Suz. if you are going for sneakers, I would stick with a high top sneaker. I find them a bit dressier and warmer. Have you look at Ash? Amazon had some. Leather cons are great too, but those have very little support.

ETA: I just saw the Cons link. They look great. I am not a big fan of canvas for trips, since they are not going to fare well in rain or snow, but you have other shoes that can take the beating. Thumbs are up!

According to their website, the ones you are looking at run TTS
http://www.converse.com/produc.....or/537133F

Thanks, Zap. Great minds think alike, too - I was just wondering about canvas. Mander says it is still cold over there and it could very well rain a lot. I think on balance I am best to wait and find something there. I will treat my blisters, try Shannon's potato trick to stretch the top of my Pettys, and make sure I have lots of anti-blister stuff with me on the trip. And bring my other options - saving the Pettys for low walking times.

Thanks for all your help everybody - you are great!!

sounds like a plan. I guarantee you'll find something beautiful there.

Hi Suz- If you have time, it may be worth bringing your otherwise comfortable SE booties to a local shoemaker or particularly kind shoe store to have them stretched a bit. Interestingly, I had a tight spot when I tried on Ecco oxfords this weekend. The salesman used his thumb first and then his fist to gently stretch the area. Darned if it didn't work. I will borrow this technique.
Having shopped for emergency comfort shoes in Paris (the ones I brought just didn't hold up to our 10 miles a day on pavers), I don't recommend it unless you are really stuck with home options. It's one thing to find the perfect shoes while on vacation and quite another to desperately track them down instead of sight seeing. YMMV.

I have a great pair of AGL Euro sneakers. I always put some form of comfort inserts in my shoes to provide pavement cushioning which seems to be my biggest hurdle.
Don't know if they are available to you, but I love mine.

Also, regardless where you land with shoes, I have been very happy when I have lambswool with me to wrap around the tender places that seem inevitable when traveling and touring. I buy it at the pharmacy and carry it in my purse in case the spot declares itself. Also, blister band aids are worth taking also.

Enjoy London.

Opps just saw your post. Glad you are set and sorry for redundancy here.

Eliza, thank you - these are all great suggestions. I agree with you - it's one thing to shop for fun and another thing to shop in desperation. It happened to me once in NYC when the sandals I had brought we me broke! I was very lucky to find something that worked then. I am definitely going to try the stretching technique for the shoes. Thank you so much.

I'm late but had to comment. I've been waffling about bringing the Pettys because their comfort is inconsistent. They are fine for about 6 hours but the continuous walking and standing on a trip is something else. I've noticed that they seem to remain comfortable when I wear socks (close fitted ones). Yesterday I wore medium weight Smart Wool socks with them and they were fine. Much of today I wore light weight cotton socks. My feet got cold but the Pettys were comfortable. This doesn't make sense in that the socks would be taking up space, but I wanted to share my experience.
I know what you mean about the stiffer area and plan to take them to Nordstroms for a bit of time in the stretcher. When they give me problems, my big and little toes are very red when the shoes come off, but no rubbing on top.

Joy, thank you! This is useful info. Yes, I think I would do better with a thicker sock on, wearing them. They are not too small (in length they are quite long on me) and my toes have room to wiggle around. But it is the TOP of the shoe pressing down on the top of my toes making a blister on both little toes (on the top). So I do think stretching could remedy this. I'm going to give it a try and see - first by myself and then at the shoemaker, if necessary. I am really glad you weighed in. I know that Sveta did not bring her Pettys on the trip and this may be why. They are otherwise very comfy for me. Strange....

Suz, mine are the Caspians. I've road- tested them, and despite Amy's experience, they are SOOO comfy on my feet. They do come in some rather snazzy options.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jo.....sultback=0

these are mine:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jo.....sultback=0

"grigio" is almost taupe ; )

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jo.....sultback=0

I like your plan of making do, since you have identified some footwear you have that is quite presentable and comfortable even if not super-fash. So it is not deprivation or desperation, it is your wardrobe STRATEGY to travel the globe and make key purchases there that you love and budgeted for. Remember that no one else is really watching all that closely, and you will have the fun of knowing the purpose behind your choices.
I think it would be fun to imagine a lady we might see wearing a less than fab purse and shoes one day, and maybe we are thinking she is in a bit of a fashion rut, and the next day her Chanel bag arrives-- she was just being PPP!

Hmmm. My little toes do get red on top. Do you think it's where the stiff leather starts?

I just bought the Caspians, too. Have you checked http://www.barkingdogshoes.com for recommendations?

Lynne, thank you. I will do that. Do you also like your Caspians? (I do love the name...who wouldn't?)

Joy, I'm going to test it tomorrow, but I am pretty sure that's what it is in my case. It's just a bit stiffer there and while my toes can move from side to side, the shoe presses down on them. If I stretched it there I doubt I'd have a problem. The rest of it is roomy and comfortable. Maybe too roomy - maybe the wiggling is causing friction. You never know.

Unfrumped, I chuckled at that image. Thank you!

Sarah, if I got the Caspians, I would be going for silver like yours for SURE!!!

For a sneaker look with superior arch support and a thick sole that puts me above water, I like my Dansko Vedas. Like most Danskos, the sole is a bit hard, but you can add an insole. Also, like clogs, the shoe doesn't really bend which I find perfect for my arthritic toe but YMMV. Dansko's new fashion athletic shoe is the Elise which may be more available. Danskos run a bit wide, so if your feet are a bit narrow they may not be happy in them. Of course, fit may be a function of where your feet fall in the whole size breaks. I am between sizes in ECCO, but Dansko works for me.

Naot are also really comfortable, although they can be a little old fashioned in their styling, so you have to balance that out. Some of their shoes have a latex layer in the soles, so they are soft to walk in.

I am a huge fan of Nike Free shoes too (I have V3.0 like these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/nike-l.....hoes-aw12/ ) - they are soft, light weight, but very sneaker-ish. You might look too much like a tourist! You may also be hard pressed to find a neutral colour!!

I wear the blue Birkenstock insoles in all of my sneakers - I find that I can stay on my feet longer if I have the extra bit of arch support that they offer. They work brilliantly in Chuck Taylors and other really flat soled shoes.

Hope that helps!

Another nod to the caspians. Softmoc carries them - not sure if you have one. I have tried them on so many times but am waiting for a sale. I can see them working well

Hey, this is brilliant. If these were available in white, I would totally order the con hi-ness. free returns! WOW!

Another vote for saving your money to spend in London. There's an interesting shoe chain called Russell and Bromley that's worth checking out. They have some very good quality footwear.
I tried the Caspians too last year, but they weren't comfortable for me. I think the toe box was too shallow and I could feel them rubbing the tops of my toes. And they were very flat.

Ah, MissVee - that is helpful for sure. Very flat is NOT going to work for me. Nor will a shallow toe box. I have short toes but they do bang up against my Ecco athletic shoes when I run - not good.

Mona - I know! So far no white on those Cons at Shoeme.com but they do have grey, black, and navy. Good to know. However, the price is higher than in the US.

Glory, thanks - it is sounding like they are not right for me...alas....

Annaj - thank you! Good suggestions. My feet are a bit too narrow for most Naot styles. Donna, I would be the opposite to you - I LOVE a flexible sole and do not like hard inflexible shoes at all. Danskos would probably be too wide for me, too. My feet are not narrow and long but they are not wide, either, and my heel is very narrow. So shoes that are wider cut do not stay on me well.

OMG, yes Suz, Check Russell and Bromley. I walked out with a pair of SW boots and $600.00 in the hole on day 2 of my trip, but I had to have those 50/50 boots. The UK version, made especially for R&B is longer. Had to buy them! Also, go to Boots, the best drugstore on earth!

Have you ruled out the DV Joust booties for a quick fix? Mine are all day wearable... Otherwise, I love the idea of leather sneakers!

Una - thank you. I have not ruled them out, no. They are pretty comfy for me, too. I'd ideally like something a bit lighter coloured, but could take them in a pinch for sure. Thanks!

I've only tried the Caspians in the house so far, they were just delivered. They might take some breaking in. http://www.onlineshoes was having a sale, and they had a good selection of colors. I love my Dansko Vedas, too. I'm off to take a look at the Elise now.

Ridiculously late to the party but wanted to chime in anyway and say:

1. Whoo hoo for your white leather jacket! I can hardly WAIT to see you style that beauty.

2. Yes, I've ordered shoes off Amazon.com at least three times with great success. They're shipping/duties are reasonble and calculated at the time you pay so no hidden expenses. Plus I often get credit back from them on my credit card a couple of weeks after my order based on that day's shipping and conversion costs. Just note that this is only when the item is indicated as "Shipped from Amazon". There are items for sale on Amazon that originate from other vendors (it will state this beside the price - these have some hidden costs as I found out on a pair of shoes.

3. Personally, I would hold off and buy something in London that will work for the conditions, which you truly won't know until you arrive.

would you consider an actual athletic shoe such as a vintage style adidas gazelle? http://www.adidas.ca/Women%27s.....omen-Shoes