A Christmas Miracle
Dec. 23rd, 2007 02:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gurdymonkeyI found shoes.
PRETTY shoes.
That fit.
On Christmas Eve.
In Macy's.
For under $50.
For those of you going, "So, what's the big deal?" you have to understand that I pretty much live in flat shoes (or barefoot!), thus spreading my already congenitally wide feet somewhat wider. My foot is 9 1/2 inches long - which theoretically makes it a US size 8. Measured at the widest distance around the ball of the foot, the circumference of my foot is also 9 1/2 inches. Most retailers only carry "Medium" widths in women's shoes and "Medium" is generally interpreted by most modern shoe manufacturers as being about the width of a Number 2 Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. What this translates to is that I often end up in shoes that are US size 9 or 9 1/2.
I decided to go straight to a department store rather than an outlet like Shoe Pavilion because of my fit issues, hence, Macys. I knew the mall would be heinous, but I figured I'd proceed on the theory that most people do not buy shoes as gifts (unless it's for themselves). I did have to wait about ten minutes for a clerk to help me, but she was pinned down at a cash register by customers with items from other departments - there were only two or three people actually wanting to try on shoes, in accordance with my theory. She apologized very sweetly as soon as she saw me. I told her I didn't mind waiting, and she managed to flag down someone to help us within about two minutes.
These "Endall" sandals are by Bandolino. The heels are blessedly only 2 1/4" high. I walked off the carpeting onto the faux parquet tile running past the shoe department and took a couple of waltz turns in them. I didn't fall off of them. I didn't fall out of them - and the African American lady who was trying a pair of size 5s in the seat beside me pronounced them "darling."
So it's not the Greatest Story Ever Told. But I got to indulge my inner girly girl.
PRETTY shoes.
That fit.
On Christmas Eve.
In Macy's.
For under $50.
For those of you going, "So, what's the big deal?" you have to understand that I pretty much live in flat shoes (or barefoot!), thus spreading my already congenitally wide feet somewhat wider. My foot is 9 1/2 inches long - which theoretically makes it a US size 8. Measured at the widest distance around the ball of the foot, the circumference of my foot is also 9 1/2 inches. Most retailers only carry "Medium" widths in women's shoes and "Medium" is generally interpreted by most modern shoe manufacturers as being about the width of a Number 2 Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. What this translates to is that I often end up in shoes that are US size 9 or 9 1/2.
I decided to go straight to a department store rather than an outlet like Shoe Pavilion because of my fit issues, hence, Macys. I knew the mall would be heinous, but I figured I'd proceed on the theory that most people do not buy shoes as gifts (unless it's for themselves). I did have to wait about ten minutes for a clerk to help me, but she was pinned down at a cash register by customers with items from other departments - there were only two or three people actually wanting to try on shoes, in accordance with my theory. She apologized very sweetly as soon as she saw me. I told her I didn't mind waiting, and she managed to flag down someone to help us within about two minutes.
These "Endall" sandals are by Bandolino. The heels are blessedly only 2 1/4" high. I walked off the carpeting onto the faux parquet tile running past the shoe department and took a couple of waltz turns in them. I didn't fall off of them. I didn't fall out of them - and the African American lady who was trying a pair of size 5s in the seat beside me pronounced them "darling."
So it's not the Greatest Story Ever Told. But I got to indulge my inner girly girl.
