That is unfortunate. I find that my Aldens are more comfy over a whole day than my AEs. Maybe something to do with the metal shank in the Aldens, but not in the AEs? Dunno. Maybe give Alden a try? It's is a shame that the AEs don't work for you, though, because they're excellent shoes.
I know you said price is an issue, but a good pair of shoes lasts a long time and provides your feet the comfort and support needed, so amortized, they're actually a better value than cheap(er) or disposable shoes that hurt. And you're on your feet 10+ hours a day, right? This is not the place to get cheap. It's akin to people cheaping out on a bed, another place where one spends a lot of time. Save for a couple extra weeks and get a good pair of shoes.

 

How ? ?

So you were barefoot until recently? How does one get to adulthood not knowing how to select a properly fitting shoe?

And how, exactly, is a post like this helpful to anyone ??

I would prefer to think that people werent this rude, but apparently I would be wrong.

As much as all of us here value knowledge of clothes and dressing properly, there are things in life which are more important than that. Treating others with courtesy and respect is one of them.

 

My rant has to do with a properly fitting dress shoe, not a shoe overall. I've always bought my shoes in a size 10 or so, but they have always been casual shoes, and rather soft, or very stiff hiking boots, or hunting boots or such. I would have thought that dress shoes, from a good maker, properly sized and fitted by a professional, would have a good result.

Note: Prior to this event I hadn't have my feet measured for at least a decade.

 

I will say that wearing a brand-new dress shoe all day will hurt a bit. It simply takes some time to break them in- it's part of the process. You may also want to consider orthotic inserts.

 

There is a break-in period when it comes to dress shoes. The first couple times in my McAllisters (same last as the PA) my feet were aching after only maybe a 1/2 hr. and I was sitting down to rest my feet every few mins. Luckily this was a Fraternity event and I had the ability to do so. But after a few more wearings, the shoes eventually broke in and are now very comfortable. I had no trouble wearing them last month to a wedding/cocktail hour/reception all evening.

Just because you were "properly measured" doesn't mean you're going to find a well-fitting shoe. I was fitted (by an employee at an AE factory store) at an 11.5D, yet I wear an 11D McAllister. I probably could get away with an 11E, too.

What size are the thrifted Park Aves? Doesn't it stand to reason that if those Park Aves fit you, the same shoe in the same size (only brand new) should (in time) fit as well...? Give the shoes a few more wears and see if that helps.

 

Fit on the Brannock device is only the start. I measure about a 12A, but, in various brands/models have worn (comfortably) 11C, 11 1/2 D, 12B, 12D...you get the idea. Get the size that you know is comfortable.

 

The thrifted ones were 11.5! And they were great! I'd wear those more, if a) I didn't intend to pass them on here, and b) they didn't look like clown shoes on me, all tilted up at the toe.

Maybe it is the break in period. My days sadly are all 15 hours long, and there's no telling whether it will be a 1.5 mile walking day or a 4 mile day. Or more. Have to get a pedometer one of these days, I'm really curious.

 

I have had some luck by breaking in new shoes by wearing them around the house a few nights before making the first trip to the office. It has cut down quite a bit on previous issues I experienced with sore feet.

 

suits, fit comes first.
shoes, fit comes first.
i think you should have taken the 9 1/2.

 

Shoe Styles

I don't intend to deviate away from the current topic, but could someone post the link that explains and covers information about the many shoe styles. I pondered through the site before and came across it, but I did not happen to save it.

Thanks!

 

My feeling is that measurements are simply a starting point.The way they feel is the only deciding factor. Maybe what you think of as being too long is actually what you need. Your feet seem to be telling you that measurements should be ignored.

 

And how, exactly, is a post like this helpful to anyone ??

I would prefer to think that people werent this rude, but apparently I would be wrong.

As much as all of us here value knowledge of clothes and dressing properly, there are things in life which are more important than that. Treating others with courtesy and respect is one of them.

I agree and am tiring quickly of this kind of behaviour on the forums. Chatsworth has been warned.

 

I have found the Brannock device to be nearly useless as a tool for figuring the correct size shoes for my feet. The best it can do for me is show me the ballpark I should be playing in. If I were to buy shoes sized to what my feet measure on the Brannock device, my shoes would always be ill-fitting and painful.

 

I have found the Brannock device to be nearly useless as a tool for figuring the correct size shoes for my feet. The best it can do for me is show me the ballpark I should be playing in. If I were to buy shoes sized to what my feet measure on the Brannock device, my shoes would always be ill-fitting and painful.

What accounts for this apparently common phenomenon? I mean, it seems like a fairly straightforward thing to design a device that accurately measures the relevant 2 or 3 dimensions of the foot. Is the task more complicated than it seems? Does the device do well with "normal" feet but fail for people with unusual feet? Or is there a problem getting store staff to use the thing right?

 

There's no magic to this - it's just experience, both in terms of wearing & breaking in shoes and in knowing your comfort level with different shoe makers and lasts. The vast number of choices is bewildering when you start. It doesn't help that the same model shoe in the same size can fit differently, or break in differently. The advice of others with similar sized feet is helpful, but not reliable because, not only is their foot likely to be shaped a little differently, but everyone has a different subjective view of comfort as well as pain tolerance. You will get better at determining whether the initial fit will likely become a comfortable fit over time, but it's not always certain (at least, not for me). It's especially aggravating when you find a comfortable shoe that makes your feet look weird, or is visually ill-fitting. And the relatively high price of these shoes doesn't make it any more fun to get the sizing wrong.

With respect to the shoes you have now, you've worn them already, so I suggest you give them some time to break in, and see whether they become more comfortable. I give my shoes a few months, but your break-in period will depend on your frequency of wear. If they continue to hurt your feet, then you can try selling them in the secondary market and try again with a different pair.

You may want to search the forum for breaking in shoes. For future reference, one very good suggestion you'll find is to wear your new shoes on your carpet at home for a while before wearing them outside, to make sure they fit, and are in a condition to return if they don't.

Good luck.

 

Not to veer too-far off topic from the OP, but what would you all recommend for a bartender-type job. I'm on my feet 8-12 hours at a clip, but will not ruin a good pair of AEs, or what have you with what goes on behind the bar.

On the other hand, I am on my feet the whole night and comfort is a big deal. I understand the need for good shoes, but its really not a suit-type environment.

 

What accounts for this apparently common phenomenon? I mean, it seems like a fairly straightforward thing to design a device that accurately measures the relevant 2 or 3 dimensions of the foot. Is the task more complicated than it seems? Does the device do well with "normal" feet but fail for people with unusual feet? Or is there a problem getting store staff to use the thing right?

It really has more to do with the fit of the individual shoe than the actual measurements of your foot.

 

It really has more to do with the fit of the individual shoe than the actual measurements of your foot.

OK, sounds like the lesson then is that salespeople often take the measurements off the Brannock too seriously.

 

previous threads

There have been several discussions of shoe fitting, variations in lasts, and differing fit among manufacturers.

You might try searching under topics such as shoe size, brand names, etc. Try brannock device. There was a very informative discussion that included comments by the proprietor of Ryder boots.

It has taken me a lot of effort, and some purchases that haven't worked out, to find a size and last combination in one manufacturer's line that works for my feet. (Neither Aldens nor AE's fit me well.)

It is possible that the salesperson didn't properly measure your feet. A particularly critical dimension is the distance between the heel and ball of the foot. From your description of the clown shoes, it sounds as if that dimension is correct in those shoes. I have a pair of John Lobbs that are a bit long and with an extended toe, but they are somewhat comfortable because the widest place on the shoes corresponds with the ball of my foot. I am happier with another manufacturer's shoes that are shorter but have the widest part of the shoe somewhat more forward than it is in the Lobbs.

Good luck,
Gurdon

 

What accounts for this apparently common phenomenon? I mean, it seems like a fairly straightforward thing to design a device that accurately measures the relevant 2 or 3 dimensions of the foot. Is the task more complicated than it seems? Does the device do well with "normal" feet but fail for people with unusual feet? Or is there a problem getting store staff to use the thing right?

As other people have already correctly stated, the Brannock device is only a start. Unfortunately it's not an exact science. There are also several factors/variables that come into play. Natually, the most important is that the salesperson must know how to utilize the device properly. Additionally, each foot is unique and although the Brannock takes into consideration arch length vs. total foot length as well as width, there are still other unique foot features that may fall out of this "box".

And of course even if the measurement IS correct, the actual last of the shoe you desire may NOT be correct, as has already been mentioned. The last of the Park Avenue may simply not be the correct last for your foot. AE makes many different lasts, and the real key to comfort isn't simply finding your correct size, but also finding the correct last to match your foot. That's when you will truly find comfort. You may be barking up the wrong tree by not paying attention to the actual last, but paying too much attention to trying to figure out the size.

Although the Brannock device is only a "start", I would first trust the device and try on several different lasts. If you STILL can't find a comfortable fit, then you may want to experiment with altering the size according to whether the shoes are feeling too short/long/narrow, etc.

And finally, although I believe shoes should be comfortable at the time of purchase, it's certainly reasonable that a quality "dress" shoe with a relatively firm leather upper and leather sole may need some time to break-in since they have a cork foot bed which will eventually form to your foot and add to the comfort, and the sole will become less stiff, the uppers will soften, etc., all adding to the comfort level.

If you have continued discomfort, a visit to a foot/ankle specialist may be a good idea to see if biomechanical control via orthoses would be beneficial, as was also previously mentioned.

 

And Eccos, though I hate to say it, it's embarrassing, but the fit of them is wonderful, like they are made for my feet.

Nothing wrong with a pair of Eccos, I wear a pair like this all the time with a suit because they are so comfortable. Also the sole and heal last well which cuts down on additional costs. They don't look as sharp as more dressy shoes but when it comes to shoes, I'll take comfort and fit and looks. It's just too painful to do otherwise.

Matt

 

I've had fit issues since my feet have gone from 10.5 to 11 to 11.5 over the years.

I suspect they got longer as they flattened.

Fortunately, every Brooks/Peal 11.5 D I try on fits very well in both the toe and heel cup.

I've bought three pair in the last 6 months!!

 

+1

My foot measurement is different everytime I walk into a shoe store. I can only go by feel and have learned through pain and wasted money, that when in doubt, go with a larger size.

I have found the Brannock device to be nearly useless as a tool for figuring the correct size shoes for my feet. The best it can do for me is show me the ballpark I should be playing in. If I were to buy shoes sized to what my feet measure on the Brannock device, my shoes would always be ill-fitting and painful.

 

Spend $30.00 on a shoe stretcher.

I have two pair of AEs from the same last and same size. One fit perfect out of the box and the other always pinched my left foot. A few days with a stretcher and strategically placed stretching-liquid-soaked balls of tissue and that pair fits well too.

 

Not to veer too-far off topic from the OP, but what would you all recommend for a bartender-type job. I'm on my feet 8-12 hours at a clip, but will not ruin a good pair of AEs, or what have you with what goes on behind the bar.

On the other hand, I am on my feet the whole night and comfort is a big deal. I understand the need for good shoes, but its really not a suit-type environment.

Ed, there's a company called "Shoes for Crews" that a couple of waitress friends of mine recommend, and their stuff is cheap enough to try out