Comments on: You asked for it: Shoe Help

By: in la

in la — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:29:15 +0000

12-not-42 folks: so it’s not just me! I’ve actually e-mailed Zappos’ customer service about this. European sizes are much more standardized than U.S. sizes, especially on the high end of the range, but a U.S. 12 is generally more like a 44/45. Zappos is usually pretty good about noting when the manufacturer uses European sizing, but I have gotten surprised once or twice with a 42 when I wasn’t expecting it. Disappointing for me, and expensive for them (processing lots of returns).

By: Shazza

Shazza — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:54:33 +0000

I just bought a pair of Clarks (Calpurnia) and they were immediately comfortable and have proved great for non-fitness walking, even with the 2″ heel. Clarks will be a go-to brand for me from here on out. Zappos carries a large selection of Clarks, and you can sort there by width as well as heel height.

By the way, I am lovin your Marcelle’s, and may have to grab a pair myself! Though I agree with the commenters here, my 11+ feets *barely* make it into Dansko’s 42s.

Good luck with your search, Mel.

By: class factotum

class factotum — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:17:02 +0000

An EU 42 is supposed to be a US 12? In what universe? I think the sizing might be the same in Chile, where I lived for two years. To find boots for my enormous American feet, I had to buy 42s (which were actually small men’s shoes).

I wear an 8 1/2.

By: Anne (in Reno)

Anne (in Reno) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:10:30 +0000

I happen to have LARGE, wide feets and have had good luck with Clarks, they come in wide widths and, I would assume, smaller sizes, not having had a chance to shop for anything under a size 12 in years. The point is, they are slightly less expensive than the Danskos and Eccos but are well made and while some of their styles run a bit artsy and wacky, they are now the primary brand in my closet. They can be found on sale if you are lucky and my mom swears by their walking sandals while I have some flat, slip-on sneakers from their Privo! line that I live in. I just spent some time doing a clean and polish on some of my dress shoes and realized they are all Clarks! My point is, they make nice flat dress shoes and cute, comfortable sneakers and are (I think) a good alternative to some of the suggested brands here. That said, part of that is that many of the suggested brands here don’t come in my size so I can’t vouch for the Keens or Merrels except for their mens lines (much less cute, bleah). AND, a EU 42 is more like a US 11, I can only wear a EU 43 and sometimes not even that.

By: Margo

Margo — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:18:10 +0000

I think Mel is my foot twin! I have the small, wide feets (which match my small, wide body), and I LOATHE buying shoes [/blasphemy]. I will come back and bookmark all of these links, and commit all your superfabulous advice to memory.

By: monkey

monkey — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:05:11 +0000

T said:
“No matter what Zappos says, an EU42 is not the same as a US12!”

oh, hell yes! This drives me crazy all the time. I don’t know where they get these size charts. I wear a 10.5 (when they exist, more often an 11) and I have some Euro sized shoes in a 42 that are actually a bit short (but are open-toed, so it works okay). There is no way a 42 is the same as a 12!
My New Balance running shoes are marked US11/EU43 which sounds a whole lot more accurate.

And I’ll add a secondhand +1 to the recommendation for Keens. (second hand because I don’t have any experience with them myself, but a friend of mine who has small and wide feet has wonderful things to say about her Keens)

By: Icy

Icy — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:46:13 +0000

Someone I know has super small, super wide feet and she swears by Kumfs http://www.kumfs.co.nz/home/home.aspx. I wear them too (with my average feet) and find them really comfortable as well.

By: oliviacw

oliviacw — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:28:18 +0000

I have wide feet too. I have a pair of mary jane style shoes from Ecco that I like very much, and have had good luck with some of the Nike G-series shoes (which are sold mostly with Cole Haan, but some are marketed just as g-series).

By: MsChilePepper

MsChilePepper — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:28:36 +0000

I have these big ol’ wide Fred Flintstone feet, 10.5 WW. Yeah, super fun to find shoes that fit, don’t look grannyish, and can withstand my lots-of-walking lifestyle. Even worse to find a dressier shoe that doesn’t have a ridiculous heel. I refuse to wear a heel any higher than about 1.25″. They’re horrible for every part of your body.

I’ve had the best luck with Munro shoes. Their newest styles are SUPER cute, and while they are not cheap, I can vouch for their durability. I absolutely kill cheapie shoes, but not my Munros! They last for years. Propét has the widths and a decent selection of shoes for walking, but their styles leave a lot to be desired. I did just buy the Maxigrip Walker, which has a Doc Martenish look, and they’re working out fabulously. Also bought a pair of their sandals this summer, and they were great, too. I’d sworn never to buy any of their products after working for the company and being abruptly laid off after I’d completely revamped the entire office filing system, but fit wins out over principles, alas.

Use a comparison-shopping website like BizRate or Froogle to find the best pricing online, and always ALWAYS Google for a coupon or pormo code before buying online! Several of the shoe websites offer free shipping, both for the initial purchase and for returns, so you can’t go wrong, really. ShoeBuy.com is one, and they also participate in the MyPoints.com program, as does Footsmart.com.

By: ericaceous

ericaceous — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:52:18 +0000

I too have the walking commute, the walk-ful lifestyle, and very wide foot that is well-suited to the Dansko Marcelle. I also loathe the way that most mainstream sneakers look, so I have found some other options, that though not as superfantastic as I may like, are nevertheless suitable for both walking several miles a day and my casual office.

Shoes that work for me that may also be an option for Mel include:
- some of the Softspots brand n WW sizes: Although, as a commenter above noted, some are very hideous, there are some flat options that are not hideous. If the memory foam is too squishy and not supportive enough, Mel could add some firmer insoles.

- If Mel hates sneakers, as I do, then she could look into walking shoes from Keen. Some of the women’s styles will probably fit. Some of the boy’s styles may also be an option. I have a pair of the men’s shoes that remind me of a classic Chuck Taylor shoe (except they fit my very wide foot and have better cushioning and shock absorbtion). Keen shoes are all about the dark and bright colors for the active person.

-I have tried on the very handsome Dansko Diana shoe recommended by Francesca, and was sad to discover they did not fit. That whole collection (dansko calls it “Charlestown”) is constructed around a far narrower last than some of their other offerings (like the Marcelle). I think Mel should still try them ou since her foot is not my foot. However, if she is disappointed by the fit, she might want to try some shoes from Dansko’s Chelsea line. These are more casual than one might prefer, but I can say that the Giselle mary jane, available in both newbuck and smooth leather, look far nicer in person in a foot than they do on the website. They also have really great cushioning and support without any of the sliding around that Mel may experience in the Marcelle. I am sure that the same can be said for the Gracie ballet flat style shoe.

Best of luck to Mel! It is very tricky to find the right shoe for the superfantastic superwide foot that does a lot of walking!