Shoes

[drgabriellaprice]

I'm 6'1, size 12 in men's shoes. Every time I order a pair of heels, they never fit. The only pair of women's shoes that ever fit me I got at a payless years ago and my roommate threw them out. I feel uneasy in women's shoe stores because they swarm you. Does anyone know of any good low-key places where I can shoe shop without the weirdness? I'm in Fort Lauderdale.

[Christine167]

As long as you present as a boy no.

Size 12 converts roughly to a size 13 in women's after that it's a matter of do you need a 13.5 or a 13 wide. I shop online for mine and I can tell you that the answer to the above is different for different brands. eBay is a good place to find shoes in you size for an affordable price once you get the hang of it. Other stores like barefootess have what you are looking for but charge a small fortune. And once you present as female and you find a comfortable store that to will come easier.

The only other places I can tell you to look are cross dresser stores. The only problem with those shops thou is that the shoes are generally 4-6 heel platforms designed for sex appeal and not your everyday shoe.

[kathyk]

I always go to payless shoes, and they're o.k. other than a sales persons who routinely ask if I need help with anything.  It's difficult finding nice shoes in my size, but Payless has twice as many size 12's than the 13's I wear.

[KatelynRain]

http://www.zappos.com/womens-heels~DQ

Zappos is AMAZING!!!  I've bought a couple hundred pairs of heels from them already ( i have an obsession with heels ), and they have all the hardest to find sizes, free next day air, and no hassle returns.  You can return shoes as long as 365 days from purchase date, and free return shipping.  Also, if you purchase shoes that don't fit, they will send you another size next day air, and not charge you for it, as long as you eventually return the original pair!!   

[Terri]

To buy shoes that are a size 14 (likely what you need) there are some nice choices at barefoottess.com.  Amazon is also a very good way to go because you can shop by size under women's shoes.  Ebay has some options, but more stripper/whoring shoes in a size 14 than things you can wear every day.

[Kate G]

Another vote for Zappos.com also shoes.com and Nordstrom Rack.  How about DSW?

[Jamiep]

I am on the other end of the spectrum in Ontario, Canada @ size 4.5 with a high arch. All I find is 5 & up & even 5 is not in big supply or style. I have to get a 5 & shim to fit with tissue paper. Ugh. I haven't been able to find a store that specializes in small sizes. I have even tried some friend suggestions of young ladies or child sections...nothing.

[Cindy Stephens]

My feet aren't long but are Double E.  I like Footsmart because they carry wider (W and WW0 versions of many name brand shoes.  They mostly carry typical, discreet shoes for women who are a "of a certain age."  I'm not looking for "f-ck me pumps" just stylish and COMFORTABLE.   

[Confused_Katie]

Another plug for Zappos.com. They can be a little pricey, but their forte is their EXCELLENT customer service. I've had nothing but good experiences with them. The women's shoes go up to a size 16 and have several width options.

[JennX]

Zappos.com or 6pm.com (the Zappos sale site)
Eastbay.com (sneakers)
Nordstrom.com

These are my top 3 picks for shoes... which I really, really love. 

[Sabrina]

For me, amazon or eBay are great places for shoes. It took some trial and error but I found that my 9.5W male foot size equates to 12W female foot size. Anything above a 11R female, will very likely not be found in a brick and mortar store (at least that's what I see). Online in the way to go.

[itsxandrea]

I kind of had this issue when I was first transitioning too ... the only difference before though was I was living as a very effeminate gay man and I could have cared less at what people were thinking about me looking at girl shoes.

If you don't feel comfortable though, you're really going to have to go online for them. In womens, I wear a size 11 wide and I've shopped at all the usual places (Payless, Barefootess, Snaz75, Ebay) but --- if you have a WIDE foot, really you need to be shopping at Torrid.com or go into a Torrid store, because they really cater to a woman with a wide foot.  Generally Torrid carries up to size 13, but sometimes they sell out (I imagine they don't stock much in 13) but when a new shoe comes out in their email blast, it always is available in a size 13 (which would be your size in a woman's, btw).

Good luck And last piece of advice... always shop at sites that have GOOD RETURN POLICIES!

[JenAtLast]

http://www.zappos.com/womens-heels~DQ

Zappos is AMAZING!!!  I've bought a couple hundred pairs of heels from them already ( i have an obsession with heels ), and they have all the hardest to find sizes, free next day air, and no hassle returns.  You can return shoes as long as 365 days from purchase date, and free return shipping.  Also, if you purchase shoes that don't fit, they will send you another size next day air, and not charge you for it, as long as you eventually return the original pair!!

I love Zappos.  The only problem is they run higher cost-wise.

I have many things from the OneStopPlus.com family.  I wear a size 12WW, so finding my size is a challenge...not sure about 13s.

[Robin Mack]

I definitely feel for you... in women's shoes (especially heals) fit is incredibly important.  You can be a size or two large in a men's shoe and be "ok"... not comfortable, but not in exquisite pain, either. 

I third, fourth, and fifth the comments about Payless shoes.  My experience there has been excellent.  I bought five pairs the first time I went (I'd budgeted about $120 for shoes, that was my big transition purchase that month).  I was left undisturbed with my girlfriend except when we had a question, and no one even looked at me crosseyed when I tried the shoes on myself.  It might help that the large sized shoes are all on one row. 

The take-away from this is that, while I have a size 12 foot in men's shoes, in women's shoes (at least the ones I tried) I could comfortably fit into some size 13 or even 12 flats, and size 12 heels (possibly because my feet are very narrow and I have an extremely high arch).

You can buy shoes online, but I really recommend going to a store and *finding your comfortable size* first!  Take a couple of pairs home, and get used to them, then buy fancier shoes for less online.  Amazon.com has a lovely filter by size option.

Oh, and another tip:  Create a new email address and set up a new Amazon account for your new life... that way when you log in to that account on Amazon you'll be offered sales and promotions for the products that are most important for the real you.  It's amazing how ads tailored to the real me have a tangible impact on how I feel about myself.