Finicky feet? You’ll want to try these shoes…
Many of you have mentioned that you need shoes to accommodate wide feet and/or bunions. While I’ve never experienced bunions, friends of mine who have tell me they can be quite painful and make walking for long periods difficult.
Shoes for wide feet and bunions
So when the nice people at Sole Bliss contacted me and offered me some of their shoes to try, I thought this might be a brand you’d want to know about. I checked out their US website, and thought their sneakers looked really cute. (Plus they have a side zip for easy on and off, one of my very favorite features!)
Sole Bliss Sneakers
These sneakers (gifted) are available in several colors and finishes. They run about a full size large. I’m usually a size 38 in European sizing, but found the 37 was a better fit. They’re plenty roomy in the toe box but don’t look any wider from the outside than my other favorite sneaker styles.
They aren’t stiff, but aren’t super “bendy” either. The insole is well padded, and there’s some light arch support. Yes, they are very comfortable, and after wearing for several hours, felt like they had molded to my feet.
The color is a darkish metallic bronze, which IMO is a great neutral! And it comes with a pair of sparkly laces too.
Save 15% on Sole Bliss shoes with code FEMME15
Not just sneakers
Sole Bliss also offers several other types of footwear including dressier styles. Fans include the Duchess of Cornwall and Helen Mirren. (In fact, after articles appeared in the UK press recently about DoC buying several pairs, there was a “run” on the sneakers! They will be restocked soon.)
You can read HERE how the shoes are specifically designed to accommodate wide feet and bunions.
If you’re cautious about ordering from a UK brand, don’t be! They have a US website, and offer free shipping and returns!
And they’ve kindly offered my readers 15% off with code FEMME15 !
Just a note: I’m told the Bronze sneakers I’m wearing should be restocked soon. But I love the Star sneakers that are currently available too!
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Thank you for this recommendation. I’m going to try them. I don’t have bunions but have foot pain in shoes from arthritis in the big toes (also resulting in bone spurs on top of the big toe joint – I sure wish that bunion zone in the shoe also wrapped up a bit to the top!). At any rate, it does mean I need more room in the toe box to be comfortable. I can find stylish sneakers that work well (paul green, vionic) but dressier flats and low heels usually look super geriatric – I’m encouraged by the stylish look of their dressier shoes. I’m not sure the Dutchess of Cornwall is a style inspiration I’ll ever admire haha but the pics on their site of Helen Mirren in their shoes – well YES to that
Thanks for clearing that up. I initially was confusing it with the Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) and was surprised at her choice but impressed! After a Google search, it seems the duchess of Cornwall is Camilla. That makes more sense.
I’m still going to try these shoes – they seem tailor made for my foot.
Now how about helping those of us with narrow feet, AA or AAA? Besides sneakers it is difficult to find shoes that don’t look like they are made for the frumpy geriatric set.
I’ll keep an eye open and share what I find.
I have the same sensitive narrow foot. I also need arch support!! ugh!! The only shoe I can find these days is Monroe and they have a few more current styles if you look on their website or at Norstrom. Thanks in advance, Susan!!
Yes, please!! Having to find shoes for narrow feet can be equally frustrating. Thank you!
Frumpy geriatric set? An older person might take offense at those adjectives.
Thank you for pointing that out, Marci. Getting old is not for sissies as Betty Davis pointed out. We need to support each other and have compassion instead of making jokes at someone else’s expense.
Nope. I’m 70 and I don’t want frumpy geriatric shoes either. They actually have more than black which is hard to find in my wide foot!
Ferragamo used to run narrow, though I haven’t checked lately
Too bad they don’t offer any choices for tall women with size 12 feet.
I second that. There aren’t many options for size 12, narrow, and finicky to boot.
I keep waiting for shoe manufacturers to realize that a lot of women have larger feet these days. In the Before Times, I volunteered at Dress for Success. Most of our shoe donations tended to be smaller sizes, but many of our clients requested size 10, 11, 12 shoes, and also wide widths. We had to purchase those sizes using our cash donations. I know there’s a demand for bigger sizes, why don’t they make more of them?
I also admit to a personal interest in this subject, since I have a six foot tall daughter with size 11 feet!
The mirror view of your complaint is the decreasing availability of smaller sizes, particularly in anything but an average width. Manufacturers and vendors just play to the middle, to maximize profits.
Candy -not sure if you are in the US, but Zappos has 7000 pairs of shoes in a size 12, ranging in prices from $20-$800.
Thank you for recommending a wide shoe. I have tried many brands and let me say it is so difficult to find a quality, comfortable, and stylish shoe for wide feet. My mom had very narrow feet so I was always looking for her too. Easy spirit is the brand I keep going back to. They aren’t the most stylish nor the best quality but I’m desperate so I sacrifice. Thank you again:) Have a great day!
Thank you for the wide foot shoe ideas! Such a struggle to find shoes that fit.
These look great! I can never find nice dress shoes for my wide foot, or even great sneakers. I am looking for the sneaker I want to be restocked. Stylish!
How unbelievably rude to say “frumpy geriatric set”
What did I miss? Did a rude comment get deleted?
No, someone made a comment that the only shoes they could find were “frumpy geriatric” styles. I’d rather we don’t pile on anyone here, but will say I’d love to see us untangle the concept of “frumpy” from age-related modifiers. Anyone of any age can look frumpy, just as anyone at any age can be stylish.
Right you are, Susan. Men are never described as “frumpy” either. It’s another way to bring women of a certain age down, along with that other antiquated denigration, “spinster”. Language is a weapon. Ageism, sexism, racism all involve words that cause harm.
At least women don’t have the term, ‘beer gut’ thrown at them as men do. Older men cop a lot of stick when seen out about in shorts with their pot bellies and untucked shirts , complemented by hairy legs and sandals (even worse if socks are worn) The term ‘spinster’ wasn’t age related, and simply referred to an unmarried woman. The only terms I find offensive these days are ‘Karen’, or ‘ok boomer’ as they are genuinely meant as age related insults.
Thank you. The thing with bunions is that one must avoid stitching or seams across the bunion area. These look to have both. Wide toes boxes are a must. Any rubbing can cause irritation and inflammation.
Inside where the bunion area would sit, it’s smooth and stretchy. No seams.
I had to look for the side zip because it’s so well hidden. Clever design.
I pronate and have minor bunions. For serious fitness walking New Balance are my only choice. Good arch support but also motion control and stability. For daily walking and more fashionable styles Vionic, Rieker, Remonte, Fit Flop all are fashionable and supportive. A friend of mine who is a physiotherapist reports that the worst thing we can do for our feet is wear orthotics and the best thing is to learn how to exercise to strengthen and stretch the foot muscles. I actually found out that my horrific foot pains while fitness walking were from ‘over correction’ of my pronation and a unstable shoe. Once I found the right shoe I stopped experiencing pain. I walk barefoot whenever I can and always have a tennis ball to exercise the feet when watching TV.
“Spinster” was used outside of official documents to mean an unmarried woman over the age of 25. In the popular lexicon, something was wrong with and undesirable about such women. A more obscure term was “Christmas cake”. As the saying went, nobody wants fruitcake or women after the 25th.
There are all kinds of hurtful terms, even the one that says, “all lives matter”. The implications are often worse than the words.
Here’s to no more of this kind of behavior. It is divisive, and drives people away from blogs.
I think those sneakers look cool. Luckily I have no foot problems, but comfortable shoes are always welcome.
Greetje
I am so grateful that you published this find, Susan. My wide feet and bunions on the right foot have made shoe shopping and wearing painful (in different ways). I ordered the Sole Bliss ballet flat in denim- it arrived today. At first glance my reaction was that no way does this cover my bunions, but wearing them proved me wrong. I also like how the fit discourages pronation. The shoes are nice looking and will get a lot of wear this spring and summer. I will be back for more. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing! I don’t have bunions, but I have wide feet and most of the brands you share here are too narrow for me, including the Ecco sneaker that seems to work for everyone. I ordered a pair of sneakers from Sole Bliss but forgot to use your discount code. Sigh. The good news, I guess, is that the size I ordered (my normal size) is too big and they are out of stock on the size I need, so I’ll be returning for a refund. They looked cute on my foot, not clunky at all, and didn’t give me clown feet. I’ll keep an eye on their sneakers as they hopefully restock, and hopefully your discount code will still work if I see something in my size!
I have bordering on wide feet, high arch/instep. Dressier shoes or boots are tough to fit, casual slightly better. FitFlop is a staple, Allbirds wool sneakers, Birkies, wore a pair of New Balances into the ground. I like the bronze sneaker and tempted by the Tess loafer/slip-on style.
Susan, when does the coupon expire?
I’ll check on the expiration date. It’s still good at this time.