aaarrrgh this is a shoe-shopping rant!! →[More:]

I hate shoe shopping, I really do. Even more than pants shopping, if that's possible, because hey, I can always just say "fuck pants" and wear a skirt or dress instead. Sadly I can't go to work barefoot, and the halcyon days of pedicures and strappy sandals are rapidly coming to an end in my region.

My beloved, stylish, comfy, fifteen-year-old ankle boots that served me well for so many falls and winters, and went with every suit and pair of slacks in my closet, have finally gone to the Great Shoe Closet in the Sky. I find out now that they are potentially irreplaceable.

All I want is a stylish, plainish set of ankle boots with a 2-3", sturdy heel and a sole that's got enough grip to keep me from busting my ass in the parking lot. Preferably dark brown or black. I'm not opposed to chunky soles or platforms **IF** they're of the sort that could work with somewhat casual office wear, but still go with a skirt if need be. The problem is, that's not in style now.

What's in style now, sadly, is those BABOON TESTICLE UGLY stacked taper heel / suede scrunchy rejects-from-a-mid-80's-Ringwald-flick monstrosities. Jesus wept, I mean, I never wore the miserable things when they were vogue the first time around... and I was an idiot teenager then! I would almost (almost, if you held a gun to my head) wear Uggs instead; I mean, they'd still be hideous but at least I'd be able to walk in them.

Or else there's those ucky "sensible" things that make you look like the lunch lady. Riding-style boots maybe, tho I'd prefer a bit of heel. Lunch lady shoes? not so much.

Then there's the size thing. I have feet that are just wide enough that they don't fit in the most common B width unless I size up, then my heels slip. I'd like to find something in C, but they're rare, and even rarer still in cute ankle boots.

Last but not least, when I found something on Zappo's site I actually DID like, it was $800. EIGHT HUNDRED BUCKS ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??? Who pays that much for shoes, seriously? That could feed an entire third world family for a year, possibly longer!

I'm not destitute, and I'm willing to pay for good quality stuff, but that's just bullshit.

grrr. TPS, you got any ideas?