It’s no secret that my choice of footwear tends to be safe – toes (mostly my own) make me squirm so I wear closed toe pumps and flats nearly year-round. A little while ago I felt as though I’ve hit a wall with almond and round toe pumps and decided to step slightly outside my comfort zone and try my hand at pointed toe pumps.
The Steven by Steve Madden Alenah pump is maybe the fourth or fifth pair of nude pointed toe pumps I’ve tried in the last two months and held so much promise. The price was attractive (I ordered mine from Bloomingdale’s on sale for about $45) and the color was a beautiful blush pink (with a bit more red in the color than what “bone leather” would indicate at face value).
The problem lies in the fit – I normally wear 6.5 or 7 in pumps and ordered the size 7 – the length was perfect but the shoe pinched my toes and caused a moderate degree of discomfort within seconds. Pointed toe shoes are tricky for people with wider feet, like myself, as often times sizing up won’t resolve any issues and may just create more distress.
At 3.75 (or 4, depending on how you measure) inches tall with no platform, the shoes were also too tall for extended wear – I used to be of the belief that taller and better are interchangeable when it comes to shoes but have since had a change of heart – and my medium-arched feet are a poor match for the curve of the shoe, which is rather precipitous and further perpetuates the toe-pinching problem.
The spiked heel is unorthodox and I am indifferent to it but don’t think it distracts from the overall aesthetic. There is some padding in the footbed but not to a degree that makes it very comfortable.
My decision to return the shoes was not met with any doubt. I have time on my side and know that a better pair will come along.
I am not ready to give up on my search just yet and will probably share a few more reviews along the way. If you have any recommendations, please leave me a comment.
