Success...Three years in the making

Three years, dozens of stores and four returns later, I have a shoe success. Shoes that fit, are comfortable and look nice. An added bonus - I do not need to step into a shoe store for, fingers crossed, another three years.

I Hate Shoes

There I said it.

I hate shoes. I would probably like shoes more if I didn’t have to shop for them, or at least if it wasn’t a chore to shop for them.

The only good thing about this week’s boot shopping excursion was that it was easy. I walked into the store, was passed a pair of boots, tried them on and walked out. If all shoe shopping trips were that easy, I would love shoes, too.

Sadly my shoe shopping trips are never that easy. Just ask my mom who bravely purchased me work shoes for Christmas. Almost a month and three pairs later, my kind mother has given up.

The last pair of shoes (too big on one foot, too small on the other and not nearly as comfortable as the pair before) are going back and my poor, patient mom is giving me the money to buy my own shoes.

The last pair of work shoes I purchased was many years ago.

My brave coworker, a shoe fan, took me to the mall where I dismissed more shoes than I tried on – too tall, too much heel and ugly. Finally I found ones that were similar to my old ones and that fit.

I purchased them, got into her car and promptly threw up.

Coincidence? I am not sure.

I do know those same shoes were finished two years ago (they have a large crack in the sole) so it’s time to brave the shoe store again.

Wish me luck.

Shoe Shopping Time?

I hate shoes.

There. I said it.

I find shoe shopping a different kind of stress. There is a lot of pressure in shoe shopping. After trying on dozens of pairs, each of which fit differently, I end up buying the ones I think are the most comfortable. The pressure comes when you bring them home, wear them outside once and realize they aren’t as comfortable as they were when you were in the store.

In addition, I am picky when it comes to shoes.

I don’t like anything with a heel; I don’t like chunky shoes; I don’t like draw-attention-to-myself shoes; I don’t like bright-coloured shoes.

I do like shoes that are versatile. In my late teens and early 20s, my Docs were my versatile shoes. I wore them with dresses, I wore them with jeans, I wore them with work clothing.

As I no longer in my teens, Docs cannot be a versatile shoe, however, I still hope to one day own shoes that are not only nice to look at, are comfortable, reasonably priced and have the ability to be worn with both jeans and semi-dressy clothing.

Of course the last time I went shoe shopping with friend MM, I spent the afternoon throwing up.

Coincidence? I don’t think so