Summer shoe options and how they fit into a plan - YouLookFab Forum

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Summer shoe options and how they fit into a plan

Elly

Veteran

I need to do some serious shoe shopping for summer. I have my burgundy euro sneaks (http://www.zappos.com/salomon-.....;utm_sourc)
and my Klogs (http://www.onlineshoes.com/wom.....erm=Women%=). Neither of which are stylish or that summery-- but great for running up and down 4 flights of stairs 20x a day, so they will make it into my summer work rotation. On the weekend side of things, the SO and I spend a lot of summer in gear shoes hiking, fishing, and shooting. I also have a black suede wedge sandal with a high heel from several years ago that are great for the rare summer casual-dress occasion (graduations, special dates), so most high-heeled sandal wearing occasions are covered.

I would like to pick up 3-4 new pairs of shoes. One will be a pair of leather thongs (http://www.zappos.com/scott-ha.....d_sims_v_1), and I think the second will definitely be a pair of Jack Purcells (http://www.zappos.com/converse.....blue-whitelike Cons but with a real insole and an arch!).

The next two-pair are trickier. I can wear sandals to work, but they have to be a substantial style with no or a very stable heel and cannot be slides. That said, part of work is very over-AC and the other part will be quite warm. I also have the 4 flights of stairs I mentioned. I want to be able to wear whatever pairs I pick outside of work.

http://www.zappos.com/aetrex-s.....ef=pd_sims

http://www.zappos.com/earth-or.....oft-nubuck

http://www.zappos.com/el-natur.....-n433-lila

http://www.zappos.com/earthies-vanya-black

http://www.zappos.com/earthies.....in-leather

My main foot gripe is arch support-- I have to have a lot of it in a shoe, and I have a pinky hammertoe which can sometimes cause issues with straps or low vamps on shoes.

I am also including the link to a thread I started with my shopping list for this year:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....list--2014

Any shoe will be worn with knee-length or midi jersey skirts, BF jeans, and bootcuts. Mostly navy, blue, and black bottoms, maybe with some red.

Suggestions?Alternatives? Do I have some duds?

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from adorkable

Elly

Veteran

Originally I was hoping for a pair of low-ish vamped red flats, then a pair of sandals. However, I didn't find what I was looking for and am concerned about footwear colors with the more color I wear in the winter. Since I will only have 2-3 options to wear to work with bottoms that aren't bootcut jeans. Is the concern valid? What do you ladies suggest (I need advice since I tend to be the anti-shoe lady except when it comes to boots)?

Inge

(website)

Elly, I have to get some more work done, but am bumping this for you, and will try to chime in later too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Elly, why are sandals on your list? They are the least supportive style of shoe. Closed Summer shoes like loafers, oxfords, and slipper flats are a better idea, don't you think? You do have casual ballet flats on your list though. That's a more supportive option.

Elly

Veteran

Good question, Angie. I get kinda stumped on summer shoes. I guess the main reason I was looking for a sandal option was because I often wear full-length jeans to work and enjoy some open skin on the bottom in the summer, and because I was hoping to wear a least one pair as a second weekend shoe. While my work is air-conditioned, it is regularly in the 80s and 90s where I live and few other places have AC. I was a bit concerned about sweaty feet and sockless rubbing in many other options. Plus, many of the trendier footwear options don't necessarily have as many "supportive" manufacturers on board yet, and I find more minimal summer shoes harder to fit a real arch supporting orthotic in.

Any suggestions?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Elly, I have to rest my arms right now so I can't help you browse the web at the moment (try Dansko loafers though) - but I like some of the pairs you posted quite a bit for your style. Can you roll your jeans to showcase a bit of ankle and calf?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting, Angie -- I find sandals (with their straps) MORE supportive than flats -- which my feet fly out of at a whim, and usually don't provide any arch support.

Given your situation, Elly, I think one pair of sandals would work just fine, along with a closed option.

So, if I'm reading you correctly, you'd like a sandal that is fairly casual, but versatile. To wear with skirts, jeans, and shorts -- but your lifestyle isn't dressy.

The ones you've picked all look super casual and a bit boho/ earthy. Is that the direction you want to go in, or is that a default, or just something you've reached in aiming for the comfort features you require?

Elly

Veteran

Please rest those wrists, Angie! I will look at Danskos. I can roll BFs and straight legs, but the bootcuts are too wide at the bottom to roll successfully and currently dominate in my wardrobe.

Suz, thanks for chiming in-- I would agree that my lifestyle is VERY casual but that I still like to look put-together.

I'm not going for boho persay- I don't mind earthy (adventurous, outdoorsy, rugged-- not necessarily florals and bell sleeves) but what I really want is probably classic with a masculine AND casual lean. With that inscription the first thing that comes to mind are oxfords, loafers and slipper flats for sure, but IDK if that is really what I want-- I tend to dress on the classic/masculine side and while I don't want heels I'm afraid that the more masculine shoe options read really bulky or very "gentlemanly" and more dressed up than I prefer. I love many of Angie's pins for sneakers looks with skirts and jeans and love the look of ballet flats (but find them hard to fit, like you). Beyond that, I love my boots but don't want to wear them in the winter and don't mind open or closed toe (I do paint my toenails) but want at least one shoe option with a bit of an open vamp so when I wear my bootcuts I am not swarthed in leather and denim to my neck!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Okay then! I'm going to give this some thought and do a bit of looking around.

Elly

Veteran

Thanks, Suz : )

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I also find sandals MORE supportive, which is why I rarely have trouble with my feet in the summer.

Those brands you linked to are supposedly great for support. My favorite summer shoes ever, in terms of support, is a flip-flop by Orthaheel. I've been meaning to check if they offer less-casual options. I can walk 12 hours in those flip-flops without issue. I have a pair as my indoor slippers, too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Suz, agreed. Flats with no arch support are less supportive than heeled sandals with a low heel for some feet. My point was more that you can't insert an orthotic into a sandal - and you can into a closed Summer shoe (flat of low heeled), like a loafer, ballet flat or slipper flat. Hope that makes sense.

Elly and I can high five on fussy feet. I so, so, so get it despite the fact that our foot needs are different. Elly, great that you can roll your jeans a little for Summer - straight legs and BFs are fab for that.

Okay. Back to the shoes. Loving both pairs of ballet flats you linked to. Were you thinking a high or low contrast colour? How about some slip-on sneakers?

I am about to head out with a client so will chime again much later. xo

Elly

Veteran

Thanks so much for chiming back in, Angie.

Glad you liked the ballet flats. I was thinking the copper-y color if I went with one pair, and the orange pair if I went with the other. I don't mind the beige/nude color, but don't know about it on me.

I'm not apposed to slip-on sneakers, but that would leave me with 3 pair of work sneakers.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes, it sounds as if you need a slightly "dressier" flat or low heeled closed option for the versatility you're seeking.

How about a pointy toed flat of some kind? Or an almond toed one? If you can wear an absolute flat (I can't!) then this one comes in fun colours and looks as if it might be really versatile.

Here's a cut out oxford that could be fun, too.

An Ecco ballet style flat in metallic.

Leopard print. With pointy toe.

A Timberland sandal.

Something a little funkier and unexpected. Comes in other colours, too.

Elly

Veteran

Thanks for your time Suz-- there are some great looking options there! My problem is that I need the arch support built into the shoe unless it is a closed, higher vamp shoe like an oxford, sneaker, loafer, etc. I can't keep an orthotic in a flat flat and keep them on my feet! That limits me a lot.

I really wish the Naturalistas were just a little-less granola--y. The close-toe slingback style in a relative flat or a low wedge would be really nice.

Slipper flats in a comfort style or a moc would be nice, but I'm not finding a pair that will work comfort wise without being really heavy looking.

I guess part of my problem is that I am conflicted. I want sneakers and flats and sandals and something masculine that works with skirts but something less chunky occasionally. IDK that I will find that. 5 pairs of shoes would be ideal style-wise (cake and all that) but would be way overkill for the length of our season, even if sneaks and ballet flats could transition into fall and spring.

These Caspian slip ons look nice, but then we are back to two pairs of sneakers:
http://www.zappos.com/josef-seibel-caspian-06-red

adorkable

Veteran

Would you wear something like any of these? All are quite sturdy, and some are fairly decent-looking. I've only included things I would consider wearing to work myself!

http://www.zappos.com/clarks-jaina-rouge-red

http://www.zappos.com/clarks-petrina-corra-black

http://www.zappos.com/clarks-lexi-sumac-red

http://www.zappos.com/clarks-kessa-gazebo-platinum

http://www.zappos.com/clarks-wendy-land-red

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The Naturalistas are definitely worth trying. They might look less "granola-y" on your foot.

I understand your conflict, too. It's similar to Ingunn's conflict about the MK pumps. Does it really make sense to buy a high heeled pump when your lifestyle doesn't require it? Not that you want a high heel. It's just tough to justify spending on an even slightly dressier, more refined shoe if you won't actually wear the thing. I have this problem, too. And often end up buying the shoe, regardless. :/

I do tend to feel that if you want to wear dresses/ skirts at all, it's good to have something that doesn't look downright dorky with them. Otherwise...well....you know...you just won't wear the dresses or skirts!

Elly

Veteran

Adorkable--- those are all cute. The styles themselves are not bad (I particularly like the 1st pair and the Kessas) but Clarks has lots of different footbeds and only a couple work for me-- and usually only with a high heel! I have a pair of almost 3" that I can wear as maybe 5 hour shoes, but the lower ones don't have enough arch--- i know this is quite the challenge because the issue isn't just something like needing a wide or a comfort shoe, etc.

Suz-- I might see if the one store in our area that sells them has a pair of Naturalistas to try on. They might have the Earthies too, but I will still likely have to order because they tend to carry limited colors.

I feel you-- I think you explained my dillema fairly well. Maybe 60-70% of the time I would be perfectly happy in sneakers with jeans or a skirt and leather thongs on weekends. However, that remaining 30% or so it would really be nice to have the option of looking a bit less "sporty" persay and a bit more polished but still causual or have a more open-breathable option. I have a pair of heeled sandals and don't need another for my lifestyle, but this is the 7th or 8th season I've been without an option between thongs and sneakers and I would love to have 1-2 options.

adorkable

Veteran

Gotcha - I didn't know the specifics of the fussiness. But then it definitely stands to reason that something that can accommodate orthotics will be the way to go.

Old, but might be useful in terms of brands:
http://www.barkingdogshoes.com.....otics.html