With Birkenstocks and pool slides dominating the high street and models sporting flip flops in the Chanel Couture collection - it appears that the fashion set have finally embraced flat shoes.

For someone who stands at 5'10" barefoot, heels are out of the question for most day-to-day situations.

Though I don't want to tower over people, like most females, I endorse the "go high or go home" rule of thumb, so kitten heels will not cut it.

Therefore, I have come to terms with the fact that spindly, needle heel stilettos belong to my night time outfits and I look forward to being more adventurous with my choices of day-to-day flat shoes.

If you are like me, here are the very real problems that only tall girls can relate to...

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Marlen Komar

When I see a leggy woman tear up the sidewalk in a tall pair of stilettos, it makes we want to do a double take. Tall women who wear heels are an inspiration to me. There's usually confidence, aplomb, and a little bit of courage in the way they walk, and you basically can't help but admire the self-love that exudes from someone who doesn't try to downplay the features that make them stand out.

But it's not always easy to get to the point where you highlight rather than downplay your features. I've always been a gangly, rangy kid who clocked in at 5'10" when all my girlfriends were a cute 5'5". Nicknames like "Jolly Green" and "Bean Sprout" were used affectionately when I'd be invited out. But the thing is, I never minded. I loved being tall. I liked the feeling of stepping into the doors of a restaurant or walking into a dinner party and commanding the room, knowing that my height brought an elegance and a self-possession to my look.

This is why I never, ever denied myself heels. Instead, I couldn't wait to strap them on. For any of my fellow tall babes who might be shy about their height, this is for you. Below are 21 inspiring tall women who wear heels and rock the hell out of their style, offering us all inspiration for accepting and loving ourselves just the way we are. Plus, some of the most valuable lessons they teach us along the way.

Read the full article

Avenue

Large size women's shoes in up to US size 13. Tall women's pants and jeans with long inseams

6'4" Jess writes:

"Girls...I have FINALLY found jeans long enough to fit me! Avenue style 1432 Boot Cut Jean in Tall. I am actually stepping on the bottoms which is UNHEARD of for me. My inseam is a 36-37 so to find a womens jean in that inseam... amazing. And they are super comfortable. I bought 5 pairs! They are on sale now at Avenue and come in sizes 14-26.."

About Avenue

Avenue®, your one-stop shop for women's plus size apparel, today!

Avenue® is a fun, trend-right, multi-channel source for affordable fashion for real size women with a youthful attitude! We offer plus-size clothing and accessories to fit every lifestyle need from home to office, to a night out on the town in sizes 14-32. Avenue® offers the plus-size woman everything she could possibly want at a truly incredible value.

Visit their website

6PM

Large size women's shoes in up to US size 14. They offer larger sizes but these shoes are mainly unisex.

Congratulations! Your smart-shopping skills have led you to an amazing online outlet for discount shoes, clearance clothing, bags on sale, affordable accessories and more! There's nothing quite like the feeling of finding your favorite brands for less. The thrill of the hunt and the joy of receiving more for your money is a high that just can't be denied. Feed your need for brand names at great discount prices with the convenience of online outlet shopping and the pleasure of receiving savings of up to 75% off. Stimulate your wardrobe with fresh, new styles, and proudly exhibit your astounding discount designer duds, top-notch performance gear for less and casual/contemporary fashion style for all to see.

Share the gift of budget-friendly bargains with the entire family! At 6pm.com, we've got all of your favorite brands plus brands that the whole family will adore. Go on a daily guilt-free shopping spree as you indulge in brands and bargains with savings of up to 75% off. Competitively priced clearance Nike® clothing, dashing discount Oakley® sunglasses, fabulously priced discount Nine West Shoes, and comfortable Clarks® discount shoes are just a few of the incredible brands and products that 6pm.com has to offer.

Saving more never felt so good! Treat yourself to more than you ever imagined by shopping with us and saving up to 75% off. It feels so good to stay within your budget as you purchase a pair of discount Stuart Weitzman™ sandals or clearance-priced Donald J Pliner™ heels. Show off your funkier side in a pair of deeply discounted Naughty Monkey™ shoes or low-priced Chinese Laundry™ flats. With so many fabulous brands to choose from, it'll be hard to keep yourself from having a luxurious brand-driven overdose! Keep your cool, stay focused and keep saving with our daily deals and the soothing feeling of getting even more for less.

With the start of every morning comes the promise of a new sale and daily deal. Stop surfing the web and succumb to the savings that 6pm.com has to offer. With such a huge variety of brand names for less, you won't need to look elsewhere to satisfy your cravings. Appease your shopping urges by saving on all the brand names you love. And what will you do with all of your savings? The possibilities are exciting and endless. Enjoy your savings to the fullest! Act now and give in to our fabulous online outlet prices. It's time to pull the trigger and enjoy the rush of saving up to 75% off as you shop for the whole family.

About 6PM

6pm is the discount retail division of Zappos IP, Inc. We’ve been serving customers some of the best deals and discounted fashion online since 2007. We're unique in the marketplace, offering thousands of new styles, authentic brands and a huge variety of fashion for the whole family. Stock runs out quickly, so if you see something you like, buy it! We want to exceed your expectations by giving you great value from a trusted source. Plus, our deals are too good to pass up! We are a BBB Accredited Business and have a Safe Shopping Guarantee. We also have one physical outlet store located in Shepherdsville, KY. We hope you love 6pm and truly enjoy your shopping experience with us! Need help with something?

Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at 1.888.676.2660 6am - 8pm PT.  

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Phoebe Waller

As a gangly, long-limbed adolescent, I struggled to come to terms with my height. But as a full-grown, way more body confident adult, I'm happy to report that I'm a tall girl who wears heels and loves it. Where I used to shy away from comments about being a string bean while allowing gender norms about tall women to get me down, I can now embrace my nearly 5'9" self fully.

I was particularly tall for my age throughout school, always among the most bean pole-esque kids in my class. I cringe when I remember the boy I had a crush on in middle school. I was too afraid to stand next to him, simply because he was much shorter than me. Even though I can hardly believe it now, I used to balance on the outer sides of my feet in the hopes that this would take about an inch off my height, particularly because all my shoes had a slight platform. Nowadays, my fiancé is actually taller than me, but I wouldn't be bothered if I were the "stilts" in the relationship.

Although there are some struggles we tall girls face from time to time, like finding clothes to cover our limbs or never having enough legroom on planes, we shouldn't be creating more problems for ourselves based on what society and mainstream media deem attractive or feminine. This is why I love wearing heels as a tall girl.

Read the full article

After 8 Shoes

Large size women's shoes in up to UK size 12.

After 8 specialises in women's shoes for ladies with longer feet, size 9, size 10 and size 11. With a designer range of fashionable and stylish shoes and boots to suit all feet; average, narrow and wide!

WE LOVE shoes. We LOVE buying shoes and we want to find the RIGHT shoes for you. Our collections are brought to you from European designers who create stunning, stylish, on trend shoes in longer sizes.

After 8 Shoes of Bath have been established for over 6 years and our boutique is positioned on the famous Artisan Walcot Street.

The After Eight Team not only have extensive knowledge and expertise about shoes, they have also studied extremely hard at the art of cake eating (an incredibly valued skill).

Louise is our Commercial Manager and expert tea drinker.

Elly:  we are delighted to annouce that Elly's back. With her expertise in operations management and more importantly we now have a reliable supply of pastries!

Liv,our fashion graduate and trend analyst takes the lead when it comes to buying our amazing shoes!

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Alloy now offers more "Tall" items than ever before

For years Alloy Apparel (formerly Alloy) have been one of the most highly recommended companies as far as pants / jeans with extra long inseams are concerned. The fact that their pants / jeans have inseams that are as long as 39 inches and are still in the budget range makes them an excellent choice for the tall woman who doesn't want to pay through the nose for her pants.

Now there is even better news

I've been reliably informed (and I checked and it's true) that Alloy Apparel's shoe selection now covers the US size 13 range. And... very important - the shoes are also in the budget range. Right now they are offering 23 shoe-styles (flats and heels) in US size 13. The most expensive ones are $ 39.90. A good deal, if you ask me.

They have also enhanced their "Tall" selection. Now you can choose from

• Tall Dresses
• Tall Jeans
• Tall Pants
• Tall Jumpsuits/Overalls
• Tall Tops
• Tall Skirts

About Alloy Apparel

Alloy Apparel is a direct-to-consumer women’s lifestyle brand best known for a breadth of sizes and fits. Addressing the needs of the underdeveloped plus and tall markets, we offer sizes up to 25/XXXL, inseams up to 39", and dress lengths up to 63" in a vast array of contemporary styles. Additionally, our brand stakes a long-standing claim in the affordable jean market with a Denim Shop that features six fits and a myriad of washes and styles within each subcategory.

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For the Love of Shoes

Food, shelter, and clothing; these are the three basic needs for any human. Within the subject of clothing falls the category of shoes. Many people view shoes as a mere necessity, granted there are tribes of indigenous peoples, worldwide, who have never worn shoes, but for the majority, they are a necessity. They have developed through the ages either to serve a purpose, or to serve as a status symbol. Ancient civilizations created shoes such as flip-flop style sandals out of necessity. However, as villages grew to cities and the people became pided by status, the shoes became more elaborate.

As time progressed, so did the styles, and the ideals of what was sexually pleasing. In ancient China, the process would begin at around age three, creating "lotus" foot. The most pleasing was no more than 3" in length, and the process involved broken bones, a lifetime of problems, inability to stand without help. This barbaric tradition was reserved for the rich, but was later outlawed. In Europe, a similar procedure was done, to a lesser degre.&np;

In Europe, around the time of the Renaissance, people became more enamored with their personal presentation, and shoes of the time followed suit. Royalty and Nobles were quick to jump on the latest bandwagon such as Chopine style shoes, a dreadfully horrid design for shoes that involved a raised platform, without a heel; apparently, the style has tried to make a comeback. They did serve a minor purpose of aiding the wearer in keeping their skirts out of the mud and muck as they traversed the roads.

During the Baroque and Rococo periods more stylishly heeled shoes for both men and women were developed.  Again, the shoes were useful in salvaging dresses and clothing from mud, they also became the pattern for more modern footwear enjoyed today.

Skipping along into the future… 

Today’s society is not much different than yesterday’s, with regard to shoes, their need, and the status symbol of some brands. The fashion industry has become one of the largest venues of worldwide domination. What a person wears can make or break them in certain social settings or groups. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the shoe industry. Names such as Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Prada, and Valentino grace the red carpets of Hollywood.  Their shoes sell for upwards of $1000 or more. Occasionally one could hit the sale rack at Nordstrom and score with a pair of last year’s shoes for $500…if you are lucky enough to wear a size 11 or below.

Ah yes, herein lies the greatest form of discrimination the world has ever seen. Women who stand proudly above the average height of 5'8" and wear shoes sizes beginning with 11 and reaching up to a size 15, some even larger than that. These proud Amazons of the modern world find themselves scouring the planet for simple necessities. Clothing is painful enough. Average and petite women complain that they cannot find anything to fit them, garnering looks glowering with an “are you kidding me” ire. Sorry girls, you can hem things up, but once a finished product comes out of a factory, it cannot be let out.

Shoes present an entirely different set of issues. Many women enjoy wearing a nice pair of dressy shoes out to dinner or to Church on Sunday mornings. They enjoy dressing up, shucking the attire of the daily grind, and transforming into beautiful swans ready to impress others out on the town. A typical Saturday night for most women includes picking the perfect outfit, stunning shoes, makeup, hair, and accessories. For women with larger feet…the shoes become a painful reminder of their stature.

Let us begin with picking the shoes at a store, if they are lucky enough to find a store carrying their size. First, the lady (who does not have funds to pay $1000 for a pair of shoes) will go into said store, briskly walking past the beautiful racks of designer shoes all size 10 and below. They saunter to the back of the store where perchance there is a tiny display with approximately three styles in her size. Mind you, there will be the styles in perhaps one or two colors, that’s it, end of story. One style will be the God-forsaken old woman style orthopedic pump that comes in an awful shade of nude, that’s out. Next will be a classic pump in navy or black, but it is more suited for a business suit at the office. Then there is the third choice. It is the distant cousin of a beautifully crafted heeled sandal, however, this one appears to be designed by and ancient person with the design taste of dung beetle. Our lady begrudgingly chooses the pump, and looks at the boxes for her size. Typically, she wears a size 13 W, today however, she lucks up and they have one pair of regular 13's in stock. Anxiously she grabs the box, and sits uncomfortably on the miniature stools provided. She then pulls one shoe out of the box, crosses the corresponding foot over the knee and attempts to insert Tab A into Slot B. The toes slip easily through the leather, or extremely well made wannabe leather, then comes the heel…our lady scrunches her toes up as tightly as possible in a desperate attempt to fold her foot in half, slipping the heel into the back of the shoe. Perhaps the Chinese had something with the whole foot-binding thing. With a deep breath and a prayer, she releases her toes, and her foot is in! Oh, these are actually kind of cute, in a grotesque, torturous way. Our heroine, psyched that she actually got the shoe on, attempts to stand up. At this point, all her weight shifts into the shoe with its unforgiving leather upper. The toes gasp for breath, the heel shrieks in agony, and our lady sits with a resounding sigh, knowing they will not do.

She leaves this store empty handed, grabs her trusty smart phone, and frantically searches for women’s plus size shoes. Instantly 3-4 store names pop up, unfortunately none of the stores are anywhere nearby. Then, she sees one more entry, a store 20 miles away, SCORE! Hurriedly she hits the road on a quest to procure shoes for the night.  Entering the store, a specialty boutique for plus sized women, she’s not quite plus sized, but her feet are. She browses the store for the shoe section, again tucked far in the back. She makes her way to the displays a notices a slightly larger selection of shoes, some cute, some ugly, but that is typical. She peruses the selections and finds a nice pair of heeled sandals, much nicer than the previous store’s offering. Looking at the shoe boxes, she finds a pair marked 13W, double score! Again, she lowers her frame to the little bench, and begins the arduous task of testing the shoes.  She slips her toes into the leather straps, the ball of her foot sitting easily on the sole of the shoe. Next, she finesses the heel strap over her heel, easy enough. Lastly, she buckles the shoe on and stands… they fit! Well, sort of. There is a slight hanging over of padding, like a muffin top bulging over the waistband of a pair of jeans. However, they will work. Delightedly she pays the $100 for the slightly ill fitted shoes, and walks out the door with a renewed bounce to her men’s sneakered step!

So, to conclude this diatribe of shoe history and adventure, why is it that women of larger foot proportion are so tortured by designers? Why is it they cannot walk into a local department store and pay $20 for a decent pair of cute shoes that may only last the season, but hey, that’s all she really wants. To be in style for a short time, instead of being force to purchase higher priced shoes that she must then use kid-gloves and guard with her life. Let’s face it, beautiful, affordable shoes are a commodity for any woman wearing a size 11 and up.  Most companies will produce only 2-3 styles, with limited colors to sell. To add insult to injury, they will produce such a limited amount of these shoes that women will engage in arguments with store managers, and will even have to fight off Drag Queens to secure the goods.

Dear Designers,

Please hear us!! IF YOU MAKE THEM, WE WILL BUY!!! But understand, not all of us want a pair of shoes that cost 2 mortgage payments. Not all of us want to buy shoes that we will be afraid to wear outside; for fear they might be scuffed. We want shoes; we want selection, color, and styles as varied as the cities and towns in which we live. We want what every other fashion forward woman wants…to be able to shop in stores where we can try on the product before purchasing, walking around admiring the look and feel before we buy a pair that will give us blisters the sizes of small islands on the backs of our heels.  We want as much choice as other women, the petite women and average women to which you cater. This plea does not apply only to dress shoes; we want flip-flops, sneakers, house shoes, and heels. We want to be on an equal playing field in the fashion industry.

Amazon Canada

Large size women's shoes in up to size 16

From comfortable flats to hiking boots or trendy heels, Amazon Canada has the shoes women need–and want–for every occasion.

Each season, we work hard in pulling together must-have women’s shoes from hundreds of favorite brands, including of-the-moment trends, athletic picks, outdoor styles, and more. Within this assortment, you’ll find everyday essentials like sneakers, ballet flats, and ankle boots as well as styles for special events–from evening party options to vacation-ready flip-flops–and for any weather. Additionally, you’ll discover a range of price points, from budget-friendly picks to fashionable pairs.

Whether you’re searching for classic black pumps, new running shoes, or over-the-knee boots, it’s easy to drill down into our women’s shoes assortment to find fitting options. Search our women’s shoes by category, new arrivals, or filter by brand, customer rating, price, keyword, and other characteristics. Amazon Canada also provides a short list of the latest trends for specific product lines –for example, explore our booties store.

You won’t come up empty-handed with our vast offerings, which includes the latest women’s shoes from fashion brands like Nine West, Steve Madden, Vince Camuto, and more. You’ll find pairs designed with comfort in mind from brands like Aerosoles, Clarks, Ecco, Rockport, and more. And, find the latest sport technologies in running, cross-training, trail-running, hiking, and more from Merrell, Timberland and other leading athletic and outdoor brands. To round out your shoe wardrobe, we also offer a range of accessories–from shoe trees to cushioned inserts–and storage methods.

We want to make shopping for women’s shoes on Amazon Canada as easy as possible–thus you’ll receive free shipping and returns on eligible items sold and shipped by Amazon.ca.

Visit the Amazon Canada website

Amazon Deutschland

Damenschuhe in Übergrößen (bis zu EURO Größe 48)

Fast jeder kennt Amazon. Aber kaum jemand weiß, dass Amazon Damenschuhe in bis zu Euro Größe 48 im Angebot hat. Fakt ist: Der Amazon Store ist für Frauen mit großen Füßen auf jeden Fall einen Besuch wert.

Schuhe für Damen – Modevielfalt bei Amazon.de

Nicht nur Kleidung und Accessoires machen das perfekte Outfit aus, auch die Schuhe sind für den optimalen Look verantwortlich. Schuhe für Damen gibt es in den unterschiedlichsten Stilrichtungen und auch für jeden Geschmack. Vom eleganten Pump bis hin zu luftigen Sandalen und bequemen Sneakern, kein Damenschuh ist wie der andere. Beim Kauf neuer Schuhe für Damen ist immer zu beachten, wo der Schuh zum Einsatz kommt. Geht es auf eine elegante Abendveranstaltung, sind schicke und farblich passende Schuhe mit hohen Absätzen die richtige Wahl, während zum Shopping in der Fußgängerzone bequeme Ballerinas oder Sportschuhe am besten geeignet sind. Amazon.de bietet Ihnen für jeden Ausflug und jede Tätigkeit modische Schuhe für Damen in großer Auswahl. Treffen Sie mit dem passenden Schuh in bester Qualität den eigenen Stil und ziehen Sie die Blicke auf Ihre Füße.

Schuh-Trends neu entdecken

Auf der Suche nach dem aktuellen Trendschuh der Saison werden Sie bei Amazon.de fündig. Hier bieten wir Ihnen Schuhe für Damen der vorherrschenden Fashion-Trends und auch die Klassiker unter den Damenschuhen führen wir im großen Amazon.de-Sortiment. Ballerinas, Hausschuhe, Espadrilles, Pumps, Sandalen, Schnürhalbschuhe, Sneakern, Stiefel und viele weitere Schuhe für Damen stehen in unseren virtuellen Schuhregalen und warten nur darauf, von Ihnen entdeckt und bestellt zu werden. Aktuelle Kollektionen, Schuh-Evergreens und ausgefallene Kreationen bestimmen die Vielfalt im Angebot von Amazon.de, was Ihr Schuhshopping zum abwechslungsreichen Erlebnis macht.

Neue Schuhe für Damen – ganz einfach mit Amazon.de

Zu den neuen Schuhen für Damen kommen Sie mit Amazon.de ganz einfach. Hier finden Sie den gesuchten Schuh in zahlreichen unterschiedlichen Kategorien und können den Kauf ganz unkompliziert an den Anlass anpassen. Für jedes Vorhaben, ob nun bei der Arbeit oder in der Freizeit, gibt es bei uns Schuhe für Damen, die Sie glücklich machen. Markenqualität, Komfort und modischer Stil kombiniert das Amazon.de-Angebot mit gutem Kundenservice, einer schnellen Lieferung und einer großen Auswahl. Online nach neuen Schuhen stöbern, bestellen und als Amazon Prime-Mitglied über einen kostenlosen Versand zum neuen Modeartikel kommen – so werden Schuhe für Damen heute eingekauft.

Website

Few people seem to know it but Amazon have shoes in really large sizes. The Amazon US website offers women's shoes in up to US size 16! Amazon UK has women's shoes in up to UK size 14. Last but not least Amazon Germany sells women's shoes in up to EURO size 48. 

Happy shopping!

Amazon UK

Large size women's shoes in up to UK size 14.

Few people realize that Amazon sell extra large women's shoes on their websites. Their UK website is no different. They offer shoes in up to UK size 14.

Visit their website

Amazon USA

Women's shoes in really large sizes. Amazon.com offer women's shoes in up to US size 16!

From comfortable flats to designer heels, Amazon Fashion has the shoes women need - and want - for every occasion. 

Each season, we pull together must-have women’s shoes from hundreds of favorite brands, including of-the-moment trends, athletic picks, outdoor styles, and more. Within this assortment, you’ll find everyday essentials like sneakers, ballet flats, and ankle boots as well as styles for special events - from bridal options to vacation-ready flip-flops - and for any weather. Additionally, you’ll discover a range of price points, from budget-friendly picks to designer pairs.

Whether you’re searching for classic black pumps, new running shoes, or over-the-knee boots, it’s easy to drill down into our women’s shoes assortment to find fitting options. Search our women’s shoes by category, new arrivals, or filter by brand, customer rating, price, keyword, and other characteristics. Amazon Fashion also provides a short list of the latest trends plus fantastic finds - for example, our top picks to wear in-between seasons, or heels and wedges under $100. 

You won’t come up empty-handed with our vast offerings, which includes the latest women’s shoes from fashion brands like Dolce Vita, Franco Sarto, Jessica Simpson, Nine West, Report, Steve Madden, Vince Camuto, and more. Shop coveted styles from high-end designers, such as Casadei, Donald J Pliner, L.A.M.B., Marc by Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Minkoff, and Stuart Weitzman, among others. You’ll find pairs designed with comfort in mind from brands like Aerosoles, Clarks, Ecco, Rockport, and more. And, find the latest sport technologies in running, cross-training, trail-running, hiking, and more from ASICS, New Balance, Merrell, and other leading athletic and outdoor brands. To round out your shoe wardrobe, we also offer a range of accessories--from shoe trees to cushioned inserts--and storage methods.

We want to make shopping for women’s shoes on Amazon as easy as possible - thus you’ll receive free shipping and returns on eligible items sold and shipped by Amazon.com.

Visit the Amazon.com website

It's not clear why sizes are growing, but customers seeking larger shoes look online, not in stores

Chicago native Karen Williamson began her online women's shoe business a decade ago after years of struggling to find styles for her daughter, who at the time was 18 years old, 6-foot-1 and wore a size 12 shoe.

Williamson was in Las Vegas recently for an international shoe show unveiling the 2014 spring and fall lines, and while perusing the trendy gladiator sandals, open-toed booties and motorcycle boots, she encountered familiar stumbling blocks.

"You still can't find a shoe manufacturer that will make anything above a size 11 without it being a special order," said Williamson, whose BarefootTess.comoffers styles up to size 15. "It's like the bigger your feet are, the more you don't exist to them."

Read more

Angels Shoes

Large size women's shoes in up to AUS Size 13.

Angels Shoes was established 1978 to cater for customers with 'hard-to-fit feet'. We specialise in ladies large size shoes and wide fitting comfort. We also sell mens shoes and boots over size 13. We carry a huge range of sizes and fittings in top brands to ensure our customers' comfort and satisfaction. Browse our fabulous range of styles in hard to fit sizes.

We update our site regularly, so if you would like to be kept informed of new fashions, updates or special offers please register with us by clicking the subscribe link on this page. Please note, we will not pass on your details to any third party and will only send you short emails to keep you informed of what’s new or on special at Angels Shoes.

Angels Shoes is located at 51 Rundle Mall, Adelaide, South Australia

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Apavi 40+

Home of large size shoes - shop of large size shoes "Apavi 40+" (Shoes 40 +) opened its doors to visitors on April 9, 2010. The idea of launching large size shoe shop "Apavi 40+" (Shoes 40+) was born some time ago and is based on personal experience. Large-sized shoes have been exclusive product for a long time, they were usually made by order for specific customers. Production of large size shoes has been for long time considered to be unprofitable, due to low number of potential customers. Producing of large-size shoes is more complicated - larger quantities of materials have to be used, as well as bigger lasts, longer lasting heels, better-designed shoe models, that would look equally well on both "small" and "big" feet. Nowadays the demand for large size shoes is growing, they are required not only by older people that have feet problems due tousage of uncomfortable footwear in their youth, but also by younger generation - as our young people become taller and thus have larger feet.

Finally the days of searching for large size shoes and boots are in the past! The time has come when you feel like never before - finally you can choose from wide selection, you can pick any color! And finally you can purchase even ballroom shoes in Latvia! More time can be put aside for the other more pleasurable pursuits, since a new shop of large size shoes Apavi 40+ ("Shoes 40 +") has been opened in Riga, Gertrudes Street 10/12 (at the old Saint. Gertrude Church).

Our vision is to become the largest large size shoe shop in the Baltic States, providing both Latvian and foreign citizens with high quality large size shoes. Shop of large size shoes Apavi 40+ (Shoes 40 +) wants to change the general perception that large-size shoes are unattractive, discolored, and massive. We expand and refresh our assortment with colorful, interesting shoes and boots that are looking very good on larger feet.

Our goal is that every owner of large-sized feet would be able to find appropriate large-sized shoes for his/her taste and wealth, therefore we offer shoes with various brands and price ranges.

Our company main values are quality, customer satisfaction, knowledgeable staff, support for the Latvian economy, environmentally friendly business activities and support preservation of nature biodiversity.

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One high street shoe retailer has seen a marked increase in sales of larger sizes. But are our feet really getting bigger or are we coming round to the idea of "sensible shoes"?

Clodhopper, Big Foot, Yeti, flippers, clown's feet. You name it, Emma Supple has heard it from the patients who come knocking on the door of her foot care clinic.

Their motivation is to find some relief from the pain of years spent squeezing into shoes that are too small.

The result of this self-imposed form of 21st Century foot binding is a host of podiatric injuries, ranging from corns, callouses and blisters to trapped nerves, toes which have been compressed to resemble claws and a condition called mallet toe.

Just as the rest of our bodies are growing, upwards, frontwards and sideways so, it seems, are our feet.

Earlier this week, department store Debenhams reported a boom in sales of ladies' size nine shoes - up 23% last year on 2008. It's a similar story for men, according to the retailer, which said last year sales of men's size 12s had soared while "requests for whopping size 14 and above are flooding in".

Yet while some are seeking out big sizes, many - women in particular - are preferring to follow in the more moderately proportioned footsteps of the masses, and bearing the pain in silence.

But if we acknowledge that our bodies are bigger - for better or worse - than those of our parents or grandparents, why does this acceptance stop just south of the ankle bone? And why are our feet getting bigger? There may be more obesity, but does an extra couple of inches on the waist really transfer to the furthest extremities of the body?

Feet accompli

At 5ft 9ins Christine Browning is above average height for a woman. Her long legs and slim build - "on a good day people call me thin" - would draw envious glances from many other women. But her feet wouldn't. She is a size 11.

"There's a sort of peasant stigma. Women perceive narrow feet to be dainty, slim, refined. I used to feel awful. You become an object of derision," she confides. "If you are with a bunch of women or girls talking about shoes and it turns into a discussion about feet you suddenly don't want to be part of that conversation. You'll find a way to get away."

The sense of exclusion manifests itself elsewhere. Women with big feet can find it difficult to take up sports which demand a certain style of shoe - golf and tennis are two examples, she cites.

And while the overweight can work to draw in their waistline, with exercise and cutting calories, feet can't be slimmed.

Ms Browning became so fed up with the limited range of outsize footwear for women she took matters into her own hands - buying a small business which sold big shoes and revamping its image and stocks. She is now the managing director of Special Feetures, which caters for women with long and narrow feet, and After 8 Shoes, which specialises in UK sizes 8½ to 11 for women.

It is one of several suppliers of big footwear. But still women with big feet are in denial.

"I get a lot of teenage girls in our clinic taking size seven or eight and their feet haven't even finished growing at that point," says Ms Supple.

Nine is the limit

And whatever size they end up at, nine is the de facto upper limit she says.

"There's a mental block for women above size nine. They will say they're size nine when they are bigger and just squash their feet in."

In fact, it's not just the big-footed that squeeze their feet into ill-fitting vessels.

Almost four in 10 women buy shoes knowing they do not fit, according to a recent poll by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. And nearly two out of 10 men do the same.

Yet male attitudes are more malleable, says Bruce Davis, an elder statesman of the outsize footwear market in Britain. As manager of Magnus Shoes, Mr Davis has been peddling big footwear since the mid-1960s.

"The female side of the business is vastly more difficult and demanding. I've heard comments many times like 'I'd rather go barefoot than wear those'. Whereas for men, I can sell a brogue to a teenager and to a man in his 60s."

But not all fashion appetites can be sated with the promise of polished tan brogue and options for men have grown in recent years. As with other significant but disparate communities, the internet has provided a focus for the big-footed, with specialist shops which are sourcing from places such as the US.

Supply is simply reflecting demand, says Mr Davis, who believes the trend for bigger feet can be traced back to the likes of shoemakers such as Clarks and Start Rite. By encouraging parents to buy sensible shoes for children, with plenty of room for growth, our feet grew more than they would have in ill-fitting footwear, says Mr Davis.

Pancaking feet

So should we brace ourselves for bigger feet all round - what Debenhams has bluntly termed "Big Foot Britain"? Will the outsized dispossessed become part of the mainstream?

Mr Davis is sceptical - both about High Street chains committing to bigger sizes, but also whether our feet really are growing as much as has been suggested. It's difficult to be sure because the size of Britain's feet has never been properly documented.

Podiatrist Matthew Fitzpatrick says our feet are growing but in terms of attitude, we are growing up.

"Are we seeing our shoes getting bigger or are we just seeing people becoming more sensible in their choice of shoes, particularly women?" he asks. In short - are women starting to reclaim their real shoe size and refusing to be hobbled by the crippling strictures of fashion?

A slew of big-footed confessions from the likes of Kate Winslet (size nine), newsreader Kate Silverton (also size nine) and singer Macy Gray (size 10) can only have helped the march towards "sensible shoes".

Mr Fitzpatrick points out there is also evidence feet are being affected by diet. A recent study found obesity in children was leading to bigger feet, although in a more complex way than might be assumed. Children's feet are pancaking under excess weight.

"When you are young the bones in your body haven't hardened. So if you've got a foot in which the bones are still forming and an excessively heavy child putting the weight on that foot, the arch [of the foot] flattens."

The technical term is "splaying" and Mr Fitzpatrick says his profession is seeing more children with flat feet associated with obesity.

Even then, feet are not necessarily getting longer, but wider. Yet people with wide feet often buy shoes that are a size too big to accommodate the spread.

"We are probably seeing a general growth in the foot but not as exponential and vast as we are being told."

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Around Twelve

Large size women's shoes in up to AUS size 14

Around Twelve Limited was established in 2005 by sisters, Kimberley Cody (nee Smyth) and Naomi Hughes (nee Smyth) of Piopio, in response to a need for a variety of shoes for both men and women with large feet. The business name ‘Around Twelve’ was inspired by the need to source and supply shoes that were ‘around size 12’.

Company director, Kimberley Cody, had struggled to find shoes since she was twelve years old at which time her feet had grown to a US size 12. Whilst a number of shoes are made to her size, retail shops rarely stock shoes beyond a size 11. Visits to shoe shops often involved shoe assistants searching out in the back for the one pair of large shoes that the shop had on hand. At other times, Kimberley was encouraged to hear that “yes, we do stock your size”, only to be disappointed to find that the sizing of the shoe was too small - not a true size 12. This limited selection meant Kimberley’s wardrobe consisted of a few pairs of shoes which didn’t quite fit right or didn’t really match the rest of her wardrobe.

In 2004, Kimberley and her husband, Hayden, moved from Matamata back to her home town of Piopio to set up a small trucking company. She enrolled in the Certificate in Small Business Management with Te Wânanga o Aotearoa to assist with in her venture. Through this programme, Kimberley not only developed the skills she needed to run her business, but was also inspired to establish another business to meet the needs of people with large feet. In 2005, Kimberley therefore approached her sister, Naomi, with a proposal to set up an online shoe shop catering to both men and women with large feet. Naomi, who has a background in small business education and is a director of Aotahi Ltd (www.aotahi.com) recognised the need for the concept and therefore accepted the offer.

In August 2006, Kimberley and Naomi, accompanied by their father, Bill Smyth, went on their first overseas trip to source suppliers of large footwear. Encouraged by the success of their trip and by the market response for the concept, Kimberley and Naomi proceeded with their family-based business. Around Twelve was subsequently launched online in January 2007, with the vision of being known as the large shoe specialists throughout Australasia and the world.

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Avenue

Large size women's shoes in up to US size 13.

Avenue debuted in 1983 as a plus size retail store. In 1993, Avenue opened our Distribution Center in Troy, Ohio, allowing customers to get their goods faster than ever. By 2000, the Avenue.com website was launched. Avenue restructured in 2012 to become Avenue Stores, LLC.

Today, the business includes both retail stores and ecommerce and has grown into the leading Plus Size Specialty Retailer. With approximately 300 stores, Avenue sells everything to keep your closet on trend season after season. Offering beloved brands like Cloudwalkers® Comfort Shoes and Maidenform^® shapewear, Avenue Body^® and Kenneth Cole Reaction handbags, you’ll find everything you need to complete an outfit for work, play and everything in between.

At Avenue®, we know that trend-right fashion should be available to every woman, every season – no matter her size. Satisfying our customers’ wishes for fashion, quality and service is our highest mission. We are forever evolving with the needs of our customers.

We begin each season with a renewed passion for fashion to create the best new looks and styles. We continually strive to offer the best fit, value, service and shopping experience. We uphold the highest standards of integrity, honesty and work ethics. We are determined to stay ahead of the curve on how to best serve the needs of our customers. At Avenue^® we believe in loving your clothes; loving your style – but above all, loving yourself.

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Banana Shoes

Large size women's shoes in up to UK size 14

Looking for something new and exciting? Look no further than the Banana Shoes collection of brand new styles. Whether it’s the perfect pair of peep toes, or vertiginous patent knee highs that you’re after, browse the newest styles and put your best fashion foot forward. Our favourites include the shimmering Luster 20 in gold, silver, black or hot pink, a glitter-bombed wedge by Pleaser Shoes, and the classy two colour Mermaid 26 style by Qupid Shoes, which comes in black with fuchsia accents and nude with orange accents. For the freshest footwear, shop new styles at Banana Shoes.

Sweet or sexy, simple or sparkly, comfortable or dazzling high, covering up the foot or exposing it, with rhinestones or metal adornments, with heels or with platform, or with both shoes are women's number one obsession! Indulge in pure pleasure while searching for the perfect pair of shoes! BananaShoes boosts a great variety of shoes, adapted to any type of preference and social requirement, so that you can explore a huge range of styles and combinations. Whether you are looking for sexy shoes that will heat his senses, elegant shoes that will complement your party outfit or comfortable, yet stylish shoes that will perfectly blend with your business look, we have the pair that will add confidence and extra sass to your appearance. So dare fall in love with our shoes!

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