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Europeans (and all): fab walking shoes to go with skirts?

Astrid

Veteran

I'm going on holiday to Mallorca for ten days at the beginning of october. We will be staying in the north near Pollença, I've attached some pictures so you can see what it looks like. We'll be renting a car and plan to do our sightseeing that way. So it'll be culture, beach and lots of climbing.

My problem is that I don't know what shoes to take. I plan to finally order Birks one size up and take these with me to wear when it's warm (with shorts and skirts) to the beach or in the city, but I really need some sturdy shoes for the rest of the time. My oxfords are city walking shoes only and the other blue shoes I have only work with long pants. I have three more options that I don't wear everyday, pictured below. Both pair of sneakers are fairly robust, but work only with jeans or shorts. Same for my real walking shoes. They would certainly be the best bet for all the climbing, but not so much for city sightseeing or the beach.

Do you have any ideas for sturdy shoes that would work with both pants and skirts (and that I could continue to wear later on)?

Thanks so much in advance!

#2 Pollença Bay
#3 Pollença
#4 Port de Pollença
#5 Lighthouse Cap Formentor
#6 Cala Figuera
#7 Cala Pi
#8 Valldemossa

(All pictures taken from Wikimedia Commons)

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Shopping

33 replies

Latest reply was from

Isis

Veteran

What a beautiful place!

For climbing and hiking, you are bringing one of the three pairs in #1, right? Gear is appropriate and you'll wreck daintier shoes, right?

So you are looking for shoes in addition to your hiking/climbing shoes? To wear with skirts in the city?

Astrid

Veteran

Isis, I want to bring three pairs of shoes max. I have to think about the flight when I consider my luggage and what to pack. One pair will be my sandals. I'm thinking about taking my hiking shoes and wearing them on the flight because they're that heavy, but I definitely want some sturdy non gear shoes as an alternative. I can leave the hiking shoes in the car for any situations I might need them. I'll certainly do a lot of walking everyday, but I won't be needing the heavy duty gear for that every time. But the shoes I'm searching for should definitely be sturdy too, I don't need city walking shoes - I could take my oxfords for that (I would wear them on a city trip anytime).

Glory

Veteran

The pictures are lovely! Perhaps a pair of skechers of merrells like these ones would do the trick. I think they could possibly work for all but a fancy dress. The first two pics are Skechers and the last one is Merrell

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Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Glory! Although I'm not sure I want Ballet flats. I have the sandals for when it's really hot, so maybe a closed shoe would be better?

Isis

Veteran

Wearing your hiking boots on the plane is a good idea since they are so bulky!

I"m still confused though! You will wear your hiking boots while climbing/hiking. Birks for the beach. And you don't need city walking shoes because your oxfords would work....

What kind of situation are you looking for?

(I do like the Merrels that Glory posted! They will go with skirts AND pack down lightly in a suitcase!)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm confused, too, Astrid. Which situation are you feeling unprepared for?

Astrid

Veteran

Isis, we won't do any real hiking in that we go into the mountains for a whole day (although you can do that there). It's more that we'll have to do some walking in very rocky terrain to reach some sights and for that I'll wear my hiking boots. And then I want shoes I can wear for the rest of the time. My oxfords are really dainty thin leather shoes without a grip sole. And even if we are in the city it will be different to say Paris or Berlin, because it's hilly and you have lots of old cobblestone roads and dusty lanes.

ETA
Suz, one pair of the sneakers pictured would be good to take with me as a third pair, but they don't work with my skirts. And I love to wear skirts, especially with the weather we'll probably have.

Parsley

Veteran

I was going to suggest something very similar to what Glory has suggested.
This is what I wear for the circumstances you describe. I can walk for miles in them without socks and they don't give me blisters. They're not gorgeous, but are passable with a casual skirt or shorts. I think of them as a sort of dressier sneaker.

They work so well for me that I've ordered a second pair to have when they wear out.
http://www.6pm.com/privo-by-cl.....dian-stone

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Okay. Then I recommend something like this, that I took to Banff. I used these shoes with shorts, pants, and skirts. They had good enough grip for the hike down the hill into town (a very steep walk on pebbly ground) and a few other easy hikes, but were also perfectly appropriate and reasonably cute in town. They are leather outside, with an athletic style removable insole. They were super comfy. I wore without socks but I suppose you could wear them with tights or socks or hose, too. http://store.shoetopia.ca/204303-56930.html

I don't know if that particular shoe is still available, but similar ones would be from Ecco.

Another option would be Clarks.

I plan to take these shoes to China with me in the fall as well. They proved very useful.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the tip, Parsley! Seems like something like that is the way to go. I can see these working well (same for the ones Glory posted), but I'm not a fan of mesh fabric.

Thanks Suz! I already like these better than the first ones, because they are completely leather outside. I'm going to have a look at Ecco and Clarks.

Isis

Veteran

I like all these suggestions of maryjanes with athletic soles. I think you'll get good use out of them in the city when you return too!

Astrid

Veteran

Isis, I also think that's a good suggestion. I've just had a look and here are some I've come up with:

http://www.amazon.de/VIBRATION.....38;sr=1-19
(in red)

http://www.amazon.de/ECCO-SCUL.....38;sr=1-24
(in tan)

http://www.clarks.de/p/20352213

http://www.amazon.de/El-Natura.....38;sr=1-64

http://www.amazon.de/El-Natura.....8;sr=1-112
(in black or blue)

Or maybe these sneakers? They look sleek enough to wear with skirts.

http://www.ecco.com/de-DE/Ecco.....02112?i=31

ETA
I have to add that I have wide feet and normally have problems to find shoes that fit. All of these might end up being too narrow for me.

K. Period.

Veteran

Astrid, would you consider a very nice mary jane clog? Like this one? I love that these are Dansko clogs, so will be comfortable and supportive, but are also edgy (notice how the back strap wraps around and have a little heel.

http://vip.zappos.com/dansko-r.....in-leather

It has a 2 1/2 inch heel, but a 1 inch platform, so you only have 1 1/2 inch heel height, which I find super walkable.

Honestly, I'm so in love with these that I've just ordered them in brown to wear with jeans.

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Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestion. I really like the look of these in general (not sure they would be the right shoe for this trip), but unfortunately Dansko is not available here. I don't want to pay international shipping and taxes if I don't even know whether they would fit or not.

Isis

Veteran

Astrid, I like all of your suggestions! If you don't have red shoes, the first pair might be the with which to take the plunge!

You are smart to not pay international shipping on the Dansko;s---I have these in a different style, but same platform. I can't walk long distances (i.e. miles) in them because the height, despite the platform, throws off my gait. They are great for standing though, very comfy.

I hope you can find some of these to try on in person!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Isis, I'm a flats girl trough and through anyway. I'm not sure I would have bought these even for work.

I'm not sure all of these are available in stores to look at (certainly not the ones on Amazon, I'm not sure if they are even from current collections), but I can decide which one of these I want to order.

I actually just had a look and the red Eccos are mostly synthetic and more expensive than the second pair. These are leather and only cost 38€, with free shipping and returns. I'm going to have another look at these now and compare the prices.

ETA
I'm thinking about ordering #1 now, maybe even two sizes, what with free shipping and returns. And I'll try to find #2 and #3 in the store.

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harmonica

Veteran

short comment: of the options you have listed, I'd go for ecco or clarks. I find the sole of El Naturalista a bit slippery.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Harmonica! The three above are Ecco and Clarks. The El Naturalista were a bit too expensive at second glance.

K. Period.

Veteran

Oooh! Astrid, I love the first two you posted just above. Those are great! I wore a similar style years ago for a trip with a lot of walking--I hadn't seen anything similar in a while. I love that they have closed toes to keep you from stubbing your toes when you are walking on uneven surfaces. Fabulous!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks! I just order the first pair via Amazon. Free shipping and returns and 60% off. If they don't work out I'll try the second pair.

http://www.amazon.de/ECCO-SCUL.....38;sr=1-24

Scarlet

Veteran

I would think something Converse-like (canvas material) or boat shoes would be a good option? I haven't checked the links you posted yet...

Astrid

Veteran

Scarlet, the links are all mary janes because that's what was suggested. Although closed shoes are also a possibility. I think the three I posted pictures of are the best from those links because I think I would wear these again later. Not sure about the other ones. I'm not a fan of boat shoes, but I could see some canvas sneakers. Although I find it hard to wear these without socks, I could do that with the Ecco leather sneakers from above.

Irene

Veteran

Wow, I wish I could go with you Can I have a seat in your luggage? lol

I think that your options are really nice, but beware because leather might get ruined in the mountains. Were I you, I would go for a gearish ballet flat or mary jane like the ones they suggested at first, or gearish sandals (these are for guys but you get the idea http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/.....s-mens.jsp)

Also, my parents went to the isles during their honeymoon loads of years ago, and they got married on a 22nd of October. Mom loves to remind me EVERY YEAR that that year it was so hot they actually went to the beach. It's pretty hot right now here in Spain (currently sweating like a pig), and I can't assure you that it will be this hot by October... but it might. Or it might be pretty hot if not extremely hot (think 20-25 degrees).

(Now it will snow so that i look like a liar... lol)

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, I hadn't thought of that! Maybe I'll have to search again for some non leather options. Problem is most of them are just so gearish and not all that fab with skirts...

I was once on holiday in the south of the isle when I was a child and it was also in fall. I remember that we had some days that weren't as warm (but not cold either!) when I wore jeans and a tee and sweater and some hot days. We also went swimming a lot, the water felt like swimming in the bathtub for someone that was used to go swimming in the north sea.

Scarlet

Veteran

I am sorry--I am completely allergic to sporty mary janes. It's just a personal thing. What about some mocassins?
http://www.amazon.de/Minnetonk.....038;sr=1-3

Or I thought you already had something like this somehow:
http://www.amazon.de/Camper-Pe.....38;sr=1-17
(ETA: changed the link above to the lady version)
Both of those should break-in in no time.

Astrid

Veteran

Scarlet, I can understand. That's why I didn't want non leather ones, I'm not a fan either. I rather like the mocassins. I don't have sneakers like the ones you linked to. I have some red converse, but they are high ones and therefore not that great with skirts.

Traci

Veteran

Not to be an enabler, but I think the dr marten brogues from your other post would fit the bill beautifully.

Gaylene

Veteran

Have you ever tried a Wolky shoe? They are wildly comfortable-- a 16-hour shoe on cobblestones for me. I like the "fugly" (as some call it) look, but it may not be to everyone's taste.

http://www.zappos.com/wolky-oj.....ty-leather

I also own a version of this Naot shoe which is also super comfortable, right up there with my Wolkies.

http://www.zappos.com/naot-foo....._pdp_cross

Anonymous

I have this shoes and it feel heaven on my feet. Very nice thick sole and sturdy. Good for both pants and dresses. Hope this will help !

http://www.clarksusa.com/eng/p.....uise/86513

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