A Reader Needs Footwear Suggestions!!
"After 8 babies, I just cannot wear the cheap, cute, flat sandals that are so easy to come by and so cute with skirts. I have to have something supportive so I end up wearing my reebok tennis shoes with shorts or pants because I can't bring myself to wear them with a skirt. If footwear were not an issue, I'd love wearing skirts much of the time because I feel feminine and pretty in them. But there are days when my feet need support. Is there a sandal you could recommend that is versatile, supportive and comfortable?"
I struggled with feet problems when I was in high school. I actually went to a specialist and was fitted for orthotics that could only be worn in tennis shoes. My feet hurt constantly. Somehow, I just outgrew it after wearing the orthotics for about a year or two. I am extremely grateful!
During that time I just accepted the fact that I had to wear the tennis shoes with my skirts, and tried to get a simple tennis shoe design that wouldn't draw even more attention to the fact that I had a skirt on with tennis shoes! I wasn't thrilled with it, but I didn't feel like I had many other options.
I haven't invested in many expensive shoes. My sister blessed me by giving me some Birkenstock sandals, and I've lived in those two pairs the past two summers. They are extremely comfortable and have excellent support.
One good resource to check out is from the "She Wears Skirts" series. Amy and I did a post on footwear, and the comments left had wonderful ideas!
Can any of our readers help Stacy out and give ideas as to what comfortable shoes you wear with your skirts?
posted by Caroline @ The Modest Mom @ 9:31 PM
33 Comments
33 Comments:
Sometimes I just have to wear tennis shoes with mine too. I have some other comfy shoes I wear with them, because I too have problems with my feet...but I don't know that they count as "cute". I talked with my husband and he said he just wants my feet to be comfortable...he doesn't mind that I wear tennis shoes at times with my skirts. I'm searching for other alternatives, but I would say, until you find one...don't worry about it! Wear the tennis shoes with your skirts when you have to. Not something to stress about. :D Just serve the Lord and your family with Joy while you do and you will look quite beautiful! :D
I have learned that for casual everyday wear I can wear my tennis shoes with my skirts and it looks fine (especially denim skirts). You can really wear them with anything, the shoes can change it from dressy to casual. For more business-casual or church type events, I have a brown pair of Skechers Mary Jane type shoes. They are extremely comfortable and stylish and go with just about everything. You can get them in different colors as well.
I wear some slip on tennies by Easy Spirit. And clogs/sandals by Clarks. They are both rather pricey but I wear them daily and have for 4-5 years ~ so the cost averages out. This year I had to replace my Clarks clogs for the first time ~ had them 7 years. So I am praying the ones I bought last 7 years also!
Crocs. They actually have a wide variety of styles (and fun colors), that are not all as "clunky" as the originals...Some are actually quite feminine! They are comfortable, supportive, and great for hot summers. It all depends on your personal style, but many of them will work well with different types of skirts... :)
Have you ever heard of Fit Flops? They are wonderful! I always wear skirts and have never really cared for tennis shoes with them (although I do it all the time). I bought a pair of fit flops last summer and they are super comfortable, have wonderful support and are still cute sandals! :)
I hope you are able to find something that you like!
Dansko shoes! I can't wear shoes that don't have good support, and I love my Dansko shoes. I have these sandals: http://www.dansko.com/Womens/Footwear/Collections/Sausalito/Serena/Brandy%20Waxy/
& I just love how they look and feel. So feminine :)
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikewomen/en_US/shoes?hf=10001^12001^4294967088&p=PWP&t=Women%27s%20Sandals%20&%20Flip-Flops#?ll=en_US&ct=US&pid=245584&cid=100701&pgid=219514&p=PDP
I received those flip flops this summer for my birthday and I have been wearing them all summer. They are so comfortable and so supportive (I am 20 weeks pregnant and chase a 16 month old) that I am glad I received them. They seem cheaper at a local store.
http://www.naturalizer.com/en-US/Womens/_/_/Casual+Shoes/_/Products.aspx
I also found a pair of Naturalizer Mary Janes at Goodwill and I wear them as well. They are heavy enough to wear in the winter with high socks and supportive enough to wear all day. I believe they can be expensive but they seem to be great quality and look good with skirts.
These are cute and so comfy:
http://www.zappos.com/keen-golden-mj-potting-soil
They are not sandals, but I would trust that Keen sandals would be comfy. HTH!
Great question! I have the exact same problem!
There are many supportive shoes out there that look great with skirts, and yet most of them are expensive. But on the flip side, they last really well!
I have high arches and need the support, but have not worn a pair of regular tennis shoes in years.
I think it is fine if you wear skirts all the time, to have an athletic outfit with a knit or denim skirt that you wear tennis shoes with.
A couple of options, one that I have gotten tons of compliments on is this pair from Lands End's Mary Jane Trekkers...
http://www.landsend.com/pp/MaryJaneShoes~223970_253.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::WTL&CM_MERCH=IDX_Shoes-_-CasualShoesBoots&origin=index
Land's End also puts their shoes on sale often and if you sign up, they will send you 30%-40% off coupons with free shipping often.
I also have a pair of Merrill's sandals that I bought from Sierra Trading company that are great support, look nice and are cute with summer skirts. They were about $40, but I have had them for 3 years, wearing them everyday in the summer and they are going strong still.
I also have a Payless knock off of Mary Jane Sketchers that look great with skirts too.
Some of the Keds are retro and cute. If they don't have enough support, you might be able to put some Dr. Shcoll's or something in them. I have also hear of some OKA b. flops and sandals that are the same rubber type thing as Crocs but have bows. And Crocs have lots of different styles, not just there iconic one (which makes my foot look ginormous!)
The sandals that sports stores sell have support & are oftentimes fashionable and versatile with many outfits. I like to go when they have their big end-of-summer sales.
Some say "$30 for a pair of sandals is too much," but....we spend how much of our God-given time on our feet? Those shoes will pay for themselves: they last a long time and they keep us happier without tired, achy feet!
I have to second the Dansko recommendation. I had a 2 yr episode of plantar fasciitis that made any of my shoes incredibly painful to wear. I could however wear my danskos and be on my feet for, literally, hours. They are pricey but they last forever, and once you know your size you can find them online for less than the store most times.
Good luck! I know what foot pain can be and how it can cripple your day.
Ann
I'm also a birkenstock sandal girl for around the house. I have a similar pair, and since I bought mine they've come out with many more styles that are attractive.
In the summer I wear Birkenstock Gizeh sandals and switch them out with my Privos when it is colder. I wear Lands End moccasins in the winter (when I am not outside). I can't wear flip flops any more either, they have caused me to have aches in my ankles from years of wearing them! It's worsened since I had my first baby. I feel this woman's pain!
www.acorkerslife.blogspot.com
I third the Dansko recommendation! They are a bit pricey but I wear them literally almost everyday for 4 years before I retired my old ones. Now they have a second life as my "garden" shoes. So the price does even it's self out over time. I work in the hospital and am on my feet for 12+hours/ 5 days a week so I can not recommend these more!
Try some of Merrell's Mary Jane type shoes.
I love Tevas they work & last a long time. Tennis shoes can be worn with skirts but you have to go with a shoe that is less chunky and streamlined. Try converse (not the high top) or keds. Leather shoes will work if they dont have a huge thick sole and fit close to your foot.
I have had a lot of success with Dr. Scholl's shoes (any style), which I buy at Walmart. Good rubber soles give support for the foot and their styles are better than they used to be. I usually pay $20-30 for a pair and they last me a long time (several years). I buy only black, brown, and beige shoes so they are likely to go with all of my clothes. They tend to get picked over in my size, however, so I often pass through the shoe section of Walmart in the hopes of finding what I need when it's fresh off the truck!
Sketchers is a good brand, too, although my black Mary Janes cost something like $52. Very comfy and lots of people have commented how cute they are.
I wear custom orthodics too--in tennis shoes. My mom got custom orthodics made so they actually fit in her church shoes, but she rarely wears skirts anyway. I just wear some simple flats to church, since I'm mostly sitting, and sometimes when I go out. I'm mostly at home (1 car family, you know) so it hasn't been much of a problem.
I have seen these Bandles, which are flip-flop style sandals with changeable bands. They have pretty good support, and I think they would be great in summer or a hot climate.
You could always find some slim black shoes that are big enough to fit Dr Sholls and try that. I have a pair of black service shoes (like what nurses wear) that I wear in the winter, and they don't look too terrible with a skirt--not like regular tennis shoes. But they are too hot for the summer.
I should look into a good pair of Burkenstocks. I get so tired of shoes on hot days (at least we haven't had many of them this year in Oregon--if I were anywhere else, I'd probably have found something like that by now!)
Make that Bandals. Here's their site: http://www.google.com/m/url?client=safari&ei=JLFCTtD8L5PQMdikovsC&hl=en&oe=UTF-8&q=http://www.bandals.com/&ved=0CBQQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNGW_UI1QyEdGAvLGJiOI7q_njAE2A
I second (third?) the sketcher's mary janes (my black pair are 2+ years old and going strong). I also like birks, but betulla is a knock off brand that is every bit as nice, half the cost. You can find them on Amazon.
Danskos are really, REALLY heavy. I too work as a nurse and couldn't stand them. I felt as though my feet were in concrete blocks. (And I really wanted to like them!)
Also, keds makes cute low profile sneaks with decent support. Paired with a jean skirt they look fine. I am more a function than form girl :)
I have to wear custom orthodics too. Which I don't relish in the summer. :( I found a nice pair of SAS shoes that don't look to "grandma" on me. (My grandmother wears nothing but SAS shoes and I really didn't want to be her lookalike LOL!) They were expensive, I have to say that, but much nicer than hot pink Nikie walking shoes! ;)My orthodics fit quite nicely in them, though I did have to go up a size from what I normal wear.
~Heather Joy
I would search around on sites like zappos.com, shoebuy.com and onlineshoes.com. They are great for moms - free shipping both ways (if you need to return or exchange.
Try brands like Clarks,Privo by Clarks, Keen, Born, Ecco,
www.6pm.com is like the outlet for zappos so left over things on sale. Check out the pair below.
http://www.6pm.com/timberland-kennebunk-mystic-braids-slide-dark-brown?zlfid=a9
I would also suggest orthodics. They make a huge difference. The brand foot levelers makes ones that can go in Ballet flats!
Also, how cute are these:
http://www.dillards.com/product/Nurture-Trinity-Thong-Sandals_301_-1_301_502700646
http://www.dillards.com/product/Nurture-Sprout-Thong-Sandals_301_-1_301_502717675
Nuture is a great brand.
Good quality shoes are worth the money!
I say don't give into the tennis shoe thing! I mean every once in a while for a exercise day or something like that, sure. Tennis shoes with skirts do not encourage others to wear skirts or dress modest! For winter, knee high boots with orthodics if you need them are awesome!
Also, if you do have to do tennis shoes for certain occasions there are some like keds and others that at least are less tennis shoe like.http://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/cat_womens_shoes.htm?category=wretro&sort=POP&size=&width=&shoeLast=&price=
Heather - check this brand out for orthodics:
http://www.footlevelers.com/products/orthotics_5th_avenue.php
If you look around their site they have orthodic shoes too but the orthodics for normal pairs of shoes are great. I love mine and put them in totally normal shoes, especially ballet flats. :)
I live in Birkenstocks & Fit Flops. Sketchers also makes a good shoe called Shape-ups. I buy most of my shoes at Amazon.com or sometimes I can find them at the thrift store.
I really love wearing Okabashi sandals. It took a little to get used to them at first, but now, they are so comfortable and have a nice bit of support in my arch. I also love that I can just hose them off to clean them!
http://www.okabashi.com/Women-Products/b/2359392011?searchSize=36
Try SAS shoes. I broke my ankle 9 years ago and that is what the Dr. reccommended for dress shoes and sandals. They used to only have old lady style shoes but not anymore. They are getting more younger looking styles and they last forever and are really comfortable. They are definitley worth the money. http://www.sasshoes.com/main/view_styles_catalog.php?catid=4
I like the Clarks and Crocs. I have lots of problems (neck, back, knee, ankle, and foot), so I need supportive shoes. I am originally from FL so I love flip flops. I found some nice Clarks at JCPenney and I also love just about all the Crocs sandals, so does my step-mom who has had foot surgery and used to wear her Crocs to teach in. They are not badly priced either, most of the ones I have found are around $20. There is also a store called The Walking Company, who are a little more expensive, but well worth it. http://www.thewalkingcompany.com/sandals-womens
I really like my new five finger shoes by Vibram! They make look a little silly, but I get all kinds of compliments,and they don't hurt my legs and feet!
God Bless!
Ashley
Wow!!! thank you all for the comments and recommendations. Now I just need to go shopping!
I love earth shoes. They are on the pricey side, but you can find them discounted on ebay. They have many adorable *flat* styles that are ohhhh so comfy. They are made so you walk in a natural position (heel lower than toe). I had my first pair as a child (think my mum found them at a thrift shop), but I am still seeking them out.
;-)
Kimmie
mama to 8
one homemade and 7 adopted
I wear mary janes by Dr. Martens and they are VERY comfortable and feminine. They run a little expensive though (mine were $50 when I bought them in the 1990s).
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