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Original poster

Gaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!! Buying shoes is such a nightmare if you're a size 8...

42 replies

MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 22:53

I used to be able to buy shoes most of the time but these days I think either my feet have grown or sizes have shrunk. I'm not sure which.

Where do big-footed girls buy funky, interesting footwear that's not going to burn a hole in their pockets? I am probably between an 8 and a 9, and have relatively slender feet so Evans are far too wide (and also horrible styles). I reckon a reasonable price for a pair of shoes is £50-£65, and I wear mainly flats/ low heels.

Any help gratefully accepted!

OP posts:
nancy75 · 21/06/2009 22:54

clarks go up to a 9, but not in all stores and not in all styles (helpful i know) you could try giving their customer services a call and see which would be the best store close to where you live.

LastOrders · 21/06/2009 22:56

Brantano are good.

I'm a size 8 and don't find it a prob, but then again I do live in trainers!!!

thumbwitch · 21/06/2009 23:00

Mrs MH!!!
I sympathise, I really do! Even though I am only a size 7-7 1/2, I have had this ishoo all my life too until the last few years when 7s seem to be more accepted as a size. Certainly in my teens and twenties I had real probs getting nice trendy shoes that fit

Because of this I loathe shoe shopping so sorry, am not much use! You could try going to a Far Eastern country for a holiday and getting a few pairs handmade to fit you, so they last for the next few years!

plimple · 21/06/2009 23:02

I had this problem the other day and intended to spend about £50/£70 on a nice pair of comfy Summer shoes. I tried on allsorts and most size 8s didn't fit!! Ended up buying trainers in TKMax and flat shoes from a discount shop - only place I could fit into size 8s. They were only £8, but they weren't the super comfy summer shoes I wanted.
I'm pregnant and wanted a trainer/shoe hybrid that looked pretty - I know they exist, just not in my size it seems.
Or am I now a size 9?

thumbwitch · 21/06/2009 23:05

plimple your feet have probably "spread" or something equally horrid now you are pg - mine did - so you may well be a 9 now.

psychomum5 · 21/06/2009 23:05

after having been on a long shopping trip this weekend with two friends, both of whom are sz8 shoes, I feel for you....they had a good few issues.

however, they found a pair each in primark, oasis also do pretty slim fitting shoes, altho my friends only bought from the sale rail, and then newlook also have started doing up to sz9 and seem pretty good!

HTH

Lazycow · 21/06/2009 23:08

I have this problem too i used to be an 8 which wad bad enough but since ds was born mine have got bigger. I think this can happen after pregnancy. I used to live in Kingston on Thames and would buy a lot from here www.after8shoes.co.uk/. You can buy on the website but I could never work out what size I was so would just try them on in the shop. I have pairs that are 9 and 10 from them but I don't think they are UK sizes - maybe they are US ones. They do narrow fittings as well.

Now I have moved to the provinces I shall be barefoot soon - I can't find any shoes.

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 23:08

thumbwiiiiitch! I hate shoe-shopping, too. When I hear people talking about how much they love shoes and that they own 700 pairs, my first thought is: 'That's not a creative way to spend your money' (that's my alter ego Self-Righteous Judge Merry speaking); and my second thought is: 'I cannot imagine ever juxtaposing the two words love and shoes'.

Not that I have designs on Imelda's Impeccable Collection; I just want to be able to have my feet look nice and feel comfortable.

I will try Brantano (or Asia!).

I hate trainers. I will only wear them for exercise. I don't mind trainer-inspired shoes for mucking around, though, and have just bought these, then checked online and realised they do a size 9 (filled with horror at the thought of going up a size from my massive flippers). So I'll have to order a new pair for exchange (I think my house move will take precedence).

Am I now blethering?

Plimple - maybe you like those Next shoes? Huge sympathy to you.

OP posts:
TequilaMockinBird · 21/06/2009 23:10

MrsMerryHenry, I'm pleased it's not just me!

I too am an 8 and thought that either my feet were growing again or sizing was getting smaller! I find it's not just the length but also the width which seems to have gotten smaller!

I bought a new pair of shoes the other week before going away on holiday and I got them from New Look! They go up to 9 now and also do wide fitting.

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 23:10

Foot spreading...hmm, that sounds familiar.

Thanks for link, Lazycow, not my style, I'm afraid, but I'll keep the link just in case.

OP posts:
Cadelaide · 21/06/2009 23:12

I've bought some nice size 9s in Next before now

Lazycow · 21/06/2009 23:15

Actually I've just checked and they have a great section on size and fitting so I might try ordering some.

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 23:16

I normally don't like Next for anything apart from clothes for DS. However, when one's feet are so mighty, you have to suck up your pride...their shoes aren't too bad, though, if you look hard for the goodies.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 23:17

Nancy - I feel depressed that most of my shoes come from Clarks already! I used to be able to buy shoes anywhere, but now it has to be leather and it has to be Clarks.

OP posts:
plimple · 21/06/2009 23:18

Size 9 feet, bloody hell now I really feel like an ugly sister. Please say they'll go back to the more reasonable 8??
Don't mean to offend any size 9ers out there, but I've always felt clumpy at 8.

Lazycow · 21/06/2009 23:20

What sort of thing are you looking for?

Lazycow · 21/06/2009 23:23

Plimple - They may well go back to your normal size but sometimes they don't. Mine didn't. Something to do with spreading ligaments I think.

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 23:28

Plimple - I guess that makes me your ugly twin! So far my feet haven't gone back but I still have a stone to lose.

Lazycow - anything! Just shoes that will fit me and look nice, for all occasions.

I have a pair of size 8 sky-high wedding shoes from Schuh (own brand) which fit beautifully (bought those post-preg as well) but they're not great for chasing DS round the playground...also their shoes are borderline teen/twenties, and I'm definitely beyond my 30s!

OP posts:
thumbwitch · 21/06/2009 23:33

have you tried ebay? They might have some that work for you - the shops on there I mean, rather than the individual sellers. But again, you have the risk that they won't fit so well.

Lazycow · 21/06/2009 23:34

How about htpp//www.bigshoeboutique.co.uk?

Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 23:37

thumbwitch, I did ebay a beautiful, funky pair of heeled Doctor Marten's - I love them (mine are pink!). But they were ever so slightly small and even though I've worn them a dozen times they are still not comfortable enough to walk in for a whole day.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsMerryHenry · 21/06/2009 23:38

Great link, lazycow!!

OP posts:
Lazycow · 21/06/2009 23:40

Am going to order some myself I think.

plimple · 21/06/2009 23:42

Wow at bigshoeboutique!!! Thanks

thumbwitch · 21/06/2009 23:44

Wow, Mrs MH - those are seriously fab boots - WOT a pity they're just that bit too small. Have tried putting stretchers into them? (If you can still get stretchers, that is - I had a schoolfriend who used them cos her feet were beyond H width or something - turns out she was a man in the wrong bod, which has since been corrected so now she doesn't have shoe ishoos )