Summer Shoe Ideas for Maya - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Summer Shoe Ideas for Maya

Nicole

Veteran

Hi Maya...

I thought it was be helpful for you if people could link comfortable looking yet stylish shoes for you. I know you have issues with your pinky toe fitting inside the strap, and possible issues with a thong between your toes and a low heel requirement...but maybe someone will find something that works for you!

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/39370537/c/3.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/37957451/c/72.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/42424080/c/103.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/36207101/c/84.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/36207101/c/84.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/23597719/c/332.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/34346498/c/4734.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/34363382/c/3.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/24850671/c/72.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/37045798/c/69350.html

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/3.....29962.html

OK one last pair for now...I'm done my morning coffee....

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/45515045/c/552.html

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Nicole

Patience

Veteran

These look really comfortable to me.

http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7452428/color/1839

Maya

Veteran

Aww thanks guys. I feel like I have an army of shoppers, which makes me a bit more optimistic

I think sandals might be crossed off my list. I keep veering towards sandals that were clearly not meant for walking. The kind that are just don't seem like they would really work with anything I have in my wardrobe or with my style. They tend to be very clunky/sporty, and honestly a bit orthopedic looking. I know I can't be too picky, but I also can't bring myself to get something that isn't going to work with the rest of my wardrobe.

My dream shoe right now would be a perfed ballet flat with a tiny wedge heel, 1/2" or so, just so I don't feel every lump and bump in the ground. I actually have shoes like that but they keep slipping off my heel and I can't put heel grips in them because they're too holey.

Nicole

Veteran

Maya, I've kind of cross threaded this topic--sorry.

Anyway, those wedge heeled cut out shoes--I remember you posting about them last year too. AT that price, can you buy a second pair in half size smaller and wear one shoe from each size?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Do not be grossed out by this idea, Maya, but I'd like to look at your feet in NY so that I can understand the issues completely. Is that a deal?

Inge

(website)

Oh, good idea Angie!! Nothing like getting advice from an expert;-)
And super of you to start this thread Nicole!

I'm with you Maya. I also dread Summer shoe season and if I could, I'd wear boots all year round.

Personally, I prefer a slide with a wedge heel for Summer. Closed heels and straps always seem to rub somewhere when worn in warm weather, grrr. Fortunately I can go 'higher' with wedges, provided the footbed is as wide all over (more stability + I have a wider foot, so even wedges with a narrower heel and a wider toe don't work for me - e.g. those Boden shoes you linked to in the other thread).
My favourite pair of Summer shoes is a wedge slide with a 2 3/4 heel. It's hard to believe, but I have walked miles and miles and hours and hours in them, but now they need to be replaced, they're literally falling apart. I hope I'll be able to find a pair that is as comfortable.
Confession: I love dainty pretty sandals and ballet flats worn with dresses and skirts, but aside from the comfort issue, I look utterly ridiculous in them, so I tend to avoid them (sad face).

But enough about me;-)

I would certainly look into Campers again. I know there was a pair of ballet flats you loved last season. Their Summer collection isn't online yet, but you never know...
Other brands that might work: Geox, Hush Puppies and Clarks. They have a reputation for making 'old ladies' shoes, but lately they've definitely come out with more fun and funkier shoes.

This is a long shot, and they don't have perforations, but how about trying the Dr. Martens flats? (I already linked to these once in Anne's shoe thread I think, but since many ladies on YLF are raving about how comfortable the boots are, it can't hurt to try the flats).
http://www.dmusastore.com/pc-2.....stina.aspx
http://www.dmusastore.com/pc-2326-11-imogen.aspx
I rather like both pairs.

I know you weren't happy with your Me Too's, but maybe another type might work? Every foot is different and so is every shoe (even within the same brand). Leave no shoe stone unturned, right?-)
http://tinyurl.com/7as6zb

http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7411544/color/934

Have you ever tried a slide with a low wedge heel?
http://www.amazon.com/GEOX-Wom.....1MKXFVMOBY
http://www.amazon.com/Calvin-K.....1MKXFVMOBY

Or can you do an open toe if the shoe has a closed heel Maya? Then perhaps you could try something like this:
http://www.gothamcityonline.co.....-shoes.cfm
http://www.gothamcityonline.co.....-pumps.cfm
http://www.amazon.com/BC-Footw.....sim_shoe_1
http://www.amazon.com/BC-Footw.....1MKXFVMOBY
http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7380796/color/16784
http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7378173/color/585

A few other suggestions:
http://www.gothamcityonline.co.....-shoes.cfm
http://www.amazon.com/Kimel-Wo.....bs_shoe_24
http://www.amazon.com/Bronx-Wo.....bs_shoe_17
http://www.6pm.com/n/p/p/7367044/c/122170.html
http://www.onlineshoes.com/pro.....cid=100488
http://www.6pm.com/n/p/p/7154862/c/559.html
(maybe not in that baby pink;-)
http://tinyurl.com/8su7sb
http://tinyurl.com/6vmwvm

Don't hesitate to comment on everything that doesn't work for you in these shoes, Maya. We WILL find you a pair of comfortable Summer shoes!-)

Maya

Veteran

Wow Inge. That was a spectacular feat! It took me a while to get through them all.

I think most of the "dressy" shoes are out. I need some padding in my shoes, and a lot of those shoes look like they would dig no matter what because the leather is so stiff. I don't understand why shoe designers/manufacturers don't make shoes out of softer leather. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Slides are hit or miss for me. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping my foot in them. In my experience, slides stay put best when the vamp is high, which isn't good for skirts and dresses. The kind that just go around your toes are harder. i figured the Boden ones would be that way but I wanted to ask first.

I posted these somewhere else but I think it got lost in the shuffle:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/49387955/c/15.html

The adjustable buckle in the toe area is what draws me to them, and they're Clarks so I know they will be well padded. The only thing I'm unsure about is the peep toe. I don't wear peep toes so I don't know yet if they would irritate me or not. I'm okay with ankle straps though.

Maya

Veteran

Angie, I'm not the one who needs to worry about being grossed out. I'm more worried about you! I have the ugliest feet in creation. I'll try to tidy them up beforehand.

Has anyone seen those informercials for the PedEgg? My mom got one and I've been using it, and it is just no match for my gnarly callouses (it works great for her though). I need to go to that place where the little toothless fish come and eat the dead skin off your feet (it was in the news a few months back).

Lena

Maya, have you looked at Dolce Vita shoes? I remember they had some ballet flats with tiny wedge heels. They don't have a lot of padding, though.

Inge

(website)

It was no problem Maya, I was browsing for shoes for myself anyway;-)

Thanks for the comments. The Gelato by Clarks look very Summery and fun, but I think this is a casual shoe only. Perhaps you could try them and let us know if a peep toe works for you (I'm keeping my fingers crossed because that would certainly give you more options).

Have you ever seen this blog by the way? It's written by a lady who has 'difficult' feet herself and there are lots of reviews of comfortable shoes + references to many more brand names that apparently work for various types of 'foot problems'. Not all the styles appeal to me, but there definitely are some cute shoes featured.
http://www.barkingdogshoes.com/newshoe/

I've seen the PedEgg commercials yes, and I too was wondering about it.
(and please no fishies gnawing on my toes;-)

Nicole

Veteran

Maya,

My experience with peep toes is that the smaller the hole, the less likely it is to irritate or rub. I guess you'd have to try those Clarks on to know how they feel. Would you get them in white?

How about something like this?

http://www.shoemall.com/produc.....de=SMJQ999

It has a padded leather footbed, a soft flexible sole, and its open and airy, but not strappy. The vamp is high on the sides, but lowers in the middle so it would probably still work with skirts and walking shorts. Oh, and it has arch support.

Here are some more Born brand that look comfy:

http://www.shoemall.com/produc.....ack-151616

These might not be 8 hour walking shoes--but they might be 3 or 4 hour shoes:
http://www.shoemall.com/produc.....Red-146077

The color isn't very summery but...
http://www.shoemall.com/produc.....any-141188

Have you ever tried ballet flats with the elasticized back? Do they work with your slippage issue? (I don't find the elastics comfy, personally)
http://www.shoemall.com/produc.....nge-134106

The thing about the pedi egg (or any of those rasps) is you have to do them regularly. If you have thick callouses, you have to keep using the rasp to remove the dead skin a little at a time. If you scraped it all off at once, it would be very painful. I had a horrible pedicure once that the woman was determined to get to healthy skin--I was in pain for weeks.

Maya

Veteran

Inge, I have read that woman's blog. A lot of she shoes she posts would be sitting shoes for me...things I could wear to work when I don't do much walking. I could revisit it though. Casual shoes are fine for me. I never really get dressed up. Smart casual is as dressed up as I go, and even that is a stretch.

Nicole, I have tried the last pair of Born shoes and they were uncomfortable right from the start. Elasticized backs never seem to expand properly to accommodate my foot. They just cut in, and make my foot feel like it's being held by a tense rubber band.

I also tried another Born flat (Starling I think) and it also hurt. I'm certainly open to trying others but I am starting to think it just won't be that easy. I might need some help from a cobbler...I'm just not exactly sure how. But it seems like no shoe is going to fit right off the rack.

Remember those silver flats I got (almost exactly like the ones Anne posted)? Even those hurt eventually, and I thought they were perfect. Having to wear shoes without socks is always a nightmare for me. They will always give me red sore spots or blisters. I remember getting these little flats in France which didn't quite fit right, but I couldn't find heel grips so I just wore them with socks (yes, pre-YLF), and they were so comfortable. Then once I got back home and put in the heel grips and started wearing them without socks, they hurt. I have those little things that cover your toes, but it just isn't the same. I don't even mind wearing socks with flats stylewise (I know I'm in the minority), but I can't do that with dresses, obviously.

Nicole

Veteran

Can you wear thong sandals?

The beauty of a thong sandal is there is almost no shoe to rub against your foot. If you can tolerate having something between your toes, then maybe you can find something comfortable.

Maya

Veteran

I could not wear the thong sandals I bought. They gave me blisters on the bottom of my foot and in between the toes. But I might be able to wear another type. I hate showing my ugly feet but I guess some sacrifices will have to be made.

mirah

http://www.endless.com/Dolce-V.....Designer=2

(sorry for the long url) ..but maybe something like this? I don't know the brand and how wide the shoes run or their comfort level but I think Tanya has some DV shoes and she can weigh in an opinion

Nicole

Veteran

Hi Maya....I saw a few more shoes that looked interesting and potentially comfortable....
http://www.famousfootwear.com/.....clem010913

http://www.famousfootwear.com/.....t_id=68850

They had these in orange, which I thought looked much younger than the black:
http://www.famousfootwear.com/.....clem010913

http://www.famousfootwear.com/.....clem010913