Footwear favourites

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Footwear favourites

— by Angie

on June 13, 2008

My favorite footwear styles fall into two categories: those I love to wear, and those I wish I could wear. My fussy feet prefer a flexible, cushiony, closed shoe. Preferably flat, or no higher than two inches. I have given up on anything that has a strap or is strappy.

The ones I love to wear:

Boots. My all time favourite footwear because they’re comfortable and dramatic (I’m daring with my boot styles). I would wear boots everyday if I could. Living in Seattle gives me plenty of opportunity and I’m not complaining.
Dressy ballet flats. They are versatile, practical and fun. They always do the distance.
“Chuck Taylor” Converse sneakers. There is no substitute for this retro sneaker look.
Chunky round-toed pumps. The heels are stable and the look suits my personal style. They are funkier than thin heeled, pointy-toe shoes.
Fluffy slippers. Because our hardwood floors are hard and because Rosie likes to chew on them.

The ones I wish I could wear:

Chunky peep-toe pumps
Strappy wedge sandals with broad ankle straps
Dainty thong sandals
Shoes with exaggerated buckle detailing
Gladiator sandals

Which footwear styles are your favourites and why? (If anyone says running shoes I’m going to faint).

Footwear

39 comments · Add a comment

Keri

Wedges, wedges all the way. They somehow have a slimming effect and I can get away with a higher heel as they are definitely more stable. I dread the day they are no longer in fashion!

June 13, 2008 at 7:14 am

Adiel

(website)

I love anything with a heel, whether its a wedge or a pump. I think my legs look best when I’m wearing heels.

June 13, 2008 at 7:21 am

Lannie

Flats and thong sandals. I love a shoe that’s easy to slip on and off, and comfortable to walk in. I like my canvas sneakers, but I don’t like the lacing and unlacing.

June 13, 2008 at 7:36 am

Rhonda

I love thong sandals — great for Florida weather– and peep toe shoes with about a two or three inch heel. Any kind of strappy heel or wedge is great! My toes hate closed-toe shoes, so boots, ballet flats, sneakers, round-toed or pointy-toed shoes create pain for me. (I’m having a hard time finding something suitable for vacation site-seeing!) Sometimes I endure it, just because that’s the shoe that fills the bill!

June 13, 2008 at 7:42 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Keri! You gracefully stride through London at the speed of light in three inch plus wedges. This is a skill that you can put on your CV! I can barely keep up in my Converse. Tanya, meet the other wedge Queen, Keri. Keri lives in London and would be in heaven with the endless selection of wedge styles we have in America. You can compare notes.

June 13, 2008 at 8:16 am

Meredith

Beige Birkenstock sandals!!!

Just thought I’d see if I could make you faint!

June 13, 2008 at 8:25 am

Ana

My favorite shoes to wear are ballet flats, but I’m short and have short legs, so I only really get to pull this style out with skinny jeans/tunics or the right skirt/dress. I also love a knee high boot! They instantly make an outfit more polished, in my opinion.

My wishlist includes strappy shoes–especially pumps, and t-straps, which tend to exaggerate my short legs. I love the sound of a strappy sandal with a thick ankle strap–ankle straps are my favorite!

June 13, 2008 at 8:32 am

Judy

Angie, you’ve reminded me today to wear more of my flat boots that I love even in “summer” (current Seattle temperature is all the way up to 50). For me, flat and round toe is best. Wish I could wear those edgy chunky heels, gladiators too, but I will admire them on others!

June 13, 2008 at 8:44 am

Christie

I love boots, too. My favorites last year were knee-high, high heel boots. They look great with jeans, and shocking with a skirt. And since I ride my bike all winter, they keep my lower-legs warm.

I wish I loved flats. I feel so short in them. I’m not THAT short, 5’4″, but I feel short. I feel much sleeker with a pair of heels, so I tend to wear my wedge sandals all summer and high-heel boots all winter. When it’s not practical (when I’m a ped instead of on bike), I have a nice supply of ballet flats to cruise around in.

June 13, 2008 at 9:02 am

Val

I really only wear three pairs of shoes. Instead of sneakers, I usually wear saddle shoes. Mine are by Dr. Scholl’s, so they’re super comfy, and they make any outfit look more retro. I will never pass up an opportunity to wear my cowboy boots. I bought these flats recently, and since the weather’s been nice lately, I’ve been wearing them every day.
http://www.payless.com/Catalog.....eColor=Red

June 13, 2008 at 9:32 am

Tara

(website)

I a big boot lover as well. I have short legs (in proportion to my body) and very wide calves, and the only time I feel comfortable in skirts or dresses is when I’m wearing boots.

But I mainly love boots with jeans/pants. I wear boots with about a 2″ heel with jeans constantly. I love the sleek uninterrupted look it gives my short legs!

Unfortunately, I live in sunny, hot Los Angeles, so I can’t wear boots for a great part of the year.

June 13, 2008 at 9:46 am

redhead

In the summer, my profession requires a comfy, casual and professional look. I find that skimmers work best for me in all situations.

June 13, 2008 at 9:48 am

MaryJane

(website)

I’ve gotta say, I’m addicted to heels! My favorite style? Pumps. My favorite brand? Naughty Monkey (for my budget) but what I wouldn’t give for a pair of Manolos!!!

June 13, 2008 at 11:42 am

hajen

I really like the new mary jane styles. I have a pair of Skechers with a thin strap that crosses over the top of the foot twice – I love how they are springy and have arch support (unlike flats) with a grippy bottom like a sneaker, but nicer than wearing sneakers, without sacrificing a bit of comfort. I have a couple more pairs that have the usual strap over – but they just seem so much more sleek now – I remember mary janes being kind of chunky.

Also I love flat sandals that aren’t thongs or backless, and knee-high boots with a low heel. I wish I could wear ballet flats but they’re so flat and uncomfortable, and gape at the sides when I walk. I like rope espadrilles as well but they don’t seem to work on my feet – I feel clunky.

June 13, 2008 at 12:36 pm

Antje

I love love love dressy ballet flats and own way too many of them – in many bright colors, patterns and styles. Some of my favorites are a silver pair with a floral cutout pattern from Michael Kors; an animal print pair with a beige buckle also from Michael Kors; a pink pair with red floral pattern (quite fun!); and this spring’s new addition: the yellow MIAs and the kelly green ones with the bow. I love looking at all the flats in my closet and picking the day’s pair.
I wear ballet flats three seasons of the year, except in winter, and I don’t think there is a problem with looking too short (I’m 5’3”). But horses for courses!

My other favorite style is boots, especially with skirts. I think it’s a great look, but I do miss the color and pattern choices in boots that flats provide

Flip flops in summer feel super good, love letting some air on my feet. But I rarely wear them to work or for going out; it’s mostly for around the house and the neighborhood.

I have the hardest time buying sandals that are comfy and stylish, so I often just stick with ballet flats during the summer, too, even though I’d prefer to have sandals on really hot days. Somehow I haven’t really found anything that I like and that fits well.

A style that I’m curious about and would like to experiment with is wedges. Tanya’s obsession and Angie’s blog entry from yesterday definitely triggered my interest. I shall see if this is my first wedge summer!

June 13, 2008 at 12:45 pm

Lovelee_79

I’m a stiletto girl all the way…I could run in 3 1/2″ – 4″ heels if I had to! And what I wouldn’t give to own a pair of Manolos! I love pointy toes (especially the Carrie by Guess) and strappy sandals.

But since I’ve been back to wearing heels after a recent fall I had, I’ve resorted to finding cute pairs of 2 1/2″ heels and I find that they are more comfortable, functional and I can handle them for longer periods.

June 13, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Eva

For the fall through spring I love boots – knee high or ankle.
For sping/summer/fall I love pointy toed pumps up to 2 1/2 inch heal or wedges
For summer fun I love sandles
For casual I love urban sneakers (I live in them on weekends) and flats
For dress up occassions, I love strappy sandals.

I wish I was more comfortable in spiky high heels.

June 13, 2008 at 1:56 pm

Tanya

Wesges, wedges and wedges! Also boots, and flats only it they have a lot ot of padding,

I have love/hate relationship with peep-toes and strappy styles: I like the ay they look, but they can dig in, which I can take for few hours, but not for the whole day.

I love but can’t wear stilettos. Same for very flat flats, such as most of summer sandals. An thong styles are horribly uncomfortable for me too, they rub a lot!

June 13, 2008 at 2:08 pm

Maya

My favorite footwear by far has to be boots. I can size up to accommodate my wide upper foot and I don’t have to worry about them falling off my narrow heels. I can also wear them with socks, making friction and blisters a nonissue. I always feel super chic and comfortable in my boots, especially my riding boots popped over my skinnies. I have 4 pairs but I need to get a pair with a very low heel to wear with skirts and dresses.

I also love low-profile, retro fashion sneakers like the kind Coach makes. And of course I love my Converses as well. Unfortunately I find them limiting, since they can really only be worn with pants and jeans.

Everything else will inevitably hurt my feet sooner or later, some sooner than others. I wear ballet flats just about every day, but by the end of the day I can’t wait to take them off. I also have my low-heeled Kenzie wedges, and a couple of sandals. None of them stand up to my harrowing commute, so I’m trying to learn to just grit my teeth and get over it, as long as it’s not unbearable. That of course means that any kind of heel is out of the question. My highest heels are only 2″ and they hurt like crazy. I wore my strappy sandals to the city the other day and they did dig, but they dug in the same place all my shoes hurt so I can’t really blame the style of the shoes. It also took a few hours before it became an issue.

Things I wish I could wear:

-heels, obviously.
-almond toes. My favorite shape…not too round, not too pointy…but still enough to squash my foot.
-wedges
-non-leather shoes, so I could stick to my vegetarian principles. If they ever make synthetics that stretch, I’m there.

June 13, 2008 at 4:58 pm

Rachael

I love ballerina flats and am so excited that they’ve been trendy over the past years. I also love fashion sneakers–especially when styled in a cute/dressy flat Mary/Jane way.

I’ve been searching for an inexpensive pair of comfortable riding boots to wear with skirts and skinny jeans. I love how they can be comfortable and dramatic and can’t wait to add them to my wardrobe! (Any suggestions on where to look?)

I also love Birkenstocks ( http://www.birkenstockusa.com/.....flor/14394 ) and Keen ( http://www.keenfootwear.com/pr.....x?sku=5445 ) shoes–they make some cute trendier styles that are delicate and feminine but they have a good arch support and a roomy toe box. As a college athlete and long distance runner taking care of my feet (in a fashionable way) is top priority.

I have a couple pairs of cute little kitten heals for dressy occasions–but I tend to stay away from them for daily wear–I work in a shoe store and see some of the long term repercussions (bunions, hammer toes) of unhealthy footwear.

June 13, 2008 at 9:02 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Interesting. Opposing camps have formed. Heels vs. flats, open vs. closed shoes, pointy toes vs. round toes and wedges vs. normal heels. And I’m the only one that loves my slippers.

June 14, 2008 at 8:58 am

Joey

SHOES??? Did someone say SHOES??? oooooooo. Heels, flats, boots, wedges, slippers, sneakers, peep toes, pointy toe, round toe, thongs. What’s not to love???

(O.k, maybe crocs and uggs!)

Wish I could wear ankle straps and shoes that have ribbons that lace up the ankle/calf (like the pink point shoes ballerinas wear–so delicate.)

Thanks for the shoe post. Could talk shoes til the cows come home.

June 14, 2008 at 10:10 am

Renee

I have thin ankles, so I can wear just about any shoe on a purely fashionista-aesthetic aspect. However, sometimes I have to adjust what I wear according to what my old knee and ankle injuries are doing at the moment.

**Heels–I love heels. Chunky, stilleto and everywhere in between. I tend to like the rounder toes for comfort, although I do own one pair of pointy ones. Of course I don’t like obviously stripper heels, but I am able to walk in six inchers without a stumble. I don’t own a pair of six inchers, but they were fun to try on for a laugh. I like how high heels makes my legs look longer and pulls in my waist, which has always been a trouble area for me.

**Boots–My taste in boots are very similar to Angie’s tastes.

**Flat shoes— I really like ballet flats. They’re great because they’re pretty and they give my knees and ankles a break when the decide to protest too much, or when I need to do a lot of walking. I’m able to tolerate heels very well, but I do have my limits. I like many styles of flat shoes, but I can’t think of what to call them. Not loafers exactly. They’re not super casual like you’d think of a loafer. They’re quite dress. I’m sure Angie knows what I’m talking about.

***Slippers that have a lot of cushion in the soles and that can hold up to Zoe’s rough treatment.

I like the way Chuck Taylor’s look on other people, but I’m afraid that I really don’t like to wear any kind of sneaker shoe that is even REMOTELY sneakerish unless I’m at the gym. When I was a kid, I had the big breed puppy syndrome. I had to grow into my feet. I had size 8 lady size feet since I was 10 years old! That’s my current shoe size. The kids made horrible fun of me and called me “Duck foot” “Big foot” and all that. I hated gym class because we could only wear WHITE sneakers. Of course that made my feet look huge. Even the Chucks, which were avaliable in those days made my feet look huge. I always thought I looked like that Gossamer cartoon character with the fuzzy red hair and giant Chuck Taylor sneakers. So sneakers just bring back all kinds of bad kid memories for me!

I do have these nice black Puma slip on sneaker type things that are nice. They’re great to wear when I’m having ankle and knee issues and to wear to the gym.

I love the look of thong sandals, but they hurt my feet so badly! The space between my first two toes ends up hurting so much that I end up carrying the shoes and walking around in bare feet.

June 14, 2008 at 7:10 pm

cathy

Because I am short (5’1″) I need some shoes that have at least a 2 inch heel but last year started wearing pointy toe flats a lot. Other favorites include ankle boots, leather sandals of all kinds, wedges, classic pumps, some kitten heels, brightly colored and printed flip flops (was going to let them go but changed mind). I can’t really wear 4 inch shoes so am not a big stilletos girl. Makes me look like I’m propped up too high. Don’t care for knee high boots of any kind and especially don’t like Uggs.

June 14, 2008 at 7:14 pm

Sara

(website)

Ballet flats for sheer convenience. Metallic flip flops because they add casual glamour to anything, and black pumps, because, well… they’re black pumps.

June 14, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Sara

(website)

I love flats and kitten heels — I used to buy more heels but since taking a more casual job I don’t feel the need to wear them much these days.

I also love my Reef flip-flops and Converse chucks.

June 14, 2008 at 10:39 pm

Maude

Angie — I love the look of the Chuck Taylor’s and have added them to my “need to buy soon” list. I’m a little unclear, though, as to how they fit into the “smart casual” look. Do you wear these in a smart casual outfit?

June 15, 2008 at 11:56 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Another Converse convert. Yabadabadoo Maude! As with all fashion sneakers, Chucks are strictly casual. A dressy shoe is required for the smart casual dress code. Have fun choosing your Chucks.

June 15, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Maude

Thanks!!

June 15, 2008 at 7:31 pm

NancyF

(website)

Depending on the weather, I wear either sandals or boots. I own other styles of shoes, but with the exception of the fabulous Tsubo Acrea pumps, I can’t wear them for long because of various tedious foot problems. I prefer shoes I can slip on and kick off, because what I really love is being barefoot. Next best option: backless sheepskin slippers.

I’m loving my latest acquisition: a pair of Aquatalia “Fame” sandals with a 3″ wedge. Aquatalia shoes have a toe bar in the insole that I find supportive and comfortable. And I love the crossed straps, which feel very secure and give the illusion that my disproportionately small feet (size 6B on a 5’8″ frame) are more properly scaled.

I wish I could wear:
– Flat shoes, especially ballerinas. I have extremely high insteps and need at least a 1.5″ heel to avoid strain in my arches.
– Pumps, or any strapless shoe. The instep problem, again. The way my feet are shaped, I walk right out of shoes that don’t have straps. Best for me: straps that cross over the instep.
– Sneakers. I have one pair that I wear in the gym…but I take them off as soon as I can. The laces (which cause pressure on the instep), the flatness, the synthetic mesh–a formula for misery.
– Shoes with a lot going on: gladiators, high vamps, etc. All that busy stuff makes petite feet look clunky and overdressed.

June 15, 2008 at 9:34 pm

Violet

Hello! I’ve been lurking for a while, but this is my first time posting. This is such a great site with tons of information!

I am only 5′ tall and have kind of skinny legs, so I prefer more delicate styles. In the winter I alternate between black and brown ankle boots with a kitten heel. I also love knee-high boots. Sometimes if the weather is really bad, I will wear my Doc Marten boots with jeans.

In the spring/fall, I like to wear pumps, especially ones with a peep-toe. I am just now getting more adventurous with color and found a great pair of red pumps.

In the summer, I wear all sorts of sandals and open toe shoes. I always have my nails painted and I hate to keep my pedicure under wraps.

I would like to be able to find a good pair of wedges to wear with jeans and I would like to find more high-heeled shoes since I am so short. Luckily, my commute consists of walking from my car to my office building and I sit at a desk all day. I can wear different styles that may not always be comfortable for walking or standing for long times.

Being petite, I can’t pull of the current gladiator trend or chunky heels. In fact, I’m not crazy about the gladiator trend at all. I prefer more traditional/classic styles that I can wear for more than one season.

June 16, 2008 at 6:41 am

punkANDLEATHER

I love pumps, and boots, for winter mainly, boots like booties, in black or any bright color! the same goes for my color choices for pumps.
For sumer, I like ballet flats, like the dressy ones, not the ones the look like sneaker ballerina flats, and…. Iñm not so craz about sandals, maybe some retro looking ones, nd when I wanna feel comfy I swear by my Ed Hardy sidewinders, so comfy, and cool looking!

June 16, 2008 at 7:32 am

Patience

My favorites–
most styles of sandals – in the summer I can’t really wear anything else because my feet need to breathe!
wedges, platforms (but these are really impractical), chunky heels – anything that helps me feel tall yet stable.
boots – really who doesn’t love boots?
Chucks come in at a strong second.
While I like ballet flats, they don’t make the list. My eye has adjusted to the look and they are definitely practical but when it comes down to it, feeling tall is a strong part of how fab I feel and ballet flats don’t cut it.

Angie, all the ones you can’t wear, I will wear for you because these are my favorites too. Shoes I can’t wear but wish I could–
non chunky heels (for lack of better name) – I have to be extra careful of my ankles with these
cute styles that are super tall (3 1/2″ +)- actually I just wish you could get the same style in a shorter heel.
The styles I can wear fit well with my style.

June 16, 2008 at 8:06 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I thoroughly enjoy hearing about your footwear fav’s. There does not seem to be much consensus which goes to show that a footwear season NEEDS to offer loads of variety to keep us all happy.

Thank you Patience for wearing some of my favourite shoes for me. And for what it’s worth, you look fab in ballet flats too.

Violet, I have a whole slew of 5ft clients and I don’t see why you can’t wear gladiators and chunky heels. Try them!

NancyF, you have an interesting foot challenge. One I have not come across before. Educate me.

June 16, 2008 at 9:27 am

Joelle

My favorite styles of shoe would have to be ballet flats, round-toed dress pumps with moderate heel (no more than 3″), and in the summertime, mules. I also love ankle boots with trousers/jeans.

Generally I stay away from:
Pointy toed shoes- They make my long narrow feet look like canoes.
Ankle straps- They make my legs look short and chunky.
Square toed shoes- Blech!

Shoes I wish I could wear: Superhigh heels and stilettos. I couldn’t last more than maybe 2 hours max on these but they look great on some people. I love Indian style slippers with fancy embroidery and beading, but so far I haven’t found any that fit me.

June 16, 2008 at 11:45 am

NancyF

(website)

Angie: By “foot challenge,” are you referring to my high insteps? (I have a whole menu of foot challenges!) The condition has a medical name, pes cavus, and a podiatrist told me it’s the hardest condition to accommodate. My insteps are so high I can’t wear clogs. The straps on most Mary Jane styles aren’t long enough to make it all the way over my feet. Most boot styles are difficult, too: the boot has to have a full zipper on the inside that curves down into the foot part of the boot; otherwise I can’t get my foot all the way in. Pull-on boots? No way–unless they’re huge in the calf (and I have skinny calves, so that’s not a good look).

High insteps are much coveted by dancers, and indeed I can assume an extreme relevé position with no trouble at all. But high insteps also cause a cascade of other foot troubles, including metatarsalgia (severe pain in the ball of the foot), so I have many limitations. I wore orthopedic shoes as a child and have never been able to take foot comfort for granted.

June 16, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Sarah

I’m joining this conversation late. My favorites are ballet flats, 2-3″ heel round-toed pumps, and boots. I used to be able to wear any shoe all day, but now my feet are getting a little fussier. It makes me sad, but I can’t seem to wear heels without hose, and hose seem to be out of style. My “house slippers” are canvas skimmers. I adore peep-toes, but they give me blisters. I’m not wild about thong sandals, and that’s fine because they give me blisters too.

June 26, 2008 at 3:00 pm

lasallepal

Active Member

SHOES! I love them all, but need to wear those that flatter and elongate my silhouette.
Boots I will wear to the knee, booties (with a V or dip in the front) and mid-calf. All must have heels as I cannot wear flats. A platform is my flat.

Pumps, peep-toes, wedges……I have them all!

My most useful are a nude pump and a black pump with 3 1/2 inch heels and a low vamp.

My favorite shoes are my peep-to Jimmy Choo silver glitter pump with a little platform “lift”. They are very comfortable and I feel like I am wearing 3 inch heels.

June 14, 2012 at 10:27 am

Mamavalveeta03

Veteran

I love love love ballet flats and have a ton of them from J Crew, FS/NY, Dolce Vita, and Tory Burch. I never used to spend good money on my shoes, but since having a torn achilles tendon and subsequent surgery, I decided that I’m worth it! I would love to wear wedges, but I have to go small. And as for platforms? Fuhgeddaboudit!! The closest I’ve come is a Naturalizer “Mini-platform” sandal that mimics Kork-Ease and I love them. I feel taller, thinner and more sexy when I wear them. And I confess: I’m a flip flop lover (mostly Havaianas, J Crew or GAP). And just around the house or down to the beach.

June 15, 2012 at 9:07 pm

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