Review Spotlight on: Aldo

As I mentioned a bit ago, Aldo was not really on my radar for quite some time, as I felt I could never find a style I liked and thought the prices were a little steep for the quality I saw. Well... I have to take most of that back. Not only was I super excited to browse the site and find, oh, a million styles I loved, but the material (mostly real leather!) seems better than I remember. I'm letting bygones be bygones and have renewed my love of Aldo.

Here's my one beef: Sizing. I am an 8.5 usually (and on the small side of it at that), with the exception of some shoes and brands (hey Jeffrey Campbell, WTF? Why am I a 9?!). But I have a lot of trouble getting a reliable size out of my shoes. I don't know when it happened, but I remember back in the day always trying on 8s and always walking out a happy customer. Then, suddenly, it was like my feet got all janked up and weird and now are fickle about their size. Dunno (wonder if it's all the hell I put them through in 5 inch heels? Naaaahhh!). So the weird, European whole sizes at Aldo had me in a tizzy-- the 8s? the 9s? (or, rather: the 38s? the 39s?) Unfortunately, the sizing just didn't work for me. I bought the 39s and they are gaping around my narrow ankles... I went to the store to try the 38s and still no bueno, folks. I even tried on a whole buncha different styles with mostly the same results: way too big around the ankles. (interesting note, too: every shoe seemed really different; I was better in 8s in some and 9s in others) I'd show pictures but I'm just too sad to rehash the whole thing. Sigh. :-P

Here are some of my other picks, i.e. what I'd buy if my feet were not so narrow and more normal and I had lots of money (two of which are big trends for spring: Ghillie ties and clogs, get 'em while they're hot!):

ROW 1: Acree, $60; Daven, $90

ROW 2: Dillenburg, $59.98; Nemets, $125

ROW 3: Starace, $90; Stierle, $80

ROW 4: Hondel, $59.98; Rubash; $64.98

ROW 5: Roessner, $59.98; Dalecki, $90