For the fussy feet brigade - YouLookFab Forum

Today, I had a reason to get out of the gear and get dressed. Spring is a crazy time here, and I haven't been anywhere so long. So I made an occasion of the feed store, hardware store, tire store, grocery store opportunity, which means it still needs to be pretty casual, slinging bales of bedding and the like.

I had an idea for an outfit: my lime green denim jacket, blue/black plaid flannel (45 degrees and raining) and blue jeans. (No mirrors at any of these places or this would be a WIW.) I wore it, but realized that I don't have the any basic black shoes to complete it. My Aquatalias seemed too heavy, which is what I wore all winter. I ended up wearing my orange shoes, which was a little over the top, should probably have toned down the jacket to something neutral, but it was springy. And no one at the tire store noticed.

My shoe choices have always been limited; after foot surgery I purged and clearly need to add some basics. The whole point of this ramble is about outfits though, where my mind went as I am not buying new shoes right now. Are there silhouettes you just don't wear because you can't possibly wear the obligatory shoe? I for one am about ready to write off flares because a heel over an inch is nearly impossible.

PS I did discover where the awful western style purses my neighbors love to sport come from: the rack next to the irrigation boots at the feed store.

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Suz

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Veteran

Sigh....there are absolutely silhouettes I don't wear for huge portions of the year because I can't do the footwear. In my case the culprit is weather. I need to wear snow boots everywhere for months on end.

I find pumps really difficult (if there is no strap to hold them on) so anything that requires a leg lengthening open vamp is tricky for me (even though my legs could definitely use the flattery).

I like the Find you posted here! Fun!

DonnaF

I can't wear most stylish footwear due to my fussy, extremely hard to fit feet that should avoid flexi soles. Flares, bootcuts, and wide legs work for me if I wear platforms/flatforms or clogs. Clogs seem to work the best for my feet, but not terribly well with most clothing.

Joy

Last summer I didn't wear ankle pants because i didn't have the right ankle strap shoes, which had to be flats. I think my new EF flats will open that door this season and am excited to experiment. I wear flats or very low heels with flares, but try to keep them pointy toed. I know heels would look better but it's not going to happen.

freeda

Active Member

I've given up a lot of dresses because wearing boots is tedious.

Diana

I don't wear pumps or low vamp shoes. This means I have to be careful about proportions with things like ankle pants. But I wear them anyway. JFE and all that. I'm lucky in that I am long legged so that offsets the stumpier shoes.

I wear platforms with wide legs and bootcuts. (Although I have some bootcuts hemmed for flats. So there.). I don't wear true flares bc I don't like the look where the pants leg covers the whole shoe. I think one would need heeled pointy pumps to lengthen the foot to show under the flares, and I can't wear those.

Olivegreen

Those are very cute rain shoes. Been looking for some low rubber ones for summer wear with shorts and skirts. The winter knee highs are overkill and hot right now.
Yup, funny, I have been attracted to some stuff at Tractor Supply because it is so darn practical, if sort of girly applied to barn wear, jarring juxtaposition. My very horsey girlfriend has talked me down off a sudden and giggly yearning for pink camo items, with bling. So far the purses are safe. My hormones are being told to shut up.
Agree on the need to work style around mobility and shoewear. I am lucky enough to like rather androgynous style so it is not crushing, as it mostly suits.
My mom wore towering heels and pointy shoes everywhere, and mourns them to this day. We admire the styling ladies from afar.

Author Linda

Same here about the pumps and low vamp heels. Oh, and totally flat shoes. Because of bad knees, I can't wear any of those. My shoes have to be stable.

I avoided cropped pants for years because I only saw people wearing them with sports shoes and I didn't like that look. Or flat sandals, which looked fine but I couldn't wear. Recently (thanks YLF) I've found a couple of brands of shoes that are (mostly) flat and have good support, so I'm giving crops a go. I have the long legs for crops, just need wearable shoes. EF may just fill the bill.

But yeah, any look that needs skinny heels or a shoe with just a couple of straps to hold it on is a no-brainer no-can-do. I love those looks, too, darn it.

Rambling Ann

Thin strapped dressy sandals are another no-no for me. Summer gala events are all decided by the shoes, no matter how much I like the dress, if I can't find the right shoes, it doesn't work.

Suz-I hadn't thought about weather, but I should have, since that's what triggered the outfit disharmony for me.

Joy - yay for the EF shoes opening up new options.

Diana-JFE has to be the fussy footed motto

Olivegreen-I see a ton of pink camo at Cabelas. Don't do it. If you really want Hollywood Cowgirl, go to a real western tack store during rodeo season. There's a ton of stuff for the competitive rodeo queen competitors, some of it not terrible. Or DoubleD Ranchwear if you want quality.

Author Linda-what do you do for shorts?

kkards

ok, i'll be honest....i often start with the footwear and plan my outfits based on that. so i guess i go the other way, there are silhouettes i wear becuase they work best with my shoes

silhouettes

Rambling Ann - I don't wear shorts when I want to look good. I prefer easy linen pants in summer, or a nice knee-length summer dress. So I've never learned what shoes (other than sports shoes because I do wear shorts at the gym) I might wear to make shorts an easy breezy style statement. If I lose more weight, though... that may be next! Hints welcome.

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