Someone please, please, please help me!
I really want a pair of CL for work. I'm a college student and entering my career soon. But right now, I just wear sneakers and booties. I've never worn a closed-toe pump or a pointy shoe. I have no idea how pumps are supposed to feel! Today, I went to Neiman Marcus and fell in love with the Hot Chick. BUT they only have a 7.5, and I'm usually an 8 in sneakers and booties. I was expecting to purchase a 38.5. The sales associate said it wasn't unusual for sizing to be totally weird in CL, but my google searches had stated it was usually sizing up. I wore them for 20 minutes in the store, and they seemed okay, like a 6/10 on the comfort scale. Around the same as my size 8 booties, maybe slightly more uncomfortable. But it does seem like my toes are squished. I don't know if that's just normal for pointy shoes.
I have narrow feet, very narrow heels, and very, very narrow ankles. (One of the reasons I love shoes with laces is I can lace them really right so they don't fall off my feet.) The 37.5 didn't fall off my feet. NM has no CL 38s in stock in the store, and they say I have to buy a 38 from another store and have them shipped if I want to try them on. It takes 5-8 business days for a 38 to be shipped from another store, and I'm very resistant to buying a pair of shoes just for the privilege of trying them on.
I know if I return the 37.5, they're gonna be gone by the time the 38 arrive. I don't want to have two pairs of CL on my credit card at once. Also, I tried a 38.5 in the Iriza, and it only slightly slipped around. So weird.
The sales associate didn't even measure my feet or feel my toes. Someone tell me if it's impossible by the rules of physics for someone to size down in a pair of Hot Chicks or if it really is true. Does anyone else have narrow heels, feet, and ankles? What do CL do on your feet?
Someone, please give me perspective.