Women only - shoe shopping.

[Godiva]

I know we have a reputation for mirroring Imelda Marcos in our love of shoes and shopping.

But I have wide feet. Pontoons. Duck feet.

Shoe shopping is agony. Apparently manufacturers (or buyers) don't believe women have wide feet. So there are only medium width shoes. And I have to go up a half size to find shoes I can wear and even then I have to try on every pair in that size until I find THE pair that is close to fitting. I just hate it.

The only shoes that come in wide look like orthapedic shoes. I mostly wear SAS which are both ugly and expensive. They don't come in dress shoes or in heels.

I had to buy a pair of dress shoes for my recent graduation. There were exactly two pair at Macy's that came in wide. One was black. I didn't like th patent leather but I bought them because they fit.

My mother always warned me never to buy shoes online. But I'm desperate. So I did a search and I found a website that has all widths of womens shoes. From narrow to wide. WW even. All styles too.

They are pricey. But I'll spend $100 on a pair of shoes if they fit well and are well made. Because they'll last longer and get more wear than a cheaper pair that don't fit right, don't get the use and I finally get rid of out of exasperation.

Shipping is free. And returns are free within 30 days. So if they don't fit you can send them back. You can even leave reviews and read the reviews before you decide.

From now on I am never leaving my house to shop for shoes again.

At any rate, I thought I'd pass the website along if anyone else is as frustrated as I am when I have to buy a pair of dress shoes. (For casual shoes I can always wear the ugly SAS.)

They're called shoesonline.

I bought the Söfft and the Børn and love both of them.

[Neicy]

I also have wide feet, but also a full size different. I need to find wide shoes with ties or ankle straps to keep them on my small foot. I love summer cuz I can go barefoot or get away with sandals or clogs the same size.

I have had good luck with wide shoes from JCPenney also for leather ankle boots for the winter. For my sneakers I get Saucony at the Kittery Maine outlet - they come in wide but also run wide in the medium width.

I have spent a fortune on shoes that don't get worn more than once or twice because they just don't fit right or feel comfortable.

They think all women have size 6 medium feet and size 2 or 4 bodies. But they better get real fast - as us baby-boomers age we are not going to be spending our money on designer fashions. I can sew but can't make my own shoes.

[Betelgeuse]

Yes. I know. You said "Women Only" and the first reply is from a man (at least if I type fast).

I have to say that I *love* shoe shopping online (as opposed to in the store). What's not to like? Bigger selection, cheaper prices, and you never even have to leave your home. Yes, there are downsides: you can't try them on to see if you like them, no instant gratification, but as far as I'm concerned, the upsides far outweigh the downsides. In particular, I think a huge benefit is what you've just pointed out: you can get shoes in less usual sizes and widths in a ton of different styles.

Zappos.com and Shoes.com are also quite good.

Edit: Dang! Too slow! Neicy beat me to it!

[boulder_bum]

YouTube - Scrubs - Shoe shopping

[Godiva]

Yes. I knew some men would read this. (And there would probably be more than one post making fun of our problem.)

Hey, I *warned* you this was about shoe shopping.

But face it. Men can go into any dept store and buy a shoe that fits no matter the size of their feet. Because somehow they are recognized as having feet that can be wide or narrow. But not women. We can only have medium width feet. So those are the shoes they stock. About the only brand they carry with wide is Naturalizer. And I found those at Macy's.

Now that I've found both a website that carries a large selection of wide width shoes and two brands I like that are both stylish and come in wide I am one happy camper. If I need a shoe I know where to go. (I finally found a great pant boot to replace the ones I wore out. Thanks to Børn!. I'll be getting a Söfft mary jane flat to replace the ones I wore out next.)

Oh.... lace bra.

[sophia_frederika]

While my shoe problem runs the other end of the spectrum, like you if I find a shoe that fits that pretty much means I buy it and there's no room to take the actual price tag into consideration. Another site, eshoesale allows you to shop by width (including wide and extra wide).

[hyo silver]

Originally Posted by Godiva

Yes. I knew some men would read this. (And there would probably be more than one post making fun of our problem.)

Hey, I *warned* you this was about shoe shopping.

But face it. Men can go into any dept store and buy a shoe that fits no matter the size of their feet....

...Oh.... lace bra.

Men have feet too, ya know. So what if we can usually remember what size they are, and sometimes manage to find two shoes the same with the right number on the bottom. I mean, if it were any harder than that, we'd have to ask for help, right? And it's summer, anyway. Who needs shoes?

I suppose you have a problem with jeans, too. One number is for wide, and the other is for long. Why take all day?

Now, what were you saying about lace bras?

[ny biker]

Oh don't EVEN get me started on jeans.

Thanks Godiva for posting about this site. I've bought some shoes from onlineshoes.com but only when I already know they will fit me, like replacing a pair a running shoes with the exact same model. The main issue for me is that I don't want to have to pay return shipping if they don't fit, so it's great to know that is not an issue with shoesonline.

FWIW, I've been buying a lot from Clark's lately. Their shoes are comfortable for me but most of their styles don't look old-ladyish. I don't know about all of their styles but I did recently get a pair that came in wide.

And you're right, a good pair of shoes are worth paying extra for.

[freshmtt]

Godiva, Do you have Payless Shoe Source in California??? That is my favorite shoe store. I also have wide feet and I can only find shoes that fit me at this store. I wear a womans size 10 or 11 shoe and it has to be a wide size.

I have never really tried to shop for expensive shoes at Macy's or other stores like that because I have never been one for paying a lot for clothes or shoes, so the Payless shoe store is where I go, and frankly they are one of the only places that I can ever find shoes to fit me.

Some people don't think their shoes are all that great of quality, but I beg to differ with them as I have been buying my shoes from Payless for years and I have had many of these shoes for several years and have worn them until they literally fall apart. I love their shoes and they have a very wide selection of dress shoes, boots, gym shoes, sandels, etc..

Have you every shopped there before??

[Godiva]

I have but don't care for the quality. I prefer leather as I can always take it to the shoe repair if needed. I also don't care for their styles. Even if I find a pair in wide, they still don't fit as well. I do buy socks there.