I'm Always Hunting for Chic Shoes for My Size 11 Feet—These Pairs Fit the Bill

I’ve been hyperaware of the size of my feet since a middle school growth spurt cemented my membership in a strangely taboo yet populous group: people with big feet. Just as acutely, I grew an awareness of all the shoes that didn’t come in my size.

My tenure in this club has been shaped by the stigma around having big feet—and by the reality that many popular and aspirational brands barely skim the surface when it comes to offering shoes beyond a size 40.

As a result, I often feel like I'm on a perpetual hunt for cute shoes that actually fit. Chic pairs that don’t veer into orthopedic territory aesthetically but can still handle a sprint to the 6 train during rush hour. Or, if I’m feeling especially ambitious, knock out a significant portion of my 10,000-step-a-day quota. Simultaneously, I long for pairs that are saunter-inducing and make me feel like a siren (that just so happens to work a 9-to-5 job).

Ahead, the staple styles in my collection that have all but eliminated my shyness around wearing a size 11—and the pairs I’m currently coveting, from high vamps to animal prints.

Everyday Loafers

I’ve had these loafers from Vince for three years now. They’ve clocked full work and travel days, logged hundreds of miles, and I’ve worn them with everything from dresses to suits.

Once these are finally maxed out, I’ll be eyeing another soft leather rounded-toe style, like these:

Ballet Flats

This is probably the most expansive and inspired category in my shoe closet. I’m partial to leather ballet flats with a rounded or square toe for comfort that mold to your foot with wear, or ones in unexpected materials like mesh or pony hair. I own these mesh flats from Dear Frances and can confirm that their size 41 is generous—and almost all of their styles go up to size 42.

More I like:

If you like red, they’re on sale here:

Mules

If I had to pick one style to wear for the rest of my life, it would be the mule. My ideal weather is somewhere between 60 and 70 degrees, so it makes sense that my favorite shoe is a hybrid between a pump and a sandal. The pairs I reach for most are from Manolo Blahnik and Toteme because they’re comfortable and timeless. I bought each to celebrate a career milestone, and they’ve more than earned their keep—worn hundreds of times over the years, still holding up. They’re proof that the online adage “buy well once” is true.

Flat options:

They also come in a beautiful chartreuse color:

Black Sandals

No closet rooted in ’90s minimalism is complete without a clean black sandal. And for warm-weather optimists, it’s the perfect way to transition your tried-and-true cold-weather outfits that may still include considerable outerwear.

My exact pair:

More I like:

Wedges

Pieter Mulier has a beautiful way of conveying proportions down to the accessories, and the sculptural thong wedge heels he sent down the runway for Spring/Summer 26 have left their mark in my head and on my Spring mood board. I’ve felt a little feral scrolling through all the interpretations of this style (and wedges in general) lately and I’m already picturing them with balloon trousers, sweeping trench coats, and tailored shorts.

High-Vamp Heels

I’ve had my eye on high-vamp styles from Chanel, but finding anything in a size 41 or higher was a no-go even prior to the Matthieu Blazy craze. Still, these styles are a worthy consolidation prize if you missed out and still want to indulge in the trend. If you spotted the gorgeous elasticized pump in Phoebe Philo’s Drop E, then these are for you:

Animal Print

The perfect mate to an all-black outfit? A pop of zebra or snakeskin.