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From: ben@moncol.UUCP (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Hard to find shoes
Message-ID: <330@moncol.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-May-85 15:17:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: moncol.330
Posted: Tue May 28 15:17:55 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 29-May-85 03:29:08 EDT
References: <1764@decwrl.UUCP> <26300001@uo-vax3.UUCP> <25782@lanl.ARPA> <618@mnetor.UUCP>, <2014@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Organization: Monmouth College, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Lines: 56

>I'd like to go on record as agreeing tht it's hard to find non-stylish
>but comfortable shoes.  In fact, it's hard to find shoes that even
>approximately fit if you're an unusual size.  At 4'10" and wide-boned
>(my father's 5'6" and wears a EEE width), my feet compute out to 5 1/2 C
>or 5 D on a shoe chart.  Most stores don't believe such people exist and
>refuse to cater to them.
>
>Back in 1975 I got a pair of Wallabies.  Ugly but comfortable.  And in my
>size.  They were the last ones the store and they were mismatched (one
>was tan, one was brown), but who cared.  When I got back from Japan,
>I tried to get another pair, but the store was still sold out.   Now it
>turns out the manufacturer has discontinued my size for the same old reason.
>People like me don't exist.  Or at least not enough of us exist to be worth
>selling to.  Or even to be worth answering when I wrote the manufacturer a
>letter, enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope.

First, a flame directed at the shoe buying public.

  Sizes are not the scientific quantity that the shoe buying public
  assumes they are.  People say, "I only wear a size 8".  8 what???
  Not 8 inches.  Not 8 centimeters.  Actually (to throw in a little
  history) it used to be 8 peppercorns.  Back when shoes were made
  to order by hand, the army wanted a way to stock boots that would
  be ready to wear when needed.  They devised the peppercorn
  measurement system, and unfortunately, it has never been revised.
  Whether you believe this little piece of shoe lore or not, there is
  no question that the current system used to size and sell shoes is
  highly flawed.  After all, we measure the foot in two dimensions
  (length and width), but totally ignore the most important 3rd dimension,
  girth.  Oddly enough, this is the dimension that most concerns the
  manufacturer when he constructs the lasts that the shoes are made
  on.  The moral of the story: Don't be afraid to try on shoes in
  sizes bigger or smaller than you normally wear.  Take your time
  and buy shoes that fit, not shoes that have the right number printed
  on the label.

Second, (If you really can't find a pair that fits..)

  Clarks of England is an importer, the Wallabees, for example, are
  made in Ireland.  If they no longer make or import your size, then
  you are pretty much out of luck.  I think you would do better dealing
  with a manufacturer.  Dexter shoe company makes all it shoes in New
  England,  they have a pretty good selection of reasonably priced
  casuals.  I suspect that if you sent them a note, they would let you
  know if they stocked shoes in your size, and failing that, whether
  they would be able to make up a pair in your size by special order.
  Domestic manufacturers are often willing to accomodate these
  requests (though they may add a few dollars to the price),
  particularly if you are not terribly concerned about getting a
  particular style.

Hope this is helpful.

Ben Broder
..ihnp4!princeton!moncol!ben
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