To want a pair of comfortable, smart and long lasting shoes

[SwabianMrs]

Hi Great Minds

I’m pretty certain that I’m not being unreasonable wanting a pair of super comfortable, smart and long lasting shoes but they don’t seem to exist.

I live in the Mary Jane shoes from the Marisota website - they do 2 out of the 3 things - they are very comfortable and smart enough. But they don’t last and can’t be fixed.

I’m very heavy with wide feet and have to stand/walk a lot (on certain days 8-10 hours). I can’t have anything remotely casual looking ( professional customer facing). Price isn’t the problem if these are shoes that I could keep for years. No way of saying this without sounding like a snob but I’m at the stage of my career that I need to stop looking “cheap”. I don’t enjoy shoes/shoe shopping - they don’t need to be beautiful just clearly smart. I have little variety and wear things till they die - I have 4 pairs of shoes excluding work shoes. That is, a pair of DMs and converse in the winter and two pairs of Birkenstock’s in summer.. I’m used to getting 5 years out of those. Oh to go back to academia when my normal shoes would do.

So you wonderful people what are your suggestions?

I wear DM Patricia 3. Most comfortable shoes ever. Previously I had dm patents which lasted 3 years.

Clarks Taylor Palm might fit your bill.

Thank you. I think I might want something more feminine looking that would suit a dress. Turns out I’m pickier than I thought

The last really good long lasting smart work shoes I had were from Office. I always used to get the same model from Clarks but the last pair I had were of much poorer quality and hardly lasted.

Clarks are definitely what you need (although warning the Taylor Palm are a bit on the large side). The Dalia range at great for work as are Netley and Orabella

You'll get more answers on S&B board. Hotter have similar styles to the ones you have linked to, M&S do wide fit shoes that might pop up something occasionally.

Couple of old threads that might help here and here and here.

Hotter shoes, which come in wide fitting options. They last years, are comfortable and many models are made in UK (not all).

Caveat = most are a moulded sole that can't easily be repaired. But they still last a LONG time.

I got my first pair of Hotter sandals this summer and I'm a complete convert - they are so comfy. Can't say how long-lasting they are yet though.

Clarks shoes do last, but I'm finding them really uncomfortable recently.

Clark’s
Hotter
DM brogues/prettier versions eg the Michael Angelo or whoever it is type.
Evans do wide and extra wide fit, some very smart versions which are also pretty.

Hotter. I have bad feet. These shoes are fab and last for ages

You could look at DB Shoes which were recommended to me by a podiatrist. Expensive but well made - I won’t lie some of them are really ugly but there are a few nice styles. I have added a general link and a link for a sort of Mary Jane style shoe.
www.widerfitshoes.co.uk/sp+ladies-ladies-casual-shoes-harriette+harri9

www.widerfitshoes.co.uk/pp+ladies+ladies

Another Mary Jane style

www.widerfitshoes.co.uk/sp+ladies-ladies-stretch-shoes-arabella+arab8

I love Hotter as well. I'm hard on my shoes and they last years.

Cushion Walk. I am big with wide feet and these are great

I love Clark's hamble oak shoes. I wear them with skirts and dresses though they aren't super femme

Following with interest as I just went from a converse and band t-shirt job to a rather corporate one and I'm really struggling to find smart and comfy shoes. I've tried on millions of shoes and have only ended up with severe blisters and a black toenail. 🙄 I need to be able to walk long distances and scoot to work, so I would need something as trainer-y as possible without actually being trainers. 😂 I also have to wear black tights due to tattooed legs so that's a challenge.

I've recently bought Ayla Reece shoes from Clarks, and they seemed really comfortable (think they're their Cloudstepper range) and quite smart, however the back of the heel gave me utterly ridiculous blisters (as in not being able to walk for a few days) and their customer service was rubbish, so I wouldn't really recommend them. But I liked the style.

I also got a pair of black Chelsea boots which look ok with tights, if that helps? I really like the look of brogue shoes as well but can't seem to find ones that don't make my feet look like a dude's.

Hotter! Although I don't know how they stay in business as the shoes last so long.

I have 5 of the Jewel style. They have changed my life.

Thank you!