The last time I was in The Third Estate shop round Kentish Town way, I marvelled at all the upcycled clothing, made from two or three garments combined, with a personal touch, really inspiring and pretty - lots of dresses. They also sell handmade jewellery, and other assorted items... plus, of course, my main draw, vegan shoes and boots.
I was a bit daunted, because I have difficulty fitting myself with shoes every time. It took me over a year to find my last pair of shoes that fit! I cannot easily go into any high street store and simply ask for my size and find they fit. It used to be that it was just a case of saying I have especially wide feet - but now I am older, the fitting and comfort are paramount, because too narrow a size is ever more painful, and this is a medical condition so I cannot compromise; I want to prevent problems in elderly life...
The shop staff were so lovely and good-humoured, understanding and chatty, despite having to get various sizes in about half a dozen styles and pretty much all of them being personally unsuitable to me. I must have been in the shop for close to two hours, and I am not someone who ever relishes shopping at all! It's not the shop's fault, but shoe manufacturers separate shoes by gender and assume women have very narrow feet that are, what, triangular at the front?! A fair few of the vegan selection here come in wide style fit, but I wasn't very successful with my own feet. Does anyone else find the Doctor Marten shoe more narrow and tight when vegan made as opposed to the leather? Personally, I felt I couldn't risk them not stretching and being comfortable and sadly could not buy this style that I have favoured for years. I may keep trying in the future, perhaps a wide fit exists somewhere, or I might seek out others' experiences after wearing them in.
I am in love with these shoes, and so happy I could finally start buying vegan. I stopped buying leather when I first transitioned to vegetarian, and have just been wearing out my long existing leather shoes. Lots of thanks to The Third Estate shop for all their help and putting up with me! I am stomping about gladly, comfortable, freely, even happier for the vegan element!