Frequently Asked Questions

Purchasing RoSa Shoes Online

How do I buy RoSa shoes?

They are only available online, from stock, right here at RoSa Shoes (you won't find them in any shops or on any other websites). First select a category from the list appearing on the left side of the screen (Shoes - Medium Heel, etc.) All our prices are in British Pounds - the conversion is done automatically if you are an overseas customer.  If you need a rough guide to what the cost  of your order will be in your own currency, here is a link to MSN's currency converter - which is updated regularly. Obviously the actual price charged to your card is determined by the exact rate of exchange on the day of  your transaction. After choosing your style, simply pay securely with your debit or credit card via Protx VSP Server. Don't worry - this is a safe 128-bit-encrypted payment system recommended by all major banks. Your card information is not viewed by us or stored here on the RoSa Shoes website - we are only informed of your e-mail and shipping details when a successful transaction has occurred. We ship worldwide (with a few exceptions) via the Royal Mail. UK orders are sent "Next Day Special Delivery" as soon as payment verification has been received. Please note: to ensure card holder security we ONLY dispatch to the verified card holder address. We advise all customers who have not already done so to register their credit or debit cards with their bank under the relevant 3D Secure system ("Verified by Visa" or "MasterCard SecureCode"). This protects both the customer and the vendor.

Customers are welcome to visit us in person, but please always e-mail or phone first (see the Contact Us page) to arrange an appointment. Please note that we have no card payment facility available for personal callers, nor do we release goods against uncleared and unverified personal cheques, so if you wish to take your selection away with you immediately, it will have to be a cash transaction. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Mail Order by Postal Order or cheque drawn on a UK bank account, payable to RoSa Shoes, and made out in Pounds Sterling is welcome, but cheques must be fully cleared before orders are dispatched. Sorry, we do not accept cheque payment from foreign banks.

Customers outside the UK may choose to pay by direct bank transfer. E-mail us with details of the shoes you wish to buy using the email link on our Contact Us page.  We will reserve your choice if it is in stock and we will then email you an invoice for the cost of the shoes plus shipping. You will need to pay the bank charges if using this method of payment. You may in this instance select an alternative address for delivery.

Shipping Charges are clearly indicated in our shopping cart before you confirm your purchase, but if you would like to know the postage cost before ordering, see our Delivery and Returns page.

About RoSa Shoes

Why pointed stilettos? 

Our opinion is that a stiletto-heeled shoe without an extremely pointed toe is missing a large percentage of its sensual fascination. The ultra-pointed "stiletto", as the entire shoe has become popularly known, is an icon beyond fashion - a timeless object of desire. Our RoSa Shoes collection is inspired by the original long-point stiletto shoes (also affectionately known to some original wearers as "winklepickers") which attained their pinnacle of refinement around 1960-61, were worn again in the early 1980s as vintage "old stock", but which have now almost completely disappeared. We recognised a need to recapture - perhaps even improve upon - the classic extended-point stiletto styling, following on from recent developments in Italian shoe manufacture which have finally made possible an equally extreme-looking, yet far more comfortable and reliable pointed stiletto shoe.

Who are these shoes designed for?

We specialise in tastefully extreme shoes for women of all walks of life who love long pointed toes and real stiletto heels and who appreciate the exclusivity and luxury of an all-leather, English-designed, Italian-made shoe. We supply our beautifully-made shoes to confident, independent women all over the world who choose the long-pointed look. Elegant women who understand that a pointed toe, if sufficiently extended to leave room for the wearer's toes, not only looks more spectacular, but is in fact extremely comfortable. Women who share our opinion that these classic shoes, with their slender, teetering heels and long, tapering toes, will always remain by far the smartest, sexiest choice. Our clientele is worldwide (there are now  women wearing our shoes in 25 countries across 6 continents) and the reputation of  RoSa Shoes continues to grow. 

Where are the shoes made?

They are made in Italy, but all our styles are conceived and designed in England. 

How high are the heels?

Our shoes are perfectly balanced and (when you are accustomed to long pointed toes) surprisingly wearable. Our heels are correctly designed for the lasts on which the shoes are made. The rear curve of the heel positions the stem correctly below the ankle, enabling graceful movement. In our opinion, assuming the wearer wishes to be able to walk rather than stagger, our higher heel represents, for most women, the wearable maximum without a platform sole. The shoe was developed and graded from a prototype model Italian size 37 (US 7, UK 5) with a 12cm (approx. 4.75 inch) heel. Please note, this is a genuine measurement , perpendicular to the ground from the rear of the heel seat. Alternatively, our very elegant, and equally sexy, medium heel (9.5 cm or 3.75 inches at size 37) should present no problem at all, even to an inexperienced stiletto wearer and can be worn happily all day if required. If you are in any doubt, watch some of the "Sarah of RoSa" video clips on our gallery page.  Our heel heights are also quoted on our Shoe Info page and at the beginning of each section of our shop area. Heel heights are graded up and down from the original model according to shoe size to offer consistent proportion throughout the size range, so a woman wearing our size 36 will appear to be wearing the same shoe as a woman with our size 41. 

Why is my size not listed on the drop-down menu?

We try to keep most styles in stock in sizes 35 to 41 (Italian), which is the size range representing the broadest cross-section of  the female shoe-buying public. If you are outside this size-range (smaller or larger), we apologise, but we are unable to help you. The shoes are not made larger than size 41 (US size 10, UK size 8) due to the extreme length of the toe point. If you are inside our size-range, but don't see your size listed, it is temporarily out of stock. Please select an alternative style, or contact us .

Can you do special orders?

Sorry, we do NOT do custom-made shoes and we cannot therefore deal with individual requests - no one-off colours, toe-shapes, heel heights, fittings or sizes - only the shoes you see on our website! This is not because we do not understand certain requirements, but because it is not the nature of our business. However, we do take an interest in customer feedback and opinion, so please check our site regularly to see if we have added something more to your liking.

Ordering the Correct Size

What if I order the wrong size?

Sometimes a half-insole or gel pad can work wonders if you have a loose shoe, but if you are sure you need a different size, no problem - just e-mail us for confirmation, send the shoes back absolutely unworn and unmarked and we will send the size you need. See our full Terms and Conditions

They really do look very pointed, will I need a bigger size?

No. RoSa Shoes'  long, gradually-tapering pointed toe deceives the eye with its slenderness, but it  is an extension of the natural foot shape - it does not compromise the width, the fit or the comfort of the shoe. Just order your usual Italian size - don't order larger, as our sizing is already generous. If you are familiar with Italian-made all-leather "designer" women's shoes, you will know that Italian shoe sizes tend to be slightly larger than standard European (eg. Spanish or French) sizes. Customers' expectation of shoe sizing varies, often because of the width of the foot (sorry, but simple economics prevent us from being able to offer a choice of width fittings) but in our experience our size 35 is approximately a UK female size three and a half, our 36 is a fraction larger than a UK 4, our 37 is a UK 5, our 38 is a generous UK five and a half, our 39 is a generous UK 6, our 40 is a UK 7, and our 41 is a UK female 8. [for American female shoe size equivalents, add two to the UK size - e.g. Italian 41 = UK 8 = US 10]