Shoes
I really wonder if the way places like Zappos and Endless keep prices low is selling seconds, irregulars, and other stores' returns. When I've bought shoes from Endless before, I received two pairs that each had some damage. It seemed that they really didn't have an undamaged pair to offer me.
Some of my shoes got here today. The gray Madden Girl Zoiie boot actually looks really awesome: the synthetic leather has a look of real, distressed leather, and it doesn't feel bad either. I had a friend over when I opened them and he thought they looked real. The foot does run really big; I ordered a 7.5 and I could probably have gone to a 7 (but if I keep these I will use an orthotic and wear thick socks, so I will keep the 7.5.)
However, the shaft of the boot is too tight for my calf. The measurements on the site indicated that it would fit me, but the calf is too tight for me to zip it up all the way. So I think they will have to go back, unless I can figure out a way to stretch the top of the shaft. I really like the height of the shaft and the look otherwise.
I received another pair of shoes, from Shoebuy.com. I got a crazy-good discount there on a pair of very nice-looking pumps. When they got here today, they appeared to be new, but not of the best quality. They are Me Too shoes in "pearl patent" and I wonder if what I am seeing is a function of the leather: it's not super-smooth and is creasy in a few places. Not creased like someone has been wearing it, but creased like the leather was just a little rumply. it looks almost like a tumbled patent leather. Is this what it means to be "pearl patent"?
The pumps are kind of wide for my feet; I may have lost enough weight for shoe width to become an issue again, or it may just be these shoes. In particular, I have narrow heels and these shoes slide at the heel; if I keep them I will need to add heel thingies.
The Wanted boots are an unpleasant sort of leatherette: they look very fake so I didn't bother to try them on. The blue ones look like they may be a different material than the black ones though.
I wish that endless.com's descriptions were more detailed- rather than "synthetic upper", it would be helpful if they said what kind of synthetic.
ETA: ok, the Zoiie boots fit my calves just fine. The key was in zipping them up and then putting them on, rather than trying to zip them after putting them on. The pleather is soft and flexible and they pulled right up onto my calves.
These are definitely meant to be a weathered-looking boot. They are very thin material and it wrinkles and ruches and pleats. They will probably slip down a lot if worn over stockings or something slippery. They don't necessarily have the look I was wanting in terms of a hard-edged boot: I still want a pair of stiffened motorcycle boots. But considering I got these boots for around $20, I might keep them. I definitely wouldn't pay full price, but I got a very low price on them.
I really love Miz Mooz shoes, and they have a very similar boot in real leather for (ha ha) more than $200. If it went WAY on sale I would go for it, but not at $200.
ET 2: I wore the pumps around the house for awhile last night. They definitely need heel pads for the slippage. I will pick some up tomorrow and see how they fit with those in. I might need to add a foot petal for slip on the ball of the foot too, just for maximum comfort. If I can get them to stop slipping, I will probably keep them. They aren't the perfect platform heel (I would prefer that the platform be only under the ball of the foot, rather than the whole foot, it just looks less bulky/more elegant. I couldn't find a shoe exactly like I wanted in my price range.) but I can work with these for awhile to get used to platforms. I won't be dancing in them any time soon, I'm a bit unsteady still.
I'd love outfit suggestions from you fashionistas wrt the heels.
ETA 3: My Kensie Girl Oliander wedges came today! I've been lusting after these for months and they were marked down to $20 so I bought them. They are gorgeous, display my feet beautifully, very comfortable to walk in, and in general I am pleased except for one thing: the wedges are not cork. The descriptions all say that the wedge is cork, but it's not. It's something else covered in a cork-printed paper. Again, I wouldn't have paid full price for faux-cork but as it is I think I'll keep them. I can't believe how comfy they are. These are some sexy wedges. They are totally a summer shoe, but I will wear them as soon as the weather is warm again.
Some of my shoes got here today. The gray Madden Girl Zoiie boot actually looks really awesome: the synthetic leather has a look of real, distressed leather, and it doesn't feel bad either. I had a friend over when I opened them and he thought they looked real. The foot does run really big; I ordered a 7.5 and I could probably have gone to a 7 (but if I keep these I will use an orthotic and wear thick socks, so I will keep the 7.5.)
However, the shaft of the boot is too tight for my calf. The measurements on the site indicated that it would fit me, but the calf is too tight for me to zip it up all the way. So I think they will have to go back, unless I can figure out a way to stretch the top of the shaft. I really like the height of the shaft and the look otherwise.
I received another pair of shoes, from Shoebuy.com. I got a crazy-good discount there on a pair of very nice-looking pumps. When they got here today, they appeared to be new, but not of the best quality. They are Me Too shoes in "pearl patent" and I wonder if what I am seeing is a function of the leather: it's not super-smooth and is creasy in a few places. Not creased like someone has been wearing it, but creased like the leather was just a little rumply. it looks almost like a tumbled patent leather. Is this what it means to be "pearl patent"?
The pumps are kind of wide for my feet; I may have lost enough weight for shoe width to become an issue again, or it may just be these shoes. In particular, I have narrow heels and these shoes slide at the heel; if I keep them I will need to add heel thingies.
The Wanted boots are an unpleasant sort of leatherette: they look very fake so I didn't bother to try them on. The blue ones look like they may be a different material than the black ones though.
I wish that endless.com's descriptions were more detailed- rather than "synthetic upper", it would be helpful if they said what kind of synthetic.
ETA: ok, the Zoiie boots fit my calves just fine. The key was in zipping them up and then putting them on, rather than trying to zip them after putting them on. The pleather is soft and flexible and they pulled right up onto my calves.
These are definitely meant to be a weathered-looking boot. They are very thin material and it wrinkles and ruches and pleats. They will probably slip down a lot if worn over stockings or something slippery. They don't necessarily have the look I was wanting in terms of a hard-edged boot: I still want a pair of stiffened motorcycle boots. But considering I got these boots for around $20, I might keep them. I definitely wouldn't pay full price, but I got a very low price on them.
I really love Miz Mooz shoes, and they have a very similar boot in real leather for (ha ha) more than $200. If it went WAY on sale I would go for it, but not at $200.
ET 2: I wore the pumps around the house for awhile last night. They definitely need heel pads for the slippage. I will pick some up tomorrow and see how they fit with those in. I might need to add a foot petal for slip on the ball of the foot too, just for maximum comfort. If I can get them to stop slipping, I will probably keep them. They aren't the perfect platform heel (I would prefer that the platform be only under the ball of the foot, rather than the whole foot, it just looks less bulky/more elegant. I couldn't find a shoe exactly like I wanted in my price range.) but I can work with these for awhile to get used to platforms. I won't be dancing in them any time soon, I'm a bit unsteady still.
I'd love outfit suggestions from you fashionistas wrt the heels.
ETA 3: My Kensie Girl Oliander wedges came today! I've been lusting after these for months and they were marked down to $20 so I bought them. They are gorgeous, display my feet beautifully, very comfortable to walk in, and in general I am pleased except for one thing: the wedges are not cork. The descriptions all say that the wedge is cork, but it's not. It's something else covered in a cork-printed paper. Again, I wouldn't have paid full price for faux-cork but as it is I think I'll keep them. I can't believe how comfy they are. These are some sexy wedges. They are totally a summer shoe, but I will wear them as soon as the weather is warm again.