Mission impossible - smart, flat, wide fitting and comfortable shoes?

[Okite]

Pretty sure these don't exist or I'd have found them years ago
I need some smart(ish) shoes for work - have been a SAHM for years so hasn't been an issue for a while! I have big (size 8), wide (e fitting at least plus bunions) and fairly painful feet.
I can't wear heels, I can't wear ballet shoes because they always come across the widest/most painful bit and rub.
Shall I resign myself to buying some men's brogues and be done with it?

Thank you Okite for starting this thread, I have similar issues and finding smart shoes with the right heel height and a strap (so low to mid heel Mary Janes, basically) is proving as difficult as finding jeans that fit! Hotter seems to have some codes to get a discount for multiple pairs and I have seen a couple of styles I might try. I cannot wear ballet pumps or the completely flat heels that seem to be everywhere, nor can I cope with heels higher than 1.5 inches. Nightmare!

I have wide large feet and I too find Clarks come up narrow just lately. Will try to find link to recent metallic loafers success...

Also got lucky in the past with Red or Dead brogues (soft, stretchy leather), Gabor, Camel Active, Oxygen. German brands are good generally.

And I can gain valuable millimetres by wearing nude pop socks instead of proper socks.

Hmm, they don't seem to have the metallic loafers on the website. Sorry. They were good because they weren't pointy.

I ordered some fitflops recently. They had some good offers in the outlet bit. Sadly they came up very wide on me, but they might be good for you?

I look for a nice thick sole these days to cushion my foot, nice and spongy does it. Some shoes even have memory foam in. I think that platforms also have potential to be a good choice for comfort because a) they could come with a nice thick spongy sole and b) they compensate for the pressure on the foot from a moderate heel quite well, while c) giving height.

I'm a size 8 too, I've got some great wide fit smart work shoes from Debenhams the good for the sole range, they have a bit of padding on the sole so they're super comfy!!

I've been trying out the two pairs I've already bought and am not convinced of either of them. I'm going to go shopping again tomorrow and try some men's shoes on. It really shouldn't be this hard! Good job I've got a few weeks. This is why when I do find a pair of boots that fit me, I buy multiple pairs and wear them year in, year out!

OK, the Hotter shoes arrived today. They are a lovely wide fit, but unfortunately are really wide all the way up so most of them (with low-cut fronts) gape really badly. I did get one pair which fit ok, how do these look?
After trying on a gazillion pairs, I just can't wear any without a strap across the foot, they either flap about if they are wide enough for my toes or squash my poor old bunions if they are tight enough on the instep/heel.
I really hate shoes.

My Hotter shoes came yesterday, they are fantastic! I got the Vivienne heels and Valetta heels. Sizing is generous (5.5 perhaps on the larger size for me compared to Clarks). Heel height is perfect, I feel stable walking in them whereas other heels are too narrow and I fall over or turn my ankle. Thank you for starting this thread, at last I have found a source of nice smart and comfortable shoes (after YEARS of searching).

I saw these from Jigsaw on another thread the other day but they only go up to a 41, these Ecco ones are similar and go up to a 42, if they are not wide all the way to the top they may stay on your feet better.

Also these not my favorite looking pair but IMO they are nicer looking than the Hotter ones..

This make are ridiculously comfortable and are often found in the same sort of shop that sell Reicker shoes.

Gabor do wide fit in loads of styles. Them and Reiker are both
very comfortable.

I've also invested in some shoe stretchers and stretching spray. And amazingly found a pair of black loafers in Tesco today that fit perfectly and were reduced to £7!