buying new Alden loafers—need help with sizing

[newyorker2]

These are my Alden loafers, they were size 8E... you can see the room I have in the heel of the shoe... my feet definitely get some slippage when walking, but have never popped out. my heel slips out about half way most likely if I remember correctly. All I know is that when I went to the store I tried one other size and it was too tight, it might've been a 7.5 D, and they were out of stock in a couple of other key sizes I wanted to try on (I think they happened to be out of stock in a 7.5 E and maybe an 8 D), so in haste, I settled on an 8E. My question is, if I had gone down a half size (7.5 E) do you think they would've fit better, or does this seem exclusively a problem with width (i.e., I should have gotten an 8D instead of an 8E). Not sure if there are any shoe experts here, or if not, maybe perhaps you can just tell me whether you have this much room in the heel of your loafers.

these are the tassel loafers, and I want to buy a new pair (or two) of cordovan high vamp loafers... I know the last is a little different between the tassel loafers and the high vamps, so hopefully the high vamps will fit me better assuming I get the right size.

thank you

 

[upflup]

I have 2 pairs of Alden loafers and I bought both snug to start with. They stretched ever so slightly and fit like a glove now. I definitely didn't have room or slippage in the heel. For reference, I am an 11.5D and bought both pairs in the Van last in 11D.

 

[TheShetlandSweater]

If length, not width, is the problem, I think you generally go down half a size in length, and go up in width. I could be wrong.

 

[newyorker2]

so you're saying if it's a problem in length I'd size down in length to a 7.5 and go up in width to a EE... I don't see size EE on the Alden website.... might have to give the store a call and ask... that might make sense because quite frankly with this pair my feet feel just right in the toe area, it's only the heel that feels loose.

 

[newyorker2]

upflup snug sounds nice, but tight is different. when you bought your new pair, did you have to fight to get your foot in with a shoe horn, or did it slide in nicely?

 

[newyorker2]

I'm guessing it was snug but you were still able to slide your foot in nicely with a horn, and not have to fight or strain to get your foot in...

 

[newyorker2]

that's also interesting that you said your loafers stretched slightly, because when I bought these shoes I was told that as the sole broke in they'd actually fit a little snugger—the opposite of what you're telling me. or maybe they do stretch but fit snugger at the same time because the heel catches/grips more when the sole breaks in? I don't know.... all I know is that I got slippage when I first bought them and i'm still getting slippage after having done quite a bit of walking in them. so clearly they're not quite right.

 

[TheShetlandSweater]

The shoe mart stocks them in wider widths. San Francisco, DC, or Madison might too. Heel slippage should reduce with time. As the sole becomes more flexible, it should bend with your foot more. That being said, the van last is tricky. I got the best fitting size in unlined suede. They fit as well as they could at first--super snug across the strap but a little loose in the heel--but have stretched out and now don't fit very well at all. I got an insole and tongue pad and that makes them fit well. Alternatively, I can wear thick socks. Regardless, the van last is hard to fit. The guy at the Alden store told me a lot of people have problems with it.