So, I’ve started my (almost) annual search for the pair of perfect boots. It’s autumn and finally chilly and sometimes rainy (notwithstanding that whole hurricane thingy). So, it’s clearly time to trade in my go-to summer sandals for my go-to boots as my daily stomping-around-town shoes.  I’m not talking about the gray, suede platform bootie or the stacked heal, tall boots with the fancy tooling across the vamp. No, I’m talking about that comfortable boot with a low heel that’s good for walking city blocks, can hold up to a little rain, and still pulls together a jeans and sweater outfit but looks great with a skirt. You know, your basic fashion miracle maker.

My search is made all the more desperate by the sidelining of my current miracle boots —  a pair of patent leather, waterproof La Canadienne riding boots. The waterproofing (and flat heel) made them ideal for all weather, while the patent leather gave them enough style to wear even to work. Like all boots I own, however, they’re a bit snug around the calf.  Apparently, I have exceptionally large calves, at least as far as the boot industry is concerned. I blame it on my early years of ballet and Madame Chernonook’s relentless repetition of plies.

After a couple of seasons of me tugging the zippers relentlessly over skinny (but not skinny enough) jeans, the poor, over-stressed things finally gave way. I’ve spent the past couple of weeks trying to find a cobbler to repair them. Sadly, these days, cobbler is something only served with berries and cream. Which is tasty, mind you, but not so useful for fixing boots. Especially when you already have large calves.

So, I’ve resolved myself to having to find a new boot miracle. In addition to the usual difficulties associated with searching for miracles, including my wide foot and the aforementioned big calves, I’ve been seriously hampered by my perverse decision that I really want a boot in gray or blue when everyone knows boots are made in black or brown. Or at least according to the boot industry. I already question their judgment about the whole narrow calf thing, so I’m sticking to my guns on the color. And then there’s the demise of my favorite, go-to shoe shopping site, endless.com, which is now part of Amazon’s overall fashion site, and, sad to say, a shadow of its former self.

I thought I’d hit the miracle jackpot when I discovered (thanks to Zappos) that La Canadienne makes a boot very similar to my now zipper-challenged pair. And, miracle of miracles, they come in gray patent leather and (hold the phone) in a wide width. But alas, they are out of stock in my size. Just when I’d started to believe in miracles. So, now Google and I are on the hunt for another store carrying the same boots in the right size.  It’ll take nothing sort of a miracle, I’m sure.