Gender-inclusive and gender-neutral shoes for anyone
For those whose shoe size doesn’t conform to the fashion industry’s narrow gender expectations, finding the right shoe in your preferred style can feel a little like finding a needle in a haystack. Whether you’re a person with larger feet seeking out the perfect heels, a shopper with small feet hoping to look dapper with some dashing new duds, or someone just wondering why shoes have to be so gendered to begin with, know that you’re not alone. LGBTQ+ people have been facing this challenge for years, but with the growth of online businesses, it’s never been easier to find your perfect fit.
We pulled together some of our favorite places to shop for feminine, masculine, and gender-neutral shoes. Though this list can be used to find the perfect shoes for anyone with a less common foot size, we took an especially close look at the most common footwear needs of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. Regardless of what type of gender expression you’re hoping to convey with your footwear choices, this list will help you find the perfect shoes.
All-gender and gender-neutral shoe retailers
NiK Kacy Footwear
Sizes: 36-47 (Custom sizing, explained here)
Price: $$-$$$
NiK Kacy Footwear was founded by NiK Kacy, a gender-nonconforming, transmasculine designer who identifies as nonbinary and is an advocate for the QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous People of Color) community. Kacy grew tired of consistently having trouble finding the gender-neutral styles they wanted, so they set out to create their own. After extensive research, Kacy created a truly gender-free set of shoes that encourages everyone to “feel confident and comfortable” and allows individuals to “walk their own way, no matter how they identify.”
Though custom sizing might be confusing at first glance, its basis in foot measurements and detailed explanation means that you’re more likely to order the correct size than at a big box store. The sizes available come out to 3.5 to 16.5 in standard women’s shoe sizes and 1 to 14 range in men’s shoe sizes. In addition to shoes, NiK Kacy sells gender-free accessories to hold items like wallets, keys, and phones.
Our top picks from NiK Kacy Footwear:
Shop shoes at Nik Kacy Footwear
Nike
Credit:
Reviewed / Nike
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Nike.
Sizes: 5-12 (women’s), 3.5-15 (men’s)
Price: $-$$
The Nike swoosh is one of the most recognizable logos in the world and for good reason. Their shoe quality and selection remains a favorite among shoppers. When it comes to casualwear, Nike is a great place to shop for those with small feet looking for masculine-leaning styles as well as those with large feet looking for more feminine-leaning styles. Though their range of sizes varies by shoe, most of their shoes offer a wide selection, and some are even listed with both men’s and women’s sizing. For those who want to browse the site without having to select a gender, utilize the bar of selection choices to the left of the screen and select all three genders at once to view the whole range.
For those who have a physical disability (or just hate leaning down to put on shoes), be sure to check out Nike’s FlyEase Running Shoe collection, which provides a hands-free way to put on running shoes. This feature is both convenient, accessibility-friendly, and is offered in a variety of sizes and styles.
Our top picks from Nike:
Macy’s
Credit:
Reviewed / Fashion To Figure / Taft / Smash Shoes
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Macy’s.
Sizes: 4.5-14W (women’s), 3-18 (men’s)
Price: $-$$
Though Macy’s doesn’t offer the wide variety of fun shoes as some of the others on our list, it’s a great place to find some wardrobe staples. For those looking for work-appropriate footwear or other semi-formal events, Macy’s has a great variety of prices and styles to choose from. While the site is fairly gendered in its organization and titling, you can search by your shoe size to help narrow the field faster and avoid wasting time on shoes that won’t work for your needs. They offer both traditionally feminine and masculine designs in a wide range of styles, meaning that those who are used to struggling to find their size are likely to have good luck shopping here.
Our top picks from Macy’s:
DSW
Credit:
Reviewed / Naturalizer / Ninety Union / Salvatore Ferragamo
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: DSW.
Sizes: 4-15 (women’s), 3.5-19 (men’s)
Price: $-$$
It’s perhaps no surprise that a business named Designer Shoe Warehouse (or DSW, as most people know it) lives up to its name, but it’s still worth mentioning. While the size selection isn’t as wide as some of the others on this list, the styles make up for it with a strong mix of flashy and functional. For those who are eager to impress at their next fancy event, there is a good selection of stand-out styles. On the flip side, for those looking for more practical utility shoes like hiking boots, you’re still sure to find something you’ll love.
Though the titles of the shoes don’t tend to be gendered, you’ll still have to sort the website by gender to look at the selection. Once you get past this step though, it’s easy to sort for exactly the shoe need that you’re trying to meet. This versatility is definitely one of the strongest reasons to look at DSW, so if you need a specific type of shoe for a specific type of activity, try starting here.
Our top picks from DSW:
Farfetch
Credit:
Reviewed / Jimmy Choo / Le Silla / Plein Sport
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Farfetch.
Sizes: 5-19 (women’s), 3-20.5 (men’s)
Price: $$$-$$$$
Farfetch offers a great variety of designer-label shoes, though the price is there to match. From casual sneakers to luxury heels, Farfetch offers styles for those who aren’t afraid of making a statement. Though not every shoe can be bought at the smallest or largest size, there are a plethora of options for both larger-footed people shopping for feminine styles and smaller-footed people shopping for masculine styles. The sorting on the site does require you to pick a gender before you can begin searching which isn’t ideal, but the various options and ability to sort by size will still make it fast to browse for exactly what you need.
Our top picks from Farfetch:
Feminine-leaning shoes
Only Maker
Credit:
Reviewed / Only Maker
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Only Maker.
Sizes: 5-15
Price: $
For those who want to stand tall and stand out, Only Maker is a great place to start. They focus on feminine-leaning designs and offer everything from flats to the highest of heels. The range of options at Only Maker is impressive, with more understated designs that would work in office settings or solemn events, as well as shoes with the color and energy for a night on the town.
One especially nice touch on Only Maker’s site is their page featuring how customers style their shoes. The page provides easy inspiration to put together a daring outfit of your own, and even encourages community among the brand’s most loyal customers. While the example page is listed as “Onlymaker for men,” women and gender-nonconforming individuals are sure to also find shoes they love here.
Our top picks from Only Maker:
Shoe Cup
Credit:
Reviewed / Bordello / Pleaser
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Shoe Cup.
Sizes: 9-17 (women’s)
Price: $
For those looking for larger shoe sizes in feminine styles, Shoe Cup is a one stop shop. They specialize in “sexy and alternative footwear” and carry everything from dress shoes to shoes for going out. Their prices are very affordable, and with more than 3,000 items to choose from, there’s something available for everyone. They even have options for the average small-footed shopper looking for a masculine style, though their catalog caters mostly toward feminine styles.
If you’re hoping for more of an everyday shoe, you can search in their lowest heel height section and find some great options that can flex from work to weddings. If you’re looking to be more daring, keep raising that heel knowing the sky (or about 10 inches) is the limit.
Our top picks from Shoe Cup:
Fierce Queen
Credit:
Reviewed / Pleaser
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Fierce Queen.
Sizes: 7-18 (women’s), 5-15 (men’s)
Price: $
If you have a flair for drama, stores catering to drag queens are a great place to look. Nowhere else will you find the highest heels and most dazzling shoes to choose from. While these stores may be less ideal for those with smaller shoe sizes, for those who are always looking for the next size up and who are after feminine styles, a store like Fierce Queen may be your new best friend.
Featured frequently on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Fierce Queen is well-known to many. Along with their shoes that are sure to stand out in a crowd, they also offer several more reserved options such as basic pumps and strappy sandals. Whether you’re hoping to stand out or blend in, Fierce Queens is well worth the look.
Our top picks from Fierce Queen:
Masculine-leaning shoes
Tomboy Toes
Credit:
Reviewed / Tomboy Toes
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Tomboy Toes.
Sizes: 4-12 (women’s)
Price: $
Tomboy Toes was founded by Benjamin Craig, a queer transgender entrepreneur. Craig discovered the gap in small-sized men’s formal shoes when he went shopping for a job interview and couldn’t find any options that worked for his 5’4” frame. After searching a mall in vain, Craig started looking into how to solve the problem and founded Tomboy Toes “to make sure women, trans men, nonbinary people, and anybody else with smaller feet never again have to settle for shoes that are only kind of what they want.”
Tomboy Toes offers both vegan leather and genuine leather shoes and specializes in formal masculine styles like brogues and oxfords. They also sell formal shoe accessories such as shoe polish, shoe horns, and customizable laces. Some of the shoes (though not all) are available in regular or extra wide as needed.
Our top picks from Tomboy Toes:
Nordstrom
Credit:
Reviewed / Camper / Ecco / Taft
Where to buy gender-neutral footwear: Nordstrom.
Sizes: 4-18+ (women’s), 5-18 (men’s)
Price: $$-$$$
On the pricier end of the spectrum, Nordstrom offers premium wardrobe staples that are made to last. They tend to feature more neutral than flashy items, but their size variety means that the department store retailer a great place to round out a collection of shoes for special occasions and everyday wear.
The selection for Nordstrom is a little better for those with small feet who are looking for masculine styles, as the feminine styles at larger sizes tend to be more limited in options. Though the site is fairly gendered, if you type in “shoes” to the top search bar you can search for all styles of shoes at once. From there, you can shop with confidence knowing that whatever you end up with is sure to have the classic feel and high quality to last the test of time.
Our top picks from Nordstrom:
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