Here’s the deal: My feet are bigger than your feet. They just are. Don’t try to out foot me. Well I take that back, if you have bigger feet than I do I am sorry. Having big feet sucks. A lot. My feet grew fast and starting at age six my shoe size matched my age, thus making that darling saying, “act your age not your shoe size” totally redundant for many years.
At age 12 my feet stopped growing and they remained size 12 until a few months ago. Along the way things have changed over the years in the world of big footed women. There are shoes that actually look feminine and adorable. When I was aged 13-16 I pretty much lived in chucks or docs (aka shoes that I could purchase from the men’s department). In high school I couldn’t find any shoes to match my vintage style prom dress so I bought a pair of men’s loafers from a thrift store and spray painted them.
I was even interviewed by the WSJ for an article about women with large feet where I basically discussed how excited I was to go to college in NYC so that I could buy shoes alongside fabulous Drag Queens. (ahhhh, the days I could pull off a stacked heel are long gone)
So my feet are now a glorious size 13 Yeah, I wasn’t kidding when I said they were big. Don’t get me started on women with size 10 shoes that moan about having big feet. It’s like complaining about being a size 8 to a woman that is size 18. Now if you are rocking a crazy wide or crazy narrow foot you can come sit at my table.
(and of course I have many friends with regular sized feet and I still love them…I just covet their shoes often)
All this is to say that for the last several months I have been living in flip flops and hating it. Sure I can still squeeze into my chucks but who wants to squeeze? (I haven’t tried on my plaid docs to see how they are fitting. They were a bit large when I got them so I am hoping they are still ok. Now THOSE I will suffer for.)
In the past few weeks I have been on a search for a new pair of shoes. I wanted something smart casual, feminine, well made and comfortable. I shopped all the places that have shoes in my size and fell in love with a pair of shoes from Nordstrom only to discover that they didn’t carry my size in the color I wanted. I then went directly to Soft Walk, the manufacturer of the shoe, and was THRILLED that they not only had the shoe, but had MANY shoes that go up to a 13 and beyond.
And so I saved up some funds from the header work and got some new shoes! They arrived today and I am in love. Serious love. I think they are what the old southern ladies would call, “darling”. But the best part is how damn comfortable they are.
We went to visit GM this morning and walking around with REAL shoes on made me feel more human and less sludge. (I have been feeling sludgey for months.)
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Bonus W & GM photo for your weekend enjoyment:
And now, because I am curious, tell me about your feet.
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I come from a family of large footed people..I am not one of them, instead my size 6.5/7 are not only extremely wide but I also have the mother of all arches on my feet..no cute sandals for me
Like you, I used to live in Chucks or Docs..now I’m in flip flops pretty much all the time. Its also not fun when your family comments on how “tiny” your feet are. I can fit my foot with a pair of docs on into one of my brother’s empty shoes and there is still room left over. If you notice I said my size was 6.5/7…that’s not an in between size..my left foot is a 7 and my right foot is a 6.5, now can I come sit at your table?
OMG waaaant! I started out a 7.5 and moved up to an 8.5 post-pregnancy (although you’ll be glad to know it happened after my first pregnancy and I stayed the same after both subsequent pregnancies, so if you have another baby someday chances are you won’t have to replace your shoe wardrobe again) but I have the smallest feet in my family. My (female) cousin actually wears a 14 NARROW; she goes shoe-shopping with drag queens. Although at least she’s a big girl all around (six foot two and big-framed; not fat although not skinny either, just BIG). I think being a tiny little thing with ginormous feet would be just awful. My SO’s mom has teensy little size fives and I giggle when I see her wee little shoes by the door.
I MUST have those shoes now; am a total slut for any kind of Mary Jane and COMFORTABLE? OMG. /drool
You know, until the past few years, my feet have always been something that I’ve loved because for me, no matter how fat I was, or what clothes I couldn’t fit into, shoes ALWAYS fit. I’m somewhere between a 7-8 – But my rub? As I’ve grown more comfy into my more masculine identity, it’s hard for me to buy shoes. I’m a men’s 5.5/6. It is VERY hard for me to find shoes I like that go this small. So. Yeah. Same predicament.
I am a size 9.5 and my feet are very narrow, with extremely long toes. (Ever since I saw a daytime talk show that featured a rodeo rider who lost his thumb and had it replaced with his big toe, I always say if I ever lose a finger, I’ve got 10 backups…)
I can’t really complain too much about my feet, except that I tried on the same shoes as my sister in law, who wears a 6, and they looked so cute in her size and awful in mine. I have noticed, though, that stores will generally only stock one pair of 9.5 in a given shoe, so I often buy shoes in a 10. But I’ve noticed that up to size 9.5, shoes are generally proportioned the same, but when you hit 10, they double in width as well. I totally don’t get that.
And when people say I have big feet, I say, well I’m 5′ 9″, if my feet were smaller, I’d fall over! Unfortunately my aunt can’t say that – she is 5’1″ with a size 9.
I’m a ten. Sometimes 9.5. But they are reeeeealy wide. That means flip flops for as long as seasonally possible!
I want to kiss your son’s nose. He is so cute, I can’t take it. I can’t wait to meet him one day!
I’m now a size 8 and three quarters. Pre-pregnancy, I was an 8 and a half, during I was a nine. Now my feet have shrunk back, but not all the way.
I LOVE those shoes! Where did you get them?
Wow, at size 7.5-8, I guess I hadn’t realized I have relatively small feet. My mom’s like a size 6 so I thought I had medium-big feet!
I was just reading an article about big feet and thought of you. I also have big feet. Size 11WW. It’s not the 11 that gets me, but the WW. Can’t even get my foot in most 11Ws. Ugh. I’m so glad you found some shoes you can wear and enjoy! Thanks to the internet I can occasionally find things to wear, but it would be so nice to be able to go into a store and find all kinds of things I wanted. I guess it does save us a lot of money.
I am a size 6/6.5, which in the UK is something like a 4.5/5 and makes me feel like a small-footed freak. I’m graced with a ridiculously high arch, to the point that I feel as if my foot is just two separate components – heel and ball. I can’t wear completely flat shoes for long before getting back pain and leg ache. Yes, I’m 89 years old.
I am also a size 13 (I’m exceptionally tall so it’s actually proportional if you can believe it). Have you tried 6pm.com or Zappos.com? Zappos.com has cute, affordable shoes in size 13, and 6pm.com is their clsoeout site where the shoes are even cheaper.
Those are “darling.” I have the largest in my family, so a 9 – 9.5 has always felt big to me. Looks like what I thought was big, quite possibly may be average. I guess with my 5’4″ self, I think my shoe size is just not equivalent to my height.
Had to look up to see what you are talking about – 45! wow, you do have big feet
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I usually wear 37, sometimes 38, can sometimes fit 36 [according to the chart, that's about 6-7.5]
I actually did have difficulty buying shoes growing up as my feet are narrow and I was always between sizes.
So glad you found a pair of shoes that you like and are comfortable. I personally pretty much hate shoes. For years now I’ve worn primarily birkenstocks, crocs or flip flops. I haven’t worn tennis shoes in forever since every pair I’ve bought in I don’t know how long hurt my feet and rub sores somewhere.
Ooooohhh super cute new shoes!
I have a fairly normal shoe size, between 8 and 9. But it’s my arch and the width of my feet that cause me great pain in the shoe department. I can’t wear those cute ballet flats becuase my feet are too wide. And my arch is horribly high that I have to have orthodics in my running shoes. Heels aren’t too bad, but flip flops are a no no. Even though I love them dearly!
*HUGS*
Oh, Calliope, the whole shoe thing sucks, when you have cute slim feet taste and big wide/long feet reality. I wear 8 1/2 or 9 wide wide wide. And the worst part is the pinky toe on my right foot. It sticks out, it’s deformed from being broken so many times, and it makes it almost impossible for me to comfortably wear cute shoes. I’m so glad you found a pair you like–always makes life a little more pleasant when you have cuteness on your feet.
I wore a 6.5 to a 7 before I got pregnant the first time. I was so very sad when my feet settled in a full size larger and I had to get rid of almost all the shoes in my closet. I could totally be a shoe slut. I know it’s nothing compared to finding sweet looking shoes that fit for you but it still made me sad. BTW, I love your new shoes.
Love those shoes, they are so cute!!!
My feet are on the bigger side of normal (9) but of course it’s still easy to get my size. My brother’s girlfriend wears a SIZE 4!! Yes, that’s her SHOE SIZE, not her dress size (which is probably a 0).
I would have teensy little feet like my mother (she wears a 7 or 7.5, yeah, small) if it weren’t for my father’s wide foot gene. He (pardon my language here) fucked that up for me. I have wider than normal wide feet and finding shoes? IMPOSSIBLE. I wear Rocket Dogs (the ones without the laces) and flip flops. Forget finding nice, pretty shoes for work in a professional environment. IMPOSSIBLE. Guh.
Don’t forget about small sizes.. they can sometimes be difficult to find too. Of course then you always have childrens’ shoes..
LOVE the cute shoes. Awesome find.
And great GM photo!
My size has changed but I think I still wear an 8. The bad thing is that mt feet swell if I wear unsupportive shoes for too long. I’ve also developed plantar fasciitis which suuuucks.
I have normal size 9ish feet. I never realized how lucky I was until I acquired a friend with super wide feet. I’ve spent hours in shoe stores helping her find one pair of shoes that fit. We were at a conference in Raleigh, NC a month ago and in my travels around town I discovered a place called the wide shoe warehouse. I took my friend there and she thought she’d died and gone to heaven.
I rock a 9.5-10. I always wondered how you get womens shoes past size 11. Not being funny, really I did. Then I was at Ross and TJ Maxx back in the day and the rack went to 13 and there were some hot shoes in big sizes and I wished my feet were bigger. There are so many choices online now for bigger sized ladies feet I’m sure you can get some really cute, hot shoes nowadays. You’re shoes are da bomb. love em!
Actually, I’ve always thought that my feet were one of my best features! I think they’re cute and I have pleasing little short toes. But my feet are fairly wide and square, so I can’t really do many pointy toed shoes, unless I get a larger size. They also went up half a size due to gaining weight (from 8 to 8.5). Now I’ve lost some weight I keep waiting for them to go back down, but no such luck. Maybe another 20lbs will do it.
Anyway, I love your new shoes! Comfy-looking AND cute.
average sized feet, but wide (i assume a little coordination on the universe’s part to match my hips and ass? thanks for the consideration)
recent shoe woes: everyone wears these Dansko Clogs. and my everyone, i mean all the nurses i work with. they are hailed as Teh Best and as such they are spendy. few months ago, i went to the shoe store i have always shopped at for school shoes and they had this white pair. ohhh i swooned hard. i took a pic and texted it to madre and said: “graduation present, please” [they are like $140] and i told her i was trying them on to get her a number.
guess what? wideass feet? not so much friendly with the dansko clogs. and the dansko clogs? not so much in the manufacutring of WIDE widths. (discrimination!!!) i tried a bigger size and despite how heavenly the arch support was (they are kickass for plantar fasciaitis, which i have) the heel was too slippy. i was crushed. texted madre back: never mind.
your new shoes are adorable, cali!
I’ve had a size 12 since 6th grade. my friend is 6’2 and wears a 14. she was never girly so she doesnt care about dress shoes. we had to beg the principal to let her wear docs to graduation. i hate that i cant get sketchers but nike lets you customize shoes and i can get pink ones in my size. pricey but well worth it. payless in some areas go up to 14. you may find a few on their site though. i’ve also found zappos.com has larger sizes. i used to want to write shoe companies and remind them that some women have large feet and would love to wear their shoes.
I wear a 9.5 or 10. My unfortunate 11 year old daughter wears a womens 11 and is flat footed. She is 5’5″ and not even close to being done growing. She has by far the largest feet of anyone in her class and is upset that she is now in the largest size of the “cool” shoes everyone else wears, so as far as she is concerned, she will be wearing boxes after this. Im glad to know there are a few websites where I can find cute shoes for her though, I will check them out. Sandals are almost impossible to find for her, so she usually just wears Crocs. Dress shoes are a joke. Any time we can find a place that carries larger sizes, they only have 1 or 2 pairs in the bigger sizes and are always out of stock.
First off, beautiful pictures. BEAUTIFUL.
Second. Feet. My size got bigger after each baby, BUT, after 6 or so months, I find myself back to the old size. I was even up to a 8 1/2 – 9 and now I definitely wear an 8 again. I bought lots of new shoes (i’m a show whore) in my bigger size, only to not be able to wear them again. Just letting you know, just in case!
I still have my Docs, purchased in 1992. They aren’t plaid, but I still love them. They were a bit big then, and fit perfectly now. *sigh* I love my Docs.
Ooooh….I like the shoes! Very comfy looking, and stylish too. I can’t vote in the poll, but I’m an 11, who could (and should) probably wear a 12 in some shoes, but since I won’t order shoes online (because I can’t try them on, and my feet are hard to fit), I just keep shoving them into 11s. It’s no wonder I have blisters.
I don’t know why but your polls don’t work for me. I just get a column of boxes where I suppose questions should be.
At this point I wear a 10 but I seriously have duck feet – they are really wide and flat. I think for awhile in my 20s when I was super skinny I could wear an 8.5 but those days are long gone – not skinny and a kid later. My mom has bigger feet than I do so I’ve known about the struggle to find ‘good’ shoes for 11+ for all of my life. It would piss my mom off soooo much that she couldn’t find shoes. She is a lot happier these days that there are more choices (granted still not a ton but more) So I have always felt ‘lucky’ to have my size 10 feet because typically this is the cut off for most shoe stores on all sizes.
I’m actually the shrimp in my family – both my parents are taller than me. And my mom is from the land of the giants – she 5’10″ and all three of her brothers 6’3″. I think this is why my 4 year old is already 48 inches tall and 70lbs. He is BIG. His feet are not spared the big gene – he is already in a kids size 1 or 2. Poor kid. My husband has really short and wide feet – so my son has these incredibally long duck feet, like his mama. We get a kick out of how big he is because neither my husband or me are particularly tall.
My feet are size 4 1/2.
No, my family did not practice foot binding. And, no, despite their small size, they are far from cute. Mostly because they’re shaped like tiny little flippers and are almost as wide as they are long.
To put it in perspective, one of my former boyfriends had men’s size 13 feet. I bet him that my feet were as wide as his. I won that bet.
At least (trying to look on the bright side), I have good balance.
I positively love your new shoes! They’re gorgeous and adorable and they look comfy, and they look great on you!
I have tiny feet. Please don’t hate me
g
Your photos of GM and W always amaze me. You have a gift in capturing that special bond and look of love between the two of them. So touching – it brings tears to my eyes – reminds me of how much I love and miss my GM wishing she were here to see my little ‘C’…
(Love your new shoes!)
If your feet are large and wide, there is a place I just found through About.com called Dreamshoes. I wear 14 WW and until now all I’ve been able to find are shoes of the drag queen or stripper variety and even those don’t fit because they’re medium width. They have some darling flats and boots. I just ordered 4 pairs and I’m keeping my fingers crossed! Oh, here’s the site for anyone similarly cursed: http://www.shoesofyourdreams.com.
Way late on this and I know you have other things on your mind, but I just had to share this story.
Brad and I were chatting about shoes yesterday, and he mentioned he wore Doc Martens a lot in high school. He and his friends had a name for the Doc Marten knock-offs that would come out: Physician Assistants Marvins.
Ha!
Thinking of you, Cali.
Here I am in NYC, and why have I never before thought to go where the drag queens go? My feet are a teensy weensy 11.
I’m basically a 12. 11 if I am lucky. I hate when these big foot articles have people responding that wear normal, more womanly shoe sizes. It drives me nuts… they complain that they have wide, or high archs… whatever the complaint, they have cute shoes for you all no matter what your foot condition is! Try having big feet and those issues along with them and still finding no shoes, just ugly water mocasins, or mens shoes, or shoes that look like boats or flats… Or just flip flops. I have to lie to people and my fiance and say I enjoy wearing flip flops when really its because I have so much trouble finding shoes that fit! I wish there was a foot reducting surgery… I would be first in line. They are the worse part of my body and I hate them . When another man told me “you have huge feet for a woman!” I was done. Please dont complain when you have size 11 or under feet. There are solutions for you all. There are. Everyone above those sizes have to continue to struggle and if there are shoes for us, they are way overpriced because they know shoes in those sizes are not sold anywhere else. Its not fair. To have a cute outfit and have to wear flops with it and look like a fool. To the author, I have been there, still there, and the shoes I do wear, which are flops are falling apart so I have to go ‘real’ shoe shopping again real soon. …..