The Long and the Short of It...

Tips on Tuesday

So you are special...not your average foot size and feel limited in your selection of shoes in your size. Any customer I have had with feet longer than a size 10 and shorter than a size 6 has that longing in their sole to just pick up a pair of shoes on display and try them on in her size.

Of course, men's sizes and kid's sizes can often work but obviously the styles aren't always what you are after...but if you are looking for athletic or duty shoes this can be a good place to start.  Also, be sure to hit the sale racks and if you have small feet and live in a big city be sure to go to "sample sales".

Many retail stores carry a limited selection of small and large sizes.  It is not that the shoe store owners have it out for you...it is just a matter of dollars and cents.  Size 8 1/2 is what pays the rent, utilities and employees.  Be sure to support your local shoe stores that do specialize in hard to find shoe sizes or they will have to cut back on their selection...making the problem worse.

Online retailers have some advantage in terms of offering a wider variety of styles in your size.  They often can pull directly from a vendors stock so they don't actually have to have the size in their own warehouse.  Also, they typically can carry a larger amount of stock because they are not using any physical "showroom" space to display their products. Thus, more room for more sizes...hurray!

The Long of It...look for styles with a rounded or blunt toebox and straps that run horizontal across your feet if you want your feet to look smaller...but I say...embellish your feet with any shoe you love that fits great. These online retailers specialize in your size: barefoottess.com and longtallsally.com

The Short of It...look for styles that have an elongated toebox and straps that have vertical or diagonal strapping if you wish for your feet to look a bit longer...but I say...celebrate your feet with any shoe that fits perfectly.  These online retailers specialize in your size: alonai.com and  cinderellaofboston.com

In general, zappos.com and shoes.com offer a wide size range in many styles.  You can search their inventory "by size" so that you are presented with choices that actually come in your size. 

Love and Fit First,

abigail dagmar