Wardrobe Audit: Part Four. Footwear - YouLookFab Forum

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Wardrobe Audit: Part Four. Footwear

Style Fan

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Footwear is really where I need to start when I get dressed. I am so limited with what I can wear. I am many problems with my feet. I won't list them. I will say that I consider it a good day if my feet are not hurting.
I need to buy footwear this year. I have found some brands that work for me and of course they are expensive.

Winter
Snowboots
Black Kneehigh Sorels (not fashionable type)

Winter Hiking/Walking Boots
Black Merrills (warm and waterproof)
Brown Prospector (warm and waterproof)

Smart Casual Winter Boots
Brown Suede Knee high Timberland (warm and waterproof)

Autumn and Spring
Rainboots
Black Marks Work Wearhouse Mid Calf Rain Boots

Booties
El Naturalista Brown/burgundy Chelsea Style
Cantor cognac desert boot style
Trippin blue/black combat boot style
Clarks cognac 2" heel
Reiker black 1" heel (steam punk heel) for funerals
Fryes tan harness style

Walking Shoes
New Balance sneakers

Summer Sandals
Casual
Olukai Brown Flip Flops
Copper Arizona Birks
Tan Arizona Birks
Bronze Gizeh Birks
Mustard Finn Comfort

Wedges
Brown and Yellow Reiker
Brown Reiker
Multicoloured Spanish Wedges
Silver Fly
Bronze Clarks with Cork Wedge

Pumps
Black Velvet D'Orsay with small heel

Currently I can walk in the Finn Comfort without pain. I would like to purchase a pair of sneakers by this company. I can wear the El Naturalista if a lot of walking is not needed and be comfortable.
I also need new winter boots. Not boots for -30 C but boots for wandering around and walking Sophie.
That is 2 pairs of footwear at least on my list.

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

LaPed

Veteran

I love your audit posts!

Footwear puts me in a bind too. I have an easy time finding casual options, but pairs that can dress up a bit but still be good for a full day or evening on my feet -- that's hard. And winter boots -- well, I just don't like shopping for winter boots.

It looks like you have lots of fun bootie options, though! That's something I'd like to work on.

Style Fan

Veteran

Thank you La Ped. Dressing up is very difficult for me too. I have been looking for 3 years for winter boots. I have not found a pair that feels right on my feet and will be warm enough.

Tanya

Veteran

I love reading these wardrobe audit posts, Style Fan. I also have fussy feet and find footwear one the most important elements of style.

For warm winter boots, have you looked at Uggs? Not their classic puffy style, but sleeker versions, the last few years they have been coming up with some of those. My winter boots are from them: waterproof leather, warmly lined, yet fairly sleek.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Style Fan, now we are talking!! This may be a problem area for you but you have clearly put a great deal of thought and experimentation into it and discovered some brands and types that work well and your footwear collection seems like a size that is adequate to your needs on the whole. I (of course) wholeheartedly applaud any additions you might choose!

For dog walking do you prefer short, mid-calf, or knee high boots?

Style Fan

Veteran

Thank you Tanya for the Uggs idea. I will check them out. Maybe they will work for me. They look great.

Style Fan

Veteran

Suz I have a lot of experience in the footwear department. And this is after a major purge. My winter boots are really needing to be replaced. I am about to put duct tape on my Sorels. Canadians would understand duct tape.
For dog walking in the winter I prefer a pair of winter hiking boots but they are hard to find. They need to work on icy surfaces, be waterproof and be very warm. That is why I have boots that are ancient. I can't find replacements. Oh yes they need to have arch support.
I also want boots that look nice. Similar to the ones that Tanya posted. My Timberland ones are dated looking. They are great but past their prime.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hear you. We have similar requirements and I agree, it's a tough spot to fill.

Last year -- after two years of polar vortex and unprecedented snowfall-- I bought the Ugg Adirondacks. The expensive tall ones.

Well. Guess what. They are beautiful. Extremely well made. Superbly warm. Not bad looking. Evidently waterproof. All things great.

Except....they don't really work too well on ice and even packed snow. The treads are not substantial enough. And...they are too flat for my feet.

I do have room for an insole so I am going to try one with arch support this year and see if it helps.

But I really need something with a lug sole.

I've loved my Sweeties. They got pretty worn out in two years but I just had them refurbished and they are looking okay. They're not good for the most freezing days of course. And I do wear an insole for plantar fasciitis in them.

I also have the Garmont gear boot but I pretty much wear that only for snowy hikes and snowshoeing. It is surprisingly comfortable and not bad looking though.

Check the Bay for Aquatalias from last season --- sometimes one can get lucky. I would also highly recommend La Canadienne.

UGG Australia Women's Adirondack Tall Leather Boot

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Aquatalia By Marvin K. 'Sweetie' Short Boot (Nordstrom Exclusive) (Women)

$450.00 $249.97

Sale

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Garmont Women's Momentum Snow GTX Winter Hiking Boot

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El Cee

Veteran

Another fab audit. You are on a roll! Echoing the suggestion of Uggs. I have a pair of the Adirondack Tall Leather Boots -- going on 4 years old. They are supportive and are toasty warm even in the worst of winter weather. They have held up very well in our crazy New England winters. I do not have a dog to walk, but I am a bus commuter and have to deal with all kinds of slushy/icy walkways and inclement weather.

UGG Adirondack Tall

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Style Fan

Veteran

Thank you for the recommendations Suz. I have also been struggling with plantar fasciitis and this summer I seem to be PF free. I don't want to aggravate it with winter boots which is why I am so picky. It is so painful and I have other foot issues to work around. Too bad about the UGG ones. I was looking at those ones.
I had a pair of La Cad that I wore out. They were great. I will check them out too. I don't have wide feet but I have a bunion starting that gets aggravated easily. TMI? I have to watch for boots that might be too narrow in the toe box.

Style Fan

Veteran

Thanks El Cee. I will check out the Uggs.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Not TMI at all, and I think you should check out the Adirondacks anyway (or the shorter version) because they might work for you. My foot does better with more lift but not everyone is the same. I did wear mine all winter with the PF and they didn't seem to aggravate it exactly...they just didn't make it go away. But that perhaps is asking the impossible!

Style Fan

Veteran

Thanks Suz. I will check out the Uggs. I will probably go the shorter version. All that lacing is a nightmare when I am trying to get out the door.

shiny

Veteran

Commenting so I can follow this thread. I have big gaps in the footwear department as well.

Chris987

Veteran

Love this posting. I notice you have quite a few Reiker's. I have leather ankle boots and some slip on sneakers of that brand and really love them, although I find them to be sporty/classic and not super modern looking. has that been our experience with the brand? (two finds below)

I bought the Uggs below last winter and they were warm, supportive, and good on ice, although our winter here in New England was fairly mild compared to snowmageddon of the previous year. I also wore them around Brussels in December not because it was snowy and icy but because I brought them and one other pair of walking shoes so swapped back and forth. They were great for walking around.

Also, duct tape is not just a Canadian thing, my friends. My DH wraps it around old sneakers to keep them alive for working in his vegetable garden. When the duct tape disintegrates he re-applies. It's quite a charming look but it keeps them going. I think I've seen him do it on old leather loafers too for working around the house. Part of his must-have accessory kit

Rieker R3425 Liv 25

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UGG 'Cecile' Waterproof Boot (Women)

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Style Fan

Veteran

Glad you are following Shiny. Hope you find some footwear to fill your gaps.
Chris I find Reikers very comfortable and that is a big plus for me. Some of their sandals are very nice although they are definitely on the casual side. I don't think I would call them current or trendy but some styles are modern.
It seems that Uggs are popular on the forum. I will definitely have to check them out.
There was a Canadian show called the Red Green show. The main character used duct tape for everything. Now I know that it is a worldwide thing.

bj1111

Veteran

need.new.winter.boots.

thanks for starting this thread. lots of tips already.

Style Fan

Veteran

bj1111 I am very thankful to the YLF forum for all the great tips for winter boots. I have some ideas of where to start my shopping from this wonderful community.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

StyleFan, I walk and run with my dog Reed (who pulls) every day in winter. When it is not icy I am good with Aquatalias and La Canadiennes. I can't speak to your particular foot problems but in terms of fear of falling there is only one kind of boot I have found that works on ice and my steep driveway and they are not pretty but have built in steel studs that grip into the ice. It is a Swedish brand called Icebug. I am not even sure they are still operating. They are still available on Amazon e.g. <https://www.amazon.com/Icebug-.....8&>

Style Fan

Veteran

Thank you UmmLila for the recommendation. I will look into them. I am not concerned about pretty for my winter walking boots. Falling on ice is not pretty.

Style Fan

Veteran

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