Suggestions Please: Low Vamp Sandal?

tarzy

Please, please help me find a LOW VAMP sandal to wear with the Karen Kane Bermudas (black and/or khaki - am leaning toward neutral color tops lately.) Going for a clean, urban casual look.

I'd like something to extend the leg line, so ideally no ankle strap, unless it's a very neutral/nude color. (I have pale, untanned skin.)

Can't wait to see your suggestions! Thanks SO much for helping me - I'm stumped! (And stumpy, so up to a 3" platform/wedge would work!)

14 years ago

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Sparky

Veteran

I need low vamps too, or I become Stumpy Sparky. The Cole Haan Air Delfina wedges are my favorite summer shoe right now and have that low vamp you're looking for. Angie also had them on her list of Nordie sale items to look at. Nordstrom doesn't carry the nude color I have, but the bronze is really nice too. They are comfortable as all get out, and while they seem tall, the wedge makes them really walkable IMO.

There are also some great Clarks sandals with low vamps; have you looked there yet?

ETA link to the Cole Haans: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/co.....sultback=0

14 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Tarzy, I saw your other thread and don't really have any suggestions per se.

BUT as someone with similar desires/legs I can say that $4 jars of colored and/or pearlescent or metallic leather shoe creams have changed my shoe life.

I am picky re color and style and have PITA feet and I freakin' hate the drama and angst of shoe shopping!

Now I just buy for comfort and looks and as long as the shoe is leather and a light-ish shade I DIY the rest, layering the colors if desired.

[No problems with the color rubbing off, touch up as with regular shoes if needed.]

Irony is that in the year+ since I started I get more IRL compliments on the DIY'd shoes than the ones I struggled to find. Go figure.

If you don't want to go that route I understand but I am not exaggerating when I say you will pry my shoe creams out of my cold dead hands.

Attached pic shows a Before and After. More pics/instructions/recommended vendor here if interested.

http://buildingacolorfullife.w.....to-see-me/

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14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I will be eagerly watching these replies. I desperately need the same thing. Maybe we can be twins!

It is really tough right now to find low vamps, except in complete flats (which don't work for me, sadly).

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. I looked at Sparky's link, and although I like the shoe, on my foot these would not qualify as low vamp at all. The V might help, along with the wedge, but it is interesting to me to hear them described as low vamps. I've got so much learning to do!

14 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

I have the Naya Maher and find them incredibly comfy. I wear them with everything. I have the cream but I also really like the bronze. They are low vamp but I'm not sure if they meet your "clean and urban" criteria. You can judge for yourself : )

http://www.6pm.com/naya-maher-.....er-leather

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Here's another possibility. I think maybe it is too "girly" with that bow...but I wonder if the bow is removable. http://www.naturalizer.ca/Shop.....pg=7003958

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Glad to see I'm not alone!

Vix - thanks! I'll have to spend some time on your site!

Kellygirl - I would gladly try those! Unfortunately I can't locate an 8 1/2 anywhere.

Suz - I agree - the Cole Haan's look nice, but don't really look like a low vamp to me, especially in that dark bronze.

To me, low vamp means something like #1. I wish it came in a lighter color. Which, of course, it doesn't.
http://vip.zappos.com/naya-mar.....?zlfid=111

Or maybe #2, but without the flower, which is a bit too sweet for my style, and I usually have trouble with that kind of peep toe pinching and cutting into my skin. Sigh.
http://vip.zappos.com/naya-cor.....?zlfid=111

Sigh.

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14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Suz - we posted at the same time!

I agree - nice possibility but the bow is a bit big!

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

What do you think of these in the "cement" color? Bow too big?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/fr.....xOoAOG0XUA

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14 years ago

Marley

Veteran

That bow is borderline for me - probably for you too, huh? I really like the shoe and I might be able to talk myself into that bow if I heard from some other YLF'rs that said it wasn't too "sweet" for your/my style! (Sorry, I'm not a whole lot of help!)

14 years ago

Vix

Veteran

The bow seems too sweet for what I've seen of your style, Tarzy.

While I agree with "low vamp" being very very open, I wouldn't rule out something like Kellygirl's Naya's (envious of that soft-looking leather, but no 6's left either).

ESPECIALLY given your parameters and difficulty so far.

While generally I live and die by Trinny and Sus' footwear guidelines, stylist Bridgette Raes' advice to look for diagonal lines to slim a wide foot was another "whoaaaa" moment for me. [My Holy Grail footwear = diagonal low-vamp!]

One of my DIY footwear makeovers was a pair of thicker-strapped Clarks that I just loved for comfort but only wore with pants in their original shade. Once they blended with my skin I decided they were much less enstumpening.

I semi-reluctantly but in the interests of muscular ankle'd/calve'd women present some comparisons*:

1) silver-plum low vamp (also DIY'd this season as they were a greenish taupe)
2-3) DIY pearlescent pink thick-diagonal-strapped
4) low vamp beige patent

I think they all "read" about the same, but maybe I'm kidding myself.

Good luck with the hunt, my feet legs and I really do feel for you!

*skin is actually paler IRL

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14 years ago

taylor

Veteran

I like the bows...and easy off and on. I love the cement color too.

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Vix - first of all - your legs are KILLER!!! Are you calling yourself "muscular?" Yikes. Next to you my calves look like balloons!

Is 2/3 the Clark's Navan? I have the same ones! I can't wear them for longer than about 2 hours, but I'll definitely check out your dye suggestions!

What about 1 & 2 - the Clarks Shutter Shade?

Here are some pics from last year of my rarely-displayed calves - just so you can see what I'm working with. We're talking BIG.

And no, #3 wasn't from my tour with the RAF. (Hey - I'm not THAT old!)
That was an unfortunate "Safari" dress from Ann Taylor that went right back to the store. Those innocent looking black peep toes KILLED me, by the way.

Sigh ... damn summer heat ... why can't I just live in pants?

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14 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Look at you and your tiny little ankles wandering up to curvy calves!

The grass, tis truly greener elsewhere. Though my calves *are* 13.5-14 and thus a no-go for many boots.

Now that I see them again, weren't your legs the ones that inspired me to tell you of my roommate who was FOLLOWED by men for her legs?!

[yes, weird and unwelcome yet...telling]

Good eye: my 2-3 are Clarks' Navan. Too bad they aren't go-tos for you due to comfort. It figures.

[BTW, your evil peeps are my diagonal low vamp favs!! Why are they evil? Can they be stretched?]

Re your latest 1-2, the Clarks' Shutter: hmmmmm. Possible. I really do find it hard to judge the "high vamp but 45-degree straps" babies til I see them on me.

I *will* say that I bet the darker shade will be too leg-shortening. I also have the Navan in pewter and find that's the case. But the lighter color -- esp if you're open to tweaking the shade if you find it clashes with your undertone -- could work for you.

ps Hey, I rather like the shape of the dress on you! But you + that color = glad you returned it. You'd better be wearing that dress that looked so good on you...might have been one your sister "made" you buy.

[speaking of stalkers, geez I sound like one!]

14 years ago

Vix

Veteran

ps T, I never ever take pics of my legs with the camera held that high! Lower than sucker and you will get a better sense of proportion.

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Found some more possibilities!

#1 - Dolce Vita Jollen - probably way too high for me - but I'm going to try them anyway.
#2 & 3 - Corso Como Eartha - champagne or silver

Does anyone know if a peep toe can be stretched out? Seems all the ones I like are peeps.

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14 years ago

dottie

Active Member

Following with much interest. Vix, do tell about the diagonal lines to slim wide feet? Tarzy, the Franco Sarto shoes in 'cement' look like a contender (even with the bow - I'm not much for bows either, but it looks fairly low profile -and both comfy and stylish). (though I tried a pair of Clarks today with a flower and it was super comfy, but too much frou frou after I saw them on, so a try-on would be best)

14 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Out of everything, I really like the last 3 posted the best. The ones with the bows don't seem to fit your "urban casual" style goal, IMO. As for stretching, I've used a little rubbing alcohol on the inside of leather shoes to stretch them a bit. I have never specifically tried to stretch a peep toe, but the principle should be the same.

P.S. Vix, high five from a fellow DIY shoe dye gal!

14 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

Not Vix (duh!), but I've always thought of the diagonal vamp as the equivalent of a v-neck - and equally slimming to my wide foot, as it draws the eye up & down the foot line.

I'm following this with interest as more than half of my shoes are NOT comfortable, so I really NEED to be more analytical about what I buy.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Tarzy, I'm going to turn stalker, too, and say you have lovely curvy legs! Nothing to be hiding, that's for sure. But I do understand about the need for a certain shoe.

And Vix, that was a very instructive set of photos. I think you are right; in the right colour the higher V vamp does disappear quite a bit and read differently. I had tried the high V but in a darker colour and it wasn't great.

On the peep toes issue...I have a pair that do this to me. But I have been able to stretch them a bit. It depends on the leather. And it's risky to buy in the hope of stretching them out when that might not work.

14 years ago

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