I’ve learned my lesson about the need to shop early for spring/summer footwear. It’s usually not until the second half of April that it consistently feel like spring in my neck of the woods, although it seems it might be earlier this year and I'm glad I started early. In spring and fall I wear booties and loafers, but increasingly I want to wear sneakers, so I want to add some this year, and thought I'd share some reviews.
So you can compare to your own needs, my requirements in shoes are as follows: I need a LOT of sole padding from front to back, moderate arch support, and a somewhat stiff material so they feel like they hold my foot in all around. I have low volume feet but medium width so fitting slip on sneakers + loafers can be tricky. (Sandals are even trickier) I can’t wear anything backless.
For shoes I generally buy what to me are high-end brands (probably mid-range if you consider the designer ones). I find mid-range brands more likely to have enough cushioning and support, and for sneakers they are more likely to have suede-like insides that are comfortable for wearing sockless,
For reference, I currently own these non-sporty sneakers:
Ecco Soft 7 High Tops - perfect everyday winter boots, super comfy, grippy sole, warm, waterproof, have worn these a LOT this winter.
Ecco Soft 7 tie sneaker …incredibly comfortable but the style (black with a white sole and ties) is too menswear for me so I wear as house shoes, and always keep an eye out for new colors offered..
Ecco Soft7 slip on – incredibly comfortable, wore a lot late last summer into fall. Doesn’t feel so menswear in the slip-on style somehow. I also watch for new colors on this one.
Grey Born Tamara - ok but sole is not as cushioned as I want and they are too small to add a thicker insole so don’t wear as much as I might (should have sized up)
New Sneakers that I'm testing at home...
B/W Snakeskin
Naturalizer Macayla. I bought these last fall anticipating a midwinter tropical vaca that didn’t happen, but very glad to have them. Very comfortable! With most Naturalizer shoes I have to add an insole or replace the stock one with a thicker one to get enough padding but not these, the existing insole is great.
Warm light neutral (will pick 1, leaning toward the Trask)
Sofft 7 in Vanilla. Super comfy but a bit too cool a neutral for my wardrobe so back they went.
Trask Lindsey. New brand to me. These remind me of a Kenneth Cole sneaker I wore a few years ago but passed on because they were always a bit tight. These are perfect. Love the overall design, the texture and tiny bit of sparkle.
Vagabond Shoemakers Zoe in “off white”. …It's a light bone color. I tried these because I remembered some discussion here a few months ago on this brand, which is also new to me. Incredibly comfortable and I love how they look on the foot. Gold grommets!!! (LOVE) A slightly thicker sole, but it is NOT stiff.
Greens (wild card)..might work with my olive items…just ordered these
Vagabond Shoemakers Zoe in “dusty mint”.
Vionic Kani slip on in olive perforated suede. Vionic arches are usually too stiff for me but will give them a go
