Extended Sizes: Meeting the Needs of a Few
posted by: HerberWellss in General on January 13th, 2010
In order to become more efficient in this recession, many stores are stocking fewer extended sizes, which makes it difficult for many of us to find shoes that fit. The small sized women are being sent to the children’s department while the larger sizes were being sent to the men’s department. Thanks.
Shomore and I were discussing this because her mother wears a size 4.5 while I wear a size 11. Same problem, different sizes. We wear extended sizes that are typically not carried in the department stores and boutiques. One of the wonderful things about today’s technology is that the ability to online shopping has helped us find makers that manufacture small end or large end shoes. Here are a few.
Stuart Weitzman shoes are made in Spain, so they tend to be narrow and small. His 5.0 is often 4.5 with another maker. On the other side of the spectrum, he also makes size 12. If I find a SW shoe my size, on sale I will usually buy it. They are great shoes and I love every pair I own.
Dipsy Platform $212 at endless.com $190 at Zappos
A small size friend said she longs for a pair of good looking pumps that won’t make her look like Minnie Mouse. She has tons of sling backs because she can adjust the strap, but would love to find a pair of basic pumps. SW has lots of pumps available in both small and large sizes.
To top it off, this same friend has a wide-ish foot. I found a maker that has 4.5 c/d width pumps and booties and not extremely expensive. Sudini. Sudini also goes to size 11. Reviewers say they run small and narrow. I don’t own any Sudini, but I have a pair in my Nordstrom shopping bag, trying to justify their purchase. Give me a week and half and I will probably have them ordered.
For funky style there is Cindy Says. The problem with this maker is they only have whole sizes. Odd. Usually that happens with shoes that don’t require a real fit, like Uggs or flipflops.
I just found a line that makes larger shoes and have a pair in my endless.com shopping bag. They have all the components I look for in a shoe. Leather sole, my size, good reviews, less than $200, don’t look like granny shoes. Samanta
Viv Pony Pump $200. at endless.
These are not the only shoe companies and designers who make extended sizes but they are makers with good reputations and meet the needs of those of us who are at the bookends of the shoe size range. Thanks to online sites like endless, Zappos and Raffaello Ties, we finally have access to these extended sizes. I hope they continue to carry them.
7 Comments
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January 17, 2010 at 3:50 am, Susan said:
Hi shoe lovers, I'm in Spain on holiday and I just saw this entry that says that Stuart Weitzman makes his shoes here. Does anyone happen to know if there's an outlet over here? That would be IDEAL.
Thanks!
January 15, 2010 at 9:05 am, Andrea said:
I too, proudly wear size 11 shoes. And it's definitely easier these days to find really cute large size women's shoes on the internet. I love online retailers like zappos.com, designershoes.com, barefoottess.com and many more. That's why I created a large size shoe blog, Your Feet Make You Unique, for full-footed women like you and I. I love helping women find cute shoes in sizes 11 and up and helping them feel better about the size of their feet. It's one of my passions. I started this blog back in 2006 and it's still growing strong along with the community of full-footed women who visit and subscribe to it. So stop by http://www.yourfeetmakeyouunique.com, you'll be in great company if you wear sizes 11 and up.
Andrea
Because I care. Because I know how you feel. You have a friend at Your Feet Make You Unique.
January 13, 2010 at 12:50 pm, The BigFootDiva said:
I am happy that people are starting to address this void in the market. It is long overdue. I wear a size 11.5 (US), a size that rarely exists in the shoe market. I love to wear fabulous shoes, but it is rather difficult finding them (especially 4inch heels) in my size. Check out bigfootdiva.com to find out what designers/retailers are catering to the big feet community.
January 13, 2010 at 10:28 am, mm said:
I agree on staurt weitzman and via spiga carry 10.5, which is so hard to find. I also use shopstyle to find larger shoe sizes.
January 13, 2010 at 4:45 am, Tiana said:
Please please someone tell me where I can get the Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte shoes featured in todays Trilbey & Natalie????
January 13, 2010 at 2:30 am, galligator said:
The best part about shopping online for larger/smaller sizes may be sites like endless.com where you can shop by size. Then you can select options that are available & appropriate for your age/gender rather than being stuck shopping in the wrong section by default.
January 13, 2010 at 2:28 am, galligator said:
I know Taryn Rose goes down to a size 5, & some of their styles run narrow.
Anyi Lu are also made down to a size 5.
Of course, with designer shoes starting these days at over the $400 mark, a pair of custom/bespoke shoes are no longer that expensive by comparison, either.