Driven crazy by women’s shoes in the high street

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I want a pair of black shoes for work. Smart, comfortable, modern looking, will go with trousers or a dress.

However, it seems that my options via the high street are:
-5inch rubber soled loafers that weigh 2.5kg each
-Square toed heels with a triangular heel in lime green, neon pink or some kind of sparkly glitter
-Pointy toed slingbacks
-trainers
-ankle boots that resemble wellies

if you want to try anything on there is barely ever any sizes on the shelves and no shop assistants to help you either

I have had feet for over 40 years, and a job wearing black shoes for over 25 years and never had such a problem. What in the Kanye West is going on? I know my DP thinks I am making it up when I tell him I’ve still not found any shoes.

I’ve looked in Clarkes and I cannot afford their prices in all honesty. They have a decent loafer but it’s £80 😑

Any recommendations?

Shoes are awful at the moment.

So little variety. Clumpy black boots OR cheaply made clumpy loafers or ridiculously thin-soled, far-too-flat pointy slip ons. Or don’t get me started on the dreaded Mary Jane, which I can honestly say I have never seen someone look good in.

Urgh.

Do you have an idea in your mind of what you’re after?

I caved and bought some brogues last year (not really my style, but comfy). I long for more variety in shoes. It’s bleak out there!

Yeah there's not much out there. These are nice from Next

Dr marten 1460 std shoe, shop round r look in their factory/ outlets or ebay.

You may have to go online. Have you tried Zappos? Ashley got a pair of really nice black ballet flats from Amazon, I think it was Amazon basics they were about $20.

I thought this was a thread started by some weirdo posting about a shoe fetish!
I wad ready to report!!! 😁

https://www.johnlewis.com/crew-clothing-cora-leather-loafers-black/p110973894?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios&size=5&_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

https://www.next.co.uk/style/ST130500/U52279?dp=a&dndl=1&gbraid=0AAAAADm_5UUH3vBc8Th55IwHQ79lomPSW&gclid=CjwKCAjwseSoBhBXEiwA9iZtxn5NLkd3BcSpclYDU3UJq3oaYMEk1v3li5MZpLBJfpYuyxBsDGUaIhoCxJ0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#U52279

https://www.carvela.com/women/shoes/flats/loafers/crackle-black-leather-carvela-comfort-9413700109?istCompanyId=5d29e1c9-8e90-448b-aba7-d122dc5e5729&istFeedId=a4790684-ecc7-4b34-b796-4fa085d68cfc&istItemId=rxprlppti&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjwseSoBhBXEiwA9iZtxv25CDcnktS7lg3_PSgnkuehUQyjLPByU_ry5E1oqti6OkidRbjo7RoC5MEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.schuh.co.uk/womens/schuh-liliane-leather-snaffle-loafer-black-flat-shoes/1326547020/?store=&gclid=CjwKCAjwseSoBhBXEiwA9iZtxpt3PEytZhh19e4nKH1SCXZ3llMcYf7EgauLGF2xkHXlz3PF_oCwVhoCz9IQAvD_BwE

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-harriet-leather-ballerina-pumps/black/p5290020?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&s_share=jlappios&size=6&_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

Sorry not sure of your budget. Hope you can find something!

Brogues are fine but I don’t want a Tom Cruise style height lift along with it!

Next I would have to order in they have barely any stock sizes to try on

I agree

I need some forest green court shoes and can't find any

Shoes are hideous lately

I saw welly ankle boots for the first time on Thursday. Absolutely awful! Especially in a short woman with short legs.

try being a 6ft female with size 12(sometimes a 13) adult feet.
i got to this size by age 11.
in high school i was the only girl who could wear trousers and men's boots.
girls had to wear red tights, skirts and flat black shoes but not me

ive been in mens trainers my whole life

its a good thing im not a girly girl

i cant even buy mens in shops as most stop at 11,i have to buy online

the last few years its not a problem but in the 90s it was

Have you looked at the Clarks Outlet website? I've had a few pairs from there in the past.

I ended up getting some interims. £8 black slip on plimsoles from Asda. 😫They are horrid but it’s that or sandals. My work shoes broke and I can’t wear them.

tried on shoes in next, not a good fit. I will have to get to a Clark’s outlet

Some of Sainsburys TU shoes and boots are quite good. Had a few pairs from there.

Have you tried Clarks' outlet? I only buy Clarks from there now.

You have my sympathies. No longer needing to buy shoes for work is one of the many things that makes me grateful I’m retired now. It was bad enough finding suitable ones when I was still working four years ago.

Try Gabor here they are very comfortable and although not really cheap, they will last

@RicePuddingLady Oh yes, those fucking Mary Janes. There are literally no clothes that they look good with. Also they give me creepy Lolita vibes.

For plain smart work shoes M&S or Sainsburys are my go to

https://www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/footwear/shoes/fs5/loafers/black#intid=finavwwwplpBlack%20Loaferssfounditfiifi-Shoestoppplp122_2

For more casual ballerina style work shoes I like Sketchers as they are very comfortable,

www.skechers.co.uk/skechers-on-the-go-dreamy---nightout/136210_BBK.html

I’ve been searching a very long time for a decent leather kitten heel sling back. My foot’s small but V wide. I’m sure I sent off for about 50 pairs from Next before I finally got 2 pairs. It was well worth paying the £20+ for free delivery, save messing around in the shop. Most shoes are plastic, & dig in.

If you sign up for Clarks emails then you get sent an email with a 15% off code. Would that help? if you work in ‘education’ sign up for discountsforteachers for all kinds of discounts incl 20% off Clarks! Just need a work email address.

@CyberCritical a giant M&S was my first stop. I don’t know how to explain what I found in the shoe section but normal shoes I did not. Lots of boots yes. I don’t need boots. They had a small hanging section of ballet flats all in size 3. They had some giant clodhopping loafers that were of the 2.5kg, Tom Cruise shoe lift style

Could the cobblers save your shoes? Or if its minor might be a job for Thompsons or even a DIY kit off Amazon?

What size are you? I am 8.5, flat wide and last time had to buy casual loafers in men's section🙄
Maybe look at men's ones and get simple ones which look unisex if your feet are as unladylike as mine

So my run down of shops:

M&S - mayhem, they have a colourful sale of tatty pleather strappy sandals. Or those work safe, JCB track, electrocution avoiding rubber loafers

New Look: usually my go to. Just didn’t have hardly any stock sizes to try on but they had a big section of wide fit loafers and flats, however the flats were flimsy and would be ruined in 1 meek rain shower

matalan: 20% off shoe sale mostly boots and open toe sandals all of which I don’t want

Next: if you like pointy sling backs with sparkly broaches on this is the shop for you. They also have heavy loafers in school children sizes only. Also lots of patent Mary Jane’s for those who like to look like a creepy doll lady

Clarkes: bank loan required

Primark: avoid avoid avoid. It’s like a cheaper much messier version of M&S shoes, all made of puffy foam

Asda: a few pairs of sketcher style trainers and a few pairs of clunky boots

Sainsburys: mostly the fisherman’s wader boots that are in vogue right now

Tesco: don’t do shoes anymore (gutted)

River Island - they had loafers that fit me but they were adorned with a few hundred sparkly diamantés around the sole 😳

I haven’t been able to go to any other shoe shops this was 2 large, local towns worth of shops

Diechmann would be my go to, you can order online.