As some of you may remember I was going to a 2-week business trip to Charlotte NC in the end of October. This must be an exciting opportunity for a Canadian to shop in US without paying taxes and duties, right?
The only caveat was finding time for it. I was working 12 days straight, getting from the airport to the office on day 1 and from office to the airport on day 12. Oh, and did I forget to mention that my work hours were from 8:30 AM until 9 PM (at the earliest, some days went to midnight...)
So how do you find time and opportunity to shop in this crazy schedule? Online shopping to the rescue!
I have ordered a few pairs of shoes and boots - 13 to be precise. Thank goodness they did not all arrive on the same day or I would have another NAS in the hotel!
When my first two shipments arrived I got a calls to my room. However after that they greeted me when I walked into the lobby at night with words : "You have another package, m'am". I am afraid I have become quite known person in that hotel.
In total I got 4 boxes from Zappos and 4 from Nordstrom. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of this box pile in my hotel room but you can use your imagination!
I did get a moment of horror though when I asked at the reception where is the closest UPS store. 'Oh, it is close, 10 min by car' was the answer. That left me dumbfounded: I did not have a car, the bank I worked in was just across the street. How I am to get 6 boxes to UPS and USPS stores without a car? Should I hire a taxi - but then to lug 6 big boxes in and out of the taxi...Or maybe rent a car for an hour to drop my boxes? What to do!
You must me laughing now at my dilemma but it shows how inexperienced I am when it comes to online shopping. I did not realize that with UPS you can order a pick up service for a mere $5.40 and with USPS you can order a free pick up service...what a relief that I do not have to lug these 6 big boxes anywhere myself!
So that was a happy ending to my online order adventure and now to the fun part - shoe review!
1. I realized that Nine West is not a good fit for me.I have ordered these booties:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ni.....hoppingbag
and
http://www.zappos.com/nine-wes.....wn-leather
Both of them were not wide enough in the foot for me, not enough room for toes.
I also ordered the slipper flats from Angie's pick:
http://www.zappos.com/nine-wes.....black-pony
They looked pretty nice but were very narrow for me and also I found the footbed too hard, no padding.

2. J. Renee - I never tried this brand before. I have ordered these:
http://www.zappos.com/j-renee-moxy-black?zlfid=2
and these:
http://www.zappos.com/j-renee-gordi-taupe
Balck pumps were gorgeous black suede with black and white spoted calf hair inserts on the heel and in the buckle (pic 1). The heel was 2" and stacked so pretty walkable. Unfortunately I could not make peace with toe cleavage they gave me. I had to size up because toe was very low and this sis how it looked: pic 2. Smaller size would be too tight. I actually don't mind a bit of toe cleavage but this was TOO much, it made me uncomfortable so it was a pass too.
I also tried on another Renee pair of pumps - pic 3-4. They we Yes at first, I liked the color and their retro look and the texture combination - shiny patent and rough snake texture. Unfortunately when I tried to walk in them a bit around the hotel I discovered that they are quite squicky. I think it was the patent piece on the top which was quite stiff. Anyway I could not live with this so back they went as well, almost breaking my heart in the process.
3. Next were Trotters - slipper flats
http://www.zappos.com/trotters.....ed?zlfid=2
At first I liked them, then I noticed that the back is high and cutting into my heel. In addition they looked a bit wrong to me - shiny but not like patent, more like a plastic shine. Also the square toes really put me off them in the end, because of them they looked big and clumsy. I think I prefer slipper flats with elongated rounded toe. (pic 5-6)
4. Walking Cradles booties:
http://www.zappos.com/walking-.....ut-leather
Comfy and nice looking, good heel height and a lot of padding inside. It was a tough call but in the end it was a pass: their edge rubbed on my ankle bone a bit and I thought it may be painful for long walks. (pic 7-8)
5. Naturalizer Naja
http://www.zappos.com/naturalizer-naja-black-suede
I ordered W but they were too narrow and too stiff. No go.
6. Trotters heeled loafers - brown (pic 9)
http://www.zappos.com/trotters....._pdp_cross
and red:
http://www.zappos.com/trotters.....nt?zlfid=2

I quite liked the brown for a contrast of a smooth leather and shiny croco patent in tortoise color. However red ones won the comfort war and I kept them (pic 10-11)
even wore the to work once in the end of my trip and they passed. I think I will take them to the cobbler to stretch a toe a bit for more room but they are ok. I actually like them with wide legs, bootcuts and flares better than pumps because you cannot see the skin between the hem and the shoe. The heel is comfortable and I hope they don't look too dowdy. I could not find a comfortable pair of flat loafers yet but now I have heeled ones!
7. Biala heeled oxfords from Angie's store
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bi.....sultback=0
Lovely but unfortunately too narrow for me!
8. Sam Eldeman Penny boots
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sa.....sultback=0
A bit to narrow in the foot as well so I passed.
9. Sam Eldeman Petty boots in Putty color
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sa.....sultback=0
The same style as my python booties but in putty suede. The color is more greenish taupe than in the online picture. I kept those, wore them to work on Saturday and then walked in them to downtown and back so they passed the comfort test!
10. Yes I ordered that Helen Berman emerald coat I posted about some time ago:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/he.....sultback=0
The color is as beautiful as in the online picture but unfortunately the rest disappointed me. The fabric while soft and nice was too flimsy for a winter coat. It was also too tight to wear over a jacket and sleeves were too short. It was also painful to realize that it did not look as good on me as on the model - just meh
Well, at least I tried and know now that it is not for me! (pic 13-14)
So out of all this loot I kept SE Petty booties, Trotters red heeled loafers and Blondo black tall boots I posted on another thread. Not too bad, ah?
Also I learned that it is quite easy to shop online for the hotel address so I will be doing this in the future as well.
Thanks for reading this "novel" - just wanted to share!