It's elementary. (1) It is not written that he walked in the same boots that he bought. (2) Unlike any normal person, he bought high boots in a state shop and walking boots in a market. (3) He repeatedly procured mismatched articles of clothing and then destroyed them.
Он разыскивал штаны Небывалой ширины. Купит с горем пополам, Повернётся к зеркалам - Вся портновская работа Разъезжается по швам!
Ergo: Stepa fancies himself a smaller person, collects various items, and then destroys these items putting on himself. Size 45 boots were used to satisfy his pathological obsession.
Stepoexegesis
Он разыскивал штаны
Небывалой ширины.
Купит с горем пополам,
Повернётся к зеркалам -
Вся портновская работа
Разъезжается по швам!
Ergo: Stepa fancies himself a smaller person, collects various items, and then destroys these items putting on himself. Size 45 boots were used to satisfy his pathological obsession.