I recently read the Femulate article about mastering the art of walking in high heels, which brought back a flood of memories. My own high heel journey began in 1990, a time when the world of women's shoes felt like a distant planet.
Working near a Payless Shoe Store in Jersey City, New Jersey, I was surprised to find a huge selection of size 12 shoes—a stark contrast to the typically limited selection for larger feet found at the suburban Payless stores.
One day, I mustered the courage to try on a pair of brown pumps. The thrill of finding a pair that fit was intoxicating. As I nervously brought them to the cashier, I overheard him say something in Spanish to a coworker. I’m sure he was commenting on the unusual sight of a man buying women’s shoes. But in that moment, I didn't care. I had my prize.
Those brown pumps marked the beginning of my exploration into the world of femininity, a world that as a transgender woman, felt both exciting and intimidating.
Payless Shoe Stores became my sanctuary. Urban centers like Jersey City, Newark and Manhattan were my go-to spots for finding those elusive size 12. These stores were a treasure trove consistently offering a wide selection that catered to my needs. For years, Payless was my reliable source for footwear as I navigated my journey.
Unfortunately, the closure of Payless was a significant blow. It left a void in the shoe market for femulators. The loss of this affordable and accessible option was a setback for many.
Brick-and-mortar stores have proven to be a consistent challenge for finding larger sizes. Even popular retailers like DSW can be hit or miss. Nordstroms is the only other brick and mortar store that has large sizes. They also are very helpful and accommodating to the transgender community. Don’t forget Nordstrom Rack – they always have a great selection of large sizes.
This has led many of us to embrace the world of online shopping. While trying on shoes virtually isn't ideal, platforms (pun intended) like Amazon offer unparalleled selection and filtering options. From size and width to price, you can narrow down your search to find the perfect pair.
However, online shopping comes with its own set of hurdles. For those of us concerned about privacy, Amazon lockers are a godsend. They offer a discreet way to receive your order. But for those living in remote areas like myself in Maine, the nearest locker might be a considerable distance away. And let’s face it, unexpected shoe boxes on your doorstep can sometimes raise eyebrows. Whereas, using Amazon gift cards purchased locally can help mitigate concerns about credit card statements.
Once you've mastered the art of online shoe shopping, it’s time to put those new heels to the test. Stana’s article on walking in high heels can be a valuable resource. Remember, practice makes perfect, and every step is a step forward.
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| Wearing Elágia |
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| Femulating on stage in the Jewel Box Revue, circa 1966 |
That's it, OWN your puns, Paula.
ReplyDeleteHappen to have a pair of Payless specials on right now. Even just at home, gotta feel the heel sometime!
That was Stana's edit she deserves credit
DeletePG,
ReplyDeleteYup, same with me when I was a newbie in 1990 in St. Louis. The Payless and other stores like Shoe Carnival etc. were a god-send for feet larger than a ladies size 10.
You can go ahead and say it Paula, those "urban" stores had a large clientele of Black women. Black ladies typically have feet slightly larger than white women who typically have feet slightly larger than Asian women. So when I (or Stana) wanted a decent assortment of fun and funky shoes in our size; BINGO, gotta shop where the Black ladies go. Payless Shoes in urban areas.
I now live out in the sticks of rural America The local Wal-Mart carries mostly up to size 10 in women's shoes. Occasionally you will see an 11. Good article.
Angel Amore
I bought a lot of shoes from Payless... probably 40 or more pairs all in size 12 and I never had a problem finding 12s in the four suburban Payless stores I frequented.
DeleteOverheard at a meeting at Pay-less Hq. Okay, people, let’s reconvene on this central Connecticut size 12 women’s shoe anomaly. We’ve ruled out data entry errors, inventory discrepancies, and even a possible system glitch. Who's buying these shoes?Paula G
DeleteI’m very fortunate I’m one of those guys with little feet! I take a 8 men’s 10 women’s. Second hand stores rummage sales big box stores seem to carry 10s. Not higher priced than specialty sizes neither. If you’re wondering it’s small too. Last new pair from Sears sat down in ladies section tried on. No one cares. Last heels second hand slip left on fit paid. Cashier asked if I needed nylons.
ReplyDeleteI am officially jealous of your size 10's--Paula G
DeleteWearing a Size 10 in womens' shoes can be both a blessing and a curse, Paula.
DeleteI typically wear a womens' Size 9 - 9 1/2 - 10 depending on the style and manufacturer, and my collection of shopaholic-inspired (lol!) shoes is starting to rival that of Imelda Marcos.
I had to wear size 9.5 EEE men's shoes to get my large toe box in, but my skinny heel would just swim; In women's I wear mostly size 10 with some 11s in in narrow or pointed style (Jessica Simpson). I can't wear anything with a tight vamp because it cuts the tendons of my toes, You have to learn what styles fits. I have tried on shoes in many women's departments of big box stores and label outlets. I have gotten better service at many stores because when you walk in with heels on and look at heels, you are taken as a real shopper - not a looky-look.
DeleteOne more thing, join loyality programs.
Cali
Paula, thank you! As always, your posts are very helpful. I would never have thought to look at Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack. I have always considered them as very expensive and never set foot inside, pun intended.
ReplyDeleteBuying heels was a big step forward (pun intended) in my crossdressing journey and, for many lovely years, Payless was the place to buy them. My favorite Payless story is the time I bought a pair of black platform stilettos. I wanted to try them on first, so I visited the store at a quiet time with a pair of pantyhose on under my pants. Just as I was slipping off my socks, a female sales associate asked me if I needed any help. Seeing my stocking feet, she kindly replied "I see you came prepared" and told me how popular these shoes were. Such a fabulous, unforgettable experience!
ReplyDeleteAfter Payless closed, I bought a few pairs of heels online from Pleaser. They have sizes into the mid-teens and seem to mostly specialize in sexier spiked heels and club shoes, although they do offer some "regular" (albeit tall) heels.
Nordstrom Rack and they have 12 and 13's
ReplyDeleteI want to step away from the heel talk for a moment to say the Femulate Her outfit is fabulous! It scores a perfect 10 on the "I want to wear that" scale...but then again, which of those outfits don't?
ReplyDeleteI used to get the majority of my women's shoes from the cheap shoe chain, Deichman, until they stopped doing women's shoes in a UK 10 (US 12).
ReplyDeleteI also used to get much higher quality shoes from Long Tall Sally, who do up a UK 11. I haven't bought any shoes from them since they were taken over, as I don't like the styles they now stock.
Also, I have one pair of boots from cinderellashoes.com. They have a great selection up to UK size 12 (US 14), however many of their shoes are very expensive.
Penny from Edinburgh.
After Payless closed shop, I have bought most of my shoes from Nine West online. Most of their styles go up to size 12. They are a lot more expensive than Payless, but they run sales frequently, so I just wait until my latest shoe-to-die-for goes on sale.
DeleteI bought a lot of my heels at Payless. At first I did the usual for an insecure cross dresser: Shopped at Halloween, going from store to store. Once I found the style and size that worked well for me I went to buying on-line. I had stumbled across a super sale and ended up buying five pairs of heels, none of which I have yet worn and are still sitting in boxes: 12W and 13N. Before posting I did check and noticed Payless is still selling on-line but it directed the customer to Amazon. I followed the link and selected a random high heel that indicated availability up to size 13. You may want to check it out.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, the closure of Payless was a real loss for me and for all of us who were looking for high heels in plus sizes and at reasonable prices. There is always the option of buying online but the felling will never be the same.
ReplyDeleteOh, I miss Payless.
ReplyDeleteI have bought shoes at Shoe Show/Shoe Dept. They sometimes have up to size 14. I wear size 12-13.
I have found shoes my size at Nordstrom Rack, but they never have a style that I would want to wear.
I have found large shoes at a second-hand store before. That is where I bought the black wedges that I often wear.
There is a consignment store where I have made friends with the owner. She has purchased shoes online for me and I have paid her back.
That's what I have tried. Where have others found shoes?