Shoes for wide feet
Andrew McDonald Shoemaker
We make men's shoes and boots in wide (E) and extra wide (EE) fittings, in our Sydney workshop, by hand. The width is built into the last the shoe is made on, not stretched into a standard shoe afterwards — which is why a wide fit from us holds the heel and instep properly instead of simply being a larger shoe.
If you have spent years sizing up to get room across the ball of your foot, and ending up with a shoe that slips at the heel, this is the problem our wide lasts were cut to solve.
Browse wide fit shoes and boots →
The fittings we make
| Fitting | Width | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | D | An average forefoot, a low arch, a narrower heel. True to size. |
| Wide | E | A broad forefoot, or a foot that feels tight across the ball in a standard shoe. Available with a deep toe box, or with a tapered toe if you want width without losing the line. |
| Extra wide | EE | A broad forefoot with a high instep, or a foot that needs depth as well as width. Almond toe, generous through the toe box. |
Each style is made on one last, so its fitting is fixed and stated in the product description. Our last guide explains the character of each last, and the size guide covers length in AU, UK, EU and US.
Ready to wear
Our ready-to-wear range includes oxfords, derbys, brogues, Chelsea boots, desert boots, work boots and country boots in wide and extra wide fittings, in AU sizes 5 to 12. These are finished shoes, in stock, welted and made to be resoled rather than replaced.
Made to order
If a style you like is not made in your fitting, or your foot sits outside D, E and EE, we make any style from our range to your own measurements. We take your measurements in the workshop, adjust the last, and make the shoe from there.
Made to order shoes from $2,600. Boots from $2,800. Allow twelve to sixteen weeks.
Bespoke
Bespoke is the full process: a personal last cut to your foot, a trial fitting shoe made in the final leather, adjustments to the last after that fitting, then the finished pair. It is the right answer for a foot that is markedly asymmetric, very broad, very high in the instep, or that has had surgery — and the last stays with us for any later pairs.
Bespoke from $4,200. Allow twelve to sixteen weeks from the first fitting. A deposit of 50% starts the order, with the balance due on completion.
Women's wide fit
Our women's range is made true to size on a standard last, so wide fittings for women are made to order rather than held in stock. The process and prices are the same as above. If you need a wider fitting in a women's style, email us with your usual size and where the fit gives you trouble, and we will tell you what we would change.
Common questions
How do I know if I need a wide fitting?
The usual signs are pressure across the ball of the foot, shoes that feel better once the upper has stretched out of shape, or sizing up a half or full size to get width and then finding the heel slips. If you can, bring a worn pair in — the way a shoe has broken down tells us more than a measurement does.
Can you stretch a standard shoe to a wide fitting?
Only slightly, and only in the right places. A standard last cannot be stretched into a wide fitting without distorting the shoe. A genuinely wide foot needs a wide last.
Do you take measurements remotely?
For made to order we prefer to measure you in the workshop. If you cannot get to Sydney, email us and we will send you a tracing and measuring guide, and talk you through it.
Can wide fit shoes be resoled?
Yes. Our shoes are welted and built to be resoled. We repair and resole A. McDonald shoes in our own workshop — see care and repair.
Visit the workshop
We are in the Strand Arcade in the Sydney CBD. We open at 9:30am and ask that you make an appointment before visiting, so there is time to look at your foot properly.
Email andrew@andrewmcdonald.com.au or telephone +61 2 8084 2595.
