October 13, 2006
Dust off those opinions, I'm calling them in!
Alright folks.
I need your help.
Especially if you have even a shred of fashion sense. But even if you don't.
So I went out looking for cute, inexpensive shoes that were comfortable, had pointy toes, high heels, and looked like they laced up.
ha ha ha! Those don't exist.
So I settled for really cute.
I showed them to you earlier, but here they are again:
I really like the way they look. I wear them and pass my reflection and think "Oooh, now those are cute boots!"
But.
Good golly, Miss Molly, I can only wear them for an hour or two, especially if heavy walking and standing is involved. At best they are mildly uncomfortable, and I really don't mind. But if I try, oh, grocery shopping in them? Well, it's bad news, I tell you.
Now before you roll your eyes ... no, I guess as you roll your eyes is fine ... I knew they weren't comfortable when I bought them. Because I'm that smart. I guess I'm also that old, because uncomfortable shoes used to take days of walking back and forth across a large campus before they bothered me. Gone are those days, I tell you.
So anyhoo. NOW I'm in search of fashionable comfortable shoes. Yes, I still want fashionable. Yes, I know that's shallow and silly and vain. Oh well. What can I say? Yes, I know I'm probably, overall, unfashionable and frumpy. But I want to like my shoes.
So. Help me out, here.
I was thinking of some cute clogs or mules, like BusyHSmom suggested --with not too high heels. BUT there's a problem. I wear skirts nearly all the time. Under my skirts I wear lightweight leggings and then socks on my feet. Socks + clogs look fine with jeans, but not so cool with skirts, I don't think. Unless maybe there's some secret cool socks I don't know about. I suppose I could wear tights, if that's cool (she asks, with great uncertainty)? But I like my leggings. Not those particular ones, necessarily. Just something along those lines.
Or the other option would be to get the flat muckluck style boots that are apparently hip. In some "foot friendly" brand. I think those would look okay under most of my skirts. I have a lot of denim skirts that go nearly to the ankle. But of course, when sitting, you can see mid-calf, so it has to look not too stupid. Thus the clog problem. So I thought maybe lowish boots. I rejected this idea at first, but apparently they're quite trendy. Who knew? I'm not thinking of those particular ones, necessarily. Just something along those lines.
What do you think?
Give me your advice, oh wiser than me internet friends with comfort and fashion sense greater than mine. Which shouldn't be hard to come by.
Tell me what I must do.
Posted by Kim at October 13, 2006 7:01 PM*I* am not a fashion-conscious person. I only hope to narrowly escape the "Egads, she actually came out in public wearing *that*!?" types of comments.
With that said, I like neither clogs nor mukluks.
I like the boots I bought and showed to you.
But now you can't buy them or you'd be just like Fashion Dork Michelle.
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Posted by: Michelle deMoose at October 13, 2006 7:43 PMI have the same problem with skirts. I like either ankle boots (like your first picture) or for a "chunkier" look, I like Uggs. Or an Ugg knockoff...
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Plus, I have to wear socks with skirts too, so I wear knee high socks that are a good thick texture to keep my legs warm. Knee socks + Long skirts = workable with ankle boots!!! :)
Posted by: Christina at October 13, 2006 8:22 PMI have zero fashion sense and even worse taste in footwear, so I won't even hazard an opinion. I just thought that now I could confess that the first time you posted a pic of those boots, my eyes popped out of my head and I thought, "She's going to wear heels like THAT? She's braver than I thought!".
:-D
Posted by: Rosanne at October 13, 2006 10:10 PMWell, I don't actually wear skirts, but if I did, I would go with boot choice #1 for "formal" attire. Then I would go with boot choice #2 for "casual" attire. And I wouldn't even do the clogs because they actually look more painful than boot choice #1.
In the winter I wear a moccasin-type shoe, a "formal" black boot and my old standby-Doc Martin boots. So you can see I really don't have too much agony over what to wear with what. Since I don't wear skirts or dresses and all.
I know I haven't helped you. I'm sorry. LOL.
Coleen
mucklucks for sure!
I have a pair of shoes that I wear with everything. They're similar to the natava on this pagehttp://www.donaldjpliner.com/store/category.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=87 but with a more traditional short heel. Mine are dark brown.
Sorry, I haven't worn a heel in over 10 years, wouldn't want to go back.
Posted by: Sombra at October 14, 2006 1:01 AMloved them all.
i have the same problem with my daughter who wants to wear skirts all the time. what about winter, i ask her. and hiking? i'm more of a jeans and tennis shoe gal but i like the pretty shoes and skirts for church.
for everyday wear though, high heels don't work for me.
Posted by: melissa at October 14, 2006 1:56 AM(my own personal opinion) I wear skirts all the time, and do not like ankle boots. Thankfully, I'm quite sure that they will go out of style again soon. AND - most of my skirts in the winter are well below half calf, so my calf high boots will APPEAR as ankle boots.
I don't personally like the clogs for the sock reason. If I were wearing them though, I would wear tights.
Posted by: Tess at October 14, 2006 6:16 AMI can be of absolutely no help to you, but I am reading with interest what others have to say because I am admitedly shoe challenged. I own two pair....my tennis shoes that I wear most everywhere, and a pair of black flats that I wear to church. That is it. I have not a clue about stylish footwear. But! I do have to say that all of the pictures that you posted? They all look like shoes/boots that I would buy if I were not so settled in my tennis shoe ways. There. That is as helpy as I can possibly be.
Posted by: Leigh at October 14, 2006 8:04 AMMucklucks make me feel fat and dumpy (for the most part, although the ones you show are much more streamlined.) I am not tall or long legged and I hate shoes that make me feel dumpy! I have no clogs like the one you pictured...but it is my strong opinion too much heel = not so comfortable. I once had a similar pair and although they did not hurt my feet, because clogs do not have any leather around your heel and ankles, I would occasionally "twist" my ankle wearing them. OUCH! Perhaps you have more grace than I and that would not be a problem. All my clogs are more the style you would find in Land's End or L.L. Bean. Knee socks or cute tights work well with clogs and skirts.
HOWEVER, I must confess, when I lived in Michigan, I wore only skirts and dresses, and I wore leggings or long underwear (the silk ones that are like stirrup leggings from Land's End or L.L.Bean) under all my skirts. Like you, I just put a pair of socks over the leggings and the shoe of my choice. At that time, I had two pairs of ankle boots that were my favorites...the black pair were what I call "prairie boots" and had the laces with the hooks at the top--they really did look like shoes from a bygone era. The others were brown leather and little more like hiking boots, but not that clunky. And then of course, I wore the old standby--clogs!
Best wishes on your search for the perfect shoe. Let us know when you find it!
Posted by: BusyHSmom at October 14, 2006 9:55 AMI really enjoyed reading all of the comments posted. =) Another suggestion for comfty and hip shoes would be Crocs.
http://shop.crocs.com/c-4-Footwear.aspx?reqid=4&reqProdTypeId=4&subsectionname=footwear
These are really popular here in Pennsylvania and I can say they are extremely comfortable because my aunt gave me a pair.
I've seen them worn with socks, pantyhose, tights, or bare feet and I've seen them worn with casual skirts as well as jeans, etc.
Happy shopping!
Posted by: staci at October 14, 2006 10:56 AMI have the same questions as you Kim. I eagerly read all these comments. I would gladly wear tights but where do you get adult tights that are warmer than hose? Anyone know?
I think I saw some "old fashioned" ankle boots in Sears the other day. Have you tried there?
Karen
Posted by: karen at October 14, 2006 1:29 PMOk, I grew up in Michigan and attended a school that required the girls to wear dresses all year round. None of us liked to bring boots for recess so I have tried out all kinds of shoes. Leather ballet style or slip ons work good with every thing and are comfortable. The lace up victorian boots are adorable but slippery and not good for standing all the time. Clogs are good for indoors but soak your socks and tights in back during slushy season. I like scrunch boots that are not at the ankle but go part way up when it is really cold. The most practical, but not as girlie looking is the fold down lace up shoe-boot, bonus is that they usually have a rubber grip sole. All of these shoes/boots can be found at www.roamans.com
I also love crocs but they are hideously ugly....haven't tried the prima ballet slipper yet, but the beach ones are too wide to look "cute" with a dress.
Well, you could move to Oregon and wear neat boots like these for formal dress
http://www.whitesoutdoor.com/store/product.php?category=Boots&id=696
And these for every day
http://www.whitesoutdoor.com/store/product.php?category=Boots&id=691
That's what I wear. And then we can be twins. Well, a Mutt and Jeff kind of twin set thing. You know.
Never mind. I don't want a cute twin that would make me look bad. I have enough trouble as it is.
LOL
Posted by: shurleen at October 16, 2006 12:44 AM
