The Problem With My Small Feet
I’ve been having a problem shopping for shoes lately. I’m finding that my normally size 5 1/2 feet now fit better in size 5 shoes. It’s amazing because I thought this dilemna was brand specific but after having purchased five pairs of shoes in the past month, I can say that either my feet have shrunk (is that even possible?) or that shoe sizes now run bigger than before. I’ll go with the latter because my old shoes still fit just fine. Although if you were to believe my friend, she says that maybe my feet shrunk because I lost weight recently (10 pounds doesn’t make a difference I think).
But now I am about to cry because I absolutely love these Joie Vienna Mary Janes that I bought from RevolveClothing.com. Online reviews advised to size up so I got a size 6 (and I have several pairs in size 6 that I can walk fine in). I got them in the mail today and when I tried them on, they fit a bit loose as you can see in the photo above. I can still walk in them but recent experience tells me not to take a chance.
In my recent obsession with acquiring a nice pair of gray shoes (which, I realized I didn’t have any of), I happened upon a Nine West store about a month ago. It was an impulse purchase. The smallest pair in the store of these gray pumps were 5 1/2s but the sales girl assured me the fit could be fixed with shoe pads. She threw in several pairs and even buffed and sprayed the suede leather. I was sold. But two whole days of walking in them at work (and I’m usually sitting all day) just was too painful for me, I haven’t worn them since. I wonder if Nine West will take them back. After all, I was tricked into buying them! I’m now worried about the Jimmy Choo boots that I just got from Saks. After I told the SA my shoe dilemma she advised me to size up so I got a size 6. My boots are usually a size 6 anyway so I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll fit just fine.
The only saving grace from my recent shoe dilemmas are the black patent wedges I bought at Aldo the same night I got the gray pair from Nine West. They are a size 5 and fit perfectly! Now if only I could’ve gotten them at half off as they’re now priced.
So yeah, I’ve finally accepted that my feet are size 5 – a size that is very hard to find!
November 27th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Im sorry but after reading your entire blurb about your too small feet, I am inclined to ask a very simple question-do you try on shoes or do you just look at them and hope the number on the bottom will suffice before you buy? I have small feet as well, I am a tiny girl but frankly I have never ever had near the problems you do. I have a nice collection of Manolos, Jimmy Choos and Sam Edelmans that I adore and each one was picked out, tried on and then I determined if the shoe fit. To keep it simple, the number on shoes is like the number in your pants- it doesnt matter, just get the ones that fit right.
November 27th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
^i don’t understand the snarky tone of your comment. i’m not pointing out on how small my feet are but what difficulty i’ve been having finding shoes that fit. yes, of course, i try shoes on but i’ve been a size 5 1/2 since i was a teenager it’s a no brainer for me, unlike clothing where size varies widely. i’ve never had this problem before so i just had to wonder out loud about this. did shoe sizes suddenly go larger? or did my feet get smaller (which i find hard to believe)? size 5s are very hard to find, if at all available! ordering shoes online will also be tricky. and of course i can’t try them on if i order online, right?
November 27th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I’m a gal with size 5.5 feet as well…I can wear anywhere from a size 5-6 depending on the brand and type of shoe.
I was also looking for a cute pair of grey shoes and got these two from Nine West:
http://www.ninewest.com/Gidsa-/2955748,default,pd.html?cgid=7006
These are super cute on and comfy with the elastic strap.
http://www.ninewest.com/Keno/3037701,default,pd.html?cgid=7006
Got these in the natural grey, also super cute. These run a little big and slips in the back. I added padding and it’s a perfect fit now.
Any suggestions for a cute pair of leather booties?
November 28th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
that was pretty darn snarky. :X but anyway! just wanted to send my condolences because i was quite excited for you when you said in a previous post that you were getting them (…right? maybe i’m making it up.) in my experience, i’ve found that anything that goes by european sizes fits brilliantly, but with american sizes i have to use much more discretion. and i do shop online frequently. just me?
November 28th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
OMG! I love those gray shoes with the wooden heel! Can you say to die for? When I shoe shop, I find that its the cut of the shoe that will either make my shoe size bigger or smaller. I sometimes have trouble finding shoes because my feet are wide.
November 30th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Nordstrom has a twice a year sale where they put all of their very small and very large shoe sizes out on the sales floor for girls like us to browse!