Shoe blogging
Let’s just say that I’m much closer to jo(e)’s perspective on shoes than I am to Lawmom’s. I like to be able to walk, and I don’t like my feet to hurt.
Don’t laugh but these are the shoes I’ve been wearing at work for much of the last, oh, 5 years. They’re totally beat up, but they’re comfortable. I actually bought new shoes to replace them a while ago, but the new ones hurt, so I only wear them for conferences or meetings with people outside my office. (And I wore flats or sandals when I was pregnant.)
Last month, when I went to the doctor, I mentioned that I was starting to get a bunion on one foot. She suggested I try wearing shoes in a size wide. So, this week, I finally ordered two new pairs of shoes from Zappos.
They seemed ok when I tried them on, but we’ll see what happens when I actually wear them all day.
June 24th, 2005 at 11:44 pm
If it makes you feel any better, I only ever wear flats, even at work…and I’m all of 5’1″!
June 25th, 2005 at 7:16 am
I’ve always thought that women’s shoes were mostly a conspiracy by evil podiatrists to get sent on nice vacations. This view is mostly strengthened by watching women wearing running shoes on the subway, with their torture pumps in a bag for wear in the office only.
June 25th, 2005 at 7:47 am
Ooh, it looks like you got some Softwalks! I *love* mine. I wore one pair of their sandals into the ground and this season got another pair that I’m wearing everywhere. Zappos is a lifesaver. I love the way they always upgrade your shipping. I’ve finally learned to buy shoes early in the season and get the proper size, and then if I hit on a really comfortable style I go back to Zappos and buy more of the same.
June 25th, 2005 at 11:26 am
If you’ve got wide feet, Ferragamos are stupidly expensive, but they’re comfortable and they have very professional looking flats. I have a couple of pairs that have been getting heavy wear for seven years now.
June 25th, 2005 at 2:24 pm
May I humbly suggest that you rotate your shoes–i.e., not wear the same pair every day? They’ll last longer (without looking beat up, especially if you put shoe trees in ’em overnight) and be better for your feet.
June 27th, 2005 at 7:39 am
I’ve had really good luck with some of the Kenneth Cole Reaction shoes. I have a pair of flats as well as a 2.5 inch heeled pair. Both have nice wide, rounded toe areas, but the rest of the shoe is so stylish that you’d never notice. I’m unable to wear most types of heels, so the fact that I can walk around all day in the KCR heels is a testament to its comfort.
June 27th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
i just bought myself some new shoes, from a company called, I believe, Propet– all their shoes are designed to be good for walking, even if they look a little more professional than just a sneaker.
I hate shopping for shoes– I too used to wear the same shoes every day, work or home, a pair of brown loafers which I only did not wear if I needed to wear black shoes for something, or sandals. I now own more pairs of shoes than I ever have in my life, all because my partner prodded me into actually buying a pair of casual shoes AND a pair of brown shoes for work, in addition to my black loafers, sandals, and dress shoes.
June 29th, 2005 at 1:39 pm
I’m quite short and I very rarely wear heels. Mostly comfy flats, occasionally chunky heels (more supportive).
Three bricks-and-mortar sources for comfy work shoes:
Comfort One (very expensive, but incredibly comfortable and supportive — I’ve bought there on sales, mostly — also good weekend shoes)
Nordstrom (they’re very good at fitting there, will put an arch support in for you, and they have stylish choices in flats and low heels)
Public Shoe in Clarendon (not so many stylish choices, but great at fitting — a couple from there usually work out).