Spring footwear suggestions please!

[MaryWestmacott]

sooo, looking for some inspiration for spring footwear on maternity leave (so needs to be suitable for pushing a buggy for miles, rules out the heels I have already).

I'm fine for winter - knee high and ankle boots, and for summer I've got a selection of comfy flat sandles I can walk for miles in, but this weather, (feels too sunny for boots, too cold for sandles) that throws me, and I end up in mumsy converse or ballet pumps. However, last year everyone was saying that ballet pumps were a bit mumsy.

I have 2 pairs of brogues (grey and brown) but neither are particularly comfy for walking any sort of distance, any other suggestions? Are we doing loafers? Are they ok with skinny jeans? Will I look like I have hte feet of a pornographer or golf club bore?

Another complication is I have small feet, size 3, lots of places for some reason are now only stocking size 4 and above.

Help please! was so much easier when I just wore silly heels in the office with scruffy running trainers to walk to and from the station

[AnythingNotEverything]

I think I'm in the same boat (but with boat like feet). I currently wear converse but the trend has definitely turned. I love them though!

I can't walk miles with the pram in anything I need to clench my toes to keep on (ie ballet pumps) and you have to think practically as you could et stick miles from home in the rain I n impractical shoes.

I've just moved into skinny jeans as I'm too fat/have too much baby podge for my loose boyfriend for jeans, and I just can't get the shoes right.

People keep talking about the new trainers, but I don't really get it. I'm 32 so hardly past it but I'm lost!

Hopefully someone will come with clocks links to rescue us ...

[MaryWestmacott]

Glad it's not just me! Realising just how easy being stylish in 'office wear' is, and how hard it is not to be 'mumsy' in casual clothes once you're over the age of 20...

Once we're properly into summer I'm fine (just need to actually deal with my toenails), it's this bit where sandals aren't an option that causes the angst.

I'm close to wanting the rain back because I can do wellies with a 'festival style' well. (Well, my wellies are covered in mud...)

[sotiredfornow]

Same problem here. Hope someone comes along with suggestions :)

[MaryWestmacott]

See, I quite like these loafers but they don't make them small enough for me. Perhaps I need to start looking in the children's section...

[MaryWestmacott]

I also like these brogues but I already have some uncomfortable brogues from topshop (ok for a short walk, but not for being out all day) and are we supposed to be wearing brogues with no socks? That is just going to be sweaty and also uncomfy. Trainer socks would show in those...

[mameulah]

This is a great thread, I only wish I had the answer!!! I totally agree with everything you have all said so far.

The freezing cold but bright and sunny days are tricky for footwear. And what is the deal with the 'new trainer'?

[hettie]

Well... slip on trainers seem to be all the thing...
I quite like these and these are fun (and cheaper)

[frankietwospots]

I took delivery of these today and they are gorgeous. Really comfy. There is 25% off at the moment too.

www.kurtgeiger.com/laurel-multi-coloured-pony-41-carvela-kurt-geiger-shoe.html

[MadBusLady]

I bought those Gap loafers today Mary and they are soon comfy. And I'm fussy and have wide-ish feet.

(Autocorrect wanted to change that to sideshow feet. They're not that bad.)

[AnythingNotEverything]

I quite like these m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com/Fred-Perry/Fred-Perry-Jet-South-Sea-Deckchair-Blue-Pumps/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3853904&cid=6992&Rf900=1562&sh=0&pge=1&pgesize=50&sort=1&clr=Blue

And re: trainers - I read something (maybe in the Guardian) about trainers like this coming back. I feel too old. Even at 32!
m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com/Nike/Nike-Lunar-Air-Max-Trainers/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3873123&SearchQuery=trainers&Rf-700=1000&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=50&sort=-1&clr=Greyanthracite

[AnythingNotEverything]

And I've learnt that those slip on trainers are called "skaters". I feel young now. My teenage son would be so impressed.

[Shimmyshimmy]

I'd do trainers. I love loafers but they don't love me - too classic...I wouldn't consider Converse Mumsy, my kids wear them, I prefer Spring Court but that's a fit thing.

[hettie]

It has to be said i don't actualy own a pair of slip on trainers (far too cool for me)

[AnythingNotEverything]

Shimmy - but what kind of trainers?! It's a tricky thing!

[frankietwospots]

New Balance trainers are all over fashion blogs like this:

www.whatiboughttoday.com/fashion-new-balance-trainers/

Not my bag at all. Trainers are for the gym in my opinion.

[Shimmyshimmy]

Yeah new balance seem to be the thing for fashion...I wear asics but then I run - and I'm hard as nails! I haven't ventured into the trainers for fashion thing but I approve - footwear needs to be fit for purpose...but then I subscribe to saltwater sandals so what do I know.

[MaryWestmacott]

Oooh, I like the Fred perry ones.

Right, slip on trainers, like vans. Calling them skaters and pretending to be young, I can do that, sort of...

I do rather like the gap loafers (mainly because they are loafers without tassels, tassels on loafers does look a bit 'jag driving, golf playing dullard' to my mind), and grey is rather a forgiving colour, but they only start at size 4 annoyingly as well, checked their children's range and the loafers for children aren't leather.

[CambridgeBlue]

I love trainers and was all for getting some New Balance but after seeing them on all the fashion bloggers I've changed my mind - even the tallest, slimmest, coolest people look frumpy and a bit desperate in them IMO. And round here nobody would know they were in fashion and I'd just look like I'd got lost on the way to the gym.

I'm not a fan of loafers or the hideous driving shoes that get recommended but I recently got some brogues and I love them, wore them a lot over the winter but think they will also be good for this time of year. I've just bought some almost flat pointed pumps as well (small block heel, very in apparently) but crucially they have an ankle strap. You can't really see the strap as I wear them with trousers but it stops that scrunching your feet up thing you get with ballet pumps and I think these also look more modern. Haven't walked far in them yet though so can't vouch for the comfort factor.

[MaryWestmacott]

Cambridge, where are your flat with an ankle strap shoes from please?

I think the new balance ones would wrong on me, too chunky in what looks like a size 5/6, they'd look silly in a 3.

[AnythingNotEverything]

I think in with you on the New Balance thing.

I'm not stylish enough to look like I wasn't wearing them by accident.

[MadBusLady]

Yes, I think they look fine and deliberate if everything else is groomed and polished to the max. I'm quite classic, can't do casual at all. The gold loafers were quite brave for me!

[Shimmyshimmy]

I'd look like a commuter in trainers - like they were a temporary footwear solution rather than a deliberate choice,

[FreeButtonBee]

I have some red suede brogues which are very comfy (got them in tk maxx)

also I am doing the NB trainer thing with rolled up boyfriend jeans/ I have a crazy bright green and purple pair that in no way look like gym trainers.

There is a great blog called en brogue which has loads of flat shoe ideas. Recommend for a bit of inspiration (although it's pretty fashion forward!)

I would love to try smoking slippers but I can't quite work up the chutzpah.

[icanmakeyouicecream]

I love Toms. Very comfy for lots of buggy pushing!

[CambridgeBlue]

These are the ankle strap shoes I got - I know Next are generally hated on here but I usually find something I like in there especially for shoes. I've just ordered these as well which are completely not me but I love them, so bright and cheery :)