Best Dress Shoes for Kids with High Insteps – Stylish, Comfortable, and Extra Deep!
I have been contacted by a large number of parents who constantly complain about not being able to find a single pair of dress shoes for their kids with high insteps. Sounds familiar? When children have a high instep it makes it a lot more challenging to find shoes that fit, especially when it comes to dress shoes, as the selection gets very limited. The good news is that I have put together a list of the best dress shoes for kids with high insteps based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.
You won’t believe how many times I heard the phrases:
“We have tried them all but my kids still complain that the top part of their feet rubs against the top part of the shoes.”
“The dress shoes feel uncomfortable, at this point we just look for all black sneakers that look dressy enough.”
I am here to tell you that even though the selection is quite limited, certain dress shoes are capable of fitting children with high insteps.
How Does a Foot with a High Instep Looks Like?
Just to clarify, the instep is the top part of the foot, and when it’s high, it makes it a lot more complicated to find shoes that fit. Take a look at the images below for better visualization purposes:
What Makes the Dress Shoes I Recommend Effective for High Insteps?
There are 2 key features that the shoes I recommend provide:
1️⃣ Extra Depth: This is the most important feature. Shoes that provide extra depth allow the child’s feet to fit deeply inside the shoes, which helps prevent the top part of the foot (instep), from rubbing against the top part of the shoes. Let me show you an example of a dress shoe that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t. Do you notice how the shoe on the right provides a lot more depth compared to the shoe on the left?
The same applies to a pair of girl’s dress shoes. One of the most common types of dress shoes that girls like to wear is called the Mary Jane style. Let’s take a look at the difference between a Mary Jane that provides extra depth versus one that doesn’t. Do you notice how the shoe on the right is a lot deeper compared to the shoe on the left?
It’s clear that shoes that provide extra depth play a key role in accommodating the shape of a child with a high instep.
2️⃣ Wider Opening: It’s important for your kids’ dress shoes to open up nice and wide for your child to be able to easily slide his/her foot inside the shoes. Children with high insteps always have a harder time getting their shoes on as the instep makes it more challenging for them to slide their feet inside of the shoes.
The dress shoes I recommend below all come with a wider opening:
Why is it so Hard to Find Dress Shoes for Kids with High Insteps?
The main reason is that shoes don’t come labeled as “extra deep”, so there is no way of telling if a shoe provides extra depth unless you have fitted that shoe before.
Here is where I come into play. I know exactly which kids’ dress shoes are deeper than others from having fitted them before. However, before I show you a selection of the best dress shoes for kids with high instep I want to first make sure that you know your child’s exact foot size.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
You won’t be able to order the correct shoe size online if you don’t know your child’s exact foot size to begin with. What I mean by this is that we should know by now whether your child has a high instep or not, but do you know if your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet? Do you know your child’s exact foot length? Find out the answers to these questions in this free virtual shoe fitting assistant.
Some children might have extra wide feet in addition to having a high instep, which makes it a lot more challenging to find shoes that fit.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best dress shoes for kids with high insteps. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Dress Shoes for High Instep
The dress shoes I recommend below are available in different widths such as medium (M) and wide (W) so make sure that you choose your child’s shoe width accordingly. It’s highly likely that you will have to order the wide width (W) if your child has a high instep.
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Makayla Mary Jane by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- APMA approved and built for toddlers
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style M Kennedy by Stride Rite
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- APMA approved and built for toddlers
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Laura by FootMates
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Bucky 2 by FootMates
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Lace-up design
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Harper by FootMates
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Adjustable buckle closure with hidden elastic
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Willy 3 by FootMates
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Lace-up design
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Mary Jane by Stride Rite
- Available in extra wide widths
- Oversized openings
- Antimicrobial linings for odor prevention
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Brian by Deer Stags
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Padded insole
- Dual goring at vamp
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Slip-on design
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style SRT Cordaline by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Easy on-and-off with oversized opening and adjustable double hook and loop closure
- Organic canvas lining helps reduce odor
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Gamefish by Sperry
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% genuine leather upper
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Alternative closure with fixed lace for easy on/off and adjustability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Mary Jane Flat by See Kai Run
- Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
- Oversized openings
- 100% leather
- Soft leather uppers with a black patent finish and scalloped topline edging
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Holly by Stride Rite
- Available in extra wide widths
- Oversized openings
- Antimicrobial linings for odor prevention
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Sr Murphy by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure
- Premium leather with a padded heel collar
- Memory-foam insole provides enhanced comfort
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Reese by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Cushioned memory foam footbed for all-day comfort
- Mesh lining for added comfort and breathability
- Oversized opening
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Jace by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Double velcro straps
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory Foam foot bed for all-day comfort and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style HP-Reese Mary Jane by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Willy BTS by FootMates
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Leather lining and footbed
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening
- Lace up closure for secure fit
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Josie Flat by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Slip-on design for easy on and off
- Elasticized top line for a no-slip fit
- Breathable textile lining and a cushioned textile insole
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Berwyn Jr by Florsheim
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Padded collar for comfort
- Memory Foam foot bed for all-day comfort and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style 650v1 by New Balance
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Slip-on design for easy on and off
- Man-made lining and footbed
- Breathable textile lining and a cushioned textile insole
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Sr Laurence by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Sport Mary Jane Flat by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Mesh linings for breathability & odor prevention
- Cushy memory foam footbed for all day comfort and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Billings Jr II by Florsheim
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening
- Lace up closure for secure fit
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
These dress shoes are the most effective ones when it comes to fitting children with a high instep. If your child happens to have narrow feet with a high instep I suggest that you contact me directly and I will send you specific shoe recommendations:
While these dress shoes are made from high-quality materials and provide good padding all around, it’s important that you emphasize to your child that dress shoes are never going to feel as good as sneakers do. Dress shoes are always going to feel stiffer compared to sneakers.
Additional Resources for Children with High Insteps
I have created several free resources over the years for children with high insteps that describe the best everyday sneakers and seasonal shoes such as sandals or boots.
How to Tell When a Child Has a High Instep?
I can tell whether children have a high instep or not simply by looking at their feet. However, there are a couple of signs that parents can look out for to figure out if their child has a high instep or not:
- Do you feel like you always struggle to get your child’s shoes on? This is the first sign that your child might have a high instep.
- Have you noticed indentations on the top part of your child’s feet? This is another sign that your child might have a high instep.
Feel free to send me pictures of your child’s feet if you are unsure whether your child has a high instep or not:
Have you found a pair of different dress shoes that have worked well for your child’s high instep? Please share your findings below so other families can benefit from your experiences.
