Great to hear you found a way to make them work for you! My favourite socks for boots/booties are hiking socks and they're awesome, I just got a second pair last week. They're wool socks from Veith. Those combined with all leather boots made it possible that I could do the last one week Italy trip with a single pair of shoes and absolutely no blisters or damaged feet.

Ginger: I'm not quite sure what the ideal material is. I'm also a bit concerned about gluing anything to the uppers. I'm wondering about taking them to a specialist cobbler and getting them to stitch something in.

Astrid: they look like really nice socks! I'll have to look out for them. Do you use a liner with those? (Need some for my hiking boots!)

No liner, no. I just wear them on their own in hiking shoes or over hose with boots. My first pair is now over a year old and got a lot of wear and there are no holes or anything. I have the light version of the hiking socks and now added the ankle length ones, I think they will be perfect for the booties.

You are so right: feet ARE wierd. Mine are of the bony, low-volume variety, and like Janet, I felt a lightbulb pop at the words "tongue pad." I've been wearing a pair of oxfords today (sort of a ladies' knock-off of your cool shoes) and feeling slightly annoyed by the slipping of my right heel, and the way I had to pull the laces until the sides overlapped to make the shoes fit tightly enough. I remembered some foam innersoles in my closet, and just tried inserting one halfway into my shoe in the position I imagine a tongue would occupy, and voila! A snug fit at heel and instep, and shoes laced without overlap. I will definitely look for tongue pads, but meanwhile, I'll just cut the innersoles to the right size & shape for the job. Thanks, Approprio!

The tongue pads I USED to get at the cobbler's were made of wool felt and then stitched in place, replaced when they eventually compressed. Maybe three times the thickness of moleskin I had totally forgotten about them.

If anyone finds these old friends, please share!

Astrid: I know what you mean about investment socks! When you're used to paying a fiver for three, it's hard to credit what a difference a good pair makes. I have a few in my drawer which have long outlived the shoes I originally bought them for!

tulle, Cerinda: yeah, I know, right? I never would have thought of it, but as soon as you put it in, it seems so obvious! I'm amazed that this simple little trick seems too have fallen into obscurity.

Anyway. Shoes are on their maiden voyage right now, au naturel with Bridgedale hiking socks. I've hoofed around town a bit and they feel pretty nice I'll wear them in a bit before I figure out whether it's worth the time/effort/investment to adjust for slippage.

Catching up on forum time and can't believe I missed this: Just want to say your outfit is just fabulous, amazin, WOW! I can tell you're a fashion designer I love those pants, especially as you've styled them here. The shoes bookend your hair beautifully, and I'm off to try to create some tongue pads for my too-large Paul Greene creepers (though my problem is I'm not used to so much shoe in front and keep tripping over my own feet, but then I'm naturally clumsy to begin with).

Cool!!! Gorgeous color and what an interesting style. They look fab on you!