Fall Selection for Size 13 Wide and Double Wide Shoes

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,
I’m a women’s size 13W/WW and wanted to know when the Fall selection would be available?

Hi Nancy,
Great questions, and thank you for your interest! It is good to see that you are planning for the upcoming fall season. Since grey is the color for fall, you should be sure to see variations of grey throughout fashion pieces. Our fall collection is currently up now!

Antia Abella Mocha Metallic Snake at DesignerShoes.com

Abella by Antia is a Low Heel Dressy Flat

Antia Beatriz Mocha Tumbled Antique at DesignerShoes.com

Beatriz by Antia is a Low Heel Dressy Loafer

If you aren’t already on the mailing list, I would suggest signing up for the latest news and sale information from DesignerShoes.com. Click here to join the mailing list.

Happy Browsing.
The Shoe Lady

Wedding Choice for Women’s Size 12 Wide

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,
My daughter is getting married in August and I would like your advice on the best shoe style for her feet. She is not used to wearing heels so the following styles would all be okay. Ros Hommerson Bono in White: Trotters Dora in White: Special Occasions Hillary in White. Her foot measurements are Length 10.7 inches and width 4.50 inches. She also has quite a high instep. I look forward to your advice.

Dear Shiona,
Anything for an Aussie! I’ll give you my best suggestions. Let’s deal with size first, then with style.

Given her foot measurements, I recommend a size women’s size 12 wide. Size 11.5 would work but there are virtually no wedding shoes in this size. The width measurement suggests a Wide edging toward the “extra wide”. But since you’ll get a size 12 , it will probably be slightly wider than the 11.5 would be . If her feet are thick (top to sole) and if it will be hot so they might swell (how hot is it there in August?) you may want to consider a 12WW. But I think a 12W should do.

I am going to suggest that you look at the fabric shoes designed for brides. They are easy to spot stretch if she needs a little more width. And, this is the big one, after the wedding she can have them dyed a different color, like hot pink (a personal favorite).

Now for the style. Attitudes toward wedding shoes are going through changes. My FAVORITE daughter in law, Victoria, got married in baby blue pumps and a white wedding dress. We are seeing more people opt for colored shoes with their white dresses. Just an option. This is her wedding and she should have fun with her apparel choices!

I’ve used the “Shop For” section at DesignerShoes.com to find Bridal/ Dyeable Collection shoes in size 12W.

You will see over 130 choices. You can narrow this list down still further by heel height (you said she wasn’t comfortable with a higher heel. But a low heel may be too low. Mid heels start at 2.5 CM. She may want to limit is to a sandal, like Alana by Special Occasions;

Special Occasions Alana White at AskTheShoeLady.com

Alana by Special Occasions is a Mid Heel Dressy Sandal

a pump, like Betty by Touch Ups,

Touch Ups Betty White at AskTheShoeLady.com

Betty by Touch Ups is a Low Heel Dressy Pump

a flat, like Felicity by Special Occasions,

Special Occasions Felicity White at AskTheShoeLady.com

Felicity by Special Occasions is a Low Heel Dressy Flat

or a sling back like Shelley by Dyeables,

Dyeables Shelly White Satin at AskTheShoeLady.com

Shelly by Dyeables is a Mid Heel Dressy Sandal

Whatever she picks, I hope you will have her post some wedding photos, including her shoes!, on our Facebook page

Best to the Bride!
The Shoe Lady

Thick Ankles and Heavy Calves

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,
Strappy shoes look awful on me; peep toe shoes seem way to narrow – I have a wedding to attend and the dress I’m wearing is eggplant in color, and comes just above my knee, some what fancy. Can you suggest something that would look nice?

My foot measures 9-1/2 in length, across the toes it is about 3-1/2 wide and the arch of my foot is about 1-1/4 in from the ground. Also a friend says I should wear plain black leather, but I think I should either wear cloth or maybe even patent leather??? Not sure.

Hi Michele,
Eggplant sounds like a beautiful color for the wedding. Black shoes are also good choices (and a wardrobe staple), but I would also look into complementary colors to make what you are wearing pop. In this case it would be yellow or gold in order to highlight the eggplant color. Side note: have you considered an insert for the ball of your foot for peep-toe shoes? It might not be that the shoes are too narrow in the front, but that your foot is being wedged due to slipping forward into the front of the shoe.

Trotters Francesca Yellow Ochre at AskTheShoeLady.com

Francesca by Trotters is a Low Heel Dressy Flat

Francesca by Trotters has intricate embroidery to create a beautiful texture. Flats can still be dressy at an event, and a foot saver if you plan on hitting the dance floor!

Have fun at the wedding,
The Shoe Lady

Shoes Fall Off – Help!

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: Dear Shoe Lady, I have two pairs of flat sandals that have a strap that goes behind my ankle. the strap falls down and the shoe falls off. Is there a place i can buy straps to maybe go around my ankle to keep them on?

A: Hi Sharon, Before finding new ankle straps, let’s explore another issue that might be happening. If your shoes fall off after the straps fall down, maybe you can look into measuring your feet another time. Your shoes might be a little too big, and the ill-fitting strap is the first step to the slippage.

If you are feeling crafty, a different kind of closure system for the ankle straps could work. Thin velcro as a second binding where the straps overlap might do the trick. If the ankle straps are removable, you could also go to the fabric store and find ribbon and sew in a closure as well.
Without going the do-it-yourself route, there are pads available to attach to the inside of the straps to prevent slipping. It is the same idea as footpads for high heels that help to avoid the always unwanted sliding and creeping to the toebox. You may also try cutting strips of moleskin and lining the straps too.

Annie Jade Black-pewter at AskTheShoeLady.com

Jade by Annie is a Low Heel Dressy Sandal

Good luck,
The Shoe Lady

Hammer Toe Tips

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Barbara Thornton

Q: My elderly aunt has very painful and difficult feet to fit. She wears a size 11.5 and needs a wider rounded toe to accommodate her hammer toes, but has a narrow heel. Also, she does better with her heel slightly higher than her toes, but not more than 1 inch.

Can you recommend any shoe styles for me to look at for her??

Thank you so much.

A: Dear Kristen-

Aren’t you the perfect grand daughter! Were you trained or do you come by this compassion naturally? A well brought up young lady is such a treasure!

I am in total sympathy with your grandmother, who I am imagining as an otherwise spry, relatively young 70. Hammertoes are ….. well they are the pits. Surgery doesn’t really work well. Those little Dr. Scholls cushions are helpful but annoying because they slip around. The hammertoes get corns and that is painful. So keep that compassion flowing.

Yours truly, the Shoe Lady, is a size 11.5 with a narrow heel and with hammertoes. So I bring more than the usual amount of expertise to this shoe question.

I recommend the big toe box, for sure. When you can’t find a big toe box in shoes, shoes for a dressy occasion for example, get shoes that are either soft leather or fabric (like dyeables) and take them to a shoe repair shop to have the toe box stretched upward to accommodate those hammertoes.

Look at DesignerShoes.com’s SoftWalk brand styles:

For example, Jupiter style:

Softwalk Jupiter Navy at DesignerShoes.com

Jupiter by Softwalk is a Low Heel Casual Flat

Mary Jane straps are a great design feature when you want a wider toe box but have narrow heels. It keeps the shoe on your foot!

Look at DesignerShoes.com’s Trotter’s brand styles:

For example, Heloise style:

Trotters Heloise Pewter Metal at DesignerShoes.com

Heloise by Trotters is a Mid Heel Dressy Loafer

A woven leather will give more flexibility on the top vamp. The vamp comes higher up your foot so it stays on your foot better. The texture makes any “toe bumps” less noticeable.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy styles that have reinforced leather, or toe cap seams across the top of the vamp where those hammer toes will hit. That makes me wince just thinking about it! A seam or a thicker piece of leather will be like steel or a rod against those poor defenseless toes.

Best to your Grams!

The Shoe Lady

New boots for fall…

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Barbara Thornton

Dear Shoe Lady,

With every fall, I get the urge to add yet another pair of boots to my collection. This year, I’ve been looking for a knee high boot in deep cognac or dark brown to wear with a skirt and wool floppy hat (a la Ali MacGraw in the ’70s) or with black leggings and a chunky knit sweater on casual weekends – something comfortable, with a bit of a heel, and not too bulky around the ankles and calves. And not terribly expensive either. And being that I’m a bit on the tall side (5’10”), an extended calf would be great to have too!

Here are a few I’m considering..

Naturalizer Array Oxford Brown Wide Shaft Leather/ Elastic Fabric

Ali MacGraw

Aerosoles Ride Line Brown Pu

What do you think? I would love to see your suggestions as well.

Thanks so much,

Katie

——————-

Dear Katie,

I love both pairs!
Either would go great with causal or more dressy looks, but I prefer the pair in cognac as they have a more polished look and will add a bit more color to your wardrobe (I love wearing my cognac-colored boots with black jeans and maxi skirts).

Here are few more I thought could work too (both are available in extended calf sizes).

Annie Ropper Coach Antique Nubuc Wide Calf

Naturalizer Glassy Dark Sienna Wide Shaft Suede/ Leather

Keep us posted on your findings and happy boot hunting!