A one-mall town

[pbray]

Most of the time I really like living in this corner of upstate New York. It's not a big place, but we do have a mall (one story, no food court), and most of the amenities. But when you need something a little out of the ordinary, you have to hit the road.


Today it was shoes. (I need to take very, very good care of my left foot or it's going to need surgery, so I'm on my best behavior when it comes to buying shoes.) The styles for this summer are completely wrong for what I need, so the mall was out. Sadly over the winter the good shoe store closed, and the remaining specialty shoe store is problematic. It's small, the selection is limited, and the owner wants to sell you the shoes he thinks you should wear, rather than letting you pick out what you'd like to try on. Yesterday I braved the gauntlet and managed to come out with sneakers, but I had to use my Jedi mindtricks to come out with a medium when he really wanted to sell me a narrow.

So today, jennifer_dunne and I drove for an hour up to Ithaca, to visit Fontana's which specializes in imported shoes and foot-friendly brands. I managed to find a pair of summer shoes, which made me quite happy. Jennifer tried on at least two dozen different pairs, but finally she found something that she liked.

Then we went off for a nice lunch at Simeon's on the Commons--cleverly timing it so we missed the graduation weekend rush. On the way home we stopped and played mini-golf at our favorite course (among the decorations is a vulture that bears a striking resemblance to me. It's in the eyes.)

Then it was back home, and managing to accomplish almost nothing on my weekend to-do list. Well, there's always tomorrow.

Comments

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

I have a terrible time shopping for shoes as well - my feet are narrow, but arch is so high that it has actually caused a toe deformity that requires me to wear boxy toed shoes. I am quite at loss as to what I can wear this summer. What stores closed/are left in the mall? I don't shope there, I just work in there on occasion.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I can find shoes at the mall, but all they have for summer is sandals and slides, and I can't wear those. I need a shoe with an actual closed back, and it has to have a rigid sole.

Whenever I needed something special, I used to be able to shop at Rasco's in Johnson City, but then they closed. But we did have good luck today at Fontana's up in Ithaca. My foot is narrow, Jennifer's is wide, and we both found summer styles that worked.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

My feet have become problematic over the last six years or so. And my left foot has sustained two nifty injuries that have resulted in permanent mild swelling and an inability to ever wear heels again.

I have to be very careful. Clogs are my friends. Oxfords and other structured shoes.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

:-(

No heels for me either. And I have prescription orthotics (arches), which means the shoe needs a closed back and a deep enough heel cup to accomodate the arch. When I find a shoe that works, I tend to buy it in several colors.

I used to love wearing sandals in the summer, but those days are gone.

[shana.livejournal.com]

I adore SAS shoes, for making the same styles year after year. I've been buying the same sandals since 1993.

And there's a little hole-in-the-wall shoestore that carries them, and other shoes that fit my 8 1/2 EEE feet. So I can buy two pairs of shoes in ten minutes as opposed to visiting every shoe store in two malls before finding one pair that will sort-of do.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's great when when you find something that works.