I’m straying from my home/DIY blogging routine today. The topic of discussion today is shoes. Shoes for those of us with tugboats for feet. This topic came up when I posted a photo of my new black suede wedges on Instagram and Facebook. All my big footed friends came out of the woodwork. So I thought I’d bring the topic over to the blog.
I’ve always had big feet. I’m guessing this is due to the fact that I’ve been 5’10″ since the ripe ole age of 11. I’m. Not. Kidding. I wear size 11 wide shoes. I’ve always worn wide shoes, but they’re more imperative now that I’m an 80 year old woman with a bunion on my right foot. Seriously. I’m destined to not be a ‘shoe girl’.
Alright, let’s start with where I buy my mamajama shoes. I’m not a big in-store shoe shopper because many stores don’t carry my size. But when I feel up to in-person shoe shopping I’ll hit up Nordstrom or Payless. I’m a big fan of online shoe shopping. My VIP Zappos membership may have something to do with that (free 1 business day shipping). Zappos has a great selection and offers free shipping and free return shipping. And you have a year to return your shoes (unworn, of course). Nordstrom has a good selection online as well. One of my Facebook fans recommended Barefoot Tess, but I’ve never purchased shoes from there. Another site that carries larger sizes is 6PM, but I haven’t purchased shoes from there yet either.
Here are some shoes I own and wear on a regular basis in case you’re in the market.
It took me a while to find some good knee high boots. These wide calf Lumiani boots from Zappos are my go-to boots for fall and winter. They’re great boots but they start to hurt my feet if I walk in them a really long time because of the sole. They probably just need some inserts for comfort.
Every girl needs a nice pair of black heels. I love my black patent heels by Bella Vita.
These are the black suede wedges I bought from Payless. I broke them in on Friday night. So far, so good.
I love these wedges by Annie for summertime. I bought this pair last spring, and I love them.
I got these leopard ballet flats from Payless last fall. I wear them all the time. They don’t have them on their website anymore, here’s a similar pair.
I recently bought these nude heels by Trotters. I like them but I’m still deciding. Have I mentioned how much I love Zappos?
Looking for wedding shoes? Here’s mine by Vaneli. Great wedding shoes. They probably would have felt more comfortable than they did if I hadn’t worn crazy tall wedges for 8 hours the evening before our wedding.
Most of my athletic shoes have been Nikes or Asics. Both brands make wide width shoes.
I find most of my inexpensive, ‘trendy’ sandals (you know, the ones that last a year or two) at Kohls, Target, or Payless. I’m a big fan of the Nike Celso sandals. Yeah, they aren’t the most fashion forward sandals, but they’re super comfy and perfect for running errands or working around the house. Sandals are easier for us wide feet folks so wide width isn’t always necessary.
Are you a big footed gal?
Where do you find your shoes?
In completely unrelated news, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s (the guys who perform the song “Thrift Shop”) album ‘The Heist’ (MP3 version) is on sale for $3.99 on Amazon.
Great post! I’ve been 5’10″ since I was 11 too. I wear a size 10 so I feel your pain! Super cute shoes you’ve shared. Megan
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I’m 6′ and wear a size 11 but NOT WIDE so it’s a little difficult to find those larger sizes that aren’t wide. Luckily my husband is 6’3″ – now all I have to do is find wedges that aren’t quite so tall so my husband can still be taller than me :0)
Hah! This was a great post. My husband recently took me shopping for new tennis shoes and at one point he said “It looks like you attached skis to toothpicks.” Thanks honey.
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Although I am 5 feet even and wear a size 5-6 in shoes, I can relate. My mother wears a size 10W-11W and has for most of her life. I completely understand your struggle to find comfortable, fashionable shoes to fit feet that some may consider ‘big’. On the other hand, just be glad that when you shop for shoes, you are not directed to the shoe section directly adjacent (or a part of) the children’s shoes. Dora velcro sneakers really aren’t my style, but they do have my size.
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Ahh, I have the same problem! 4’10″ with size 5 shoes. So annoying. I may or may not have found myself stuffing toilet paper in the toes of size sixes if I am really in love…
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I love other people that have big feet too. I’ve worn an 11 since I was a freshman in high school. My college roommates would clomp around in my shoes and make fun of my giant feet. I’m a total Shoe Carnival girl, I worked there for four years during college and I’m still totally dedicated. I love Zappos and 6pm also.
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I get this!! I wear between a 9 – 10. Seems like all the cute shoes are always in another size, just like clothes, lol.
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Ugh! I used to be a size 10 shoe and that was pretty doable. Since having twins, I’m now a 10-1/2. 11 is too big and 10 is too short. Freaking impossible. Come on flip flop season!
I’m a size 10 and feel your pain. I’m also blessed with “athletic” calves, which adds to the problem. I wear heels for work nearly every day, which means I buy a new pair of black at least once a year. My best luck for heels is at DSW (in-store) or DSW.com. My current fave is the Nine West Elise pump…not too high, but high enough, and comfy. Boots…ah, what a struggle. DSW.com has a decent selection of wide-calf boots, but I prefer Zappos (good selection of wide too), because Zappos has free shipping AND returns, which is key. I’ve had to return my fair share of failed attempts. WideWidths.com also has quality products and offers wide-calf boots in varying sizes, from mildly wide to extra wide, and so on.
I wear a 10 1/2 WW. How’s that for impossible to find. On the other hand, I do all my husband’s shoe shopping because he and I have EXACTLY the same size feet and he hates to shop. If you don’t think people look at me funny skulking around in the men’s shoe department, serrupticiously trying on men’s oxfords! I’ve learned to be thick-skinned about it over the past 35 years. I sure wish it was as easy to find women’s shoes in my size…maybe men’s oxfords will come into fashion for women next season!
Look at Zappos! They carry some WW women’s shoes. Bella Vita, the company that makes my black patent heels, makes WW shoes.
DH and I wear the same too! I often get mens Nikes when I cant get womens 11s. I dont care who looks at me when in the men dept…I’d be barefoot if not for it at timed! Lol.
I’m a big footed girl too! I wear size 10′s and have had luck finding cute shoes at Target. Speaking of Macklemore, are you loving The Heist? I’ve had it on repeat for a week now and it hasn’t gotten old yet!
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I can fit my boats into Target sandals. The shoes are touch and go. Hah! Yes! I love the song they feature on College Game Day.
I hear ya! Like you, I have been 5′ 10″ since middle school and after having 2 gigantic babies I wear a 10 1/2 very wide. So hard to find shoes! I scored those exact black wedges for a wedding last year and it may be the only pair of nice shoes I have. My sneakers are mens because I never found a womens pair in my size. In store at least. I need to start internet shopping more. My husband calls me Marvin the Martian because of my feet. SMH I feel everyone’s pain!
I’ve never bought shoes online before, but this definitely makes me want to give it a try. I don’t have particularly large feet, but I feel like the 8-9s are always sold out in a shoe I like when I go shopping!
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Hello, big-footed girl here.
I also have a bunion on my right foot, it’s so dang annoying!! My heels are eerily narrow though, which makes it almost impossible for me to wear regular pumps. If it doesn’t have an ankle strap, it slips right off!! I LOVE those summer wedges you posted! Very cute. Zappos is pretty awesome, I agree!
At least you have the excuse of height to go along with your big feet! I’m only 5’6 and wear a 10 1/2 wide! My sister gets to be 5’8 and wear an 8. So.Not.Fair.
I love this post. I have large feet as well and am off to check out all these links. Shoes are so hard to find.
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Nice skis.
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Us shorties out there can relate with our small feet too! And yet I imagine that people with average size feet also have a hard time because their size must always be sold out since it’s so popular. Seems that no one wins in this situation!!
And only because I love ya and because it drives me nuts when I do this and trust me I do it more than I would like to admit but in the third paragraph you wrote wear instead of where…blame the 2nd grade teacher in me for noticing! I’m not sure if I am jumping into blogging taboo territory but thought you should know
xo Cindy
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I have a similar situation. I’m only 5’7 but I also wear an 11 narrow. I practically live in Nikes and get dressier stuff at Payless. Not many places in my area carry 11s and I HAVE to try them on so I never order online.
I am 5′ 10″ and wear a size 11 too! My go to shoe store is typically Nordstrom, but if I am looking to spend less on something more trendy then I frequent a lot of the other ones you mentioned above.
I picked up some suede wedges similar to the ‘Dexter’ ones above, but from The Avenue – they came in black and taupe. I love them because they are wide width and they are only a 2 1/2″ wedge. I think they are called the ‘Faith’ if you are interested.
Also, my new favorite sandals are from Land’s End – they have a few wide width options too. They have one named the ‘Trista’ – love, love, love. They are super comfy, and every time I wear them my BFF and sister tell me how they make my feet look smaller. Uh, sold! LOL.
I’m right there with you. I’m 5’9″ and have been a size 11 since I was 12. Since I’m tall, I don’t wear heels very often, but I’ve had good luck finding cute shoes at Target, but size 11 gets gone fast. I also love Payless, I like have all the shoes in my size in one spot. My favorite shoe store is Nine West, they make all of their shoes in size 11 and have an easy online return policy as well. I buy most of my flats and boots from there.
I’m 5’9 or 5’10ish and wear a 9.5, so I’m right there with ya. The problem for me is the heels are always too tall. More than a one-inch heel and I’m taller than Andy, so I am also destined to not be a shoe girl. *Tragic sigh*
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I wear a 9.5 but I’m only 5’5 ish. Yeah…I’m bottom heavy! I haven a hard time finding comfy shoes because my feet are so narrow sometimes I want right out of shoes. I’ve always wanted pretty tiny feet. I can’t wear big heels either because I’l taller than my husband if I do and that drives him crazy. Oh well
Thank you so much for the review! I’m always so afraid to buy shoes online for my 9.5W feet and didn’t realize Zappos offers free returns! Off to shop, thank you!!
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