Our internet friend Colleen writes:
I am writing on behalf of my maid of honor, who is too shy to write for herself. The wedding is in five weeks and the dear girl has not found shoes yet! She is a lovely Big Girl with sensitive feet — she usually wears orthopedic insoles, and has difficulty walking in heels higher than an inch and a half. Shoes should be black, closed-toed (no pointy toes, though), come in size 7 regular, and because my pal is a graduate student and coming all the way across the country for my wedding, as inexpensive as possible. The wedding will be in the morning, and she will be wearing a cranberry-red satin. Please help, Francesca!
Francesca was delighted by this letter for several reasons.
First, she is happy to see that the Colleen is not a bridezilla, and is trying as best she can to be sensitive to her friend’s wallet.
Second, she is happy to see that Colleen loves and cares for her friend and wishes to help her friend look beautiful, fatness and orthopedics and all.
And third, though the friend is described as a Big Girl, since she wears a regular width shoe this is technically not a Big Girl question. I was going to send it to the Manolo to perhaps answer on his regular shoe blog, when I realized: We have reached our goal! The clothing and shoes highlighted on this blog are so beautiful, that even when someone needs items in regular sizes they come to us for advice! Hallelujah!
In response to questions by Francesca, we learned that it will be a fairly formal indoor morning wedding, and that the cranberry satin dress will be to mid-calf, not the floor. We also learned that the Maid of Honor likes playful shoes but they must be entirely closed, and would prefer to spend under $50 but would be willing to go up to $80 for something superfantastic (which of course is our goal here at Manolo for the Big Girl). The fact that she wears regular widths makes things easier.
Here are several different models to try. Francesca recommends, since the wedding is in a few weeks and Colleen is clearly becoming anxious, that Colleen’s friend take advantage of Zappos’ generous return policy: Order several shoes, keep what works, and send back the rest. Zappos pays for return shipping! Tip: If an item is “currently not available,” try again the next day. Sometimes items come back.
Here we go . . .
Francesca favors the “Dip” by Ros Hommerson , since they have a playful element while still accomodating (one hopes!) the orthopedic inserts, and offering a good, stable heel for the comfort of the Big Girl Bridesmaid who will be on her feets for many hours, helping the Colleen. . . .
And here are three different models to try, all by the superfantastic Fitzwell:
Stacey, available in three shades / fabrics of black! Here, the black suede . . .
Dawn, made of lambskin
If Colleen’s friend truly must watch every penny, she could try the Hush Puppies Gem IV . . .
And finally, here is a very adorable black shoe with a kitten heel by Gabriella Rocha, called Ellie, which might suit if the toe is not too pointy:
Congratulations, and let us know which shoe is “the One”!
xoxo, Francesca
I would venture to guess that there are a lot of Not So Big Girls visiting and absorbing the superfantasticness. If I am remembering correctly, the Manolo’s original announcement of Manolo for the Big Girl prompted an extended string of enthusiastic comments from ladies of many shapes. I prefer to think of it as Manolo for the Girls Who Have a Really Hard Time Finding Clothes That Fit (and Enjoy Having a Place to Vent About It). :-)
Comment by in la — October 15, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Wow, I love that first pair! I have trouble with heels too, but I so often feel stumpy (or stumpier) in flats. But most of these are totally cute; very nice job collecting.
I wouldn’t wear suede with satin (though that may just be me), but the suede flats are still very pretty in themselves.
Comment by Bridey — October 15, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
I also really like these:
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7350413/c/116024.html
Sort of pointy but does not feel pointy at all. This is my new favorite concert black flat.
Comment by sara — October 15, 2007 @ 6:08 pm
I like Dawn and Ellie the best. The first one, IMO, looks kind of childish with the larger bow. For a formal wedding, I think a sleek look is the best.
Comment by me — October 15, 2007 @ 7:02 pm
Those all look lovely. Thank you for the recommendations, Francesca! I will certainly let you know which shoe she chooses.
Comment by Colleen — October 15, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
Just wanted to note that not all big girls have wide feet. :) Up until a couple of years ago I wore narrows (now I’m up to regular width) and am most definitely fat.
Comment by pearlandopal — October 15, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
riffing off pearlandopal, i would also like to note that many not-so-big girls DO have wide feet. like moi. further, they are wide and SMALL (6), which make me growl in consternation that many, many shoes that do come in wide, don’t come in wide below a size 7. grrr.
that you talk about the wide shoes is not the only reason that i frequent this wonderful blog, despite my non-bigness. but it is an important one.
Comment by lazydaisydays — October 16, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Shoes are fantastic….I’d buy a pair of same style from josef seibel collections….thanks
Comment by dina — October 16, 2007 @ 10:06 am
When I started reading this blog I was a big girl in every sense of the word. Then shortly after I picked up some mysterious neurotixin that led to a severe case of gastroparesis. I couldn’t eat or digest anything aside from Ensure for six weeks. It may not have been the healthiest thing ever, but I’m back to enjoying food and life now, but I’m still not gaining any weight. I’m technically not a plus size anymore after losing almost 30lbs, but I still read you guys every morning, for your fabulous and funny advice.
However, I’m still 5’10 (I don’t see -that- changing any time soon, unless I lose my legs!) so I’m hoping one day you’ll have some spectacular links for slacks available in tall lengths, and blouses that are longer in the torso ;) Being a DD or an F cup with a long torso, I’ve got the miserable problem of all my shirts riding up and exposing my tummy when I least want them to.
Comment by Diane — October 16, 2007 @ 11:05 am
I’m not a big girl in any sense of the word, but I read this blog because Plumcake cracks me up and because a lot of the issues discussed (body image, self-esteem, etc.) are relevant to women regardless of size.
Comment by Cat — October 16, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
I’m another Big Girl with average-width feet (albeit a size 9). There are issues that Big Girls of all foot widths face, like how so many shoe manufacturers think the only women who wear their products weigh 90 lbs and float everywhere they go. I nearly fainted to discover cute, 2.5″-heeled boots at Torrid that didn’t make me think I was about to fall over sideways with every step. But they buy with the knowledge their customers want to walk and dance in the shoes, not just sit there and be decorative. And if any of those shoes prove to support my orthopedically twonky feet and ankles, I will be a very happy girl. I’m sick of being stuck in flats!
Comment by Lysana — October 16, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
I love the sweet sensitivity of this bride, & the beautiful answer too– particularly its wide range of options & its recc. of the wonderful free-shipping-returns Zappos. I wish, though– a little plea, here?– that people would consider daytime dress material for daytime weddings? I’ve been a satin-wearing, morning-wedding bridesmaid twice, once in pink & once in cranberry. Satin before evening feels– awful. Love both of these friends dearly, but I was embarassed. Satin is also very, very hard on anyone who isn’t stick thin– it clings to all of the wrong places because unlike cotton, or wool, or linen– or velvet in the evenings– it just won’t drape. It’s too stiff. I felt upholstered– & upholstered for an evening wedding before lunch, at that. Difficult for the self-conscious, & the body-self-conscious particularly.
Comment by Monique — October 17, 2007 @ 4:32 am
another medium-sized girl with size 10 medium-width feet (i call them my “german peasant feet”). not only that, but one is half a size bigger than the other! i love this blog because, as another poster commented, women of all shapes and sizes can appreciate the struggle to find quality clothes that fit and flatter and make us feel superfantastic. that, and the writing is excellent. : )
Comment by amy — October 17, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
I’m just adding my voice to the chorus of any-sized girls who read and love the blog. No one should wear flip flops, no one should wear sweats outside the home or gym, and everyone should be superfantastic. Y’all do a marvellous job.
Comment by jen — October 17, 2007 @ 1:33 pm