Does anyone make a good looking women's shoe that actually fits and is comfortable?

[hedgehog]

(I just found this group, so please forgive me if this has already been asked and answered.)

According to the Brannock device, I wear a 7 1/2 C; I've been buying 8 1/2 D

Except - even if the toe box fits, the heel slips off my foot or I end up stepping right out of the shoes because of my high arches.

I'm 60 years old, isn't there naything other than Mary Janes or (ahem) "old lady shoes" that will fit my feet?

Top it off - some of my shoes are now too tight in the toe box and still slipping off my heels!

[woodsprite]

1. Have you tried The Walking Company?

They have a good selection of dress shoes for women and are supposed to be comfortable, but they are pricey. Hubby buys his shoes there. I would love to get into some pretty shoes that work with dressier jeans/sweaters or blazers (my main attire for work) but are nicer looking than sneakers or hikers.

My 'go to' brand is New Balance ever since I've had issues with and had to go to physical therapy for a subluxing patella. The New Balance hikers/walking shoes are built more sturdy with a bar in the sole for anti-pronation and have a decent-sized toe box. New Balance also has some nice dress shoes, but I've been too chicken to spend the money to try them at their price. Waiting for a desire to go shoe shopping and a NB sale to coincide

I had bought a Sanita shoe at DSW that looked like an enclosed clog you see restaurant workers wear. Looked awesome with my jeans and was REALLY comfy (hugged your feet). HOWEVER, the sole was a flexible rubber and had absolutely no support at the instep/arch. When walking, the constant give and bounce of each step totally killed my knees -- feet felt great, knees took the beating, It took me a couple of days worth of Aleve to recover from that adventure!

Hope you find something!

[Worried senior]

15. My husband's brand

is New Balance too.

He had several hip surgeries and regular tennis shoes which his dr. wants him to wear cause him to walk completely on the inside of his foot.

New Balance aren't cheap but he's managed to find some on-line more reasonable.

I bought a pair at Kohls and never could get used to them but they were a lesser model I'm sure.

[grahamhgreen]

2. Try keen

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. Look on zappos.com and read the reviews.

They got everything. I got some nice white summer sandals with lots of straps so they stay on my bony little 8-double A feet.

Also have a 365 day return policy. Great company to deal with.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Cool thing about Zappos is

free shipping and returns. NO questons asked.

Be aware: Zappos has a discount store called 6pm.com.
I have used it over the years.
This year, the web site was acting up, so I tried to place a phone order.
At Zappos, you can talk to people in this country, nice clear connection.

6pm is now outsourcing their calls to the Phillipines, in a very noisy call center where one can barely hear the person talk,
there is a 3 second lag in the phone line.
And they never sent me any emails about order confirmation, shipping, anything.
So I won't be shopping there.

AND...if you like a shoe that at Zappos, check for it on Amazon, it is usually cheaper.

[LiberalEsto]

4. I've had very good luck with White Mountain's Cliffs shoes

They can sometimes be found at incredibly low prices at Burlington Coat Factory.

The only other shoes I can wear are Easy Spirit's mules. Everything else hurts.

[libodem]

5. Important stuff here

I'm bookmarking this for future reference. I have similar problems with finding shoes that fit well. My feet are long and narrow. And now i have effing bunions so I have to go wide, now, too. I got Dr Scholls inserts for my flat feet and wear a pair of big white basketball shoes. Ugly but as effective as orthopedic clods.

I love looking at high fashion shoe styles. I love boots. I could never walk in them.

[Phentex]

11. Bunions rule out so many styles! I have duck feet. Narrow heel, wide at the top...

I can't wear anything strappy. I can't wear ballet flats because the cut is right across the bunion. Anything with a thong like flip flops causes bunion pain. Pointy toed anything is out.

Soooooooo... have custom orthotics for running/walking. And I wear old lady comfortable German shoes from Foot Solutions the rest of the time. I tried a pair of dress shoes from Gabor and they were comfortable enough to wear all night at a wedding. I can do some boots with the help of inserts but I can never go too high in anything.

I always wonder where people with duck feet buy shoes? However, the salespeople assure me shoes for the narrow foot are even harder to find!

[shanti]

14. birkenstocks

i have a flinststone foot and a high instep, with a bum left toe joint, and have always had good luck with birks. i've worn the regular, but the wide really gives room for socks and feels better to me. i realize they are now mostly made in china now though, so all bets are off. bonus is that they are back in style now! woohoo!

as far as athletic shoes, i like new balance and adidas. they seem to fit better.

oh, and uggs

[littlemissmartypants]

7. I love my Taos.

http://taosfootwear.com/shoes/shoes/patina/

I often wear ballet flats. I have to have a flexible bottom or I can't walk. The elastic at the heel is very helpful. I hope this helps.

~ Lmsp 🙌

[hedgehog]

8. I notice those come in European sizes. I've never seen any width variation

with European sizes. Does anyone know how this is handled?

[Still Blue in PDX]

13. Mephistos have wide (they call it "plus") in the Helen sandal, maybe other styles as well. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Another vote for walking company - I've recently grown an addiction to

ABEO shoes due to severe plantars fascitis in my right foot (excercise related).

I'm wearing these today.
http://www.thewalkingcompany.com/abeo-b.i.o.-taylin-neutral-black/38070

You'll probably take a half size smaller - I've invested in 5 pairs of shoes from there the last month - and the fit is unique.

They also have shoes (a pair of loafers I bought) that they can change the orthotic for your specific foot issue.

If you CAN get in there - go. You will do a step test which helps them find the perfect fit!

[PennyK]

10. Easy Spirit is my go-to company

They make lots of styles and some are quite pretty. And they have plenty of various widths. I wear a 7W. My local Macys doesn't carry wide widths but you can get them online at their company's site. And there's an Easy Spirit shop about two blocks from my sister's apartment, so whenever I get back home I grab two pairs.
I also suggest Naturalizer and Aerosoles.

[hedgehog]

12. I see some flats with elastic all around the top -

1. do these stay on your feet - does the elastic hold the heel in place?

2. do these tend to have enough support to be comfortable?

[Demeter]

16. I have high arches too, and a half-size difference between feet

Until I found and bought orthotics, my feet were killing me!

Now, with the proper supporting insole, I can wear anything (but I don't like high heels because of what they do to my toes. I have one pair with box toes that are comfortable, thankfully!)

The alternative is very expensive...try FootSmart to start. They have the orthotics and some very nice (expensive) shoes.

http://www.footsmart.com/Default.aspx