(This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.)
Being very petite in Australia (indeed anywhere!) is not easy. It’s probably a little better now than in the past, with more clothing available from Asia. But shoe shopping is beyond frustrating, as anyone my size (Australian girls 2.5 / Singapore ladies size 3 /Australian adult ladies 4 / Japanese 21.5cm) can attest to.
Fortunately, my time of being relegated to the children’s shoe section in department stores ended when I went to Japan to study. Anyone familiar with Japan will know that it is shoe heaven! There are so many beautiful, elegant, and feminine shoes on sale there! And the craftsmanship is just impeccable. Better yet, my small size (21.5cm) was readily available!
My first pair of Japanese-made shoes were made from soft leather and had tulips on the toebox. I still miss those shoes dearly. I have a photo of them somewhere, and if I find it, I’ll update this post!
After finishing year 12, I visited my family in Singapore and found size 3 shoes were widely available there. The quality could not be compared to Japanese shoes, but they fit, looked nice and were quite fashionable. They were also considerably cheaper.
Back in Australia, finding shoes that fit was still a major problem, as I did not have the luxury of just popping into a shoe shop and buying a pair like most people. Luckily, I studied and worked in Japan for several long stints and travelled back and forth when I was working for an international airline. And then, of course, I moved to Singapore.
Over the years, I’ve found the number of small shoes available has started to decrease. Size 4 is the most common starting size in Singapore, and only a few brands offer 21.5cm in Japan - but small shoes are still available if you know where to look. On a more positive note, it’s now possible to purchase small shoes directly from Japan. Purchasing online has been a very positive experience for me so far, with no mishaps and a perfect fit each time. Japanese clothing and shoes tend to be very precise with their sizing. However, you’ll want to make sure you buy items marked ‘Made in Japan’ for this to be true.
In Singapore, I was introduced to the most gorgeous ballroom dance shoe shop located in Orchard Plaza - Meidong Boutique (details listed below). Their shoes start from size 3 and all the dance shoes can be converted to normal shoes for a fee. They can also be ordered in a variety of colours and styles to fit your personal tastes. My favourite shoes that I constantly wear are a gorgeous pair of T-Bar character shoes in a lovely neutral camel tone (pictured). They go with almost any outfit in my wardrobe and match well with most colours. They can also be dressed up or down to suit the occasion. I have bought a number of pairs of shoes from Meidong and highly recommend them if you are in Singapore and have tiny feet like me!
High heels are often worn by women to give legs a lovely line. Personally, I find the modern trend of excessively high heels look more akin to clodhoppers than anything elegant and refined. Rather than slimming your calves, they can make them appear bulkier as your muscles are more flexed. They can also give a heavy gait.
When you have petite feet, overly high heels can also put a lot of strain on the ball of the feet and toes. Don’t become the victim of questionable fashion trends, and instead save your feet from a future of debilitating arthritis, bunions and even surgery.
While still maintaining the elevated elegance of a high heel, I find a heel of 7cm to be perfect for petite feet. They still look high enough for almost any occasion but are far more comfortable.
For everyday work shoes, I find 5-6cm heels to be a good choice. They look pretty and elegant while still being functional for work.
If you don’t have unlimited funds for shoes (who does!) then I recommend buying neutral colours (think beige/nude) that can be worn with the majority of your wardrobe. I tend to favour nudes over black as they can be matched with far more colours. And seeing pastel coloured clothing paired with black shoes is not a good look!
To create a more polished appearance, pair your heels with sheer pantyhose. I generally buy mine from Japan, as they are inexpensive yet the quality is far superior. A separate blog post extolling the virtues of the lost art of wearing pantyhose with links to where you can purchase them from is coming quite soon. Watch this space!
Diana Ginza has stores all over Japan (and is stocked in major department stores), and most I do believe stock size 21cm +. They may stock even smaller sizes, if I’m not wrong. However, their flagship store in Ginza is truly unbelievable! The whole of Level 5 is dedicated to small feet! If you have the opportunity to visit here, then you will be beside yourself. Plus, you’ll come across a roomful of women who are just as tiny as yourself! See, you’re not so alone after all. For those of us based outside of Japan, Diana Ginza also have an online store and ship worldwide! I’ve purchased from the online store several times now, and my purchases have been a huge success. For the most comfortable shoes, look out for the Diana Wellfit range.
Like Diana, Ginza Washington has stores across Japan, and their flagship store is only a few blocks away from Diana’s. All their shoe sare Made in Japan (although on rare occasions, I have seen Italian-made shoes as well). They used to have a large small-sized department, but on my last visit, it had sadly been reduced considerably. Still, at least they do make tiny shoes, and their style and comfort are second to none. Aim to shop here during their sales. I haven’t tried their online store yet but plan to in the near future.
Ooh la la! I only discovered this gorgeous Japanese brand when I was expectant with Bubby. What attracted me initially was their small sizes (of course) and their unusual and quirky style. Some of their lines can also be washed! I wore a pair of their shoes during our trip to Amsterdam and never got tired feet, so I’m a huge fan of theirs. They used to have an online store on Rakuten, which has unfortunately closed down their international English site. They are still available on the Japanese Rakuten website, and they also have their own presence as well. However, the inconvenience of ordering from these sites is well worth it as their shoes are incredibly comfortable and stylish.
My go-to shop is Meidong Boutique. If you are like me and enjoy dancing, then wearing dance shoes as normal shoes is something you’ll want to consider. Why should gorgeous shoes only be reserved for the dance floor or stage?
Contact details:150 Orchard Road #01-61 Orchard Plaza Singapore 238841, Tel: +65 67364709, Email: meidongshoes@gmail.com
I don’t have the names of other shops in Singapore, but I like to hunt around shopping centres in Chinatown, where it’s very easy to find size 3. Just keep in mind that some shopkeepers may pester you into buying shoes that are too big. Resist the hard sale pitch. I will update my Singapore list as I start to venture out more now that Bubby is older.
There used to be a shop for very small and larger feet situated in the Dymocks Building in Sydney, but sadly I think they may have closed down a while ago. But I found Petite Peds https://petitepeds.com.au which I don’t have any direct experience with, but they look well worth exploring. Let me know what your experience is if you purchase from them.
If you are looking for casual, running around shoes, then try Clarks children’s shoes. I just bought a lovely pair of girls 2.5 shoes from Myers, which are super light and comfy! Clarks Australia tends to have lighter shoes than the ones from the UK, so I prefer the Aussie ones for myself and my little girl. And yes, I bought her the same pair so we are matching (how daggy I know but I couldn’t help myself!).
I don’t have any direct experience with the following, but it’s nice to know that small shoes are available there too. Check https://www.smallfeet.co.uk and let me know what you think.
If you are visiting Vietnam, then having shoes made there is apparently quite inexpensive, and I’ve heard good quality. Hong Kong also has some custom-made shops, which I was hoping to try out but never had the chance. I’ll update this list if I find any specific shop names.
If you find a really wonderful pair of shoes that fit perfectly and feel wonderful, consider buying more than one pair. Shoes wear out over time, and it’s good to have back-ups for when that happens. I had the most comfortable walking shoes from Paris (children’s sized ones), and when they finally had their day, I was awfully upset and regretted that I hadn’t bought a second pair. Don’t be me.
All my gorgeous shoes are in Singapore, and my sweet husband is taking care of them (tropical humidity is not kind on shoes or leather of any kind!). When I am finally back home, I will take some photos and update this blog post to show you what is available and indeed possible for little feet.
Having small feet doesn’t mean you have to wear children’s shoes for the rest of your life. Thanks to online shopping, there’s no reason you can’t look elegant and polished and show off those petite feet in gorgeous, good quality shoes.
Happy shoe shopping!
Love, Mei-Ling x
As featured on:
The Yumcha Mama © 2023 | All Rights Reserved
