• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • We would like to welcome House of Huntington as an official Affiliate Vendor. Shop past season Drake's, Nigel Cabourn, Private White V.C. and other menswear luxury brands at exceptional prices below retail. Please visit the Houise of Huntington thread and welcome them to the forum.

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Shoe brands for narrow feet?

Daneel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
65
Reaction score
2
My last purchase, a pair of Barker Chukkas, may well be the first footwear that actually fits me correctly. In the past, any laced shoe (which is just about all of them) will pull until the two sides meet, suggesting that it is too wide. With these new boots, there's about a 1/2" gap which seems about right to me.

The problem is, I'm finding it very difficult to find other footwear of similar width. The chukkas I bought are size 7 width D (UK sizes). From the barker website, nothing in their current range is available in that width.

Quality wise, I really like the Barkers. They aren't perfect but are more than good enough so I'm hoping to stay in the same price range; they cost me £120 ($180) reduced from £160 ($240).

So, I'm looking for recommendations. I need a pair of black oxfords (I'm considering the barker Arnold even though the width is E) and a pair of black chukkas (I'm trying to track down some Loake Kemptons to try on but I'm not convinced they will be good enough quality wise or slim enough), or chelseas at a push. I tried on some Cheaney chukkas, 7F and they were huge in both width and length.

Any help would be much appreciated. I'm in London btw.
 

ManofKent

Distinguished Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
8,665
Reaction score
20,963
It might be worth giving the Barker factory shop a ring or email to see if they've got any stock in a D - they're very helpful (contact details on their web site). I wouldn't bother with the Loake Kemptons - they're decent quality for the money and sleekish, but the 026 last on F is pretty much the same width as Barker's F width so I suspect they will be way too wide.
 

Ed Sullivan

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
238
Reaction score
1

Daneel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
65
Reaction score
2
Originally Posted by ManofKent
It might be worth giving the Barker factory shop a ring or email to see if they've got any stock in a D - they're very helpful (contact details on their web site). I wouldn't bother with the Loake Kemptons - they're decent quality for the money and sleekish, but the 026 last on F is pretty much the same width as Barker's F width so I suspect they will be way too wide.


Thanks. That was an interesting phone call. When I said I was looking for width D she said they didn't do them. I replied that was very strange because I had a pair on my feet! She then said that they might have been made for a foreign market, so I then told her I bought them two weeks ago on Regent St in London
smile.gif


She took down the code on the inside of the shoe, will have a chat to the factory and get back to me.
 

Daneel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
65
Reaction score
2
Originally Posted by Ed Sullivan
What about the AEs Park Avenue, which is on a narrow last? Comes in AAA, AA, A, B and C ultra-narrow to narrow widths.
http://www.allenedmonds.com/mens/dre...k-avenue.shtml


I spotted these. They probably would be fine. The problem is they are already over what I wanted to pay (I feel the Barker shoes are at the quality level I need and are priced under $250). In addition, I think I'd have to import* AE shoes in the UK, which would incur shipping charges plus duty and VAT on top (about 20%).


*I just looked them up, a quick google finds the park avenues for £279, more than twice what I just paid for the Barkers.
 

Daneel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
65
Reaction score
2
Barker called me back, the D width shoes are made to order for foreign markets so I'm out of luck.

However, the E fitting is supposed to be only 1/4" wider than the D, so hopefully the Arnold will be fine for my oxford requirement. Now I just need some black boots!
 

Ed Sullivan

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
238
Reaction score
1
Originally Posted by Daneel
I spotted these. They probably would be fine. The problem is they are already over what I wanted to pay (I feel the Barker shoes are at the quality level I need and are priced under $250). In addition, I think I'd have to import* AE shoes in the UK, which would incur shipping charges plus duty and VAT on top (about 20%).


*I just looked them up, a quick google finds the park avenues for £279, more than twice what I just paid for the Barkers.


You can get factory seconds for under $200 or find used ones on e-bay even cheaper.
 

TKDKid

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
679
Reaction score
6
You can try sizing down on shoes made on an elongated last. At your price range, you might be able to find something on the 348 last at C&J's factory shop.
 

jsherman02

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
998
Reaction score
1
Originally Posted by sho'nuff
AE is almost literally made for narrow white caucasian feet.

Not really....as I have a D-C width and they never fit me...too much material!

Ferragamo is a good brand for narrow feet, as well as C & J 348's.
 

Daneel

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2008
Messages
65
Reaction score
2
Originally Posted by TKDKid
You can try sizing down on shoes made on an elongated last. At your price range, you might be able to find something on the 348 last at C&J's factory shop.

Do I just call them up and ask what they have? A thread I found elsewhere said they did mail order.
 

WhateverYouLike

Distinguished Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2008
Messages
1,629
Reaction score
41
Originally Posted by sho'nuff
AE is almost literally made for narrow white caucasian feet.

I always found most AEs to be too wide, even when I get a B...
 

embowafa

Distinguished Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
5,654
Reaction score
59
the Salvatore Ferragamo Tramezza line.

their D widths are super narrow.
 

TKDKid

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2004
Messages
679
Reaction score
6
Originally Posted by Daneel
Do I just call them up and ask what they have? A thread I found elsewhere said they did mail order.

Better still, since you're in London, just take a trip up to Northampton and see what you can find!

You should keep an eye out for shoes on the 341 last (an elongated round toe last) as well as the 348.
 

callen

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2006
Messages
65
Reaction score
0
I wear an 11B. Alden and Allen Edmonds might be your best options. Unfortunately in the sub $400, but still with quality construction (their styling has been greatly debated) these two are the best options I have found.

As many have said you can get very good deals on AE on Ebay. for reference the Park Ave last (#5) is their most narrow and their website lists what others are on that last. The new strand and 5th Ave look nice in my opinion.

Good luck. Seeing your post reminds me of how much I wish CJ's were made in narrow widths.
 

Featured Sponsor

How important is full vs half canvas to you for heavier sport jackets?

  • Definitely full canvas only

    Votes: 55 35.3%
  • Half canvas is fine

    Votes: 61 39.1%
  • Really don't care

    Votes: 17 10.9%
  • Depends on fabric

    Votes: 27 17.3%
  • Depends on price

    Votes: 28 17.9%

Forum statistics

Threads
505,206
Messages
10,579,292
Members
223,893
Latest member
kaga011
Top