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Women’s Shoe Fitting Guide

Women’s Shoe Fitting Guide

Women’s shoes that fit properly are essential to your everyday comfort. It’s worth spending an extra bit of time measuring your feet to see what size you need and considering whether you need wide or narrow fitting shoes.

If you do end up buying shoes that are too large or too small, there are ways to remedy that, but you should never wear shoes that are terribly uncomfortable as you might end up doing damage to your feet. We can help you get it right first time, so you’ll be able to buy the shoes that suit you and provide your feet with daily support and comfort. Just take a look at our shoe fit guide to make sure your shoes fit like a glove!

Shoe Buying Tips

Shoe Buying Tips

  • Your feet swell during the day, so to make sure you don’t buy shoes that are too small, try them on at the end of the day.
  • Make sure shoes fit properly by standing up in them when you try them on. This will distribute weight evenly over your feet.
  • If you’re going to be wearing socks with them, make sure you wear them when trying your shoes on.
Wide Fitting Shoes For Women

Wide Fitting Shoes For Women

Unless you buy your shoes from a retailer who sells shoes specifically designed for wider feet, there will be a standard “one width fits all”. If the width of the shoe is pinching at the sides of your feet or squeezing them to the point where they are uncomfortable, you might be best to opt for wide fitting womens shoes.

If you've found it difficult to find fashionable wide fitting shoes before, fear not! We have a range of wide fitting shoes in stock and online, so you can find the perfect fit and style for you. Shoezone wide fitting ladies shoes include brands like Comfort Plus and Softlites to provide you with a variety of styles to choose from.

However, you'll also find that some shoe styles fit differently to others. Opt for the following when you're looking for wide fit shoes for women, and you might not need to opt for a specially designed wide fit option:

  • Choose shoes with one or two straps only, as multiple straps can constrict the feet
  • Look out for adjustable features, like buckles or elastic
  • Choose round toes over pointy ones, there will be more room for your feet
  • Select suede or soft leather that moulds to the shape of your feet
Narrow Fit Ladies Shoes

Narrow Fit Ladies Shoes

Similarly, if shoes are generally a little too wide, you can opt for narrow or slim fitting shoes. You might need them if your footwear is constantly slipping or rubbing because there's too much room in the shoe. Narrow fitting ladies shoes are also available from some retailers, but here are some features you can look for if you'd prefer not to opt for specific narrow fit shoes:

  • Opt for lace ups that can be adjusted and tightened
  • Try a pointed toe rather than a round, they might be more suited to your slim feet
  • When looking for narrow fitting sandals, choose ankle straps to keep shoes from slipping off

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How Styles and Fastening Affect Fit

How Styles and Fastening Affect Fit

The advantage that women’s lace up, easy fasten and buckled shoes may have over shoes that simply slip on, is that should they be a little on the large size, they can be tightened making them ideal shoes for slim feet. Laces can be tied tight enough to lessen the slip of your shoe, but never tie them too tight or they may also become uncomfortable. Buckles can be used in the same way, and could save you hunting down expensive womens narrow fit shoes.

If you have wide feet but love heels, then pointed toes and super high heels might be out of your comfort zone. Try opting for round toe styles and thicker heels to even out the pressure on your feet.

Narrow feet are easier to accommodate, though your feet still need support – try lace up shoes so your feet get the comfort they need without slipping around in shoes that are too wide.

Amending the Fit of Your Shoes

Amending the Fit of Your Shoes

There are several ways to amend the fit of your shoes, and whether you can do this depends on the style of the shoes.

  • If your boots or trainers are too big, wear an extra few pairs of socks. This is great in the winter as your shoes fit more comfortably and they keep your feet warm, but this is less desirable in the summer.
  • For women’s flats, ladies boots and even heels you can pack the toes with tissue or an old sock.
  • An insole, usually designed for extra support and comfort can be a great way of taking up space in shoes if they are too loose.

If you’re crafty, you can use a needle, thread and an elastic band to make your shoes fit more snugly. Here’s how:

  1. Stretch a strong elastic band across the back of the heel.
  2. Sew the elastic band into the heel, keeping it tight as you go.
  3. When you let the elastic band go, the material will draw in, giving the shoe a smaller fit.
Wearing New Shoes In

Wearing New Shoes In

The easiest way to break new shoes in, is by wearing them around the house a few days before you’re due to wear them for a longer period of time.

If they’re particularly stiff, then wear them for ten minutes at a time until they soften, and then wear them for longer and longer at a time.

If your shoes are leather, then heating them slightly will make them far suppler. With a hairdryer, warm your shoes up. Slip them onto your feet whilst they are warm – this will stretch them slightly. Repeat this a few more times and your shoes will be well and truly broken in!

You can get your shoes professionally stretched by a cobbler – this shouldn’t need to be done though unless they aren’t getting more comfortable despite stretching them. The techniques above work well for stretching calf length boots that might be a little too small for your legs.

Buying Shoes Whilst Pregnant

Buying Shoes Whilst Pregnant

According to podiatrists, when you are expecting you should choose a shoe that supports your arches (they’ll be flattened under the weight of the baby), and something that supports yours toes and heels. It’s a well-known fact that wearing stilettoes after your first trimester of pregnancy is bad for your joints, legs and feet.

Buying shoes whilst your feet are swollen from pregnancy may be a little trickier than usual. Opt for a size up or a pair of wide fitting shoes – as your feet go back to their normal size after pregnancy don’t invest huge amounts of money in them. They may not fit after the baby has arrived, but just like maternity wear, you might need to invest in some maternity shoes! Ladies wide fitting shoes for swollen feet are just like other wide fit shoes for women, providing comfort and extra wiggle room.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Hopefully our advice has given you a good point of reference to find the shoes that fit you just right! Everyone’s feet are different and even in the same size, some shoe styles can feel more or less comfortable than others. It’s always best to try them on, and no matter how much you love them, don’t wear ill-fitting shoes. Wide fitting shoes in fashionable and stylish styles are becoming more and more widely available, so you don’t need to sacrifice style for fit. Happy shoe shopping!

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