Clarks Plover - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

Clarks Plover

agrace

I'm really thinking about getting the Clarks Plover. Summer is wearing on and I still don't have a single pair of nude/ tan sandals to wear on a daily basis. The Plover has great reviews but it is a tad pricey at $100 considering a lot of the reviews say it won't last more than 1 season.

Still, it is the color I want and the lowered vamp that I prefer. I tried the Clarks Country Meadow that many here have but it was too narrow for my wide foot. Supposedly, the Plover is great for wide feet.

I guess what is holding me back is this - is a 4 inch wedge really practical for daily MOTG wear? I can wear heels, they are more comfy to me than flats but is 4 inches going to look and be ridiculous? If I get these I want to wear them basically daily until Fall.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!
THanks!

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from agrace

Queen Mum

Veteran

why do the reviews say it won't last more than one season?

Maya

Veteran

Only you know if you can handle a 4" heel, Agrace. To me even a 2.5" heel is unacceptable for going about my life, but Taylor manages to work on her feet all day in the salon on 4" heels. It is ultimately a personal matter and no one can know except you. I have heard many a YLFer reassure me that "oh if it's a wedge/platform/cushioned footbed/etc, it will be comfortable despite the 3" heel!" But I know better than to think that any of that makes a difference. Trial and error has confirmed that anything over 2" is simply not practical for my day to day life.

You could always buy them and try them around the house, though in my experience that never helps. I haven't really helped have I?

Sparky

Veteran

Hmm. A 4" heel wouldn't be practical for me in any shape or form as a MOTG. In my neck of the woods it would really stick out. But I would say if they work for you and you are comfy with them, they fit in with your wardrobe and you can go the distance with them during your daily activities, then go for it.

Sparky

Veteran

OK, I want to revise what I wrote above. I just looked at the Plover, and think it's not too high for daily wear for a stylish MOTG who is at ease in heels. Especially in the nude color, it will go with tons of things for summer and has a casual enough vibe to it that won't make it out of place for a MOTG.

One of the reviews on Zappos mentioned a squishy sound when she steps in it, so watch out for that.

Let us know what your final decision is, and hopefully a modeling session will be in order for us to see them on you.

agrace

Sparky - what you mentioned is kind of what I'm talking about. *I* can handle a 4 inch wedge, no problem, but will that look downright silly at the park? I'm thinking yes. Argh! Why can't they make shoes with 2 inch wedges? It's either pancake, no support FLAT or 4 inch wedge.

I don't get it! But, I digress. I feel that a 4 inch wedge may not be the most practical thing to chase after an 18 month old in and yes, I do worry I will look silly teetering about in these at the zoo and park. Like Taylor, I can handle the heel but I guess for what it is worth, I am concerned about looking strange.

(And then you see Betty Draper in Mad Men wearing heels to the grocery store and noone thought it strange!)

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I have to agree with you, that 4-inch wedges aren't the best thing for MOTG with really young kids. With somewhat older kids (in grade school, for example), I could see it, though, because the Plovers' styling is casual enough.

agrace

Laura, I am really at wits end. They just do not have any 2 - 3 inch COMFORTABLE wedge sandals that have the type of vamp or cross strapping I want. I"ve looked at the Clarks Country Meadow (too narrow) the Harwich (don't care for the suede b/c inevitably my feet get wet somehow) the Dansko Sissy (too clunky for me) and the Clarks Rassas (sp?) which is too 'delicate' for my heavier calves and ankles.

So I've resorted to the Plover but alas, this darn 4 inch heel is going to make it a deal breaker.

Because I do have heavier calves and ankles, I need a substantial shoe to balance it out and a tan/ nude color to elongate. I'd like a lowered vamp or a ankle strap style like the Meadow. If anyone sees anything else please advise! Many many thank you's!

Anonymous

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

I have this very stable shoe in 2 colors. Here they say 3-1/2" heel with a 1" platform, which makes it a 2-1/2" heel, and that is more like it. I wouldn't wear 4" heels because I'm afraid I'd roll my ankle and sprain it.
These are super for MOTG, your foot lies quite flat in the footbed, un like a high heel. Give them a try around the house, to see if they work for you. I highly recommend them. All those straps are very comfortable and make your foot very secure on the footbed.

agrace

San, this is the craziest thing - you are so right that on the Nordstrom website it does say that for height but on the Piperlime website it says a 4 inch heel. The shoe you are linking to is the one I'm referring to but different websites are saying different heights??

I was looking at Piperlime b/c I get 10 % off today. So strange. I guess I'll have to call and talk to the sales reps to get to the bottom of this.

kellygirl

Veteran

I think the Plover is a great choice for a wider foot. I ordered them in the tan when I ordered the Raasas and thought they were way more comfy than the Raasas. The only problem I had with the Plover was the straps in the front were too loose and my foot kept sliding forward. I think my feet are slightly wider than average but definitely not wide--the Country Meadows are my favorite sandal purchase this summer. I think the Plovers are a great MOTG sandal--I would have kept them if the straps were more snug.

agrace

kellygirl - so would you say they are 4 inches (Piperlime) or the 3 inches that Nordstroms is saying? Thank you..

kellygirl

Veteran

I'd say closer to 3 especially because of the platform in the front. The heel "felt" lower than the Raasas. I didn't feel any of the pressure on the ball of my foot that I felt with the Raasas.

Patience

Veteran

I have the Plover in tan too and love them a lot. They are definitely no taller than 3" probably less. They are very comfortable, nice and cushy. I don't know that I could wear them for 8 hours of non stop walking but they suit my day to day MOTG lifestyle.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I ordered these in tan and loooove them. I returned them because I'd found some cheaper Aerosoles version. But yes, they were super comfortable and not anywhere near 4".

Sparky

Veteran

Agrace, when I looked up the Plovers, I was on Zappos. There they were listed as 3.5" with a 1" platform. When I looked at the pics there, they didn't look too high, which is why I revised my initial opinion. I also just got the Clarks Laguna Reef, which has a slightly lower heel. Now that I know you have really young kids - toddlers! -- I think that these sandals might verge on being too high for the park and running after the little ones. I would imagine anyone, even someone who does heels well, would wobble a bit while racing after an errant toddler on uneven ground. But then again, the wedge heel and top straps make them look very stable. So I'm back to thinking that they could work for you. What waffling - not much help, am I?

I totally get what you are saying - I understand just what you're looking for. The height of the Laguna Reef would be fine for you and the right kind of casual, just different styling on top. I will keep my eyes out for some ideas. It is hard, isn't it??

OK, after waffling some more, my vote would be to order them, try them on with a couple of your typical summer outfits, and see how they look and feel to you. I am back to thinking they would look good and not silly.

agrace

Sarah....please share the cheaper version. I'm a little worried about shelling $100 for if these are not going to last for a couple years. Is it the 'Guava Plush' on the aerosoles website by any chance?

Thank you!

Do those of you that have them feel like they will last more that one season?

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I'd say that 3 inches with a platform is a whole lot different than 4 inches! In that case, I'd give them a try.

Out of curiosity, why do you think they won't last a couple of years? My Clarks seem to last forever!

agrace

Laura - some of the reviews on Piperlime or Zappos said that they felt the leather was deteriorating to where they would not last beyond one season. That's where I got that idea from. Plus, I am very very hard on shoes. I tend to wear shoes down pretty quickly so if some are experiencing that I'm pretty sure I will too. However, hearing your experience of Clarks lasting a few years makes me feel pretty good. I'd like to wear these at least 2 years, if not 3 - 4.

Tanya

Veteran

Zappos says the same thing as Nordies - 3.5" with 1" platform. I like the shoes a lot and would definitely give them a try if you usually find these height of wedges comfy enough.

Traci

Veteran

Here's my experience with the clarks plovers. I got a pair in red at the beginning of spring. I wore them to work one day, and my feet were dying by the end of the day. I wear wedges and platforms on a regular basis, and don't usually have a problem, but these shoes really caused a ton of pain in the ball of my foot.

Also, as for whether they'll look funny at the park, my boss made a comment that they were "vegas shoes".

I ended up taking them back and getting a different pair of clarks from the outlet that were about an inch shorter. I compared the two when I had them in the house and I believe the new pair were 3 inches, and the plovers were 4 inches.

agrace

Ordered them using a 30 % off coupon so they were $70, still a lot more than I usually spend on sandals BUT if they are really so great then they will be worth it. Reviews to come in 5 - 9 days after they get here. Thanks everyone!