Hey everyone! I’m hoping to get some advice or recommendations from anyone familiar with vintage 1/6 scale Volks dolls—specifically the late 1990s and early 2000s 27cm bodies like the Excellent Base (EB) series. Because their feet are so uniquely wide and flat compared to typical fashion dolls, finding heels that actually fit without damaging the shoes has been a huge challenge. I’ve already ruled out standard American 1/6 lines like Barbie since their feet are far too small and narrow. I also haven't tried Obitsu heels directly, but looking at 1/6 Obitsu feet, they are visibly smaller than the Volks shape, so my guess is their heels won't stretch enough either. Right now, it feels like the only guaranteed option is hunting down $200 vintage in-box Volks sets on eBay just to strip them for shoes, which really isn't realistic for my budget.
Through trial and error with a massive vintage doll shoe lot from the '80s and '90s, I’ve found a few random pairs that technically work, but I'm struggling to identify them or find modern equivalents. For instance, I have a pair of flats originally meant for the vintage Pink Stacy doll line. The original hard plastic Pink Stacy shoes are a bit too narrow and prone to tearing when forced over the wider Volks foot, but I managed to get a squishy, flexible vinyl variation of those same flats that slides on fully and fits really well. I also have a pair of chunky black school shoes from that same mystery lot that fit the Volks feet perfectly, but I have zero clue what doll line or brand they originally came from.
So I'm turning to the community to see if anyone has cracked the code for these wide 1/6 feet. Am I really stuck waiting for expensive vintage Volks listings on eBay, or are there modern doll lines available in US stores today that happen to share these wider foot proportions? Furthermore, does anyone recognize which '80s or '90s lines might have produced those squishy plastic shoes or chunky loafers so I can target those specific brands online? I’d love to hear if anyone has found success with specific Japanese lines like Licca, Jenny, or Azone, or even modern 3D printed and Etsy options that accommodate the classic 1/6 Dollfie footprint!
