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Shoe Dilemmas/Questions

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I know some of you are so good at picking out shoes and love doing it, I was wondering if I could get your options/help. I have to find some comfortable 8 hour shoes for school. My black Me Too Swanns have just about given up the ghost. I'm going on a search to see if I can find anymore at DSW, but I'm not holding my breath.

Anyway, I am going to be wearing more skirts and dresses, and I think I'd kind of like to wear something that has a bit of a heel (probably a wedge heel for comfort), or has some detailing that makes it look good with a skirt. I feel that little round toe ballet flats can make a pencil skirt look a bit frumpy/juvenile on me, since I have short legs. Even a little bit of height helps (1"-2").

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/st.....=cat980731
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....3&P=2

If I can't find a wedge I like, is there a style of flat that is good for dresses? I was thinking maybe pointy toed flats, or possibly a flat that has an ankle/mary jane strap, like these:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/24105427/c/1430.html
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/37657021/c/585.html
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/37667439/c/1413.html
http://www.endless.com/Diego-L.....Promotions
http://www.endless.com/dp/B001.....B0016Y9LFY

What do you all think? Would those work for skirts and dresses? I have a tendency to go for very conservative, grandma type shoes, because that's what I think will be comfortable, but then I hate wearing them because I think they are ugly, hee hee. I'm trying to change my aesthetic, but it's slow going.

Thank you!

Dressing

48 replies

Latest reply was from marianne

julijuli

Wow Ana, those are all really cute shoe choices. I could definitely see you in the Pour La Victoire shoes and the Diego de Luca flats. However, I think those first Stuart Weitzman flats are also beautiful!

Tanya

Veteran

I am going to support the idea of a small wedge, of course I find some of them more comfortable than flats. As for flats, yes for pointy toes but no for ankle straps - those just make legs look shorter. All of the shoes you posted are very pretty.

Are you open to idea of the peep-toes or do the shoes need to be closed toed? If yes, my BFF ( who never wore anything else other than flats/sneakers) got these and she finds them incredibly comfy:

http://www.colehaan.com/coleha.....oup=196065

I'd like to get a pair of those myself.

Maya

Veteran

Ana, I think the shoes you linked to all look very pretty and would work with skirts. But I also happened to see these while looking for summer shoes the other day:

http://www.6pm.com/n/p/p/7354273/c/117674.html

They do not have solid black, which is what I think you had...but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Anyway, the shoes you posted are not what I think of as grandmaish at all. Otherwise I'm probably wearing orthopedic shoes They don't look comfortable to me, but your feet are obviously more forgiving than mine. The only ones I'm not crazy about are the ankle strap flats. I don't know why but I just never cared for that style. Might just be a personal thing though.

I'm leaning towards one of the wedges from an appearance standpoint. The flats just don't seem like they would solve your problem.

julijuli

Ana - I have a pair of Cole Haan "Nike Air" sandals and they are super comfortable so I would definitely recommend at least trying on the ones Tanya suggested.

Patience

Veteran

Ana, I think since you live in Texas, the way to go for 6+ months of the year will be sandals.

For closed toe shoes for the rest of the year, I really like the SW shoes you linked to. I like the other ones you posted too but I think you are going to have to try them all with your skirts and dresses till you find the style that works. How about these:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults

I feel the same way about ballet flats for myself so I'm not sure how to answer your question. I think knee high boots would really help you a lot too.

Anonymous

Ana, I think you are right about needing some heel with pencil skirts. With skirts with more flare the flats seem more acceptable. I'd really try to find wedges.
A couple of years ago I bought a pair of slides to match a sleeveless summer dress but, although they were very comfortable, I didn't wear them with the dress. From YLF I've learned that the high vamp on a slide shortens the leg. I think I realized that they just didn't look right. Now I avoid high vamps and mary janes or anything with a strap unless it's low on the vamp for wearing with skirts and dresses. The only exception I might consider is if the strap was skin colored. Does that make sense?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Wow, thanks for the quick responses!

Maya, thanks for linking that. I'll have to check and see what size I ended up buying in the Me Toos. I still have my snake print pair, but I didn't wear those as much. I don't want to ruin those as well by wearing them everyday, so I'm trying to build my shoe collection.

Tanya, I have a pair of Cole Haan Air ankle boots, and I really like them. They are comfy, so I will give the peeptoe pair a try. I don't have any issues with peep toe shoes. I feel like it's warm enough down here to wear them year round and not look silly.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh, more responses, thank you!

Joy, the strap thing makes sense. They might be cuter on summer sandals because those tend to have less bulk anyway, so vamps and straps aren't as much of an issue. I will stay away from them for regular shoes, thanks for the advice.

Patience, I will definitely be in sandals soon, and that's where I'm really going to put the majority of my shoe resources/shopping. I guess I just need a 4-5 pairs of cooler weather shoes to get me through the next 3 or 4 months. You're right, I do need some knee high boots, too.

Tanya

Veteran

Ana, I have these closed toed Cole Haans, and I have gotten tons of wear out of them last summer. These along with my Swanns were my go-to summer shoes:

http://www.6pm.com/n/p/p/7367044/c/122170.html

Anonymous

Tanya, those Cole Haans are perfect with their wedge heel! How do they run in size?

Tanya

Veteran

Joy, I'd say they run a tiny bit small. I had to go half a size up from my usual size.

Ana, here's another option that I am also considering myself:

http://www.6pm.com/n/p/p/7411544/c/89.html

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh, those Me Too wedges are great Tanya! They come in gold too. Decisions, decisions. I might order those and these to get me started:

http://www.endless.com/Pour-Vi.....evancerank

Joy, I also have to go up a half size in Cole Haans.

Tanya

Veteran

I like those flats Ana, very pretty.

I have tried on those Me Too wedge, and the sole was incredibly cushy.

Anonymous

Tanya, I think those were the Me Too bright metallic gold shoes I had on at DSW on clearance. I should see if they are still there in my size. They didn't feel as comfy as the Swanns, but were ok.

Patience

Veteran

Ana, what about those gold SW shoes you tried when we were shopping last week? They looked *really* good with jeans. I guess you'd have to try them again with with skirts/dresses.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Patience, I went to buy those yesterday, and they are no longer on the website.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Oh Patience, I just found them on 6pm! Should I get gold or red quasar?

http://www.6pm.com/n/p/p/7371200/c/121910.html

I think I'm going to order the 8.5 wide width? I think they will work with skirts and dresses because they have a peeptoe, which is another detail that keeps them from looking to frumpy. I might not be able to wear them with pencil skirts specifically though. I'm still looking for wedges for that.

Tanya

Veteran

Oh, those are gorgeous Ana. I like both colors, so I'd choose depending on which color wedge you are going to get. For example, if you were to get gold Me Too wedges, than I'd get the red SW flats.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ana, so many ideas and the gals have worked hard to help you. Before I offer my two cents, did the buckle of the SW flats dig into your skin when you walked?

Anonymous

Both pair of SW shoes you linked to are so beautiful. You have great taste. I like how you brought up the point that some flats look frumpy. If they don't have enough structure to them they can look frumpy.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, San.

Tanya, I think I will get the gold flats from SW, since I really want to replace the pair of gold flats I have right now, and I found the black Me Too Swanns online! So I will be ordering those for sure. Check these out--my absolutely favorite pair of wedges I've found so far (even come in wide width), but out of my price range. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sale:

http://stuartweitzman.zappos.c...../M_12.html

Angie, I'm interested in your two cents, because I wonder if there is a fashion rule about flats with pencil skirts looking frumpy? The buckle on the SW flats didn't bother me so much as the narrowness of the shoe. I am hoping the wide width will make it better, and then I can better assess how the shoe really feels when I walk around in it, since I've only tried it on and walked around the store a couple of different times. Since the width wasn't comfortable, I didn't really notice much else (that's the one deal breaker for me on shoes, more than straps or buckles or anything). I will definitely let you know when they arrive, though.

I was also wondering if anyone knows this--on peeptoe shoes, do your toes always have to be showing in the hole? Because most peeptoes I've tried on, they don't poke out the hole, and I was wondering if they should? I asked Patience, and she was wondering the same thing, but thought it looked fine if your toes don't show in the hole. I think it looks okay too, but just checking. Does that make sense what I just asked?

Ariadne

Veteran

Ana, I love the Diego di Lucca ruffle flats, and the SW Campaign wedges.

How about these? I want these for summer but I can't find them in my size anywhere that will ship to Canada 6PM has them for a great price. I tried on a pair a half size too large for me and they fit me very well except for length. I have wide feet so I bet they'd fit you.
https://shopping.6pm.com/n/p/p.....04392.html

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Those are cute Brianna. The ruching around the edge of the shoe has historically really irritated me though, and I've gotten rubbed raw by it. I usually avoid that. I know Ecco is a comfort brand though, so maybe I will give them a go a little later.

Patience

Veteran

Ana, I was going to vote for the gold too since they looked so good on in the store. Yay!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Patience! It turns out only the gold are available in wide width, so I guess it's extra great I decided on those, hee. I do LOVE the Stuart Weitzman Red Quasar patent. It's so pretty!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ana, I tried on the SW flats and the buckles were disastrously, diggingly uncomfortable – that’s why I asked. Perhaps they shan’t be for you. I hope so!

Peep toes should show some of your toe. If they don’t it’s because the shoe is too narrow for your foot, so you’ll probably need a wider size or style.

Ana, did you duplicate your Swann Flats? (I triplicated mine).

All the shoes that you’ve posted are adorable and stylish, all of which would work with skirts and dresses. I don’t think flats look frumpy with frocks at all. I wear flats with skirts and frocks most of the time. It has a 50’s vibe to it.

A small wedge is the way to go if you’re going to do a heel. I do a lot of that too. Keep it as cushioned as possible, no straps or cut outs and preferably no peep toe. They cut into your toes after a while too. Sling back wedges are also a great option. I have two pairs of those and they both 8 hr shoes (in cream and silver). Let the hunt begin.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh great! You just found more Swann flats. Brilliant.

Tanya

Veteran

Wow Angie, are all of your three pairs of Swanns black, or have you added a color?

I am also planning to get a few more of them: duplicate my pewter and get black too. I am even considering the white ones ( wish they were cream). These are by far the most comfortable summer shoes I have ever had.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the feedback Angie! I will see how the buckle feels when I order them and they get here. If they aren't 8 hours shoes--well, I might keep them for work on the weekends because they're so cute! No, I'll assess them and see how the wide width is. I love the look of SW shoes, but a lot of them are so narrow. I don't even think I have wide feet, really. I've had them measured and the person told me I had a regular width foot.

I figured out why I don't like shoe shopping--it's because all the shoes I think are really cute aren't that comfortable (at least, not 8 hour comfortable), and if it is comfortable, usually it looks a lot clunkier than I really like. The Me Too Swanns is an exception, but sometimes I like to wear something different, and a little dressier.

I duplicated the Me Toos in the snake print, but my black pair are completely worn down. I'm going to buy 3 pairs of the black to replace the pair I currently have.

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