Most Valuable Vamp (MVV)? - YouLookFab Forum

I’ve been on a slip-on shoe spree lately. I bought a new pair of espadrilles for the first time in almost a decade: https://diegos.com/.

I added a pair of black Sanuks (see Finds) that are currently my house shoes, but will venture outside when it’s a little warmer.

A pair of the new Allbirds Loungers just arrived at my doorstep yesterday. Funny -- I did not like the look of the Allbirds Runners on my feet. The higher vamp, combined with a more tapered, lower-profile toebox (and probably the lighter color I tried them in) just did not work for me. And maybe they read as too sporty. The Loungers are more loafer-y, relaxed but also streamlined. And the color is great -- got the navy. I can’t get around it -- I like dark shoes on myself, not light. My hair is dark, my feet are big -- white/light shoes are such a no-go.

Anyway, my big realization for this season is that I don’t love really low vamps on myself (I’ll wear a mary jane or strappy ballet flat, but an open ballet flat is just too open to my eye), and some “dainty” loafers hit too low as well. But I do like something a bit lower than a traditional oxford. The classic slip-on sneaker silhouette is great for me. I always loved slip-ons as a kid, especially cotton canvas ones -- cheap ones from Payless and Ames when I was really little, and then Vans as I got older and more brand-aware. I didn’t really move away from those ‘til high school, when I got into Chuck Taylors. I think, by that point, my region had an actual skater culture, which I wasn’t a part of, so I couldn’t get away with Vans anymore. Anyway, adding slip-ons back into my closet feels like coming full circle. Bonus is that they seem to work well with almost every pant length: ankle length, cropped, full-length, wide, skinny, cuffed, midi and knee length skirts… It also makes me realize that, if I continue my sandal hunt, I should look for straps that approximate the proportions of a slip-on sneaker. Slides sandals often hit a little lower than I like, but gladiators and ankle-straps are a little too high. Birk Arizona’s are probably just about right, but I tried some last weekend and realized how much I dislike Birks (not even an aesthetic problem, just not a great fit for me).

So, I’m curious -- what do others find to be their best vamp height? I’m speaking strictly warm-weather here, for myself. I just spent the past six months in nothing-but-boots. I don’t even want to think about boots!

Nordstrom

Sanuk 'Pair O Dice' Slip On (Women)

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7 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

Ames, wow, that's a trip down memory lane! I don't actually remember how widespread they were but I'm from northern CT / western MA. (Did you have Bob's clothing, too? That's where I bought Converse and boys' Levis for years and years.)

I have a bump on top of my feet (the two sets of bones that make the arch / instep meet at a sharp angle instead of straight) so vamps are complicated for me. Style-wise, I prefer relatively high vamps on ballet flats to offset that shape. I've been enjoying the glove shoe trend - the Vince shoes in Finds are my ideal, ugly though they may be (jolie laide?). For shoes that cover my instep, I prefer a higher masculine shape like traditional oxfords. I have one pair of classic loafers (Rag & Bone from Nordstrom Rack) and I don't end up wearing them often. They're just not quite right with my pants and feet. Though, all my new cropped pants are making me reconsider what shoe shapes work well... still haven't figured it out.

If you're looking for something like Birks, have you tried Mephisto Helen sandals?

I hadn't seen those Allbirds loungers. They look great.

Mephisto 'Helen' Sandal (Women)

$148.94

Vince 'Maxwell' Flat

unfrumped

I like the vamps on a lot of the " smoking slippers" ( terrible name!) and also loafers with shorter vamps. I have medium- large feet for my height and I find those vamps break up the expanse of foot. Also like 2- toned vamps and horizontal features. I think that's why I like the penny loafer style. It's not that I'm so preppy, but I like the way it breaks up the long expanse

rachylou

High vamps for me. Half the reason is that low vamps, shoes fly off my feet. The other half, I prefer the look of shoes with some substance, a 'grounded', not-flimsy look.

Sal

I am not sure any more.

I used to go for low vamp for flattery reason and avoid ankle straps. Now I have ankle straps, sandal boots, low vamp, mid vamp etc..

I have a bit of an intuition about what footwear works with which skirt or pants, but I am sure I sometimes get it wrong too.

Carole

I like higher vamps, too! More comfortable for my bunion adorned feet..anything that comes up over the widest part of my foot is usually a winner in my book! Anything lower vamped now seems "off" to me, like you, a little to dainty! Slipper flats, slip on tennies, ankle straps, boots, loafers ...bring them on!

RobinF

I agree, I like loafers best, oxfords come up a little too high and ballet flats show too much foot. I do like gladiators even though they are higher.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your very casual Tomboy Style enjoys a high vamp - makes sense.

catseye

I like higher vamp too. Mostly for practical reasons. I don't understand how anyone can wear super low vamp shoes that is shallow on the side as well. I cannot see how they can keep those shoes on.

So I wear a lot of loafers for slip on when I can find some that will stay on.

What I really like in pumps are those vintage shoes women wore in really old movies. They are pumps but with relatively high vamps. Just seems more likely to stay on. This is just an example: Bette Davis's shoes in Now Voyage.

https://www.google.com/search?.....3A%253BWlC:

JAileen

I have big big feet, so high vamps make them look more proportional to me. So I don't have any ballet flats at all. They make my feet look like skis.

Anonymous

My slip on vans are the perfect vamp for my style. I have them in a navy suede.

Penny

Interesting, I have long, thin feet and like the look of my feet best in a low vamp (and I love v-cut vamps) for flats and heels.

Scarlet

Interesting. I like a low vamp because otherwise my short legs look stumpy, I find.

Suz

For flattery, a low vamp...but it isn't practical for me because such shoes don't stay on my foot. So low vamp with strap...or low contrast shoe.

Aida

Low vamps for me! Even my "higher" vamped shoes don't go all that high (except for booties, but that's another animal). I have a similar bone structure to what Greyscale described and find most true high vamps (including sneakers) incredibly uncomfortable. Plus, my feet are quite bony, long, and narrow in the heel so daintier low vamps seem to jive particularly well with them.

JAileen, interesting about the proportions! I also have proportionally large feet and find exactly the opposite true on me -- lower vamps feel better suited.

Aziraphale

I like high vamp, like oxfords, or else low vamp with a strap and heel. For some reason, low vamp flats -- even if they have a strap -- look weird on me. Like there's not enough visual weight to my feet. I also like the fact that a strap and/or high vamp keeps the shoe from falling off!

cindysmith

I've been on a slip-on sneakers quest lately myself. Obsessed is probably a good way to describe it LOL. At least I'm not alone

Jenni NZ

I think I mainly prefer lower vamps. My feet are small and fine. I mainly prefer an element of daintiness in my shoes. I like true ballet flats which look more dainty. But occasionally I like me a good clumpy boot!

Overall, I vote high vamp for what I tend to go for. I do wear both though.
And I second the memory lane trip with Ames! Got my favorite Strawberry Shortcake pom pom footie socks there a million years ago!

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