Best heels for petite feet?
March 15, 2016 7:35 AM Subscribe
I'm a short lady with teeny feet. I'd love to gain some height and/or style from time to time with the right footwear, but it's so hard to find heels that fit and aren't just the worst.
Some more information: I wear about a 5/5.5 most of the time. For flats, boots, sneakers, etc. this isn't really a problem. Sometimes I have to dip down into children's sizes, but for the most part, I can find the shoes I need.
Except for heels. The problem seems to be that most heels (like most shoes, really) are made from a sample blueprint that's normally like a size 8 or so. By the time they whittle the shoe blueprint down to a size 5, which is normally just a matter of taking real estate away from the toes and back of the shoes, I'm left on a three inch heel and barely any foot left on the ground for balance. The proportions are all off, and I can't walk in them. I've run into this problem with shorter heels as well.
I just want a comfy pair of tiny heels or heely ankle boots that I can wear to work sometimes. Flats are great 99 times out of 100, but sometimes, you just need some heels.
Help me, tiny footed Mefite ladies. Tell me where you find tiny heels that actually seem like they were made with tiny feet in mind and that don't totally hobble you. I'm used to embracing the radical comfort of flats, so the comfier the heels, the better. Thanks!
Some more information: I wear about a 5/5.5 most of the time. For flats, boots, sneakers, etc. this isn't really a problem. Sometimes I have to dip down into children's sizes, but for the most part, I can find the shoes I need.
Except for heels. The problem seems to be that most heels (like most shoes, really) are made from a sample blueprint that's normally like a size 8 or so. By the time they whittle the shoe blueprint down to a size 5, which is normally just a matter of taking real estate away from the toes and back of the shoes, I'm left on a three inch heel and barely any foot left on the ground for balance. The proportions are all off, and I can't walk in them. I've run into this problem with shorter heels as well.
I just want a comfy pair of tiny heels or heely ankle boots that I can wear to work sometimes. Flats are great 99 times out of 100, but sometimes, you just need some heels.
Help me, tiny footed Mefite ladies. Tell me where you find tiny heels that actually seem like they were made with tiny feet in mind and that don't totally hobble you. I'm used to embracing the radical comfort of flats, so the comfier the heels, the better. Thanks!
Size 4, I recommend going to Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack
posted by driedmango at 8:42 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by driedmango at 8:42 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am a size 4.5 and I have bought multiple heeled shoes from the Little Shoe Store, both online and in the location in New York City. It's the first time I've had adult-looking shoes that fit very easily and are comfortable.
posted by armadillo1224 at 9:26 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by armadillo1224 at 9:26 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Size 5-5.5, Euro 35 here. My secret is Insolia weight-shifting inserts, which add a bit of back arch support to shift weight from the ball of the foot to the heel. They don't take up room in the shoe, so don't size up.
And, of course, buy the best shoes you can find to start with. The most comfortable I've tried are from pricey comfort brands like Munro and Beautifeel, but style is a problem. I love Chie Mihara, which can occasionally be found on sale for under $200, for beautiful and comfortable high heels; she frequently does 3" with a reasonable design, like with a small platform. But for actual walking or extended standing on a dressy occasion, nothing beats a 2" heel for me.
For ankle boots, if the heel is max 1.5" I will treat it as a flat closed shoe: size up a quarter to half size (I always buy 5.5) and add a Dr Scholls Orthotics for Her 3/4 insert (I think it's purple). YMMV if you have higher-volume feet though; my feet are medium-wide in the toes, narrow heel, but relatively narrow through the instep.
posted by serelliya at 10:12 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
And, of course, buy the best shoes you can find to start with. The most comfortable I've tried are from pricey comfort brands like Munro and Beautifeel, but style is a problem. I love Chie Mihara, which can occasionally be found on sale for under $200, for beautiful and comfortable high heels; she frequently does 3" with a reasonable design, like with a small platform. But for actual walking or extended standing on a dressy occasion, nothing beats a 2" heel for me.
For ankle boots, if the heel is max 1.5" I will treat it as a flat closed shoe: size up a quarter to half size (I always buy 5.5) and add a Dr Scholls Orthotics for Her 3/4 insert (I think it's purple). YMMV if you have higher-volume feet though; my feet are medium-wide in the toes, narrow heel, but relatively narrow through the instep.
posted by serelliya at 10:12 AM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, the pricier shoes are better because they're just better made and they also sometimes will actually MAKE much smaller shoes that you anticipate. (I'm a 5/5.5 with a super high arch.) My best fitting shoes are -- I hate to say it -- Prada. (I got them on sale!) That said, LK Bennett's also work on my small feet.
I would go to the nicest department store in town and just try on like a shitload of shoes, to be honest. Then, once you know how the high-end ones fit you, you can buy them for cheaper on places like TheRealReal. (Like, I'm a 35 in Prada and they fit me really well, but am a 36 in Loubs.) And then just invest in a couple of them. I've had some of my pricier shoes for well on ten years and they've been worth the money.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:24 AM on March 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
I would go to the nicest department store in town and just try on like a shitload of shoes, to be honest. Then, once you know how the high-end ones fit you, you can buy them for cheaper on places like TheRealReal. (Like, I'm a 35 in Prada and they fit me really well, but am a 36 in Loubs.) And then just invest in a couple of them. I've had some of my pricier shoes for well on ten years and they've been worth the money.
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:24 AM on March 15, 2016 [2 favorites]
5/5.5/35 euro here. One of my fave pairs of heels is from Clarks -- though, to be fair, these took a LONG time to break in, and were very painful at first. I do agree that designer shoes fit best, but am poor, so here's a cheap option in case you're poor, too: ModCloth's house brand, Graham Street Shoes, makes small heels that are stylish and comfy, with little break-in time. Naturalizer occasionally makes a good heel, as well.
Camper makes great shoes in 35, too.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 7:21 PM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Camper makes great shoes in 35, too.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 7:21 PM on March 15, 2016 [1 favorite]
Try eBay - you can refine your searches to scroll through thousands of high heeled pairs your size in seconds. I buy second hand but you don't have to. (Although I'd be less worried about wearing shoes pre-worn by petite lady-feet than big man's feet). Plus, if they're not exactly the right fit, it usually doesn't matter because you only paid a little for them.
posted by guy72277 at 2:20 AM on March 17, 2016
posted by guy72277 at 2:20 AM on March 17, 2016
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http://www.thelittleshoestore.com/
posted by falsedmitri at 8:32 AM on March 15, 2016 [2 favorites]