“There’s a little hunter in all women, right? Think about it: every woman is constantly stalking the perfect pair of shoes…”-Shoes of Prey

I know ladies everywhere will agree with me when I say this: there is nothing so evocative as a fiercely fabulous shoe. Whether your idea of  ’fabulous’ is a prim ballet flat or an aggressively ostentatious stiletto, a fabulous shoe speaks—and more than that, imbues its wearer with the near-magical power of transformation. Any woman who has slipped a foot into her dream sky-high, peep-toe, red  leather platform after tossing on a years-old, staid sheath dress feels that power. A shoe can really be a game-changer; a transporter; and a confidence rocket.

But for many of us sized out of conventional women’s footwear—we forgo “fabulous” for “sufficient”; “jaw-dropping” for “tolerable”; and hope that we can find shoes that are marginally stylish but mostly offer us room and the right fit. While I personally hadn’t entirely hung up the towel on fierce, wonderful, and COMFORTABLE size 12.5s when Shoes of Prey first contacted me to write a review of their product, I was admittedly skeptical. I couldn’t imagine that designing the transformative “shoe of my dreams” and getting a model that was high-quality, comfortable, and at all affordable was even in the realm of possibility. I couldn’t fathom that “bespoke” shoes sized specifically to my feet would be any better than a standard size 12.5 picked up at Nordstrom Rack. And yet, Shoes of Prey—true to their word—offered me a shoe that was worth hunting to the ends of the earth (and back) for.

My Shoes of Prey-centric outfit: ASOS blouse; J. Crew skinny belt; Rock & Republic miniskirt; Simply Vera Vera Wang tights; Shoes of Prey custom heels

 I was nervous with anticipation opening the well-appointed black box that arrived speedily from Australia—impeccably packed with a suede dustbag, complimentary gel inserts, and a charming handwritten note from Lucy, the “Customer Happiness Wonderperson” (indeed!) When I pulled the kitten-heeled, ankle-strapped, black suede-and cream-Italian-silk-peeptoes from their smooth tissue wrappers, I must have audibly gasped, as—in that moment—I imagined myself slipping them on for New Year’s Eve with a coquettish frock. They were girly and gorgeous and as I buckled them on, sans inserts—I realized that the 43.5s were a customized fit unlike any other shoe I had tried before. As you might imagine, I have tried on, lusted after, squeezed into, and suffered my way through numerous shoes in my lifetime. But with this singular pair, I got it and felt what—for me—was one shoe of a game changer; transporter; and confidence rocket.

Me in my gorgeous new Shoes of Prey bespoke heels!

Each shoe produced by Shoes of Prey is handmade in Australia, down to your specifications as to heel height, toe style, fabrication (in leathers, suedes, textiles, sequins and more), and embellishments (stitching, bows, straps, et cetera). Offered in European sizes 35-49 and ranging from $219-$379 based on chosen design components, each bespoke pair of shoe can be sized to wide feet, narrow feet, excessively large feet, quite small feet, or even feet of two different sizes—and the Shoes of Prey artisans will work with you to get the exactly right fit for your unique footsies with a liberal return policy (and free shipping worldwide!). Better yet, each design is thoroughly unique—meaning you will never see the exact same pair anywhere, and will have a customized collectible to wear and enjoy for years to come. Founded in 2009, Shoes of Prey is now a global force of a brand and favorite of numerous celebrities and editors including those of Vogue, Grazia, Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, and The Wall Street Journal. So what are you waiting for? Visit the site, chat with the indeed-wonderful Customer Happiness team, learn about the cat behind it all,  and hunt down your own fiercely fabulous shoe (or choose from the equally-awesome online gallery of favorites)…I guarantee that your life will never be the same, my tall lovelies!

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