Lament to size five; in which I curse my small feet.

I love footwear. Shoes. Boots. Shoe stores. Wedges. Heels. Pointy toes (do not get me started on rounded toes). I've even come around to the ballet flat (semi-square toe), though you'll never catch me in a pair of Crocs.

I hate my feet. They are a difficult-to-find size five (US). It took me three years to find strappy black dress shoes that fit properly and rather than look for new pair of black knee boots I'm getting mine resoled for the second time. I also hate my calves, which are unproportionally fat for size five feet and therefore are sometimes too big for boots that fit otherwise.

Today I went shopping for snow boots because my current pair, having undergone two long Edmonton winters, are dying (there is a hole in the bottom of the right sole). I tried on many pairs, including some lovely ones from La Canadienne (warm and grippy!), but alas. Only one store had anything smaller than a 6 (a 5 and 1/2), and even when I tried these on in a six with insoles, there was still too much space in the ankle.

I'm contemplating going back to Gravity Pope and getting these (even if they are Uggs), but the heel doesn't really inspire confidence for icy Edmonton sidewalks.

I suppose it's too much to ask for a size 5–5.5 black fashion snow boot with a moderate 2" heel (or wedge) that's warm, waterproof, and has good grip.

Le sigh.