One of only a very few companies that exclusively makes and sells small shoe sizes, Cinderella of Boston has been properly heeling women wearing shoe sizes 2 to 5.5 since 1939.
I had the opportunity to visit the Cinderella of Boston store in Westminster, CA, to see the merchandise first hand. While there, I also got to chat with the company’s merchandise buyer, learned all kinds of fun facts about shoes and fit, and got to run around the store trying on shoes. Fun day huh?
Very few things in life have the ability to make me feel…um…large…but seeing all those tiny size 2 and 3 shoes gave my size 5 feet a complex.
No one told me my ruffles were trying to escape!
Cinderella of Boston started as a catalog company in Boston, Massachusetts, hence the name. In the early days, the shoes were sourced out of California, which meant the owner had to fly back and forth quite often. Growing tired of making the long flights to California, as well as enjoying the SoCal weather, the owner moved the entire company to Orange County in the early 80′s, where it is today.
The entire operation is run by only five employees! Can you believe it? I was also surprised to find out the styles are designed in house by the employees and owner each season. If there is a style you’d really like to see, let them know! With the disappearance of domestic manufacturing, the shoes are now sourced out of China and Brazil.
With the vast majority of business coming from their e-commerce site, the Cinderella of Boston store isn’t the most posh place in the world, but if you’re in need of some small shoes and want to try them on for yourself, it gets the job done. Don’t expect plush seating or pretty decor, but you will find tons of hard to find shoe sizes. The location is also very nondescript and off the beaten path. We almost drove past it on our way to visit.
What it lacks in good looks, the store makes up for in knowledge. I got to chat with the merchandise buyer, Chuck, about the shoes, store, and customer base while I was there and learned quite a bit. In the business for a long time, he knows about fit, and shoe construction. While I was trying on shoes, he noticed right away that my feet were narrow, and taught me a new term. Apparently, in the shoe making biz, narrow feet are called “skimpy”! I’ve joked that I’m scrawny, skinny and puny…now I can add skimpy to the list!
See my review of a pair of Cinderella of Boston shoes here.
If you stop by, tell them Kelly sent ya!
More from Cinderella of Boston:
Review of Cinderella of Boston Shoes
