Shoe Fit Question - Ankle Bowing Out

Hello Everyone,

I have been a long-time reader of the boards. Finally have something to ask (that I can't easily seem to find an answer to).

I was given a pair of Allen Edmonds, and unfortunately, cannot return them. I do like them, however, their fit seems to be off. When I walk, they bow out at the ankles quite a bit and they're also fairly tight feeling across the top of my foot. Normally, I would have assumed the tightness means they're not wide enough, but based on the ankle bowing out, I am not sure if they're too wide? The shoe length seems to be about right (a US 11) but might possibly be just a touch long (my foot itself usually fits between a 10.5 and an 11).

Anyway, does anyone with more shoe knowledge have any ideas or any way of solving the problem? I was thinking an insert of some sort might help.

Thank you in advance!

If you do a search through Styleforum, you will see others have experienced the same issue with the 5 last shoes, in particular with Strand and Park Avenue. People have attributed the issue to flat feet, wrong last, wide midfoot area, and it could be any combination of those reasons. Regardless of the individual wearing it, if you were to measure the widest part of the opening of the shoe with calipers, you will see that the width is significantly wider on shoes that bulge or flex outward at the ankles than the shoes who do not.


http://www.styleforum.net/t/275567/ae-strand-cordovan-problem-please-help

http://www.styleforum.net/t/356977/allen-edmonds-bowing-or-flaring-on-the-sides/30

http://www.styleforum.net/t/354609/new-strands-awkward-bulging

And the most probable explanation, backed by measurements with a caliper: http://www.styleforum.net/t/141581/allen-edmonds-appreciation-thread/3030


On other forums as well:

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?116265-Allen-Edmonds-Defect