My hunt yesterday for a pair of nice shoes to wear to my 50th high school reunion almost ended with my head exploding like some cartoon character! Trying to keep within a tight budget, I’d already scoured Walmart and Target for simple black pumps in my very typical size 7W. For customer convince, my newly reshuffled Walmart actually clustered all of their Women’s Wide shoes together on one wall! Unfortunately, there were a million of each size but mine. My personal theory is that more women wear sevens than any other size. My broader, wider foot, though, throws an obstacle that limits my selections. My heart aches for those long ago days of strolling confidently into Payless and emerging with pumps, sandals, and lacy slip-ons in at least three colors.
I decided to try finding shoes at Famous Footwear in The Forum. Heading straight to my size, I noted immediately that none of the boxes had W on the labels. Puzzled, I found an older sales clerk and asked for the location of their wide shoes.
“We don’t carry wide shoes,” she began. “What size are you?” I followed her as she began her condescending lecture that women are misled into believing they have wide feet and instead aren’t buying the correct style or toe shape.
My jaw dropped (again like a cartoon character) as she swept up to my size and began pointing out pumps with pointed toes verses more square ones while claiming it was propaganda that women have wide feet.
“Prove it!” I snapped. “Prove that I don’t have wide feet!”
She began sweeping through my size, handed me two selections and suggested I try them on while she continued her search.
Of course, shoe after shoe after shoe WOULDN’T fit. I couldn’t even get my toes past several of her choices.
After trying on half a dozen pairs, I stood up and snarled, “Don’t ever tell a customer that there’s no such thing as a wide foot. YOU ARE WRONG!”
I pushed down my pissed anger, worked it out by walking down to the SKECHERS shop where I’ve devotedly purchased my D’lites year after year. Since I’ve only picked up walking shoes there, I wasn’t certain if I’d find anything dressier for my event.
When I glanced around, I did’t notice anything at first and asked a smiling young clerk if they had any wide shoes, not realizing that the large sign was right behind me! I couldn’t help but laugh at the wonderful acknowledgement that women who have wide feet do exist!
Although my selection for black pumps was limited, I shifted to a dressy pair of black sandals that had sparkly straps! Sparkle means fancy to my unique fashion sense. Before I left, I also found a pair of comfy black ankle high boots for this winter—all with WIDE proudly placed on the boxes!
Copyright 2026 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
