Narrow Shoes

The Problem With Standard Shoe Sizes

Finding narrow shoes isn't easy. In fact, for those of us with narrower-than-average feet, shoe shopping can be more of a nightmare than a joy. In the past, shoes came in a much wider variety of sizes. Half-sizes and wide and narrow fittings used to be much more commonplace than they are today. Handmade shoes, which were made to measure, were also much more widely available.

In these days of mass-production, many shoe manufacturers have adopted a "one size fits all" kind of attitude, where shoes are created in a range of standard sizes, with very little in the way of flexibility. That's bad news for those of us with narrow feet, who frequently find ourselves stepping right out of those standard sizes!

Where to Find Narrow Shoes

Luckily, as shoe manufacturers and retailers get used to the idea that we're not all the same size, narrow shoes are starting to pop up again here and there, with some of the major retailers dedicating sections of their websites or stores to helping shoppers find those difficult sizes.

Zappos is one such retailer. At the Zappos website you can search for narrow shoes for men, women, or children. There's even a notify form which allows you to enter your email address and be notified every time a new narrow style is added to the site.

ShoeBuy.com has a similar setup, with shoppers able to specify whether they require their footwear "narrow" or "extra-narrow".

Not sure just how narrow you need your shoes to be? OnlineShoes.com has a handy online conversion chart at their narrow shoe shop, which allows you to easily work out what size you should be ordering.

Some other stores currently stocking narrow shoes include:

• Arthur Beren
• James Inglis
• Shoes.com
• JC Penney
• Pied a Petit
• Maryland Square
• 6pm.com

Still Can't Find a Style You Like?

It's time to get creative. There's nothing more frustrating for the narrow-footed woman than finding the perfect pair of shoes only to discover that it doesn't come in her size. Remember, though, that just because your local shoe store doesn't stock the shoe in a narrow fitting, that doesn't necessarily mean that the narrow size doesn't exist. Shoe retailers will only order shoes in the sizes they think will sell. If you have your heart set on a certain pair of shoes, it's always worth asking the store to contact the manufacturer to find out if a narrower fit is available. Small, independent stores may be more willing to do this for you purely because they need your business much more than their larger counterparts.

Whatever you do, however, don't be tempted to buy shoes that don't fit properly just because you can't find them in a narrow size. Poorly fitting shoes hurt more than just your feet. They can also cause back problems, and will probably cause your bank balance to take a bit of a bashing. Chances are high that you'll give up trying to walk in them. Then, you'll be back at the store searching for a pair that actually fits!

With the growth in internet shopping, there's a greater variety of shoes out there than ever before. Keep searching and sooner or later you're sure to find the shoes you want, in a size that actually fits.

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