One in Three Women in the 55 Age Range Say Shoes are Too Narrow
6th March 2009
We all know that bunions, calluses, and corns can be caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes. There are also lesser known conditions, such as Morton’s neuroma that can lead to sharp or burning pain, swelling, lack of feeling, tingling or cramping in areas of the feet and toes.
Yet, nearly one-third of women aged 55 and over find that standard size shoes are not wide enough for their feet, a new survey* reveals.
The poll, carried out on behalf of the UK’s leading designer of fashionable footwear for women with wider feet and calves Emotion, reported that of the women asked 30 per cent of those aged between 55 and 64 said that when buying shoes they found them too narrow. In the over 65 age range, 24 per cent gave a similar response.
One of the reasons behind these results, claims Emotion, is that the general fitting of shoes and boots for adults has not changed at all over the past five decades.
“Most footwear is still made on a C fitting last,” explains the company’s national sales manager Neil Bennett. “Emotion is one of the few companies in the footwear industry that has kept up with the changing body shape of women, who are significantly taller and heavier today than their 1950s’ counterparts.”
Importantly, unlike some other companies, Emotion does not just take fashion footwear and make it wider. It actually designs and makes fashionable shoes and boots specifically for the wider foot and calf. This means that in some instances Emotion shoes provide a total girth circumference of up to 30mm larger than a standard shoe.
*Survey carried out by BRMB Omnibus among 1077 women aged between 15 and 65
Mr Bennett adds: “It may seem an obvious thing to say, but wearing the correct width footwear is essential. Trying to squeeze into a tight shoe or boot for the sake of fashion is insane and, with Emotion’s designs, unnecessary. The width of a shoe or boot should correspond with the widest part of the foot while standing. This will also ensure that the width/size ratio is correct. Many people are wearing the wrong size to accommodate extra width, and find that with the wider fit they can take a smaller size.”
Emotion’s spring and summer range is currently in the shops. You can buy kitten heel courts, in suede or leather; kid leather, peep toes shoes; ballerina pumps; and, for evening wear, bead-embellished sling blacks.
Casual shoes, mules and sandals from Emotion for the summer are in vibrant colours and incorporate flexible soles and leather soles, which help keep your feet cool in the warm weather.
In September a new range of Emotion boots that will appeal to even the most fashion-conscious woman will be in the shops.
Styles range from high leg boots, a riding boot look to ankle length boots. Heels vary, depending on style, between 7cms, low heels and unusual wedges. All feature this season’s fashion keynotes of equestrian looks, a rustic approach, featured leathers and chunkier heels. Key colours include black, brown, rustic-weathered, worn-look tans and burnt shades, with trims playing a major part.
Sizes of Emotion’s shoes, depending on style, range from 3 to 10, and come in E or EEE fittings.
All Emotion boots are specifically designed for the wider calf. The calves of boots are 2cm wider on an E width fitting and 8cm wider on an EEE width fitting.
Emotion’s prices will not break the back either. Prices for its shoes start at £35 and go up to £60. Recommended retail prices for its boots, depending on style are between £100 and £120.
The full range of Emotion’s footwear can be found on the company’s website www.emotionshoes.co.uk, where you will also find a sizing chart to help you get the right fit.
There are more than 300 stockists of Emotion footwear nationwide, and a list may be found on the website.
Emotion is the leading UK designer of fashionable footwear for women with wider feet and calves.
Importantly, unlike some other companies, Emotion does not just take fashion footwear and make it wider. Instead of simply adding extra leather on top of a sole designed for a standard fit, Emotion ensure each sole unit in the collection is made specifically for the wider foot. This means that in some instances Emotion shoes provide a total girth circumference of up to 30mm larger than a standard shoe.
Similarly, Emotion boots are specifically designed for the wider calf. The calves of boots are 2cm wider on an E width fitting and 8cm wider on an EEE width fitting.
A recent survey showed that 31 per cent of women find that standard width shoes are too narrow for them. Of those women who buy high-leg boots, 23 per cent said that the calves were too narrow.
One of the reasons behind these results, claims Emotion, is that the general fitting of shoes and boots for adults has not changed at all over the past five decades. Most footwear is still made on a C fitting last, and there is an increasing demand among women for wider, yet fashionable and stylish footwear.
Emotion is one of the few companies in the footwear industry that has kept up with this trend.
Emotion footwear offers more than just fashion and comfort. There is medical evidence to suggest that wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause bunions, corns, calluses and Morton’s Neuroma – a condition that can lead to sharp or burning pain, swelling, lack of feeling, tingling or cramping in areas of the feet and toes.
On its website, www.emotionshoes.co.uk, Emotion provides a guide to checking shoe size, a list of stockists by region, a downloadable catalogue and the facility to shop online.