I was looking at these shoes all season but kept hemming and hawing over them because they were so expensive for flats. Then they went on sale and I continued my hemming and hawing because I tried them last year in a different style and they were so tight it brought tears to my eyes.

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/.....Flats.html

So after waiting so long, the color I wanted sold out in my size and I mourned, but the next size up was available, and I recalled how tight they were last season. I was a bit skeptical since I am NEVER a 38. If anything I usually have to size down to a 36.

I called up customer service to ask about it, and they said they couldn't tell me whether these shoes were more or less snug than they were last year. But they said they did have a very low stock of the color I wanted in a 37. This is not visible online, and they can't guarantee that the order will come through, but they could place it for me and if they had anything left, I would be the first in line for it. So I decided to go ahead and order them because it's my last chance and I can always send them back. There is plenty of stock in the 38 so I can always do an exchange if they are too tight.

Then the next stroke of luck: Apparently I have a $64 credit from the shoes I returned last year! So I got the new ones for only $23. I was never made aware of this and it doesn't seem to be reflected anywhere on my account, so I would have never known if I hadn't called. I just hope they are actually in stock. If not, I'll order the 38's.

The moral of the story is: When in doubt, call!