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Dress shoes for knee problems?

suzieq

My osteoarthritis is now affecting my knees in a big way, especially my right knee. I’m no longer able to wear my favorite shoes. I have donated most of my shoes to charity, as we’re downsizing next year anyway, & this is what I currently have:

2 pairs of hiking boots
1 pair of athletic shoes
1 pair of Alegría clogs for indoor use (my doctor says never go barefoot; always wear shoes with arch support)
1 pair of Alegría shoes for smart casual attire
1 pair of Alegría sandals for casual attire
3 pairs of Bzees sandals for casual attire
3 pairs of flip flops (they have arch support)

So no dress shoes, which is a problem because I may need them in Mexico, where women dress up for dining out & such. What can I get? Alegría, which is my favorite brand, doesn’t make anything formal enough. I donated all my nice Dansko shoes because they now bother my knees. I prefer something that will conceal my bunions. I have 2 formal gowns; 1 gray with sequins & 1 navy with silver. Thanks in advance for the advice.

Dressing

63 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Can you give us some pictures of things you like to wear, or your style in general?

rachylou

Veteran

Maybe Taryn Rose?

suzieq

The first 2 pics are my gowns. The rest are some of the things I currently wear.

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nuancedream

Veteran

I agree with rachylou's suggestion for Taryn Rose. Also, take a look at BeautifFeel shoes. The website barkingdogshoes.com has lots of suggestions for casual and dressier footwear for people who have foot/ankle/knee problems.

suzieq

I haven’t seen anything dressy enough for my gowns. That’s what concerns me. I wear U.S. size 7.5 wide or EUR size 38.

Vildy

Veteran

I've read that a flexible, non-thick sole is good for that. Second the suggestion to check out Barking Dog for possible brands and styles.

suzieq

I’ll look at Barking Dog again, but I need fancy, adjustability, & pure comfortable all in one shoe for bunions, knee pain & sciatica. No pointed toes, not much of a heel. I don’t know if I can find such a shoe. If there’s another place to search, please let me know.

If Alegría made such a shoe, it would be my first choice. The best I have seen is the Alegría “Tarah.” I bought that shoe in cognac, & it’s super comfortable. If the Style were formal enough, I’d get that pair in black, but it isn’t fancy.

Thanks

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

This page suggests Cobb Hills by Rockport. The heels look kinda high to me, but you could give them a try. The site’s name also gives me an idea—how about dressy boots? I’m remembering someone a few years back who worked hard at a dressy outfit over several posts before putting together a fantastic blue jumpsuit + boots dressy outfit. Just a thought.

https://bootmoodfoot.com/best-shoes-for-sciatica/

Sloper

Veteran

I've heard SAS (San Antonio Shoemakers) is a good brand for comfortable shoes offered in a variety of sizes widths.

https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-dress/

Also, if you haven't, maybe seek out an orthopedic doctor or specialist who might be able to prescribe orthotics. Apologies if this is something you are already pursuing!

suzieq

We’ll be living in the tropics, so boots wouldn’t work. If it were here in the States, I would try that.

The orthotics that were made for me by a podiatrist made my leg pain a lot worse. I stupidly wore them for a full year, trying to get accustomed to them. Alegría makes very good shoes that truly work for me. The Dansko shoes feel awful now; they are no good for knee pain. My knees are getting better now that I’ve ridden myself of Dansko. Anyway, if I could just get shoes like Alegría but dressy, I’d be very happy. Some people’s idea of dressy is not the same as mine. I’m talking dressy enough for an evening wedding or black tie optional event. I hate to wear a nice gown & not have the right shoes to go with it, but I’m beginning to think I won’t find such a shoe.

Will this work? I have this shoe in cognac, & it’s super comfortable, but not the right color for formal wear.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

What would your ideal dressy shoe look like, if it weren’t for the pain issues?

suzieq

They would be a pair of classy pumps in a metallic color, probably silver. I haven’t been able to wear pumps in years, but that’s my preferred style. I wore pumps when I got married.

I would also consider sling back pumps with a closed toe. The toe shape would have to be round, though. That’s the only shape my feet don’t complain about.

These are true killer shoes for me now. I have problem feet, problem knees, & a problem lower back.

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suzieq

Will this work? I have this shoe in cognac, & it’s super comfortable, but not the right color for formal wear. It’s not quite what I have in mind, but comfort is going to have to trump style.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Oh, I just noticed the pic you posted a couple comments back. What would you think of putting sparkly, glitzy clips on those shoes?

Sloper

Veteran

I'm terribly sorry about your pain issues! I've been dealing with a disc issue for over two years - similar to sciatica in that it causes pain that radiates down my leg. So I'm wearing "sensible" shoes all the time now.

Other brands I used during my working days that are heeled and comfortable are Donald Pliner and Naturalizer.

While I don't think the shoes you showed above (you said you had them in cognac) are particularly dressy on their own, I do think that if you are comfortable and happy, and otherwise dressed up in your event gowns, you'll be enjoying yourself - and that is what matters.

rachylou

Veteran

My other thought is Shoes for Crews or similar - comfort work shoes. They have dressier styles as well as workboots.

suzieq

I can’t wear Naturalizer because they’re not wide enough. I need a D width.

Sloper, I agree that those shoes aren’t particularly dressy.

Rachylou, Thanks. I’ll look into those.

They do sell what looks like a shiny version of my shoe. The color is called jet luster.

My other thought is to get some shiny Alegría sandals.

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slim cat

Veteran

I'm wearing ABEO sandals with neutral shape ( I have high arch and high instep ) most of the summer. I have some ankle swelling, knee problems and special insoles for my work shoes. I haven't tried ABEO heeled options but there is some: https://www.thewalkingcompany......l-neutral-

Earth shoes have been good to me in some models. What about platform sandals in metallic ?https://www.thewalkingcompany......ilver-grey

Cobb Hill could be a solution ( run slightly wide I think ).

slim cat

Veteran

Shiny sandals look promising - silver.

suzieq

Slim cat, I too have high arches & a high instep. I have worn Earth shoes before. Their wide width is perfect. My feet were C width before bunions, now a D width with bunions.

slim cat

Veteran

I’ve got Earth Origins for home shoes now - getting used to that shape
( similar looking to Birkenstock’s). Very slim insoles from Northwest Podiatric Laboratory/ high heel option worked for my ECCO slides ( with some adjustments- shaving of the top insole ) - doctor’s office sold it to me / no idea where it’s available otherwise/.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How about these that come in a wide:

Munro Souki Sandal

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Top Pick

9

Naturalizer Ivy Quarter Strap Sandal

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Top Pick

2

suzieq

Thanks, Angie.

The first pair might just work if I only wear them for a short period of time & then slip into more comfortable shoes. I love the style & the heel height looks okay. The block heel is probably really good for stability.

Gaylene

Veteran

For what it’s worth, my preference is the black Tarah’s over the shiny sandals (which, oddly, skew more casual in my eyes). It’s hard enough coping with osteoarthritis without deliberately making yourself more uncomfortable so I’d say go for a comfortable, minimalistic shoe and let your gorgeous dress and smile be the focus of attention!

Anonymous

In Mexico definitely sandals, and metallic or a nude to you color. The shoes you showed look very casual and "heavy" to me for a formal dress. To me rounded toes always seem casual.

suzieq

I can’t wear any other toe shape except maybe square.

I’m leaning heavily towards the black Alegría shoes because they’re incredibly comfortable. Thanks, Gaylene. They’ll only be worn with long gowns, & I guess I’m not getting how they look heavy, especially with dresses that have a lot of sequins on the bodice to draw attention upwards.

My knees are starting to feel better now, thankfully, but I could really feel the strain in my knees when I put my Danskos on the other day. Every single pair of Danskos I own now bother me, so they all have to go.

I live with chronic pain, so shoes are a definite issue for me.

Gaylene

Veteran

Comfortable feet mean you get to concentrate on enjoying yourself which, to me, is the point of getting dressed up for an evening out. Maybe take your inspiration from Queen Elizabeth II who wears seriously gorgeous gowns and jaw-dropping jewels with very sensible footwear.

suzieq

Thanks, Gaylene. My right knee is hurting me tonight, & I simply must carefully consider my shoe choices.

Anonymous

I’d take a page from Emma Thompson’s book ( or any one of a number of public women who have to dress for formal / back tie occasions ) and wear the most fantastic metallic , beautifully cut and cushioned sneakers and throw all convention to the wind . Whoopi Goldberg , Sharon Stone also come to mind .

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