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 am always amazed that the shops are full of extremes of fashion but the shoes you see 95% of women wearing along the high street are flat, comfortable and good for walking about in.

I love this style.

Some non-chunky loafers in & Other Stories https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/shoes/loafers.html

Sorry they might be a little bit too expensive.

I have an M&S voucher to spend my original intention was to get M&S shoes. I wasn’t going to buy expensive flats and those heels as well (which might be no good) but if they are good I might just have heels and no flats at all - I can wear trainers to work and change my shoes.

Just 1 pair of shoes heels might have to do, I have boots too. I don’t really have £80 (if not from M&S) to spend in one go on 1 pair of shoes, either I can have no shoes (just boots for now) to save up next pay day for 1 pair of expensive shoes or buy one pair now, another pair another month. I haven’t decided. I haven’t even tried on the new look shoes and I didn’t order them. I still haven’t found a pair to try on. I could order with my M&S voucher then get a refund if no good. I could order a £40 pair of shoes now and keep sending them back getting refunds till I find the right shoe. Or I could open a credit account and order shoes but I would rather just try them on in a shop!

I feel your pain OP. But mainly I came on here to congratulate you on having feet for 40 years! Well done.

I've had mine for 59 but they're getting a bit tatty.

Another option might be finding some on Amazon on their Prime try before you buy thing. I bought my last pair of Pavers that way.

But I get why you'd much rather just try them on. Trouble is if you spend say £5 in petrol/parking per trip, that really adds up if it takes multiple trips to find something.

Get that.

As you say, both make you a profit.

But you can't quantify the sales you are losing, because people who have bothered to go to an actual shop to buy something find there is nothing there. They're not going to buy online, they're going to try the next shop. Someone else is getting that profit.

John Lewis used to be notorious for the "but you can order it on line" approach from sales partners to disappointed customer. But it seems the penny's dropped, and stock levels have improved enormously (and higher stock levels were a major theme in a recent customer survey)

If order online from M&S then I order everything in 2 sizes, do a collect in store then use the shop changing rooms to try stuff on and then I can drop anything I don’t want to keep into the returns while I’m there. My local store is only small and started life as a food only store so doesn’t carry a huge amount of stock.

If you want not insanely high wide black courts for £45 there are some on the Van Dal website. I know not on high street but they are my go to brand for my stupid wide feet.

I just googled them cos I didn’t know what Mary Janes were. OMG, they’re like little girls first school shoes

Mine are 64 years old this year.

All the loafers I see look like men's shoes.

I completely agree OP. I work in a school, so whilst not suits, have to be fairly smart (jeans and trainers not allowed).

Before Covid I remember going to Next and M&S and finding loads of pairs I liked. I went in the exact same stores, and the shoe department is half the size. The shoes they do have in stock are usually man-made and just not comfortable. I am also a 6.5 and not many stores do half sizes.

I did look in Deichmann but they all looked quite plasticky, a lot of shiny patent leather.

I don’t want massive clumpy things, I don’t want heels, I just want something that will look nice with trousers and skirts.

I’ve had my old shoes re-heeled to try and make them last a bit longer.

Clarks outlet, Pavers, Shoeaholics.com, Deichman

M and s?

I second the functionality and practicality of ankle wellies- great for flinging on for gardening or a walk on the beach. Great for festivals too. Any trip really that could be mucky and wet.

This is my massive bugbear!! I wear a size 8 (EU42) and it's stupidly hard to find anything that fits. I used to love New Look shoes but a couple of years ago they changed their sizing so their size 8 is now an EU41 which is actually a size 7!! The amount of shoes I've bought online to then have to send back! Maybe we should start our own decent shoe brand?

I'm also feeling demoralised. I simply cannot squeeze another year out of my well loved Dune ankle boots. They've been reheeled and resold but the uppers are now going and they look very shabby.

Finding replacements, even online, though is proving challenging. They are all so clumpy and want something much more classic. The alternative seems to be Chelsea boots but I wore those first time round and wasn't keen then!

You need marks n Spencer

Try Clarks outlet on line , do some really comfy loafer style ones quite a lot cheaper than the standards Clarks. I have always found if you spend a little more they last a lot longer and are really good comfy fit !

I have Clarks (a present, no way i could afford...!) And Gabor (online AND a present as also need to.win the lottery). Have you tried Schuh? They often have good sales.

Good luck, I feel your pain!!

I happened to be in Sainsbury’s so thought I’d have a look at their shoe options. I’ve bought shoes from there in the past.
This is a large store with a large clothes section. Bloody awful. Nothing classy or stylish. The only flat shoes were in garish colours with bright buckles.

There was one set of fairly plain ballet flats. In size 4.

I have discovered Vinted as I have a similar issue to you, and successfully purchased three perfect high-end pairs for less than the price of one basic pair in Next!