As you know, I've had issues making the back of my Boutique 9 peep toe oxfords comfortable (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....sue-update) so I just went on my lunch hour and met with the cobbler. When I first took them in, the female cobbler (it is owned by a husband and wife) thought they could sew a soft piece of leather over the elasticized portion on the back of the shoe to make it more comfortable. However, when I went just now the husband was there, brought out the shoes and that had not been done. He asked me to roll up my hems, put the shoes on and walk for him (his wife had not asked to see the shoe on my foot). So I did and when I was done he asked for the shoes again and said the problem is not with the shoe, it's where it hits me on my heel. He said I have a very short distance from the underside of my heel to my Achilles tendon and the reason the shoes are causing such discomfort is because they are hitting me too high up. The back of the shoe has a natural curve because of the elastic and is meant to comfortably "hug" my heel but in my case, the elastic is up higher on the back of my heel and cutting in. So as I'm listening to him talk, he reaches under his counter and pulls out two small heel lifts and asks me to pop them into my shoes and then walk again in them. He said lifting my heel to higher up in the shoe will solve the problem. So I popped them in and took a stroll - AMAZING! Couldn't even feel the elastic and the rest of the shoe was super comfortable. He said he sees this problem all the time in shoes with elasticized backs. I literally clapped my hands with glee, paid my $10.70 for the lifts and went on my merry way. This guy now has my shoe business for life!

And thank goodness 'cause I need these shoes to go with my slouchy trousers!