I need girlfriends or a ferrier

June 10, 2011 8:38 PM

Help me find flats for my weird monkeytoes!

Hello all!

So at a ripe old age of thirty-something, I'd like to find some flats or short/kitten heeled shoes for the summer. The problem is I have long, thin feet. I usually wear about a size ten. However, a lot of that is my crazy monkey toes. My feet are super narrow as are my ankles, and I tend to slide forward into anything I wear, leaving blisters at my big toe and gaps between the end of the shoe and the beginning of my heel/ankle. This happens in shoes my size, larger, or smaller. In the past I have avoided the problem by wearing Chucks, Docs, or sandals. But I really want some flats! So ladies of Metafilter, please help me out. What styles, work-arounds, or otherwise brilliant ideas can you recommend?

posted by troublewithwolves to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

Are you wearing actual narrow shoes or trying to wear "normal" shoes? Don't try to wear shoes that aren't actually narrows. (I feel your pain. I wear a 9.5 AA) I only own about 10 pairs of shoes, but they all fit properly. Now that I'm done preaching, I've had good luck with Naturalizer. I have some Mary Janes and some kitten heels from there that both fit well and are comfortable (and cute). Easy Spirit has narrows, too, but they don't carry nearly as many fashionable choices. If you have the budget for it, places like Nordstrom and Sak's Fifth Avenue carry more narrow sizes than say, JCP. (I do not have the budget for it, unfortunately.) Have you tried insoles? I've had a couple of pairs that needed inserts (just from Walgreen's or wherever) to make them fit just right.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 8:48 PM on June 10, 2011

I tend to slide forward into anything I wear, leaving blisters at my big toe and gaps between the end of the shoe and the beginning of my heel/ankle

I agree with Green Eyed Monster - you are not wearing the right size of shoe. When was the last time you were properly measured? Are you wearing actual narrow-sized shoes? Where do you buy your shoes? I recommend going to a higher end shoe place to get fitted and try lots of things on: you do not have to buy a pair of $300 flats if you don't want to, but a proper fitting by someone who knows feet will make a world of difference.
posted by rhapsodie at 8:57 PM on June 10, 2011

If you have the money (or find cute ones on sale) I recommend trying on some really fancy designer shoes, e.g. something along the lines of Prada. Sadly I have wide feet and I've always found that the higher end a shoe's designer, the narrower it is cut (same as clothes).
posted by telegraph at 9:09 PM on June 10, 2011

http://www.barkingdogshoes.com/
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 9:53 PM on June 10, 2011

Oh, I've also got a pair of Naot sandals I've had for....9 years or so? I paid $150 for them, but have obviously gotten my money's worth.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:44 AM on June 11, 2011

Everyone saying you need to get measured is right, and Nordstrom is a great recommendation, but (if budget is a concern or you're looking for a shopping challenge) you might also do well in vintage shoes, which tend to run narrower. The caveat is that they're really hard to find in larger sizes, but if you can find some that are long enough, they might be great.
posted by dizziest at 8:25 AM on June 11, 2011

Have you considered a pair of Vibram Five Fingers?
posted by browse at 8:42 AM on June 11, 2011

Five Fingers are pretty far removed from flats or kitten heels.

I have even longer feet, and I've found Merrells fit well. Would these work?
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:21 AM on June 11, 2011

I used to wear a 9.5 AAAA, and I usually wound up with Amalfi for dress shoes. They aren't cheap, but they last, they fit, and they're pretty stylish.

As a less expensive option, you might also look for flats with an elastic band that criss-crosses the foot. Online vendors also tend to have a bigger selection of narrow shoes than physical stores.
posted by momus_window at 12:38 PM on June 11, 2011

I second the Naot shoes and I would like to add that I get blisters in almost everything. They sell this stuff at the drugstore called blister block- I'm pleased to say that I have not gotten a blister in a while.
posted by ibakecake at 2:56 PM on June 11, 2011

Try Heelies?
posted by serena15221 at 8:48 PM on June 11, 2011

This is blister-management advice rather than shoe advice, but these Band-Aid brand blister ampoules are amazing. They come in smaller shapes meant for toes and fingertips, too.
posted by aka burlap at 8:15 AM on June 12, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks all! I will be looking into many of your suggestions. Sadly, I am a bit budget aware at the moment, so it's sad to hear so many of the solutions are so high end! Dammit! But at least I know where to look. Thanks again.
posted by troublewithwolves at 9:55 PM on June 15, 2011