Okay, maybe not to arms, but to something at-least….

Action! That’s it!

This is a call to action!

Ladies and gentlemen… and everyone yet to make up your minds, my name is Samantha.
I am a crossdresser from the UK, I’ve been a crossdresser (CD) for over half my life and I bloody love it.
What I don’t like is the choice in shoes that get thrown at me just because I don’t have UK size 8 (or below) feet.

This marks the start of my quest to get prettier shoes for girls and guys with feet sized UK 9 to 13 (and their international equivalent).

Why, you ask?
Have you seen the shoes that are available in those sizes? …No?
Well I’ll tell you about them,
They start at £45 and that’s for a 3” heel court in patent black, white or red.
You want 5”? that’ll be £55 and you can have any colour you want, as long as it’s black, white or red.
You want straps or any details? Certainly, that’ll be £65 and you can have any colour of the rainbow… but were sold out of everything that isn’t black white or red.
What’s that you want a platform heel? Well you better go claim a street corner because that’s the only place you’ll be able to wear the ones we have in your size there, bigfoot!
And all of this is before they bend you over for delivery charges.

If I sound sarcastic, it’s for a reason.
18 years I’ve been doing this and not once have I ever had the luxury afforded to 90% of genetic girls which is a selection of nice, stylish heels for less than £40.
I don’t see how I’m asking for a lot really.

The backstory

About 3 or 4 weeks ago I emailed the UK high street chain store, New Look.
I go in New Look a lot, usually being dragged around by my fiancé on a mission to find something while I do my own browsing.
Whenever we get to the shoes though, I have to stop looking because I know I can’t have them. Despite their excellent pricing, I just can’t have them…
None of them fit me.
They only go up to a size 8 (9s are sold online) and I’m a 10/11.


The email trail between myself and New Look can be seen below

Samantha Smile <samanthasmile82@gmail.com>
Apr 19

To headofcustomerservices@newlook.com
Hello there, I hope you enjoyed your Easter break.

Welcome back to your desk

My name, for the sake of contacting me is Samantha.
I'm writing to you this evening after a long conversation with my friend on the telephone about how much we like your shops.
Bang on trend, all the choice in the world and not at stupid prices. We like this.
What we don't like are your shoes. Not the styles, we and many of us love your shoes. What we don't like is that they only go up to size 8 and in some cases, size 9.
My friend whom I was speaking to is a shoe size 10 and is 5'11" tall, I'm a shoe size 10-11 and 6'6" tall, and your beautiful footwear over which I have spent many-an-evening pining only cover up to an 8 (usually).
I'm guessing you've read between the lines by now, so I'll just say, me and my friend (and an estimated 300,000 men in the UK alone) are crossdressers.
And no this isn't a suggestion to start making fetish wear, we're not all like that.
We pride ourselves on looking at least half decent, and this isn't made very easy when most of the footwear available to you is designed for fetishists, strippers and prostitutes.
There is the occasional nice pair, but they end up costing near £80 delivered and they aren't even branded - My girlfriend bought 2 pairs from Iron Fist for that price!
I know there is a somewhat limited, niche market in crossdressing, however, I believe it would be a lucrative opportunity for yourselves to at least consider and look into offering all your shoes up to size 10 or 11, maybe even 12.
Here's why - even if you took your higher priced shoes, and charged an extra 30% or even 40% for the availability of larger sizing but keeping the same styling, crossdressers would not only be saving money, but you would be making a killing.
Have you seen how much size 10 heels cost? Cheap ones run you at £50 and that’s without delivery. If you undercut that price and routinely sell large heels at 40/45 quid delivered, you will clean up.
Nicer shoes for less money than nasty ones? You'd have to be mad not to buy from you.

And we haven't even begun to talk about the genetic women with large feet yet! They would benefit from all of the above too.

You don't even have to focus on the financial aspects of this. Just imagine the good will it would generate within the LGBT community.
'New Look supporting the trans community' - 'New Look for New Women' etc etc
And this in turn would generate profit because everyone loves the good guy, and the more awareness you have for your product, the more likely it is to sell.
I can virtually guarantee that these kinds of shoe would sell, even if you only launch them online because crossdressers are rarely forthcoming about enjoying their feminine side, and usually will buy online unless they're with the 'Out and Proud' gang.
I beg you to take this seriously. I've been crossdressing for more than half of my life and have never had the choice of footwear that I would like to.
You guys turn out the nicest shoes I've seen anywhere else for the money, so I beg you as my favorite shoe seller, please don't write this off as a joke or waste of time.

If you consider this further and need any further information or contacts in the LGBT community either on the web or in the flesh, please contact me for further info.
Or even if you just want to find a way of gauging interest in this idea, please get in touch.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Samantha.
-x-

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The response I got was less than encouraging
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<ProofOfPostage@newlook.com>
Apr 21

to me
Dear Samantha,

Reference: 2651784

Thank you for your recent email to New Look regarding shoe sizes. I really do appreciate you bringing your thoughts and opinions to our attention.

New Look are always looking to improve our company and are all about making our customers happy and again really appreciate you taking the time to contact us regarding this. I can confirm I have passed this information onto the relevant department for there consideration.

However, if you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact us again on 08444996690, where we will be more than happy to help. Our lines open Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm, Sundays 10am-6pm.

Kind regards,

Michaela Dunkley
Customer Relations Specialist
New Look Customer Services
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So today, I contacted them again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Samantha Smile <samanthasmile82@gmail.com>
11:53 AM (54 minutes ago)

to headofcustomerservices@newlook.com
Hello.
Thank you for the reply and confirming my message had been received.
As it is nearly one month later, I was just wondering if any of the 'higher-ups' have had a chance to view my mail and given it any considerable thought?
Only reason being is that I still haven't had any form of reply that specifically addresses my questions.
I appreciate you must get a good number of emails each day and so I don't like to pester, but god damn I love your shoes, and I would like for them to fit my feet.
Sincerely
Samantha
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



And that folks, is where we stand right now.

Maybe it’s Conchita Wurst’s victory at Eurovison this weekend that’s inspired me (I’m well aware it was all just a great big middle finger to Russia and their anti-LGBT laws). Or maybe I’m just fed up wearing the same old shoes all the time.
Either way, I feel it’s time to act.

The Plan

And I need you all to help me, each and every one of you.
UK folks, you should be making this a priority for today, please continue to read.
US and elsewhere citizens, while this may not impact you directly, I’m still asking for your assistance. This might end up being the action that sets precedent for the rights to cute shoes for CD/TV/TS women the world over.

All I want is an email.
Just one. For now at least, you may be needed to send further emails later.

What are we doing?
We’re letting them know just how much larger sized shoes would mean to us.
We’re letting them know were here.
We’re letting them know how big our community is and the power it can gather.

And I’m not just asking the active CD/TV/TS gals here, I want the supporters, friends, admirers and allies to pitch in too.

I’ll even give you the email you need to fill in the blanks/edit the info to remove square brackets [] and send.


I’m posting this thread in all of my CD/TV forums and on my blog, so edit as appropriate.




To -
headofcustomerservices@newlook.com

Title
We want larger sized heels from you!

Body text

Dear Sir/Madam

My name is [Name, CD name, pseudonym]
I stumbled on a [thread/blog] today on [url or name of site] calling for people of the Transgender community to rally together in order to bring your attention, the potential popularity of producing your ranges of shoes in sizes up to UK 13.

This email is hopefully one of many that you have received that informs you that we are a community united, and we would like you to hear us.

I am writing to you today in a show of support and agreement with a member of our community who is, pretty much, campaigning to have you seriously consider the production and retail of your women’s shoe ranges in larger sizes.
Her name is Samantha, and I believe she has already contacted you regarding the matter. (samanthasmile82@gmail.com)

I would also like to have the opportunity to buy fashionable shoes and heels at prices that don’t kill my pocket. That is why, I too am asking New Look to take this seriously.

[Add and personal points and feelings/suggestions]
In this age of Transgender equality, wouldn’t it be great if we could all have stylish shoes that fit well?

Sincerely
[Name]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And that’s it.

Spread the word, put it in chat sites, blogs, emails, tell your friends, spread it across message boards, forums… any way to get the word to as many people in our community as you can.

I’m not holding my breath, but I am counting on you guys.

Love you all for this.

Samantha

Done.

Let the upswell begin.

Debbie

Thankyou Deb!

KEEP IT GOING!!!

Sent mine to them Samantha,if every girl here does the same how can they resist

We're not alone, my sister-in-law has feet larger than my 10.5 s and has the same trouble finding affordable everyday shoes. It's almost as bad finding bras with a large band and small cup. When I look around there are all kinds of women in different shapes who adapt, search out, and squirrel away what they can daily and bend to the marketers view of reality.

Fiona, Rita, everyone...
Please tell your friends.
As fiona said, If everyone here does the same, how can they resist??

Spread the word.

And thank you! xx
This post was edited by Samantha Smile at May 17, 2014 9:02 AM BST

Had a reply from them today

Dear Fiona,




Thank you for your recent response to New Look regarding shoe sizes.



Customer services loved your email and your feedback so we were sure to pass it on to the relevant department in head office for you. We can tell you have a lot of passion for our footwear and we love it too so we can understand why you would want them made in larger sizes.



We wouldn't be able to provide any feedback about the outcome of your idea and I apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause you. However, I would advise checking the website in the future to see if larger sizes become available and of course if you join our mailing list we would be advertising any new ranges that may become available so you will be the first to know.



New Look really does appreciate you taking the time to pass on your feedback as feedback from our customers means we can continually develop our ranges. If you have any further queries regarding this then please do not hesitate to contact us again, our customer services number is 0844 499 6690 and our offices are open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm.




Kind Regards,




Tamara Willis

Customer Relations Specialist

New Look Customer Services

Awesome, you know I love new look but I'm constantly disappointed that their shoes beyond size 8 are so limited. Email sent and fingers crossed! Xxx

Here's my reply...so they are reading them, as my reply is different to both Fiona's and Samantha's:

Dear Debbie,

Thank you for your recent email to New Look regarding the sizing of women's shoes available and I understand why you would like to bring this to our attention.

I completely agree with you, not just us but all stores should be able to stock a larger sizes in shoes. As you said yourself if we start requesting it from our suppliers then they will understand the demand that we have for them.

I will most certainly be passing this over to our buying team as I think this is a great idea. Hopefully at some point in the near future you will be able to buy your shoes from New Look.

I would like to sincerely thank you for your feed back and suggestions and I hope you continue to enjoy shopping with New Look.

Kind Regards,

Tamara Willis
Customer Relations Specialist
New Look Customer Services

Lots of progress - shows what determined trannies can do. All that is needed now is for New Look to start stocking shoes in size 9 and above.

After all Asda and Primark do size 9s - both are a 43 and Primark have wide fittings as well. I can get into Tesco's wide fit 8's, but that's only about 4 pairs out of all their women's range of shoes.

Its interesting that Asda's size 9s always sell out really fast. I put a white pair in my online basket and by the time I got to checkout they were sold out (within 20 mins on a Saturday afternoon)

I will send an email to New Look this week and let you know about their response.

hugs

Pauline xxx

Just checked my inbox, I got one similar to Fiona.
Come on you lovely lot, lets not give up on this!!!

Dear Samantha,



Ref 2651784



Thank you for your recent response to New Look regarding shoe sizes.



Customer services loved your email and your feedback so we were sure to pass it on to the relevant department in head office for you. We can tell you have a lot of passion for our footwear and we love it too so we can understand why you would want them made in larger sizes.



We wouldn't be able to provide any feedback about the outcome of your idea and I apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause you. However, I would advise checking the website in the future to see if larger sizes become available and of course if you join our mailing list we would be advertising any new ranges that may become available so you will be the first to know.



New Look really does appreciate you taking the time to pass on your feedback as feedback from our customers means we can continually develop our ranges. If you have any further queries regarding this then please do not hesitate to contact us again, our customer services number is 0844 499 6690 and our offices are open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm.



We hope you enjoy your weekend.



Kind regards,



Hilary Domleo

Senior Customer Relations Specialist

New Look Customer Services

I just got my Taillissime catalogue, and noticed that they have a wide range of shoes and boots up to size 45 (UK size 11). OK they are not the cheapest range around, but they do offer modern fashionable ladies footware in BIG sizes.

They are part of the La Redoute/Castaluna group, so you order on line and they are delivered to your home or office to try on. If they dont fit then call the courier and send them back.

Here is the link - http://www.castaluna.co.uk/categories/new-in/412.aspx

hugs


Pauline xxxx

PS Happy shopping

I am happy to join in, and more power to we girls.
However, I am quite lucky. I take a size 9, and there is a pretty wide choice from Evans, Marisota, Fifty Plus, George at Asda and others. I have bought, very recently, 2 pairs of lovely heels from Evans, and 2 pairs of ballet shoes from asda.The Evans shoes cost c.£30, and the Asda ballets were c, £8. But, I realise it is easier to find size 9s.

Absolutely agree with you. The other side is that my wife has very similar problems as, she is a size 9 with wide fitting and tends to get all of her shoes online at, over the odds prices in all the same colours. It frustrates her immensely too.

Carol,

At least point her in the direction of La Redoute - when they have sales they have good offers. Other on line retailers that do size 9 and above include the following :-

1. Bon Prix do a limited range up to size 10

2. Shoe Tailor - up to size 9 and EEE

3. Evans do both on line and have shops in some places. I think they do up to size 10 (maybe 11) and with their shoes going up to EEE if you have a narrow foot then you can sometimes buy a smaller size.

4. Asda do up to size 9 as Helen said - and outside of their boots their shoes are always under £20

5. Primark - do up to a size 9 and wider fittings, though in my opinion they are more of a 42 than a 43.

6. I did some googling and came up with this site - Domestic Sluttery - which has looked at all the bigger sizes on offer from conventional sources, that's up to a 12.
Seems to me that its a compendium of knowledge and at least offers some alternatives to New Look (I suspect that Samantha's attempts to get them to make bigger sizes will be as successful as pushing treacle uphill)
http://www.domesticsluttery.com/2012/04/ultimate-size-9-13-shoe-guide.html

I also found some other retailers offering bigger sizes

7. The shoe Zone - at least in size 9 they have sandals, though above size 9 its sketchy, and 11 is just wellies.
http://www.shoezone.com/Womens/All

8. Debenhams - only go up to size 9 but have 500 + pairs on their website in 9s. http://www.debenhams.com/women/shoes-boots

9. Tall Girls - goes up to a size 12 (UK) ,not just flats they do heels for £39 !!!
http://www.tallgirls.co.uk/large-footwear/flats-low-heels

10. Crispin shoes go up to UK size 11, but they are expensive so I would suggest only buy in the sales and even then you need to think £100 plus
http://www.crispinsshoes.com/LADIES-SIZE-11-UK-%2845-European%29/

11. Brantano - they have 25 pairs in size 10, but all are black and none are elegant, size 9 more choice (just) and a 142 pairs. More practical than for a night out I would say
http://www.brantano.co.uk/ladies/size-9/page-4

12. Found another blog on size 9s and up, but its mainly focused on 9s and isnt as comprehensive as Domestic Sluttery.
http://www.shoewawa.com/2013/02/shoes_for_big_feet_women.html

13. Shoesissima goes up to size 12 and whilst not cheap (about £70 upwards when there is no sale) it has a wide selection. Its recommended by Domestic Sluttery as well
http://www.shoesissima.com/collection

14. Medissa Shoes - seem to have a choice up to size 11, but not many pairs with elegant heels that i could see. Checkout their website http://www.medissashoes.com/

15. Cinderella - Irish site which has a range of heels up to UK size 11. Size 12 has a very small choice
http://www.cinderellashoes.ie/categories/Size/UK-Sizes/size-11

I have added an article from the Daily Telegraph from 2009 which points out that several celebrity women have size 9 feet. Sadly most of their choices could only be afforded by these rich ladies and only go up to size 9.
http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG5652410/The-list-of-size-9-womens-shoe-stockists-is-bigger-than-you-think.html

I am going to re-paste these comments onto a new forum, inspired by Samantha's search for ladies shoes in larger sizes.

hugs


Pauline xxxx
This post was edited by Pauline Smith at August 6, 2014 11:36 AM BST

We've had good luck this side of the pond with Long Tall Sally stores. One trans friend just picked up her size 14 heels and another got some lovely knee high boots there last winter. I have shopped there locally and the staff have been wonderful even when I present as male. They do have an on-line catalogue so UK girls might have a look My last bra from Amazon came from the UK, and its fabulous.

Thanks for that Pauline! Could you pull them out and stick them in a blog or article, please? I think that list would be very useful to people, and it might get lost in the forums.

Sure Debbie - though I have started a new forum as well.

It will have to be next week as I am on vacation with my son for the next few days

Pauline xxx

Hi Samantha. I have belatedly joined your campaign - only just having come across it. My email to New Look is about to wing its way.

I take 'standard' gent's shoes in size 11 but find New Look's shoes in size 9 Wide fitting fit me well but only the 'open' sandal styles, 'closed' styles are out of the question as the toe boxes are not big enough and the shoes are therefore not long enough. I've also bought from Evans who do go up to 10 Extra Wide but their shoes are generally nowhere near as trendy as New Look's and their heels tend to be on the low side.

Hope springs eternal!

Hugs

Trines x x

Following on from my last post here's the correspondence I've had so far: -

To: Headofcustomerservices@newlook.com
Subject: Ladies' Shoes


Dear Sirs,

I much admire your large range of trendy and inexpensive ladies’ footwear.

I have bought from you a number of size 9 wide-fitting pairs recently, both in-store and on-line, which fit me quite well but I can only consider some of your ‘open’ strappy-style sandals as, normally needing size 10, some of the sandals and all your size 9 Wide ‘closed’ shoes and boots are out of the question.

Footwear larger than size 9 is available from the specialist retailers such as Long Tall Sally, Tall Girls, Shoesissima etc but their styles tend to be ‘classic’ rather than trendy and all are very expensive, often up to £100 or more a pair. Evans go up to 10 but their heels are quite low and their styles, aimed more at the older woman, rather ‘frumpy’!

There must be a large unsatisfied demand for shoes of your style and price in size 10 and above which your company could most profitably tap into from the sizeable number of girls with large feet and from the hundreds of thousands of cross-dressing men and the many transgendered, of which I am one, who live as women most of the time if not permanently.

Were you to stock the larger sizes I believe you would be pleasantly surprised at the speed they would ‘walk’ off your shelves once it was widely known they were available, even if it were necessary to charge a modest premium for them if extra manufacturing costs were involved.

I would be most interested to hear whether you are prepared to consider stocking larger sizes in some if not all your styles in both standard and wide fittings.

Yours sincerely

Trines


This was their prompt reply, little different from the one Samantha received: -

Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 4:39 PM
From: ProofOfPostage <ProofOfPostage@NewLook.com>
To:Trines@mail.com
Subject: RE: Ladies' Shoes
Dear Trines,

Reference: 3281065

Thank you for your email to New Look regarding woman's shoe sizing.

We were sorry that you were disappointed with the fact our woman's shoe range only goes up to a size 9. Unfortunately we are not provided with information as to why certain stock or sizes are not catered for on our online and in store ranges. However, I have emailed our buying team so they are being made aware it is something that there could be a market for and that customers are requesting it.

We appreciate that you have taken the time to provide us with your feedback in regards to offering our woman's shoes in larger sizes and I hope it is something that we can look into in the future.

If you wish to discuss this further we can be contacted on this email or on 0344 499 6690 quoting the reference that can be found at the header of this email. Our opening hours are Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm and Sunday 10am-6pm.

Yours Sincerely

Francesca Radbourne
Customer Relations Specialist
New Look Customer Services

To which I have rejoined: -

Dear Francesca

I thank you for your prompt and courteous reply and note you have passed my email, or the gist of it, on to your buying team.

I wouldn't imagine for a moment that the buying team write back to individual customers but I really would appreciate it if you could ascertain from them what their thinking is about the introduction of larger sized shoes and relay their reply back to me.

I might add I am a subscriber to two large social websites for the transgendered and who between them have many tens of thousands of members. I am posting our correspondence on those sites and I am only one of a great many who are very interested to receive your reply !

Kind regards

Trines

I'll keep you informed of any reply!

If you haven't already contacted New Look along the same lines as suggested by Samantha why not do so now. Send to ProofOfPostage@NewLook.com marked for the attention of Francesca Radbourne, quoting their reference 3281065.

If you have previously emailed them, why not do so again? It couldn't possibly hurt and it could be your message that's the straw that might break the camel's back !!

Hugs

Trines x x

From ProofOfPostage@NewLook.com

Good Afternoon Trines

Reference: 3281065

Thank you for taking the time to get back to us.

When any customer supply us with feedback it is greatly appreciated as we are always looking for ways to improve the business and supply our customers with the best quality and fashion products possible.

Unfortunately our buying team do not correspond directly with customers they will look over all requests at the end of each season to see the volume of prominent requests sent.

We have a very large transgender following so I feel that it is something that may well be considered in the future, Unfortunately we are not made aware of any decisions that are made until any new lines are launched.

But we thank you for putting forward your suggestions.

Best Wishes

Cassie King

Customer Relations Specialist
New Look Customer Services

I shall go back to them asking them to reply to my actual question (what is their buying team's current thinking about larger sized shoes) but their latest reply is most interesting.

1. "We have a large transgender following" is really great to see. This means they will not be upset to receive emails from us about women's clothing and

2. from what is said in their 3rd paragraph about noting the amount of requests they receive, the more of us who send in an email asking for larger sized shoes, the more likely this will happen.

So get writing girls - now! It will only take a minute and cost you nothing! The address to write to is ProofOfPostage@NewLook.com
quoting reference 3281065