In my world, comfort shoes and fashion shoes are one and the same. Foot pain used to keep me from wearing shoes that I loved, but no more! I now can play and have fun with my style, and still have room for all ten toes. Here are some of my favorite wide toe box alternatives to this season’s most popular shoe styles.
Find the entire But Make it Barefoot series here for more healthy but still cute shoe swaps you can make.
- Tall Boots – Peerko Joana
- Chunky Lace Up – El Naturalista Nomada Lace Up
- Subtle Western – Faye in Black
- Suede Mary Janes – Peralba Sierra flats
- Retro Sneakers – Dolfie Paradise
- Jazz Shoes – Paidal Derby
- Ruched Flat – Nugaia Leila
- Mid-Calf Lace up – Be Lenka Evon
- Burgundy flats – Jenon Villet Crimson
- Boat Shoes – Flamingos Life
Tall Boots – Peerko Joana
Use code ANYASREVIEWS10 for 10% off directly from Peerko in the EU
The knee high boot never really went away, but boy is it back in full force. My favorite pairing is with cute socks, fleece lined leggings, and a mini skirt. But they also look great with midi skirts/dresses and leggings. Of particular note this season is the new Peerko Joana. It has such a sleek look and the 3 buckles are fully functional! So you can loosen them for a wide calf fit or tighten for a slim fit.
Most tall boots are too wide for my skinny legs, but when adjusted these are totally flush and I love it. The feedback from customers so far has been that they do expand to a fairly wide calf, but not wide enough for customers who need the width all the way down to the ankle. So if you want even more adjustability, I’d recommend the Empire or the Regina, which has a little more width through the ankle.
You can find all my favorite knee high boots in this Tall Boot Edit, as well as more details on the Joana.
Chunky Lace Up – El Naturalista Nomada Lace Up
Chunky soled boots continue to be on trend, and nobody does this look better (in a natural foot shape that is) than El Naturalista. The Nomada Lace Up has a moderately cushioned insole that is loved both by barefoot enthusiasts and comfort seekers. The plateau-shaped toe box works for many different foot types, even some extra wide feet. The materials are high quality and look fabulous, and the outsole is flexible so you can move freely. I also am obsessed with the Nomada Chelsea boot, which I’ve featured elsewhere.
Find more stylish barefoot lace up boots in this roundup of my favorites.
Subtle Western – Faye in Black
Western vibes continue to be a strong trend, but in a more subtle flavor than previous years. The Faye boots have a touch of Americana without being over the top cowboy, and bring just the right amount of detail to be versatile while still being interesting. Black is new this year, and it has fit seamlessly into my wardrobe. I wear them both with dressy and casual outfits, and love the way they elevate every look. They fit true to size and wide in the toe box, but not extra wide.
Read the full Faye review for more details!
Suede Mary Janes – Peralba Sierra flats
As soon as I saw these flats in Peralba’s crowdfunding campaign I knew I had to try them. I purchase a pair through Kickstarter and took them on a trip to see family as soon I received them. Initially I was a little concerned because they felt tight and low across my toes. And the leather outsole was a bit stiff. But the soft suede molded to my foot, and the leather outsole broke in quickly. By the 3rd wear they felt just right and I’m very very happy with the style. They are simply adorable, one of the cutest wide toe box flats I’ve seen in a long time. I consider the width to be medium wide/more snug fitting. I purchased a size 36 for my 23cm long feet.
Peralba is a Spanish company, and the price is on the higher end (but with a generous return/exchange policy). I am looking into bringing these to Anya’s Shop in the US, but that will take some time to get that into place. I am excited to see where this company goes!
Retro Sneakers – Dolfie Paradise
Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
Dolfie relaunched their sneakers a few weeks ago, and I was anxious to try them out because I adored their first barefoot sneaker line. These chunky, retro kicks continue to be on point, and the toe box width is really generous. They have a thick outsole so I consider them more in the wide but not barefoot category, even though they do have some flexibility and are zero drop. I appreciate them on days that my heels are hurting, or for long days on hard concrete.
The heel and midfoot are also wide, so I find that I need to lace them up tight to be secure on my feet. And the first wear with all the models I tried was a bit stiff. But then they started molding to my foot better and softening around the ankle opening. Overall, I’m still really happy with this brand for filling a unique space. The Supersonic line is my favorite, and seems to have the most generous toe box shape. They are wide, have a cushioned outsole AND are very stylish. I got my usual size 37 and they fit me pretty well but are slightly on the roomy side.
Jazz Shoes – Paidal Derby
Low profile oxfords or jazz shoes are making a comeback, and of course everything is chocolate brown this season. Paidal has a Derby shoe that fits the bill perfectly and comes in two widths. Shown here is Wide, modeled by Samantha. They fit her perfectly and feel so good. The leather is simply gorgeous and they shoes practically weigh nothing. Our experience with Paidal is that they fit true to size, but we recommend consulting with the size chart and even emailing in to the company before ordering because they don’t accept size exchanges or returns.
Origo also carries this style in a lovely chocolate suede, and other colors. You can use code ANYA for 10% off.
Ruched Flat – Nugaia Leila
Nugaia is a newer brand out of Ukraine making high-end fashion forward barefoot shoes. Some of the designs are a little out there for me, but this ruched flat immediately caught my attention because I have been seeing this style in mainstream fashion. The elastic opening is a bit tight, so if you are sensitive to that kind of thing I’d avoid. But the leather is very luxurious and they are beautiful shoes.
I thought a 37 would be best for me – it seemed like they ran small according to the size chart. But after receiving them it’s clear a 36 would have been better. They have an extra wide fit, so I had Samantha model them for you above.
Mid-Calf Lace up – Be Lenka Evon
If you’re ordering directly from Be Lenka in the EU, use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
I frequently get asked about mid-calf lace up boots that are above the ankle but not to the knee. It’s an edgier look that pairs well with midi skirts/dresses or leggings. The new Evon from Be Lenka is an excellent option to fill this category that is both beautiful and comfortable. They have a sleek fit that you can adjust to your leg shape with the laces, whether you have thin ankles and calves or thicker/muscular legs. I find a flush fit makes wide toe box boots much easier to style and a lot classier looking than those with wide open tops. Evon is also lined with a velvety plush that is warm and soft, making them practical for cold weather walking (outsole is also practical for weather too).
If you want to go even edgier, the Peerko Pulse is a sexy sleek tall lace up option. You can see a roundup of more foot-shaped lace up combat style boots here.
Burgundy flats – Jenon Villet Crimson
The Jenon Two Strap Villet is a perennial favorite of mine – I reach for them regularly. If you’ve been around here for a bit you know why – they have a universal fit that is wide enough for extra wide feet but still secure enough for narrow heels and slimmer feet. They are adorable AND extremely comfortable.
New this fall is a deep burgundy/crimson colorway that is very on trend. I wear a lot of burgundy every fall/winter, it really doesn’t ever go out of style. But particularly this year it seems to be everywhere. It’s a lovely pop of color that can still style like a neutral. I wear size 37 in these flats.
Boat Shoes – Flamingos Life
Flamingo’s Life used to make conventional shoes and just recently added some really cute wide toe box models to their lineup. These boat shoes have a generously roomy toe box and all around good fit (though not extra wide friendly). They are unisex, and stylewise bridge that gap well. They are definitely one of the best barefoot boat shoe options out there.
The quality is really nice, and they come with a decently padded insole (for those who don’t want an ultra thin feel). They fit securely on my low volume feet and narrow heels, but the laces can also be adjusted for higher volume. Cute, flexible, high quality materials, just the right amount of cushion and toe space – they check all the boxes. I got a size 37 and they fit true to size.
