As a tall girl, I have a bone to pick with shoe stores
I’ll say it — shoe size matters. I’m a size 11-11.5 in women’s shoes and while being tall and having literal flippers as feet can be quite handy (I can always reach the top shelf and swimming is the PERFECT sport for me), I can never find shoes in my size. It’s SO frustrating — I swear I’m not giving Tall Girl energy, but it does suck.
See, most shoe stores only stock up to a size 10. It’s outrageous — you won’t be catching me at the local Spendless Shoes or Billini, because they don’t stock my size. Don’t even get me started on trying to hop onto those cute microtrends; on-trend shoes that cater to bigger feet are literally not sold…
And it’s not like this is a new thing; I’m talking about a lifetime of not being able to wear the shoes I want. A lifetime of struggling to find school shoes (I resorted to rocking mens sport shoes as a teenager). I hate to think of the endless hours I’ve lost during my search for a decent pair of boots (I’m a stomper kind of girlie) to wear to parties, weddings and high school formals.
So yes, I have a massive bone to pick with shoe brands. Luckily, in my vast search for cute shoes that actually go up to a size 11 and beyond, I’ve found a few hidden gems I now swear by.
The first on this list is my girl ASOS and her in-house brand, ASOS Design. While there aren’t anywhere near as many options for the BFGs — big-footed girlies — there are still quite a few! I’ve found so many wardrobe staples here, as well as super cute on-trend shoes that have become my go-tos, all for a pretty affordable price point. And the best part? ASOS caters to the wide-foot girlies, too.
Another brand that’s on the same sort of vibe, which I discovered via The Iconic, is Dazie. I got my favourite pair of white boots from this brand, and they’ve never failed me (I’ve had these for at least two and a half years, and have tested them a heap of times).
Next on the lineup is one of the first size-inclusive brands that I discovered way back in high school. Wildfire has every kind of staple shoe you’d search for — and yes, there are actually cute shoes in a size 11 or 12. (Plus, these are festival-approved by moi!)
I’m also a sneaker girlie, so you can bet that I’ve been searching for cute trainers that are comfortable and made for women. Now, I’m only buying men’s shoes by choice. Luckily, I discovered GOAT a couple of years ago and it’s SO great.
You can opt to buy a new pair of sneakers, or pre-loved ones in mint condition. I also realised that there’s a verification process for each purchase, so I wasn’t stressing about being ripped off.
I also included a super sustainability-friendly brand on this list, because we love a brand that’s all about bettering the planet <3. Zeroe does footwear that ticks the boxes of cute, sustainable and comfy. Whether I’m looking for a classic boot, breezy slides or slip-on mules, Zeroe has got it — and it’s available via The Iconic and Betts.
Last up, another reliable sneaker brand. New Balance is so adorable, from the chunky and supportive styles through to the aesthetic beige-vibe runners. These ones are made for aesthetic and practicality, and heading into summer I’m about to be doing a whole lot more activity, which is perfect. I’m excited to look cute while on the run — literally.
Written by Nishika Sharma, a tall girlie who’s always looking for size-inclusive shoe brands. You can follow her at @nishikasharma_ on socials.
Image credit: ASOS, Instagram + Punkee