This is my first attempt to attach a picture. Let's see if it works.

I spent some time gluing my old D'Arts II back together and I think I can make them last through the SN. Additionally, I have my backup pair (purchased used from another fencer) which are 1/2 size smaller and yet feel like the same fit. My D'Arts II are size 7 and 6.5 which are larger than I need in any other shoe. The D'Arts III were purchased in size 5.5, which still feels right sometime, but not when I lunge. The DIIIs I'm buying from another fencer are a size larger and fit much better. The work well on some floor surfaces but I have qualms about how well they will work on raised pistes.

The brown WalMart shoes were purchased in a moment of sheer desperation and I've decided they're really "old woman shoes". They will be reassigned to the closet for wearing to work and other places.

The EnGarde feel good when I'm just wearing them but they hurt during practice so I removed them. I don't know if I can "break them in" or if they'll break my feet and it's too close to the SN to give them a fair trial.

The Blades are actually starting to break in a little. Replacing the insert helped as did adding a "pump pad" in front of the socks. They hurt my smaller toes, which I suspect is related to a "tailor bunion" problem and these are the shoes that I blame for the Plantar bump/lump so I'm a little hesitant to wear them often before SN. Afterwards, assuming I'm bumped down in the points list, I'll focus on finding what I need to do to make them work. I think it boils down to these being "epee shoes". Great for protecting the feet from toe touches but not so good for women with thin feet and tailors bunions who need a softer canvan shoe. I feel like I'm wearing combat boots every time I fence in them.