Sick of boots. What shoes do you wear for every day?

[BrightnessFalls]

I cant wear ballet flats for too long as the soles of my feet get too painfull. I cant totter about in heels. What do you wear to go shopping/lunch in. For the first time in a long time, I need to sort my shoe situation out!

Watching with interest....since I made the move to skinnies almost every day, I'm also looking for some in-between shoes. Have tried tons of ankle boots and for some reason, they all look wrong on me. Have tried flat brogues and they are too masculine on me - and too flat. So I'm going down more of a brogue with a block heel look. What do you think of this kind of style?

I am very aware that the link above is getting uncomfortably close to something my MIL had on last week...am I on a slippery slope?

Are closed-toe slingbacks considered OK with thick winter tights? If they are then I'd have no problem wearing them in cold weather.

Mid-heel courts, well, I struggle a bit with thin heels, whatever the height ? it's the wobble factor. Even little kitten heels I find quite hard because they're narrow.

I just don't do well in heels, generally speaking. My feet are a bit wrecked and my back isn't great, so it doesn't take long in them for me to start suffering.

Quite like these for brogues with a heel in the winter months. In summer I wear wedged sandals alot, its quite easy to find pairs that are comfy and stylish, winter is much more difficult.

I think wearing brogues with a heel would make me feel like Mary Poppins.

I can't quite decide if that's a good or a bad thing.

I couldn't wear anything like that - they would make me feel frumpy....

Waily, I have some patterned Allegra shoes, and they are v comfy, but I find the Velcro undoes- is this usual or am I unlucky?

I love those dingdong, but dh would loathe them, of that helps!

Maybe they look good on, dingdong. They are just a bit "ding dong the witch is dead" for me (LOL at your name).

And of course Mrs Martin, Stella can say what she likes about shoes. I'm just observing that leather shoes seem to me to be better and therefore although she's always trying to persuade people away from leather, I don't think her campaign works because leather shoes simply are better. Unless people can tell me otherwise. Those M&S shoes, for example. I like them but they are a bit uncomfortable because of the synthetic issue - they don't breathe or stretch properly. Not an issue with, eg, belts or bags.

Mid courts don't really work for me because I walk to and from work so unless they are solid of heel, no good.

I think we have truly identified a gap in the market though. Who knows a shoe retailer we can petition for cool, attractive shoes you can walk in ?

I know what you all mean...they're a bit hard to pull off but somehow I picture them with some lovely skinny jeans and a blazer, looking fierce. My DH wouldn't notice but I'm afraid my MIL would love them..

margoandjerry, I agree that generally speaking leather is more comfortable. But have you tried Stella McCartney's shoes? I haven't, and I wonder what they're like. As a top-end designer she may have access to better design/materials than the high street. Also, I don't know if she's trying to persuade people away from leather as much as providing non-leather shoes for people who would rather not wear it (and who can afford her shoes, of course!).

Veggie shoes - www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk

I've had various shoes and boots from here over the years and they've been great - comfortable, stylish (if you pick nice ones ) and mostly they last longer than my leather ones. The only downside is having to do mail order and send them back if they don't fit.

I can only keep court shoes on my feet if they are too tight... which somewhat defeats the point. I have these but they still have a kitten heel which I hate walking over cobbles in. In the past two weeks, I have ordered 12 pairs of shoes on line trying to solve this problem. What remains? These in blue with a slightly lower heel. But I'm not certain.

yes ladyclarice, that was my point really. Are there synthetic shoes that work?

I have always had an absolute loathing of mary jane style shoes. I can't explain it, but I despise them.

I like this sort of style with opaque tights but can't find any in the shops so I guess they are not the height of fashion at the moment.

I will probably end up with the block heel ballet pumps, but in leather, don't like synthetic.

it's even harder if you don't want to wear heels.

margoandjerry - What I do re the walk to and from work is wear trainers or flats for the walk then change to my heels for the day in the office. Means you can wear nice heels without being crippled by the walking to/from station etc.

I don't know, margo. Maybe Stella's do work, for the possible reasons I suggested. Oh to be able to afford to try them and find out.

Another one with the same problems, I can't wear anything higher than about a 1.5'' heel to walk in without giving myself back problems, narrow heels also make my feet ache.

I need arch support and have wide feet so ballet flats are out (if I put orthotics in I can't keep the shoe on my foot as it slips off the back, and my wide feet stretch them till they gape and look awful).

I don't like the Mary Jane look, but they at least meet all the practical requirements. Courts of any description cut into the top of my wide feet below the big toe. Funnily enough very high ones are OK for that because the foot is flexed, but my back won't let me wear them apart from the odd night out. I also don't like the look of blocky heeled courts (look like the Queen Mother) and can't abide anything with a bow on the toes.

I need to be able to walk a couple of miles at least in any given day, so I end up in boots or sandals only. Even boots are problematic because I have wide calves.

ForwardOcho that site you linked to has some nice ones. I like these and these.

I guess they're still quite wintery though, because I would only wear them with black opaque tights or trousers. I should really get something that will take me into Spring that I can wear with lighter tights.

I have exactly this problem. Well, I did before I entirely gave up trying to look nice.

I can't wear heels, due to fallen metatarsal arches, and consequent lack of practice. Ballet flats don't stay on my feet, and don't give enough support to said knackered feet. Mary janes were my saviour, but now look a bit frumpsome. Boots are OK if I can find them big enough for my calves.

Ankle boots would seem a good idea, as they go with skirts as well as trousers, but I have to buy any as I never really go out!

Or, what about this kind of thing from Clarks

I have hundreds of pairs of shoes (I'm hoping to get to 600 this year!) and some are synthetic uppers (none have synthetic inner soles - I get them replaced if they do) and whilst my preference is for leather, I have shoes that use mesh, silk, raffia, etc and they wear beautifully. Stella isn't on a crusade, she just refuses to do what so many in fashion refuse to do and sticks by her principals. I've worn her shoes on a couple of occassions (borrowed) and they aren't any different to anything else out there. And the synthetic fabrics she uses look and feel just like leather/suede etc (and I know alot about such products having worked in the industry for years).

Anyway, it is abit of a mute point.

I just got these which everybody hates but I love, they are unbelievably comfy. Am wearing them happily at nearly 7mo pg.