Narrow Shoes in New Orleans & Metairie
Orleans Shoe Co. — The Width Nobody Stocks
Narrow Shoes in New Orleans & Metairie
If regular shoes feel loose, slip at the heel, or never quite fit right, you probably need a narrower width — not a smaller size. Most stores don't carry narrow at all. We do, and we can order what we don't have on the shelf.
Don't see your size?
We'll Order It
Narrow widths sell in smaller runs, so no store keeps every size on the floor. If the brand makes it, we can usually get it — call 504-910-2900 and tell us the style and width.
How You Know
- Your heel lifts out of the shoe when you walk
- You have to crank the laces down to feel secure
- Blisters at the back of the heel
- The shoe feels like it's swimming in the midfoot
- You've been buying a half size down and your toes pay for it
- You add a second insole or thick socks to fill space
Heel slip is the tell. Length problems show up in the toes; width problems show up in the heel and the midfoot.
The Mistake Almost Everyone Makes
Going a half size shorter to stop the heel slipping cramps your toes and doesn't fix the slip, because the problem was never length. Narrow feet need a narrower last, not a shorter one.
Narrow Widths, Explained
| Fit | Women's | Men's |
|---|---|---|
| Slim / very narrow | 4A (SS) | A |
| Narrow | 2A / AA | B |
| Standard | B | D |
A men's B is a narrow. A women's B is a standard. That trips people up constantly, and it's why a man told he's a "B" often ends up in the wrong thing online.
Women's Narrow Brands
-
SASSlim and narrow widths on a genuinely different last, not a tighter version of the standard. Our first stop.
Shop women's SAS -
MunroAmerican-made, and one of the few brands doing real narrow across the line.
Shop women's Munro -
Ros HommersonBuilt around hard-to-fit feet, narrow through wide.
Shop women's Ros Hommerson -
New BalanceThe most reliable narrow in athletic — 2A and B in real running models.
Shop women's New Balance -
VaneliDress and casual on a slimmer last.
Shop women's Vaneli -
L'Amour des PiedsHandmade in Brazil, narrow through the heel with a soft upper.
Shop L'Amour des Pieds -
GaborGerman-made, with a reputation for holding the heel properly.
Shop women's Gabor -
BirkenstockComes in a narrow footbed as well as regular — check the footprint stamp on the sole.
Shop women's Birkenstock -
DanskoSecure heel fit for long shifts.
Shop women's Dansko
Men's Narrow Brands
Men's narrow is even harder to find than women's. These three are where we start.
-
New BalanceThe best men's narrow in athletic. B width in real running and walking models, not just one token style.
Shop men's New Balance -
Johnston & MurphyClassic American dress footwear, and one of the few dress brands still cutting a genuine narrow.
Shop Johnston & Murphy -
SASHandcrafted in Texas, slim through triple wide. If nothing else fits, this is the one.
Shop men's SAS
Also worth a look: men's Birkenstock in the narrow footbed, and men's Dansko.
Free, no appointment, four locations. Or call 504-910-2900 and we'll check stock and order what you need.
The Lacing Fix for Heel Slip
Before you give up on a shoe, try a heel lock. You use the last eyelet — the extra one most people never touch — to make a loop on each side, then run the laces through the loops before tying.
It locks the heel down without tightening the whole shoe over your instep. It solves heel slip more often than a different shoe does, and it takes about a minute. Ask us and we'll do it on the shoes you walked in with.
Width Isn't the Whole Story — Volume Is
Two feet can measure the same width and still fit differently, because one is low-volume — less depth from the sole to the top of the foot. That foot swims in a shoe even when the width is technically right.
Low volume is why some people fit fine in a lace-up and never in a slip-on. It's also fixable, and it's something we can only spot with the shoe on your foot.
We can also adjust the shoe. Heel grips, tongue pads, and a thicker insole all take up volume in a shoe that's close but not quite there. Sometimes that's the difference between a shoe you love and one you return.
How We Fit You
- We measure both feet — length, width, and arch length. One is almost always narrower than the other.
- We check volume, not just width — how much depth the foot actually fills
- We pull shoes built on a narrower last, not just the smallest size
- We sort the lacing and add a heel grip or tongue pad if the shoe is close
- You walk in it before you buy, and we watch the heel
Free, no appointment, at all four stores. More on how we fit.
Bring your current shoes. A narrow foot in a standard shoe leaves a telltale wear pattern and a stretched-out heel collar.
FAQ
What if you don't have my size or width in stock?
We can special order it. Narrow widths ship in smaller runs, so no store keeps every size on the floor — but if the brand makes it, we can usually get it. Call 504-910-2900 with the style and width, or come in and we'll sort it at the counter.
Should I just size down?
No. That shortens the shoe without narrowing it, so your toes get cramped and the heel still slips. Get the width right and keep your real length.
Do narrow shoes cost more?
No. Same price as any other width.
Can a wide shoe be made to fit a narrow foot?
Sometimes, with lacing and a heel grip or a thicker insole. But it's a workaround, not a fix. If you're properly narrow, a narrow last will always feel better.
My feet are different widths. Which do I fit?
We fit the larger one and adjust the smaller side with lacing or a pad. Very common, and easy to handle.
Also Worth a Look
High arches · Flat feet · Wide and extra wide · Size chart
Come In
Magazine Street — 3112 Magazine St, New Orleans · 504-875-2929
French Quarter — 541 Chartres St, New Orleans · 504-350-0035
Metairie Road — 480 Metairie Rd, Metairie · 504-324-7718
Severn — 3000 Severn Ave, Metairie · 504-888-7080
Mon–Sat 10–6, Sun 11–5 (Severn opens 9:30). Walk in, no appointment. Call 504-910-2900. Fitting New Orleans since 2002.