A Christmas Miracle

[gurdymonkey]

I 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.

Comments

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Try a whirl while wearing stockings (if you plan to wear stockings) before going out. Shoes that adhere comfortably to bare flesh can get ankle-breakingly skiddy when nylons are put on.

And we wear the same size shoe!

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Wore stockings under my jeans for that very purpose, m'dear! I also plan to take a needle and thread to the elastic in the ankle straps. That's the one place these are a little loose on me and I want that stability.