I haven't been able to go into a shoe store and buy shoes for years now. This is due to my feet swelling and the more I walk around and try shoes on the worse they get. Trying on wide shoes doesn't work because I normally have a narrow foot with a very narrow heel. My solution has been to wear my daughters hand me downs since they are already stretched out and fortunately we wear the same size.

I never go barefoot, did it too much as a kid, and was born with a "C" width foot and an"E" width foot, so finding shoes has always been a nightmare. When you add to that, that as I have aged, my feet went from a size 9, to the size 11 that they are now, buying shoes has never been fun for me, until I went to a free class my health insurance sponsored about taking care of my feet. That is when I had a gait study done and was told to buy Birkenstocks with special inserts. Well I went to buy the shoes only to discover they are built too narrow for my 'fat foot'. When I was bemoaning my luck, the sales girl pointed me to a brand called "Alegrias". Success! Not only do they fit well, but they come in fun prints (over a hundred) and many styles. They do cost as much as "Birkenstock" but are much prettier. I did find them online for about half as much, but those may be 'last year's' if that matters to you. Can you tell I love my new shoes? (Without my new shoes I have to use two canes to walk, but with them and the inserts, I can walk unaided. My own little miracle!

The picture below is the pair I got so you can see one of the fun designs, and they match everything I own!

Being in AZ, if you go outside, it is fair to say, you will be wearing some type of shoe. But I was born bare foot and I will die bare foot. My grandmother had a terrible time with bunions, my mother had less problems but still had problems. I refuse to wear heels and I don't have a problem with bunions. Now, will my daughters listen, no!

I discovered NAOTs a few years ago, we were going to Hawaii and I wanted sandals that would also be a little dressy. Went to shoe store and they showed me NAOT sandal, the feel on my foot was heaven. They have great arch support with a wide toe box and the insert is replaceable. There was no break in period and I now own 7 pairs, they last forever. They are expensive ($150 and up) but your feet will love them.

I wear SAS or New Balance. Nobody else carries a double wide in women's shoes. I'm fed up with being told that "nobody" wears a double wide shoe. I do!! I wish I could find comfortable shoes that fit me for less then $100+.

I have to wear shoes that have good soles. I have a broken bone in my foot and have had it for the last 3 years. Dr told me to always have a good pair of shoes on my feet. I had a shot this last winter and it sure has helped with the pain and swelling that I had.

Pat in MN

Truthfully have not read all response. I agree our feet change over time... particularly as we age. I have ugly aryhritis in my feet. Live in flip flops. probably not the best choicebut it works for me.

Skecher's are pricey, but I have 3 pairs and live in them. Finally a shoe I am totally comfortable wearing.

I buy my shoes at The Walking Company, 1/2 sizes, different width, the Abeo line has built in orthotics. They are expensive but so worth it. I think the website is www.thewalkingcompany.com

I have a problem I've not seen addressed here. My foot is extremely narrow. I wear a S or SS...8.5. Even the expensive shoes seldom have a size that I can wear. So, I wear a cheap tennis shoe and Good Feet arch supports. I can cinch up the shoelaces on the tennis shoes so that they work and feel comfortable. Like so many, the front part of my foot has widened, but never the heel. When I use to wear heels, I had to wear only ones with an ankle strap to hold them on.....I guess it isn't profitable for companies to make the "odd" sizes.....:(