I've probably got 20 pair of shoes, maybe more. I'm not a shoe hoe, although I do understand the vice since acquiring so many shoes.
A number of years ago, Payless Shoe Stores announced a going out of business sale and I thought it might be a good time to get a pair of shoes or two. They started at 20% off and over a few months they eventually got to 80% or more off. In the early part of the process, I picked up some "practical" shoes, nothing flashy. I figured they would sell out the quickest and didn't want to miss out. As the discount got better, I made more visits to some of the stores. I was lucky enough to be in town on the last day of the closing, at the last store open.
The gal closing up the store was actually taping brown paper up over the windows when I came in. She motioned towards a small rack and said in a consolatory voice "All I have left are women's shoes in size 11 and 12". Well, that was perfect. They were $1 a peace and I walked out with 5 pair. Some, under other circumstances, I would never have bought but how can you resist for the price. One pair was a gloss white sandal with 2-inch heels and diamond rhinestones on the center strap. Another was a lite blue suede sandal with 3-inch heels. I don't wear the very often but I love it when I do.
What I learned from having a very wide range of shoes is:
- With 2 inch and lower, and one-inch-wide heel size I can walk like I normally would in my "normal" shoes.
- With 3 inch and higher, and ¼ -inch (0.6 cm) wide – I'm walking on my toes. No real weight on the heel until the ball of the foot is firmly on the ground and I balanced on it.
- Shoes that fall between the above are a mix of "normal" and "walking on your toes". I do have some 4" sandals with 1.5- to 2-inch-wide heels that I can almost walk normal in. YMMV.
- When trying on heels you should wear them around the store for a good 5 to 10 minutes. Your toes will move forward in the shoes and if you have any discomfort get a larger or wider size. It will only get worse. If you can't wear them in the store, only wear them on carpet to they won't show any wear, so you can return them.
- Women's shoes are like all other women's cloths, sizes very from manufacture to manufacture. I have 11, 11W, 12, and some 12W.
I do have a pair of stilettos, black gloss, pointed toe, 6 inch high and ¼ inch wide heels. They were like $20 at Goodwill and I should never have bought them, but they were just too damn sexy to pass up.
20 years ago, one of my best friend's wives had a closet full of shoes and I thought she was crazy. I still think she's crazy, and so am I.
Paulie.
