Saturday, September 19, 2009

repetto zizi in distressed brown

staring at my feet against the ceiling. dreaming of outfits for my zizis.

i am feeling torn about these. they are so soft and beautifully made. it's like wearing slippers, exactly what my silly feet need.

but, i ordered the 39.5, and the tip of my big toe is a little pinched when i walk. i know they'll stretch out some, but how much of it will be lengthwise?

unfortunately creatures of comfort no longer has the 40s. they have 40.5, but i think those would be too long. the tannery in harvard square has them in black, so i'm going to try them on tomorrow. matthew is convinced i should return them. i am loathe to do this because i've obsessed about them for so long. maybe i'll keep them, and if they don't work out in a month or so, i guess i can sell them.

incidentally, i tried these quoddy mocs at stels today. they're like walking on pillows. amazing.

UPDATE:
the tannery doesn't have the zizis in 40 or 40.5. i'm sending mine back. i won't exchange them for the 40.5 because if they're too big, i'll have spent over $50 in shipping.

well, those quoddys are looking better and better to me. and the no. 6 clog boots, too.

15 comments:

romaine said...

sounds like time on a stretcher might do the trick if they are just a tad short. i was able to stretch the width of my r.c. derringers but stretchers can lengthen too. i got some fairly inexpensive stretchers from the internet for about 20 bucks or so.

the zizis are soooo cute.

Unknown said...

oh erica!!! i sadly agree with your partner. return them if your foot is pinching when you walk...

1) you are hurting your feet by attempting to stretch shoes with them...and
2) you are destroying the shape of the shoe through this "stretching"...

OR

you can go to a shoe store...and have them stretch the shoes...they have the spray plus the wooden shoe things...

OR

find someone who lives in france or who is going to france soonish.. who would get you a pair...

oh i know how much you wanted these babies...anyway tough decision...

romaine said...

when i stretched my derringers, the shape change was not noticable. Also, with my stretcher, you can spot stretch a section. it can't stretch a whole size, they are just for stretching a tad. i would recommend going to a cobbler too, though the ones were i live are ancient and seem to get in just work boots. When i took in my regular everyday shoes to be resoled or redyed, they didn't deliver on what i wanted.

i just thought if they shoes were a bit short in one spot a stretcher would be a great solution for this situation. they were for me when my shoes were a bit snug in one spot.

erica said...

i will look into the stretcher, romaine. the thing with the zizis is that the leather is so soft and thin already, i wonder whether stretching would work as well on them as with the derringers.

i'm going to try on the 40.5s in black at the tannery tomorrow (if they have it) and see if i should exchange them instead.

V said...

Yeah, Repetto thinness really gets to me, as does the perpetual under-sizing, and I too think you should get the most perfect size possible without counting on your wearing them in. I have too many shoes languishing in the back of my closet for this very reason. Ack.

I love Quoddy shoes! They're incredibly "americana," especially the men's styles. Arrow Mocs also makes really great custom shoes similar to Quoddy styles.

evencleveland said...

I love all things Quoddy.

The Repettos are beautiful - they don't look like you should be doing jazz hand while wearing them, which is great! I don't know about the sizing - I would say send them back and try to find another pair one size up. I've not had luck stretching soft thin leather shoes.

miss sophie said...

i agree with everyone above - if the shoe doesn't fit, definitely return them! hopefully the shop in boston will have the right size for you. i really wish there were custom-order shoe stores these days! i'm a half size and can wear anything from a 6 to a 7 depending on the brand. good luck with your oxfords!

Katie said...

Thanks for the Quoddy link, Erica...their online store seems more accessible now! I've been dreaming of the ring boots for a long time.

Good luck with the Zizis.

Moya said...

I have a friend who learned how to make shoes. It's almost impossible to stretch shoes successfully because they are made *not* to be stretched (especially in the toe box). Repettos may stretch a little as they don't have the same kind of construction, but it's too much of a risk. Thin leather can also get too thin.

Like several people here, I've ended up with boxes of not quite right shoes. It's been a huge investment and lots of wasted money. If they aren't right to start with, return them.

romaine said...

Pas de Deux
328 E. 11th St.
(212) 475-0075

they may be getting in brown zizis, can call in a couple of weeks to find out. (i looked up their store because they have coming-soon.)

Unknown said...

Hi! I'm in the same perfect oxford-seeking boat:-)
Can I ask your normal shoe size--I'm trying to decide if the 40.5's would be too big for me...thanks!

erica said...

mona-
i'm an 8.5 in most shoes, although my Frye boots in an 8 still fit.

Unknown said...

i cam across these and thought you miiight like them,

http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/shoes/flatsmoccasins/PRDOVR~17476/99101799022/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~180~P_saleprice|1~17~90~~~~~~~/17476.jsp

: )

erica said...

arely-
i saw these in the catalog and liked how simple they are, but has anyone tried them on? i've found jcrew shoes to be uncomfortable in the past...

Unknown said...

erica,

I agree with you, J.Crew heels tend to be uncomfortable but I've always found their flats and mocs to be fairly comfy. I haven't tried them on but I'm tempted to use a free shipping code to see how they fit...