Where to Buy Stylish Wide Fit Shoes in Australia
With the current selection of shoes in stores being mainly pointed and narrow toe - what do the women with wider feet or bunions have to choose from? To the untrained eye, not much! But as a Stylist, I come up with this issue with clients often.
Finding stylish shoes for wide feet can be difficult. And after years of personal shopping with clients, I’ve learnt that “I have wide feet” can mean very different things from one person to the next.
Sometimes, a client doesn’t actually need a specialist wide-fit shoe. They might simply need a slightly wider toe box, a softer upper or a shoe with enough flexibility to accommodate their foot comfortably. I see this quite often with women whose feet have changed after having a baby, for example. Their old shoe size may technically still be right, but the styles and brands they used to wear suddenly feel too narrow across the front of the foot.
At the other end of the spectrum, I’ve worked with clients who genuinely need wide or extra-wide fittings and have an incredibly limited selection of shoes available to them. I’ve even had women who have resorted to buying men’s wide-fit shoes because they simply couldn’t find enough width in conventional women’s footwear.
So before you start searching for wide fit shoes, it helps to understand what kind of extra room you actually need.
What Does Wide Fit Actually Mean?
Your shoe size and your shoe width aren't the same thing. The number on your shoe primarily helps you find the correct length, but feet also vary considerably in width, shape and volume. You might have a broad forefoot but a relatively narrow heel, need more space across your toes, or have a higher-volume foot that feels compressed across the top.
This is why simply going up a shoe size doesn't always solve the problem. You may end up with extra length and a heel that slips while the shoe still doesn't fit particularly well through the area causing you trouble. True width-sized footwear is constructed with additional room rather than simply adding length. You may see widths described using letters such as D, E, EE or 4E, although sizing systems vary between manufacturers.
For example, Peter Sheppard Footwear categorises B/C as standard, D/E as wide and EE–4E as extra wide in its women's range. It also points out that fit can differ between brands and styles. The shape of the toe box, depth of the shoe, material, position of straps and adjustability can all affect whether a shoe works for your particular foot.
Do You Actually Need Wide Fit Shoes?
This is usually where I start when I'm shopping with a client. If conventional shoes are only slightly too narrow, I don't immediately send someone to a specialist wide-fit shoe shop. Sometimes we simply need to be more selective about brands and shoe shapes.
For clients who need a little extra room through the forefoot or toe area, I often have success with brands such as Midas, VIVAIA and Bared. These aren't all traditional specialist-width footwear brands, but certain styles can be much more accommodating than the average fashion shoe.
Other clients need significantly more width. If you're consistently experiencing pressure at the sides of your feet, can't comfortably wear standard-width shoes regardless of the shape, or already know you require a D, E, EE or wider fitting, you'll probably have more success starting with brands that manufacture shoes in specific widths.
So I've divided my recommendations into those two groups:
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If your feet are only slightly wider than average, or you mainly need additional room through the toe box, start here.
What you'll find: Fashion-focused flats, loafers, heels, sandals, sneakers and boots
Sizes: Generally EU 35–42
Fit: Not a specialist wide-fit brand but generally runs a little wider than most brands
Shopping: Online and physical stores/stockistsMidas is one of the brands I often try with clients who don't necessarily need a true wide fitting but struggle with particularly narrow fashion shoes.
The advantage here is the range: you're still shopping from a fashion-led collection rather than being restricted to specialist comfort footwear. I look at the construction of the individual shoe, particularly the toe shape, upper material and adjustability, rather than assuming every Midas style will work for a wider foot. Their current size guide runs from EU 35 to 42.
Bared FootwearWhat you'll find: Sneakers, loafers, ballet flats, heels, sandals and boots
Fit: Adjustable rather than traditionally width-sized - Great for orthodics.
Shopping: Online and Bared storesBared is another brand I frequently consider when someone needs more room without necessarily needing specialist wide-fit footwear.
Bared doesn't grade its shoes using traditional width categories such as AA, B, C or D. Instead, it acknowledges that fit depends on several factors including foot width, depth, heel width, instep and toe height.
Many of its enclosed styles also come with a Fit Kit, allowing the internal fit of the shoe to be adjusted which makes them excellent for orthodics.
For a client with a wider forefoot but who still wants contemporary shoes, that flexibility can be incredibly useful. I still assess styles individually, however—I wouldn't assume that because one pair of Bared shoes suits your foot, every style will.
VIVAIAWhat you'll find: Ballet flats, loafers, limited heels, sneakers and boots
Fit: Selected styles suitable for wider feet, including some dedicated wide versions. All made with stretch fabric so they’re ideal for bunions or slightly wide-fits.
Shopping: Primarily online. Has a Queen Victoria Building Store in Sydney.VIVAIA can be a useful option if it's the front of the shoe that's causing you problems. Its flexible knitted uppers and range of toe shapes can make certain styles more forgiving than a rigid fashion shoe.
Again, I wouldn't describe the entire brand as “wide fit”. VIVAIA itself recommends particular styles for wider feet, including its Margot flats and specific wide versions of other designs.
This is a good example of why searching by shoe shape and construction (which I talk a bit more about later in this article), rather than just Googling the words “wide fit”, can open up more options.
What you'll find: Sneakers, flats, sandals, slides, heels and boots
Sizes: Generally AU/US 5–13, depending on style
Fit: Adjustable fit system; selected styles may be particularly suitable for wider feet and orthotics.
Shopping: Online, FRANKIE4 stores and selected stockistsFRANKIE4 sits somewhere between my two categories.
It's not simply a specialist wide-width brand, but its Sole Saver Pack makes many enclosed styles much more adaptable. The half-length footbed is specifically designed to free up additional volume through the front of the shoe for wider feet, bunions and other fit requirements.
Its size chart extends to AU/US 13, although availability varies between styles.
If your issue is less about needing an extremely wide sole and more about needing additional space around the forefoot, this brand is worth exploring.
What you'll find: Heels, sandals, flats, slides, wedges and boots
Sizes: Currently EU 37–44 across much of the footwear range
Fit: Wide fit
Shopping: Online and City Chic storesCity Chic is another fashion-led option, particularly if you're looking for heels or occasion shoes rather than purely practical footwear.
Its current shoe collection includes a substantial number of styles specifically labelled Wide Fit, with many available from EU 37 through 44.
Again, it won't replace specialist extra-wide footwear for everyone, but it gives women who need additional room another fashion-focused place to look.
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If naturally roomier styles still aren't enough, I'd move into footwear specifically designed around different widths.
What you'll find: Flats, Mary Janes, sneakers, sandals, boots and other comfort-focused styles
Sizes: Up to approximately EU 45 in parts of the range
Widths: Multiple fittings including XW and customisable extra-wide options
Shopping: Online; availability through Australian footwear retailers variesZiera is one of the first places I'd look when a client genuinely needs more width.
Rather than making one standard shoe and describing it as “roomy”, Ziera uses multiple fittings. Its current system includes M, W, XW and its widest XF/FF options, with the latter using inserts to help adjust internal volume. Ziera Shoes
Its XW styles provide additional room through the front of the foot and over the instep, and some styles extend as far as EU 45. Ziera Shoes
It's particularly useful when standard fashion brands consistently aren't giving you enough space.
What you'll find: Heels, flats, loafers, sandals, sneakers and boots
Widths: Dedicated wide-fit options
Shopping: Online and through selected Australian retailersNaturalizer is worth knowing about if you want a combination of more traditional fashion footwear and additional fit options.
Its range covers considerably more than comfort sneakers, which makes it useful when you're trying to find a wider shoe for a wardrobe where you still need heels, flats, loafers or dressier options.
As with all of these brands, check the width of the individual style rather than assuming the entire collection uses the same fit.
What you'll find: Flats, loafers, sneakers, sandals, heels and boots
Sizes: Women's US 4.5–13
Widths: Standard Comfort, Wide Comfort and Extra Wide Comfort fits
Shopping: Online, physical stores and selected retailers. Myer and David Jones.Hush Puppies standard fit is intended for narrow-to-average feet, Wide Comfort for average-to-wide feet, and Extra Wide Comfort is its most generous fitting. The current women's size chart extends to US 13.
They often have coloured flats and great work shoe options.
What you'll find: Sneakers, sandals, flats and comfort-focused footwear
Widths: C+ medium through D wide, E extra wide and adjustable combinations; EE in selected men's footwear
Shopping: Online and through Australian stockistsHomyped is one I'd look at when fit requirements are more substantial.
Its fitting system differentiates between length and width and includes D wide and E extra-wide women's styles. Some shoes use removable Vari-fit insoles to move between two width/volume options.
What you'll find: Sneakers, walking shoes, flats, boots and comfort footwear for women and men
Widths: G standard, H comfort, K wide and M extra wide
Shopping: Available in Australia through specialist footwear retailers, including Peter SheppardGerman brand Waldläufer is another one worth knowing if you need genuine width options.
Its current fitting system progresses from G, its standard fitting, through H for additional room, K Wide Fit and M Extra Wide Fit. The H fitting adds room around the ball and toe area, while K and M are designed for increasingly broader feet.
What you'll find: A large multi-brand collection of European footwear
Sizes: Women's range extends into larger sizes, depending on brand/style
Widths: AA through to 4E across the wider collection
Shopping: Online plus stores in Sydney, Melbourne and BrisbanePeter Sheppard is slightly different from the other names on this list because it isn't one shoe brand—it's a specialist footwear retailer.
And for some of my clients, that's precisely what makes it useful.
Its women's collection covers widths from AA at the narrow end through D/E wide fittings and EE–4E extra-wide fittings. Its staff also offer in-store fitting and foot measurement and they’re not only lovely to deal with but super knowledgable.
For Sydney clients, there's a Peter Sheppard store in Westfield Sydney on Pitt Street, so you can try different brands and widths rather than ordering pair after pair online.
If you have particularly difficult-to-fit feet, this is one of the places where I'd be more inclined to start with a proper fitting rather than guessing your width online.
What you'll find: Heels, boots, sandals, flats and slides
Sizes: Women's AU 10–15
Widths: Standard and dedicated wide-fit styles + Made To Order.
Shopping: OnlineNaked Sole solves two fit problems that don't always get addressed together: larger women's sizes and wider feet.
Every style is offered in sizes 10–15, with a separate wide-fit collection across those sizes.
I particularly like how clearly the brand explains the difference between going up a size and choosing more width. Its wide-fit shoes use a wider mould while retaining the same length, adding roughly 0.5–1 cm of extra room around the ball of the foot and toe box.
If you have a longer foot and need extra width, this is an option I'd definitely investigate.
What you'll find: Fashion-focused sandals, flats, sneakers, heels and boots
Sizes: Women's range extends to AU/US 13, although Wider Fit availability varies by style
Fit: Dedicated Wider Fit collection
Shopping: Online and Betts storesBetts is a useful inclusion because not everyone who needs a wider shoe requires specialist comfort footwear.
The brand now has a dedicated Wider Fit edit containing contemporary fashion styles, from flat sandals and sneakers to Chelsea boots and heels. Its general women's sizing runs from AU/US 5–13, although individual Wider Fit styles have their own size availability.
I'd place this toward the less-specialist end of the wide-fit spectrum: it's somewhere to investigate when you need a wider version of a fashion shoe rather than an extreme width fitting.
A Wide Shoe and a Wide Toe Box Aren't Always the Same Thing
This is something I think is worth paying attention to when you're shopping because it can help you narrow your focus to shoe shapes that are more likley to work for you.
If your discomfort is concentrated around your toes, you may not necessarily need a much wider shoe everywhere. You might need a shoe with a more generous toe box. You can find shoes with generous toe boxes by looking at the shape of the front of the shoe. A rounded or square toe can sometimes give you more usable space than a sharply tapered pointed toe, even when both shoes are technically the same width. Also consider the material. A soft leather or flexible knitted upper may accommodate your foot differently from a very rigid synthetic, or stiff leather shoe. Then look at adjustability. Laces, buckles, straps and removable insoles can make a big difference when your foot doesn't conform neatly to a standard shoe shape.
Don't Automatically Size Up to Get More Width
If the length of your shoe is correct but the sides feel tight, going up a full size can sometimes create another set of fit problems. Your heel may start slipping, the flex point of the shoe may no longer line up correctly with your foot, and you can end up with unnecessary space in front of your toes.
Instead, measure both length and width and pay attention to where the shoe actually feels tight. Peter Sheppard's at-home fitting advice, for example, measures length as well as the widest point across the forefoot, while also noting that depth matters to fit.
What If Even Women's Wide Fit Shoes Aren't Wide Enough?
I've worked with clients at this end of the spectrum too. Some women have such limited options in conventional women's footwear that they've ended up buying men's wide-fit shoes, particularly for sneakers and casual shoes.
There is nothing wrong with trying men's footwear if it gives you the room you need, but don't assume that converting the size automatically guarantees a good fit. The proportions of the shoe can differ, so you still need to assess the heel, instep, toe area and overall shape.
If you require a particularly wide or difficult-to-find fitting, this is where I would start with a specialist retailer or professional fitting rather than trying to force your foot into shoes that simply aren't shaped for it. Here is where it also might be a good idea to invest in a shoe maker - especially if you also need to accommodate something like an orthotic that really limits your options.
And if you're experiencing ongoing pain, significant changes to your feet or a medical foot condition, speak to a podiatrist or appropriately qualified footwear professional about your fit requirements.
Pressure Point Tightness & Stretching Shoes
Sometimes, one foot is wider than the other, or there might be one pain point in your shoes that just want to give you grief. I found a great stretching spray when I was working in footwear as a teenager. I'd constantly have sore feet from wearing new shoes in and shoes with seams across the toe would be extra painful. One day, I'd had enough so I limped down to another shoe store during my lunch break and asked them if they had any extra shoe care that our store didn't have, and they delivered! Footmatters Leather Shoe Stretching spray is a godsend. It works within the hour and I stock up on it because I'm worried that with my luck they'll stop selling it- or worse, discontinue it completely and myself and all my clients will be left with shoes so snug, not even a high kick will flick them across the room!
Still Struggling to Find Shoes That Fit?
Shoes are one of those wardrobe purchases where having more options doesn't necessarily make shopping easier.
When I'm Personal Shopping with clients in Sydney, I'm not just looking for a shoe in the right numerical size. I'm considering the shape of the client's foot, the styles and brands worth trying, what feels comfortable and—just as importantly—whether the shoe actually works with their wardrobe.
Because finding a comfortable pair of shoes isn't particularly helpful if you get them home and realise they don't work with anything you wear.
If you're tired of spending hours trying on shoes and clothes that aren't right, I can do the searching with you and help you build a wardrobe around the pieces that genuinely work for you.
And if you're outside Sydney—or your shoes are just one part of a bigger wardrobe gap—my Virtual Capsule Wardrobe Edit can include shoes and accessories alongside your clothing recommendations. I create a coordinated 15-piece capsule around a specific need such as work, weekends, travel, going out or a new season, so your shoes are selected as part of the outfits we're building rather than in isolation.