Delusional? Lemonade from Lemons

I've lost most range of motion in my right big toe, so the podiatrist said I need to wear rigid soled shoes with rocker bottoms so that I roll forward instead of bending my feet. Basically this means clogs with under 2" heels because my joint can no longer bend that much. This means that I am shut out of Dansko's more stylish offerings including their boots because the heels are higher than I can bend.

I am thinking of embracing the clog look, including wearing them with skirts and tights, rather hiding my feet. Here is what I had in mind:

Silver clogs: http://www.amazon.com/Lotta-Fr.....#038;psc=1
Yellow clogs: http://www.amazon.com/Lotta-Fr.....#038;psc=1
Blue clogs: http://www.zappos.com/dansko-perfed-pro-blue-veg
Cheetah clogs: http://www.zappos.com/dansko-p.....lf-leather

I also have black Dansko Professionals, and wearing them yesterday after a hiatus of several years made me realize the doc was of course 100% right in what I need to wear to keep me out of major pain.

I am still working on my style descriptors, but I am definitely not nor have I ever been sophisticated, elegant, or girly. Tentatively, I describe my style as Playful Arty Classic Prince, and my favorite items of clothing have been my metallic silver oxfords (now trashed) and my Halogen black with white polka dot pencil skirt. I took up nail polish for the first time in my life at age 59, and my favorite colors are metallic silver and deep blue, both metallic and non-metallic.

Okay, so maybe I have some age issues. I am told that I look younger than my chronological age, but obviously, I look older than 40. Since stylish footwear does not seem to be in the stars for me, is garish rather ugly footwear OTT? I don't want to be an embarrassment and have people shaking their heads. Would it be a better strategy simply to go for inconspicuous feet and wear my black Dansko Pros with black tights?

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think a playful style can definitely embrace this kind of footwear and make it a signature, and that sounds so much more fun than simply trying to hide reality. If style is the perfection of point of view, well, your point of view is that you need to wear what your feet can stand, and you can make that fun looking. I say go for the silver clogs and the blue ones to start and move on from there!

PS what about winter and boots? What then? Do you have a plan?

Adelfa

The people I know who wear clogs tend to have them in every color. I like all the ones you linked and especially love the blue ones. I agree with Suz. Just rock the clogs.

Janet

Honestly, I think these kind of shoes look less frumpy and more playful and intentionally styled when they are *not* black. So I say go for the fun color or print!

TraceyLiz65

i love the yellow ones and the animal print, If you've to go this direction these are all fun!

ironkurtin

Go for it! The Lottas are awesome - love the silver!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

I agree, the less neutral ones look more 'intentional'. I think an all-clogs look could really work if you wanted to go in an arty, boho direction. I know some older ladies who successfully make that kind of look work - I think it depends on your figure the shapes that work with it, but it's usually something architectural and flowy, but pretty simple as far as colors and prints go.

Debra

Go for it.........I Love the silver and those cheeta ones pictured would be great as it cools down.

Caro in Oz

I agree with Janet - go for it & welcome

SandyG

Donna, I'm 5 years into this after a sudden accident. It has been the biggest wardrobe crisis trying to find footwear that fits both feet, doesn't cause additional pain and kinda coordinates. It's quite tough! My basic plan is neutrals and blacks for summer, winter, dressy events, and travel. Then branch out. A 1" front platform wedge or high platform with a low pitch works well (sandals, clogs, boots) but you have to hunt for those styles. Some MBTs, Mephisto Sano, Fluevogs, Doc Martens, clog sandals and fashion platforms from The Walking Company stores work for me. Zappos is going to be your bestie, look for 'platform wedge' when you want a fashion fix. Stalk shoe reviews for toe injury information. Good luck and happy feet!

Diana

I think clogs can absolutely look funky and cool! You just have to wear them intentionally, play up the funky and avoid at all cost wearing with white socks! (There is an epidemic of ladies here wearing black or brown Danskos with white socks and too-short pants, sigh...)

I can't wear professionals (they're too wide and deep for me) but I used to have red suede Dansko Mary Janes that I would wear with everything. I got compliments on them all the time. I am wearing them in the first four outfits here.
They don't make them any more, but this is similar:
http://www.zappos.com/dansko-sam-sand-dollar

I wore them into the ground and replaced them with equally funky purple suede Danskos (worn in #5); unfortunately the heel on these is too high for you.

Basically I style them like I would funky 70s wooden platforms. Just remember that the platform adds a lot of height so your pants need to be correspondingly longer for PPL!

ETA: I think getting some with studs helps a lot for anti-frump!

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Peri

Hi Donna, so sorry you are having this problem. We are twins I think. I have broken both feet, the left one crushed to the point of leaving me with a bit misshapen foot. Both feet also have arthritis and tendinitis and the right one has sesamoiditis...that's the not being able to bend big toe I can relate to.

I admire you for working harder than I did to find a stylish solution! I gave up and have spent most of the last few years in Brooks with orthotics. But when I have to look better, I have found Alegrias work better for me than Danskos. Have you tried them? Both are rocker sole, but Alegria is more cushioned. I can't take the hardness of Danskos because of the sesamoiditis, and lack of a fat pad.

I'm tickled by all the responses that these shoes can look okay. Thanks for posting!

DonnaF

Thank you everyone for your support. From reading years and years of forum posts, I know that clogs get the poison eye so I wasn't sure about which way to go. Going wacky will make me happier; luckily I lead a casual life and will just suffer with pain on those few occasions when I need to step it up a notch.

Suz: I live in the SF Bay Area so I don't need to worry about boots. I do own dated Dansko booties that moderately work. I love the newest Dansko booties but not in the suede on NAS special but they appear to be just a tad too high for me. Maybe I'll try them next year if the price goes down.

SandyG: You made my day saying that 'Vogs and Doc Martens might work. Probably a pipe dream given the space my bunions need and my budget.

Diana: I ordered those #7 purple suede Danksos that you and Kari have THREE times in the hope that one pair would be cut differently and would fit. Nope. I wouldn't wear white socks with clogs but I would wear colored tights. And pants too short? What I wouldn't give to have your long legs!!! Pants are NEVER short on me. Well, okay, I have a pair or two I need to wear with flats. Ummm, I used to wear platforms in the '70s.

I WILL find a place in my house bright enough to take pics and have DD help me set up the camera to post WIWs. I have less than a month before she goes back to school. Then you can see me in all my defiant funkiness. ("Oh, Mom; you rebel you!")

Again, thank you Suz, Adelfa, Janet, Tracey, IK, Laura, Debra, Caro, Sandy, and Diana for supporting me in this journey of body acceptance, the first step of which was accepting and embracing my reddened claw-like hands by wearing nail polish.

annagybe

You might want to look into Sanita. They fit me better than Dansko. I found them out from clog store than they used to the base for Danskos, but when Dansko moved their manufacturing to China the companies separated.

http://www.zappos.com/sanita-women-clogs-mules~1

froggiebecky

I'm not a clog person, but I wanted to suggest that if you can, give fluevogs a whirl. Specifically the Prepare family: http://www.fluevog.com/code/fa.....y=Prepares

They've got a 3" heel on a 1.5" platform, making them an effective 1.5" heel height, and they don't flex at all, so they take a bit of getting used to--that "rolling" walk that you describe. I've got a couple of pairs, and wear them all the time. They're stable and comfortable. Some of the pairs (the mary jane ones) run a bit short, so you might need to size up some. If you aren't in a city where you can try some on, call and talk to the SAs. They are incredibly knowledgeable.

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