Suggestions requested: closed shoes for summer walking - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Suggestions requested: closed shoes for summer walking

Chiara

Happy New Year!

I’ve been evaluating my wardrobe (as have many of us) and identified that I need some comfortable closed shoes for urban walking in summer. I live in a warm climate- and we often have humid rainy weather in summer. I love walking around my city, but sandals just don’t provide enough protection from damp gravel and pavements, and often don’t grip slippery pavements well either. But a lot of the closed shoes I’ve tried are just too hot- and then I get blisters.

The Wishlist is:
-provide excellent shock absorption for my tetchy Achilles’ tendon
-fit narrow and low volume feet, but can cope with some warm weather swelling
-could be sneakers/joggers, but ideally not too much like sports gear

I know many of you love the Ecco sneakers, and I think they look pretty good, but do you think they’d work? Have you found an alternative?

All suggestions gratefully received.

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from em

Bijou

Veteran

I prefer Paul Green sneakers to the Ecco's due to having a narrow foot. These are mine and they are great for walking. The ribbon laces make them a little more dressy!

View Info

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love sneakers for summer walking, too, but the Ecco's haven't worked for me. My best ones have been Mephisto and Cole Haan. I'm also a Paul Green devotee. Mine are all pretty athletic-inspired, so maybe not the styles you're looking for.

And yes, sneakers can be hot, but I avoid blisters by wearing no-show socks with them. Which is a whole other trial--finding the ones that stay put. I have found Stance to work the best for me.

Another thought: Naot makes a lot of fun styles, and they have some footbeds/lasts that are designed for narrower feet.

Mephisto Women's Yael Oxford

View Info

Top Pick

5

Cole Haan Cole Haan GrandPro Tennis Shoe (Women) | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

7

Paul Green Bronte High Top Sneaker

View Info

Top Pick

6

Mephisto Mephisto Korie Flat (Women) | Nordstrom

View Info

Top Pick

10

Stance 'Ninja' No-Show Socks

View Info

Top Pick

4

Chiara

Thanks Bijou and Firecracker! I’d not heard of Frank Green, will check them out.

cat2

Veteran

Maybe some D’Orsay flats from a comfort brand like Nisolo or Naturalizer? The D’Orsay cutouts are cute and summery, but you still have a full heel and toe. I also have a pair of flats with perforated leather that are summery.

rachylou

Veteran

Keen shoes seem popular amongst the walking crowd. I just got some Keen workboots and so far so good

lozz_oz

Veteran

Seconding cat2 suggestion for shoes with cutouts/perforations. I added a pair of white leather lace ups with cutouts for times when I want a look other than a sneaker. They are by Ziera ( not sure if that brand is available to you)

Chiara

Thanks for all suggestions!
I’ve had keen shoes in the past- excellent for hiking through rainforest but enormous.
Lozz-Oz I’m looking at ziera- they have a closed toe sandal that would be perfect but they say the width is extra wide. How did you find the width?

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fashion sneakers. Go for Euro brands like:

ECCO, Gabor, Paul Green and Rieker. LOTS to choose from!

Joy

Veteran

I agree with cat2 about wearing D’Orsay flats for summer. I also like espadrilles ( Eileen Fisher) flats and sometimes sneakers but prefer slipons rather than mess with shoe laces. Jeiiy flats and Crocs are other favorites in summer. These can be hosed off and even put in the washer if they get muddy.

Staysfit

Veteran

The most comfy summer shoes I have ever owned were Reikers. Second best were Naot. Third, Beautifeel. I like Ecco and Paul Green sneakers although they are often too warm in summer. I have a narrow heel and high arch so maybe not a good comparison to your foot. Another shoe brand many of my friends seem to like is Munro.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I second Firecracker’s suggestion of Cole Haan.

The first two finds here are my own closed-toe shoes for summer. Both have all leather uppers; one has a very flexible sole while the other is more rigid. I do a lot of walking and am comfortable wearing either of these for miles. The black shoes are “the ones that got away”—the last pair in my size was snapped up before I could get them. I include them to suggest you try shoes with cut-outs. The final pair, with white in front, were stolen from my doorstep. They were wonderful, with all the support my foot needs, a full enough back piece that my heel didn’t slip around, closed toes, a secure strap and a T-strap to resolve the issue some people can have with d’orsays slipping off, but they still looked summery and sandal-like.

Have you looked into hiking sandals at all? Idk if they are what you want stylistically, but REI has many options. Skip over the glorified flip-flops, but check out the Merrills, Tevas, Keens, and similar https://www.rei.com/c/womens-sandals

Good luck & happy hiking!

by Stagiaire Fash

View Info

Børn - Womens - Passi

View Info

Top Pick

8

ESSENZA Loafers

View Info

Top Pick

4

by Stagiaire Fash

View Info

kkards

Veteran

I love sneakers, but for hot summer days I find that leather sneakers are often too hot, so look for mesh or cotton. Also fishermen type sandals, I have not tried the brand in these finds, but my mother loves them

PIKOLINOS Puerto Vallarta 655-1532

View Info

Top Pick

3

PIKOLINOS Puerto Vallarta 655-8899C1

View Info

Top Pick

2

Roberta

Veteran

I love my Eccos, but leather is too hot for summer walking. I got some perforated Skechers for my hikes, but they might be too sporty for you.

I have worn out a couple of pairs of Rieker slipons (from The Walking Company) in my life; they can be worn without socks and are well cushioned. But the Mittel Europa look isn't for everyone.

Perhaps Ilse Jacobsen sneakers would work for you? I have a silver pair that I bought randomly at the Rack and just love.

The key word for me in the summer is is "perforated"!

View Info

Chiara

These are all great suggestions, thanks everyone, I can see some happy hours of internet browsing ahead!

I was trying to think back to what worked in past years- I remember that leather sneakers/closed shoes were ok, so long as the leather is essentially unlined (and that means the leather needs to be soft, seams well finished etc).

I have long, narrow, low volume feet, so that is what makes finding shoes challenging. Many of the shoe retailers here (Australia) either don’t import narrow fittings, or only a very limited range, so I often have to ship internationally.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Speaking of Australia Chiara, could you possibly put in your profile that you live there? Last night I was wading through your old posts to find that out! Just because I was a bit surprised how easily you looked up Ziera which was originally a NZ brand, sadly went into liquidation during the pandemic and was bought by the ubiquitous Munro Footwear Group in Australia. (Who, although they are ubiquitous, I have bought from a number of times using Styletread and a different time Midas, both of which are more of their brands. They’re very good at what they do, I just feel there becomes a bit much sameness about the styles, but what can you do?)
I sometimes wear comfy sandals to walk or else slip-on sneakers, one Skechers and one Supersoft by Diana Ferrari (another Munro brand I think).

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

On the sockless question—I’m comfortable in all of mine without socks.
Happy hunting!

Chiara

Jenni, I agree about the sameness! But my biggest issue is that I need narrow width shoes- and many Au retailers don’t carry them, or only carry v limited styles at vast expense! So I import most of my shoes from the US, I get a better range and it’s typically cheaper.
I know what works for a dressier shoe, and I live in Munro sandals all summer for walking. But Munro closed shoes are, in my experience, definitely a winter shoe (for my climate). Naturalizer N width is ok for dressy shoes, but slip a bit- I couldn’t do solid walking in them.
Anyway, lots of good options suggested, I’ll find something!

birdie99

Hi @chiara. I’m also in Australia and my fussy feet have had some luck with Frankie4 shoes which are mostly online (free shipping and returns) plus they have a few boutiques too. Might be worth looking there. Good luck!
https://frankie4.com/

guest

Chiara wear sandals with heels at summer. They are comfortable for walking.

Chiara

Thanks birdie, I’ll check the brand out.
Guest, no heels for me, I love my flats!

guest

Which brand are your flats shoes chiara?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like Geox shoes for summer walking, and plan to get a new pair next summer. They have some kind of breathable membrane technology.

Geox Novae Sneaker

View Info

Top Pick

1

Chiara

Thanks UmmLila! I’ve had Geox in the past, and they are a good lightweight shoe and often good for a narrow foot.
Guest, to find brands for my AA width feet, I often start with looking at Nordstrom’s. Then I look to see if those brands are available locally- if only to go and try on to check sizing. Often there will be something available locally, but just in 1 or limited colors. Then I decide whether to import or not.

em

Merrell perforated shoes.
https://www.merrell.com/US/en/.....or=J033190