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?

I live in my ankle wellies outside of work! Admittedly I'm not in the least bit trend-led, but I wear them with harem trousers, or baggy chinos, leggings, or, if it's warm but wet, shorts or a mini-dress. I do spend 90% of my free time at assorted playgrounds - I suppose they might not be so useful if you're a lady who lunches 😉

I struggle with clothes at 5ft 9 & an 34in inside leg, it must be a RIGHT pain in the arse for women taller. Only a sz7 shoe though which is much easier since the 90's. But why do 'tall' ranges seem to assume you don't actually like clothes (much like complaints about plus sizes)?

Trainers & jeans in an office??? Why not just go in your pyjamas and be done with it?!

"Driven crazy by women’s shoes in the high street"
made me grin, imagining shoes galumphing lose and free down the high street driving everyone nuts 😁

Wow, £44 for cut off wellies.

These seem to fit your needs:

www.next.co.uk/style/ST115245/T77684

The majority of offices are jeans and trainers now. I don’t know anyone who wears business dress anymore.

Lockdowns/wfh is to blame!

I like Pavers or Reichter - silly prices in the shops but I’ve bought new from Vinted and eBay for about £20

Totally feel your pain, OP. Venturing out to try to find a total basic, and being confronted with comedy shoes. Plus it’s autumn now so lots of the “shoe” shelf space is taken up with boots (which I love but not helpful when you want shoes).

I only buy online if I’m really stuck and ideally if it’s a shoe shop I reliably know my size and fit in (eg I know which Clarks ones I can get online). But sometimes there’s just nothing in shops.

Have you tried amazon? Amazon prime do a “try before you buy” thing - you get 7 days to return them before you pay, if you select that option. Also you can often find Clarks etc a bit cheaper (50 rather than 70 so not massive discount but all helps) - eg this option:

Clarks Women's Hamble Loafer https://amzn.eu/d/eTgZuf3

Currently on lunch in an office in financial services in dark wide leg jeans, platform Converse and a tucked-in breton. I'm one of the smarter ones in today!

I miss all the shoe shops that used to exist when I was younger.

Dolcis
Barratts
Pied a Terre
Bertie
Freeman Hardy Willis

Most footwear was made from leather too, and much more durable and comfortable.

Why have almost all shoe shops disappeared? They always used to be busy where I grew up. All the ones I’ve bought in places like M&S, Next and Matalan (apart from one great leather pair), wear out/look scruffy within one season.

Have you been to an office recently? You would look very out of place in business attire!
I'm in leggings, a cardi and trainers today.

Rieker are my go to for shoes. Good quality and very comfortable.

just bought these last week. Sounds like what you are looking for

https://www.beggshoes.com/rieker-54862-01

So happy to find this thread. Have been looking for weeks and just so unimpressed with the choice. I don't particularly want to pay £100 for shoes I'll wear on a week at most. I've been hanging on to my pre lockdown heels and loafers but they are now literally falling apart at the seams.

And another thing. Why do so many casual shoes have white bases now? They look great on the shelf but I can’t buy them or keep them looking nice cos they get mucky and dingy so quickly - it’s the bit of your clothes literally the closest to the mud and dust, I don’t even wear white clothes, how can I manage to keep white soles and shoe edges looking great? It just rubs it in for me that other people are way neater and cleaner than I am, everyone else seems to manage. Boo.

Have you looked at the girls school shoes section of Next, M&S etc online? Lot of them go up to size 7 or so.

Marks and Spencer, JOhn Lewis.

In terms of prioritising comfort over style, I have black work shoes from Pavers and lighter summer shoes from Hotter.

Yes I'm in my 50s and I walk a couple of miles on an office day, lugging a laptop.

They win no style prizes by which I mean, no stupid soles, ridiculous heels, and last more than five minutes.

I think there’s a time and a place for ankle wellies (gardening, walking the dog on wet fields etc) but they’re definitely not a fashion item!
check Clark’s kids section too as they go into bigger sizes and widths and have a range of basic black shoes in the school range.

I like loafers but don't know what is wrong with my feet as I can never get comfortable in them, I have the M&S ones but the leather is so hard still even though I've had them for two years and always rubs my heel. I remember having some at school when I was 14 that took all the skin off my heel as well.

I tend to wear trainers as much as possible and just have a selection of "Air hostess" (court shoes, sensible heel) types shoes in my drawer to wear to meetings if I need to.

My feet have never got on with slip on shoes though, I can only wear them for short periods- the only smart work shoes I find comfortable are brogues and shoes with a strap or t-bar, 1930s style, and not too high a heel.

https://www.freemans.com/products/bonprix-t-bar-leather-courts/_/A-933109_6?utm_source=GoogleProductList&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=Womens_Footwear_Shoes&utm_content=933109&ns_campaign=Womens_Footwear_Shoes&ns_mchannel=PLA&ns_source=GoogleProductList&ns_linkname=933109&ns_fee=0&utm_medium=cpc&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1OmoBhDXARIsAAAYGSFRuTEHudcS7XZE0VXohnRqi3JiiAIN4KdKqXtep4wCNGlicqTCdTcaAtn9EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

OMG yes!! Why do they have white soles? So many a good dark shoe ruined by a white ridge of sole not needed at all!

No I cannot wear trainers sorry to disappoint you. We have a smart and outdated culture and I’m expected to dress fairly smartly. Not a suit. Today I’m wearing a black skirt, tights, my wonky boots and a long sleeved chiffon shirt type thing.

I’m going to try a larger shopping centre next time and an outlet precinct for ugly shoe try ons

Go online at M&S - loads of brands on there now - filter out what you want, order several options in to store, try them on there and then and return what you don't want.

Same here, I have had some fab shoes and boots from there. Clarks suit my feet too and last well.

If you are going to buy two pairs why don't you buy one pair at a decent price?

Where abouts do you live??
loads in all those shops local to me