Shrinking feet?

Let’s talk about feet. Well, why not, it’s as good a subject as any I can think of right now. I take a size 5 or should I say 38? About average, I’m told.

BUT....

My feet have shrunk, I am convinced of it. About a year ago I noticed that my shoes had begun to slip on my feet. Hitherto I thought that corns and things were caused by shoes that were too tight, as most of mine once were, but my local podiatrist informed me that it was loose shoes and slippers constantly rubbing that did the damage. The natural assumption was that my shoes had stretched, or softened, or whatever the phrase is for sloppy shoes.

I discussed the matter with the podiatrist, suggesting to him that my feet had shrunk. He assured me it was not possible. So what else could I do but stuff the shoes with new insoles and hope for the best. Uncertainty about size was the real drawback to buying new shoes. I mean, think of the waste of money if the same thing happened. Anyway, since there was nothing else wrong with my various pairs of shoes (not quite as many as Imelda Marcos, but close) I didn’t feel like buying new until the old had worn out. These days I don’t wear fancy shoes, respectable yes, and reasonably attractive, but not fancy. I couldn’t even stand up in the latest heels and some of the styles are a bit, shall we say young.

All my life I’ve bought good shoes, good makes, Gabor being one of my favourites. I know that if I buy good they will last longer and since I’m no longer a fashion icon I prefer not to keep forking out for upmarket shoes that will spend their days in the shoe cupboard.  I did go mad and buy a pair of boots the day the snow disappeared. Still they’ll come in when the next lot descends.

I popped into TK Maxx the other day. It’s that kind of store where I can pick up bits and pieces at low cost. To get to the household goods I have to pass the shoe section and that’s when I saw some rather attractive flatties in a sale. After looking round to make sure no-one was looking (I look a bit ungainly these days when there’s no stool to sit on) I tried them on. What a sight I must have looked wobbling about on one leg whilst trying to ease my foot into a shoe. They fitted perfectly but the quality was awful. It was only when I took them off that I saw the size - 4 or 37, a size smaller than I usually wear. Can you believe I didn’t buy them? The reason for that was a feeling that they wouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks. You can tell I have no faith in cheapo products... grins.

So what do I do now? Do I go back to the foot man and tell him he’s wrong, or just go into a store and ask to try on size 4 or 37? I think probably the latter on account of being able to talk to assistants who know their job. I might even end up having perfect shoes for imperfect feet.