If possible, they look better in real life than in the photo. I love them, but given that they're AAA narrow (not that my foot is wide), I need to go an extra step. (Ha!)
I should tell you, before purchase, I carefully measured these against my foot so I expected them to fit exactly as they do. In future, on the basis of the 2 pairs of vintage Ferragamos I now own, I'm likely to go to a 39.5 vs my usual Euro size 39. (Note: For new Ferragamos, not sure that would be necessary...) Anyway, these are the slightest bit too narrow. But I have a trick up my sleeve.
TOers, y'all know about Novelty Shoe Repair? They're on Yonge St., in the heart of the central business district, and they've been there for 80 freakin' years. The service is excellent and the workmanship is unsurpassed. Robert is going to stretch them by about half a size - more in width than length (though we all know how one is linked to the other) and I sense then they'll be perfect.
Man, the leather is fine. I'm oddly captivated by these twee little shoes. They're strangely empowering... And just to clarify, I now have my own pair of Ferragamo bow flats (in perfect condition) which, after stretching, shipping, tax and exchange rate (yeah, we've got to start thinking of that again) will have cost me $75.00. They retail at Holt's for about 500 bucks - before tax.
But let's move on to the next shoe-ish thing I have to tell you. And it's not pretty.
I mean, seriously. It's not pretty.
You know how I'm this woman of a certain age and practically everything is, um, out of sorts. Well, apparently, that applies to my feet too. In the last year said feet have lost some of their plumpness (collagen, I suspect) and, given that I walk miles a day, the impact is considerable. I've had a some nerve pain. Nerve pain ain't gonna fly.
People, I've got to start walking in sensible shoes. Lord. Have you ever tried to glance flirtatiously at an attractive guy while wearing ugly footwear? Is it even possible?
So I went to a store with a sensible shoe name and tried on everything. The assistance was laudable. The shoes were depressing.
Eventually I found myself at Cole Haan...
Mercifully, this pair fit and they are reinforced with Nike technology:
 |
| Cole Haan Trillby Driver shoes |
Sadly, I'm not ruling out the Merrells. And I sense there's a pair of Birkenstocks in my summer. The cute ones. (There are cute ones, right?)
Posts
I want me some ferrogamos too!! I love cole haan/nike shoes...so comfy!
ReplyDeleteYou can find them on Etsy! Go and do it!
DeleteThere are cute Merrell sandals, or have been in past seasons.
ReplyDeleteOh - the Merrells were the cutest of the lot, IMO. They just don't go with my work outfits, most of the time :-) Mind you - they're ridiculously comfortable.
DeleteI have picky feet too and Cole Haan and Fly London are now my go to shoes.
ReplyDeleteFly is a cool brand, but I find the shoes can be quite heavy on the feet (for me).
DeleteIf you haven't already, head over to barkingdogshoes.com. It's a blog about comfortable ladies footwear. Great suggestions there. I have found some really nice shoes I would otherwise not have considered because I wasn't familiar with the brands.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy! Love this info!!
DeleteI had to laugh out loud at the second part fo this post. I'm on the sensible shoe camp. Have been there for years due to collapsed arches and physio (three separate instances) as a result of the many miles I used to walk in bad shoes. I wear Merrells. I wear Keens. I wear Birks. I wear them to and from work while also wearing fancy suits and jewellery. It looks awful (but I draw the line at white runners... ain't gonna be no white runners in my life) but my feet are much happier. And then I suddenly realized that for all my embarrasment about the really ugly (but comfy) foorwear, no one was even looking at me anymore, because, you know, I'm no spring chicken. Don't get me wrong, I'm still into nice shoes (you have been witness to this IRL) but I now save them for outings. My day-to-day- is sensible and not so pretty. Such is life.
ReplyDeleteP.S. You should check out Fluevogs. They have some quite comfy flats and 2" heels that are trendy and have great suppport to boot.
I don't even know how white runners are permitted to exist?! Is there not a law?? And I think you're crazy that no one's looking anymore - unless it's because of those freakin' sensible shoes! :-)
DeleteThose Ferragamos! Such a buy! I wore mine yesterday -- they're red, not the bow model but red ones with a slim strap. They were my mom's -- she paid $100 for them at a consignment shop, in fab condition. I've put some wear on them, taking them to Paris in her honour last year. . . .and wore them yesterday, the 1st anniversary of her leaving us. The leather, yes, it's so buttery, isn't it? And they really are comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI like the Cole Haans here very much -- I do think the Gizeh Birks are pretty cute, at least, I tell myself that as I live in them during the summer.
And you? I bet you could manage flirtatious glances, and convincingly, no matter what you have on your feet!
How lovely that you have the same size feet as your mum. My mother has tiny feet, alas... I was thinking of you this week, as I know this time of year must be very emotional. I hope you are feeling hope with spring in the air.
DeleteHave you tried Born and Clark? Both of those are pretty darn comfortable (and they have some cute ones!). Also, I've seen some promise from a brand called EuroSoft, but I've yet to get to try any on. But, maybe I just have old lady taste? :-P
ReplyDeleteAnd I love my shoe guy!! I have a freakishly high instep (read: arches) that makes it impossible to wear anything that can't be stretched before I wear it.
No - I will look them up! Thanks... Everyone needs a great shoe guy. It's like having a great alterations person.
DeleteOMG, just as I'm thinking about flirting again and now I have to consider my feet, which may never return to my previously impossibly flirty shoes? Well, I'll get on my feet first, but it sounds so sad. Some Merrell's are attractive. My feet are not technically narrow, narrowish perhaps, but Birkies are too wide for me and not comfortable.
ReplyDeleteFlirting is good! Especially in the spring! I'm certain that you bring so much elegance to the equation, those flirty guys won't glance at the ground :-) I think Birkenstocks may be too wide for me too. But maybe they have a narrow version?
DeleteThey have "narrow" Birkies now; you may want to check them out!
ReplyDeleteThe danger of Birkies is that once you put them on, you DON'T want to wear anything else. I remember thinking when I was younger that they were the UGLIEST shoes EVER and I would NEVER be caught DEAD in them. And here I am now, LIVING in them! Famous last words... I tried a Birkie "look-alike" that I saw on sale, but they are CRAP; they don't have that little ridge under the toes that acts as a 'grip". So, they were, in consequence, always FALLING OFF. That little ridge makes all the difference between carefree wear and ongoing annoyance/danger to one's equilibrium
When you start wearing Crocs then we'll worry ;-) I love this post...I'm off to check out Etsy for Cole Haan. I haven't worn heels for years (unless its for cab-to-bar-to-cab nights out! And inexpensive flats are so thin on the sole as to be unwearable.
ReplyDeleteSufiya: I did have Birkies in the 80s - and I remember wearing them to death. So, here's hoping they will work as well now as they did then. And that they've got some better styles than the one version you could get in 1984. :-)
ReplyDeleteEvie: OK - it's a deal! It's easier to find Ferragamos than Haans on Etsy, I think, but it can be done.