’t getting better about this.

As for trying an 11N, everytime I have made that kind of compromise myself, I’ve regretted it. If you are walking around a hospital being helpful and your toes are scrunched – you will most likely not be pleasant. You can try it. In some instances it works. But that kind of adjustment in size and width usually works for people with wider, more flaccid feet. I’m guessing yours are nerves and bones. They won’t like to be pushed around into a different shape.

Sorry I don’t have better news.

The Shoe Lady

I’m 16 & I hate my big feet!

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Dear Shoe Lady,

I was wondering what you do if you absolutly hate your feet? Im a 16 year old girl with feet the size of Canada. They’re extremely wide and long, and everytime I try to find some shoes that fit I always turn up empty. The shoe is either the right length, but not the right width, or the other way around. What SHOULD i do???

Signed, shoe depressed
Shelby

Dearest Shelby,
Oh my. How familiar this sounds. I used to think I’d like to cut off my toes to be able to shop like everyone else. UGGGHHH. Can you imagine! Now, thanks to those shoe militants at DesignerShoes.com you can have a wide range of choices in larger sizes, in 6 different widths and hundreds of styles and colors. So tell me your size and width and I’ll make some recommendations to get your feet flatteringly fit.

The Shoe Lady

What USA Size and Width for a Bridal Sandal in Norway?

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Dear Shoe Lady,

My name is Kjersti, and I’m writing from Norway. I’m thinking about ordering Dyeables Alyssa White Satin for my wedding, but I’m having trouble figuring out the right size.

I usually wear a EURO size 36, but since we don’t use Width sizes in Norway, I don’t know which USA size that would be correct.

My biggest foot is 23 cm long and 8,5 cm wide, something that would end up in a USA size 6 or 6.5 Medium. But that is about the same as a EURO size 37, which is usually to long for me when it comes to sandals.

I have also experienced that some sandals that I’ve bought in shops here at home can get a bit tight over my foot, but my ankles aren’t really thick.

What size would you recommend for me?

Thank you!

Dear Kjersti,

My goodness!  You are breaking my stereotype about Scandinavian women being tall with long feet.  You have tiny feet!  All your measurements suggest a USA size 6 medium or 6.5 medium.   But a EURO size 36 is closer to a 5 or 5.5 wide.  I tend to pay more attention to the size of the shoes you wear rather than the measurements you took because, well, who knows if you slipped up with the tape measure?  The difference between a size 5 and a size 6 is only 0.8 centimeters or a third of an inch!  So lets assume you should be looking at either a size 5.5 wide or a size 6 medium.

Alyssa, dyeable white strappy sandal by Dyeables

Now, down to business.  Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!  The Alyssa is a beautiful shoe.  It doesn’t come in wide, only medium.  But it is very open.  I think you could wear a 5.5 or a 6 medium.  It depends on how close to the end of the shoe you want your toes to be.  If you  want only a sliver  of the shoe to show under your toes, go for the 5.5.   Otherwise, go for the 6.

Best Wishes on your special day!

The Shoe Lady