I have boots!

I successfully shopped for boots today! There's a shoe store in Brookline with a sign in the window saying "wide shoes," so I walked in and told a salesman that I was looking for winter boots for wide feet. He brought me a pair of boots to try on; they were too big, so I asked for a half size down, and those fit, with little foam cushions at the heels.

I couldn't quite zip the left boot over the jeans I was wearing this afternoon (I had to bunch that pants leg up a little), but the right boot did fit over my right pants leg. I already knew my left foot is larger than the right, and TIL that my calves aren't the same size either. I asked the salesman about the return policy, then bought the boots, so I could see whether I have pants that fit either in or over these boots.

The first two pairs of pants I tried this evening worked, with the pants leg over the boots rather than inside them, but they worked. That's enough for tonight, and tomorrow is soon enough to try the boots with my lined jeans.

This was the only pair of boots in the store that the salesman thought would be worth my trying on. I am very glad I asked for help immediately, rather than wasting time looking at all the boots that they didn't have in my size.

It's been years since I had a pair of boots that come partway up my calves, rather than snow sneakers.