Finding good shoes.

[Dodger67]

I have endless trouble trying to find good shoes in my size (6 UK).
Decent stylish mens shoes just don't come that small here!:scream: My feet are actually only size 3 - 4 in length but because of my very high arches I fit a size 6.
I have only one pair of shoes that one would describe as apropriate for formal dress for an adult man. They cost an obscene amount of money. The rest are sneakers etc from the childrens department.

[angel]

I share your pain and since i walk with crutches most of the time i can't try a size bigger because they will fall off. You can look online for shoes but i will be honest with you when you find them they cost a lot of money. If i find a pair of shoes that aren't pink or have fairies on them i grab em up because it may be a long time before you find another pair.

Angel

[technovicki]

yeah i am big fan of DC skate shoes. They handle wear and tear and lucky for me fit my style of tshirt and jeans. If anyone has suggestions on women's dress I would love to hear from you. My last resort are my Doc Marten boots which are both for men and women.

[misty]

I feel everyone's pain here! I can never find shoes that don't look bulky and weird over my braces, and womens' dress shoes are impossible! I can't wear anything that is not absolutely flat, and I don't know what they've done with all the flats in the world, but I need some!

[erin86]

I usually get my dress shoes from Hush Puppies in girls' sizes. They have a decent selection of not too young looking Mary Janes with a velcro strap in the middle.

During the winter, I usually wear ankle or mid-calf length boots.

I used to wear casual velcro sandals with nice dresses during the summer, but some of my friends have commented that it makes a woman in her 20s' look silly, so I don't wear velcro sandals as often these days. When I do, I usually pair them with casual skirts or shorts.

[Kent T]

I have had good luck with New Balance running shoes and Brooks running shoes. I have high arches, use AFO braces, and am active. I even wear them with my business attire out of necessity.

[Gymp]

...I have had good luck with New Balance running shoes and Brooks running shoes...

Those runners work for me as well as do Airwalks
When something formal comes up I just wear my "newest" runners to go with the suit and tie.

I can't wear formal shoes they bug my feet way too to much.

Gymp

[erin86]

For those of you who are living out of the U.S., I suggest endless dot com. That website offers free international delivery for orders over $100. My last order only took 3 days to arrive.

With the US dollar being very weak now, it's much cheaper to buy from the US (especially electronics, apparel, shoes).

I have been buying a lot of clothes from US websites these days. Even after accounting for postage and chances of misfits, it is still worthwhile.

[Mustang Sal]

I feel everyone's pain here! I can never find shoes that don't look bulky and weird over my braces, and womens' dress shoes are impossible! I can't wear anything that is not absolutely flat, and I don't know what they've done with all the flats in the world, but I need some!

Ohhh I know! All the nicest shoes seem to have heels or are open-toed *sob* I drool over all the pretty, feminine shoes in shops, then end up in the 'boring shoes' section for mine :(

Erin86, I have the Hush Puppies mary-janes - they are nice as 'boring' shoes go, and very well made and supportive. It sucks that us with challenging feet have to spend more on shoes. My feet just can't deal with cheap, unsupportive shoes.

Dodger, really sorry but I can't help with your query. There are lots of websites around, like others have suggested, but you run the risk of them not fitting and having to pay postage for returns. I hope you find something soon!

[technovicki]

Not sure what your price range is but I use to wear these for more formal occasions (14 loop lace-up boots) but now I just wear black sneakers. But I still have a couple of pairs of these and they are still "in style" in the US. http://www.dmusastore.com/c-23-originals.aspx (and they ship internationally)

[Kent T]

A tip, New Balance's sister brand Dunham has some dress shoes which share some technology with NB sneakers. And they're nice looking for gentlemen.

[erin86]

6 UK is children's size? I think 6 UK is big and it's definitely adult size.

Sorry to go off topic, but would it be alright not to wear shoes to formal events, shopping centres, restaurants, etc where you live?
When I was a teen and younger, I generally didn't get stared at by adults for not wearing dress shoes to formal events and high class malls (sometimes I even went barefooted with only socks on). But at my age now, I couldn't get away without disapproving stares.

[Dodger67]

UK shoe sizes have separate number sequences for children's and adult's shoes.

A Size 6 children's shoe is a size a toddler would wear while a 6 ladies is about the average size for adult Caucasian women. A 6 men's is what an early teens boy would wear.

Take a look at this article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_size

[mcco5543]

As a lady Ballet slippers (with strap across the top) have answered my prayers.
They stretch, they stay on. They come in black, white, pink, tan and dyable. I have seen them in siliver and gold (for fancy occassions) and I can dress them down or dress them up. I've worn them to weddings and to a summer BBQ. They're the only shoes I wear now pretty much. Ladies try it. Won't hurt you if you don't like it. Best of all they are readily available in your local (read cheap) shoe store

[erin86]

UK shoe sizes have separate number sequences for children's and adult's shoes.

A Size 6 children's shoe is a size a toddler would wear while a 6 ladies is about the average size for adult Caucasian women. A 6 men's is what an early teens boy would wear.

Take a look at this article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_size

I am aware of that.
I am an adult size 1-2 UK, but shops generally do not carry adult shoes that small; therefore, I have to get my shoes from the children's department. From what I have noticed, boys/girls and men's/ladies shoes of the same size are of the same length.
Sorry, I assumed you meant your size is adult 6 UK (which is a common adult shoe size) as opposed to children 6 UK (adult shoes in this size are non-existent). Have you considered going to a cobbler?

[erin86]

As a lady Ballet slippers (with strap across the top) have answered my prayers.
They stretch, they stay on. They come in black, white, pink, tan and dyable. I have seen them in siliver and gold (for fancy occassions) and I can dress them down or dress them up. I've worn them to weddings and to a summer BBQ. They're the only shoes I wear now pretty much. Ladies try it. Won't hurt you if you don't like it. Best of all they are readily available in your local (read cheap) shoe store

Yep-- I wear ballet flats, mary janes, lace-up shoes, sandals and shorter length boots. Although I have a harder time finding shoes, I am not lacking of shoes! I am fine with all colours.

[Gymp]

...Sorry to go off topic, but would it be alright not to wear shoes to formal events, shopping centres, restaurants, etc where you live?...

It would be for me,as I said earlier I wear my runners with a suit and tie going to dressup affairs.The well being of my feet comes before other people's ideas of what's fashionably acceptable at certain events.I'll bet some of my runners have cost more than some of the dress shoes that people wear anyhow.I've suffered many a blister that have turned into full blown infection from ill fitting shoes.

Just wear whatever works!

Kent T - Thanks for the tip! I'll keep an open eye for the Dunham brand here in Canada.

Gymp

[Kent T]

Gymp,

By the time my left shoe is built up about 1", my New Balance 587 running shoes are close to $200 shoes. When the AFO braces are factored in (I wear Allard Blue Rockers), you're looking then at around $3000 for my footgear. I sure don't know of too many dress shoes that pricey. And that does not include my nearly $450 custom inserts in my shoes and braces. The price of walking, priceless. And my Blue Rockers are insured with my expensive, well calibrated, broadcast test and measurement equipment for full replacement cost. And neither are cheap nor easily replaced, repaired, calibrated, nor adjusted. A necessary part of the well equipped broadcasting businessman.