08.24.06
Fussy feet frustration
OK, I know there must be plenty of shoe princesses out there - I am in desparate need of your advice. I love shoes, but they don’t love my annoyingly narrow feet. Where are the best places to shop for shoes, to ensure new shoe joy and happiness, and avoid shopping trips ending in tears of frustration?
michael said,
August 24, 2006 at 9:43 am
As a bit of a shoe prince (with wide feet), there’s a shop that I quite like and which has a great variety of imported womens and mens Italian shoes (which they import directly) at very reasonable prices…
Luisa Leather Boutique
Warehouse 14
993 North Rd Murrumbeena VIC 3163
ph: (03) 9579 1192
Tschüss!
kato said,
August 25, 2006 at 3:39 am
Ah yes, a little gem, I know. Just the last couple of times I’ve been there most of the ladies shoes were all pointy numbers, or too big, or too small.
May have to visit more frequently. I bought a pair of shoes there last year and wore them to death over summer.
Danke!
Stupiderlikeafox said,
August 26, 2006 at 6:53 am
just get moccies…they fit any foot…and so hot right now
cacophony said,
August 27, 2006 at 11:57 am
Maybe you’re best to go second hand, Kato. For reasons only known to evil shoe importers, fashion shoes only fit one foot type at a time. Perhaps you need to go back to a time when shoes were made for your feet (maybe the round-toed 90s). When the conveyer belt of fashion inevitably comes around again, stock up big.
I don’t usually buy new shoes but if I find a pair I really like, I tend to buy two pair.
Kato said,
August 28, 2006 at 8:08 am
Thanks, cacophony, very interesting. !Aren’t “pre-loved” shoes a little icky though? Kinda reminds me of sweaty bowling alley numbers. Where do you purchase? Places like Genko or op-shops?
cacophony said,
November 2, 2006 at 12:43 am
Well, yes, sometimes they are a little icky. I clean mine before I wear them with a bit of toner and I haven’t picked up any diseases yet - touch wood.
I tend to buy at op-shops but I am lucky to have very average sized feet. You might have to specialise a bit more (and pay a bit more). Try the Chapel St Bazaar in Windsor and the Gertrude St vintage stores in Fitzroy.
And don’t forget, shoe-fixers can do wonderful things. I once bought a pair of secondhand Dr Martens that were two sizes too small. I took them to a shoe man and he stretched them until they were wearable. They were slime green and oh-so-shiny. God, I loved those shoes…
WonderWoman said,
December 12, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Tried Fluevogs? Handmade in Portugal, I believe. Oh sooo cool, though. Can get them in Greville St. Check out their grooviness here: http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w%5B0%5D=attribute%3AWomens&w%5B1%5D=order%3Afresh&pp=8. *******Warning: pricey.*********
ABOUT JOHN FLUEVOG:
John Fluevog is an independent designer and retailer of forward-thinking footwear. Since 1970 he has been steadfast in creating unique soles for unique souls that have been seen everywhere from the feet of Madonna and the Scissor Sisters to the runways of high fashion. Fluevogs were recently hailed as being “WIRED” in Wired Magazine alongside the Smart Roadster and Free Beer! Additionally, John recently spoke at the L’Oreal Melbourne International Fashion Festival and the Vancouver Home and Design Show
kato said,
January 30, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Thanks WonderWoman, fabulous suggestion, über cool indeed! Will look out for them next time I’m in Prahran.
damelibellule said,
February 3, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Unique shoes have a good range of, as they say, unique shoes, including shoes friendly to different types of feet, and orthotics.
They’re at 264 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, and in the Richmond Plaza shopping centre on Church St. I believe they also had a shop in Balaclava last time I checked.