Haven’t had a pair since school, but it’s about time I got a proper pair of fitted shoes for work use – something a bit timeless and not too trendy (thinking brogues or similar) so I can get donkeys years out of them with proper care and sole replacements etc.

Do any high street shops do proper fitted shoes now? I’ve been in a few and other than the odd ‘wide fit’ version, there’s just nothing to be found.

If a specialist shoe shop is needed, I’m close enough to Bristol and Bath to find somewhere that all the posh folk of said cities go to 😮

Hope you have got deep pockets!

Bespoke shoes

Those prices are ex vat as well!

Cobblers.

As in, my cobblers, that is! In Oxford, which may or may not be too far away from you.

I have a pair of Oxfords from Duckers that I’ve been wearing for the best part of twenty years. They get a resole now and again, and then have been back to Duckers a couple of times for a the footwear equivalent of a ‘body off refurb’.

Money well spent.

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Hope you have got deep pockets!

Bespoke shoes

Those prices are ex vat as well!

Not bespoke! I mean available in a multitude of width fittings like all your clarks/startrite when you were a kid.

Not bespoke! I mean available in a multitude of width fittings like all your clarks/startrite when you were a kid.

Ahhh, you mean Hush Puppies, then?

Maybe I am completely ignorant in the shoe world – is it just childrens shoes that come in a multitude of width fittings then?

Might just be off down the clarks village then!!

*EDIT after visiting clarks website. That is just the most grotesque range of footwear I have ever encountered.

I’ve had a few pairs of Loake shoes, which are available in different width fittings.

Some makes of asult shoes come in a couple of width fittings, I have some Loake leather shoes in a narrow size (D).

Mr Hand.

You aren’t ignorant, it’s just hard to find narrow width shoes in this country. Italian shoes tend to be much narrower. Since I was born with the equivalent of twigs for feet (C width, 43 lenth), finding narrow enough shoes is always difficult.

Birkenstocks come in narrow widths 😉 Finding D width Loakes is never easy. Clarkes are all too broad for my feet.

Nothing of note in Bristol / Bath to be honest.
If you are ever near, get thee to Northampton and to the factory shops. All good British mens shoes are made there. I like Loake etc but the Cheaney shop has done me proud each visit.

If you’ve got freakishly wide feet like me then my trick is to buy a style you like in leather, and then soak them librally in this stuff…

…Well I couldn’t find a product page, but it’s called ‘gliptone liquid leather G13’ and softens leather so that the shoes break in without detaching from the sole.

It’s also good for doing leather jackets/car seats/sofas etc…

Herringshoes.co.uk
Link

Herringshoes is looking like a good bet – I’ll be down that way over christmas visiting family so will drop in.

Thanks all for the suggestions, got plenty of options to check out now!

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