Mumsnet swears by.......

[CockBollocks]

Salt water Sandals, clicked on link very excitedly. couldn't wait to see these amazing shoes and......

really? REALLY?

Sorry if you have them, but seriously?

nocomet you do realise your posting in style & beauty?

Home of the shallow, vacuous bunion women?

Part of the point of them is the 70s nostalgia value. I can see the appeal of that, but I still don't want to wear an ankle strap that turns my legs into sausages. Yes, an updated version would be good.

I think flat and very modest heel shoes are fashionable and here to stay because we like them. We loved flipflops and ballet flats. We like bright sneakers, brogues, loafers, skater shoes, Birkenstocks, and slides because they are compatible with the lifes we lead. I personally don't like Saltwaters, but I've adored Hasbeens that look pretty similar and are some of the comfiest heeled shoes I've ever worn.

I have a cupboard full of courts and strappy sandals but I hardly ever wear them. Of course you are allowed to wear heels if you prefer them - I did last night, at a party - but I feel much freer in flats. Cannot understand at all why I ever bought into the 'taxi shoes' concept. Nobody notices your shoes in a crowded party or a restaurant

The way forward is a wedge sandal, I can walk miles in them.

The reason me and many women do prefer a heel is the elongation of the leg and the appearance of being a bit slimmer, sad by true.
That said I would never wear anything that crippled me, I went to. Cheltenham races yesterday and wore my lush heeled Bertie's but to walk there and back I had my flats in my cavernous bag and I also put them on towards the end of the day.
It's about drawing the line at pain I feel, and bunions are so unsightly daaaaarrrling.

Well I'm all for a comfortable flat shoe, but they can be stylish too.

Comfortable, ugly but in 'fun' colours is still ugly.

As for matching with your toddler well nothing could be more unsophisticated, or less stylish.

They are not cool or hip, or ironic. They are just ugly sensible shoes. If you are a fan then great, go for it.

Stylish women, that I admire, are more than happy to pick and choose which fashions to follow which to turn a blind eye to.

Ugly sandals are in fashion again- thankfully I'm old and wise enough to not follow the crowd!

I'm wondering if salt water lovers also liked Uggs

^^ have just realised that was a bit ott for shoes. I will go and get a life now!

Impty!

They do little cute on little girls! I don't have a pair and never will, they are just not my style.

They definitely fall into the category of Uggs & crocs, perhaps not as ugly as either.

Ledkr - yes to low-wedged sandals! Love!

look cute

I looked at the photo and counted at least 10 blisters per foot

Me too

I simply cannot wear 90% of court shoes, my heels feel like they are on fire within 5 minutes.

Even as a teen, I only ever had three pairs of normal women shoes, I could wear.

After years as a SAHM it's boots, trainers or sandals.

Yes this is style and beauty and I'd love to be stylish, but I can't justify buying a dozen pairs of shoes on the off chance one pair might be faintly comfortable, given how rarely I need smart shoes.

I just wish shoe makers would combine style with function.
Soft comfy soles, don't need granny width straps. Nice padded wedges don't need stupid bows, punched details and flowers. It really must be possible to make comfortable shoes for those of us who prefer enjoy a meal or a wedding without thinking about our feet, that are comfortable without being utterly fuggly.

In short I want a campaign for comfortable shoes not styled by Hotter!

I'm glad this thread was started because I thought the same. My sister and I had sandals like that circa 1976.

I like a flat sandal, can't do heels, but I don't wear fugly ones. There are plenty of nice looking flat shoes on the market, that are comfortable too. You just have to look.

As for wearing the same shoes as your toddler, just no!

nicer?

These are less fugly simply because of a few little design tweaks. The saltwater ones could do that to.

All my shoes are comfy, I don't buy painful shoes. Don't see why comfy should look awful.

First ones on the page, won't let me link to an individual pair.

In my opinion loads of shoes with heels are ugly too - as well as not being fit for purpose i.e. walking. I think it would be fabulous if ugly, flat shoes became fashionable and I can't wait to see women falling out of bars and taxis in them

I thought it was going to be a sarcastic thread when I clicked on it, then realised people actually wear these!!!

Does anyone know whether gladiator sandal fashion is in its death throes yet? They are the most unflattering, nasty thin-soled shoe it would be possible to design.

Even sandals in the shops that aren't overtly gladiator are still influenced by them, coming high up at the front, with ankle straps galore. Crap for anyone without gazelle like limbs and a low instep.

Nobody seems to be doing flatteringly v-shaped sandals with a sole you can walk on without bruising your feet. Bastards.

I'll join your campaign Nocomet!

I agree with nocomet but the sandals look like they have no support at all, completely flat shoes are as damaging to the foot as heels.

I'm all for comfort,I do realise I'm posting in the wrong section

OK IamInvisible a challenge for you and any one else who cares to join in.

Leather upper, leather lined, no toe post, padded soled, ankle straps not solid backs. not sling backs and not fuggly.

Ive been searching for 30 years and apart from the occasional kids pair (I wear size 4s) they are very very very rare.

Exactly - shoe manufacturers have the technology to make soles that are soft, supportive and comfortable to walk on, but oh no, suffering is apparently a good thing - whether it's high heels or thin flat bruising soles.

Next,good try, but I want tan, navy or something fun

No good for cankles either - way too gladiator!

would have to see in real life

Not 100% but heading the right way

pricey but getting there

The straps on the Next pair look like cheese wire.

I have skinny ankles so I'm not bothered, I just want something that you can wander a bile or two along a Majorcan sea front from bar to bar or go shopping on a summers day in Birmingham and not get blisters or bruised feet.

If you look at men's shoes and sandals, you see comfortable soles and beautifully stitched complicated leather uppers. For the same price women get a piece of cardboard and some PVC stings to hold it on.

DD1 wears smart women's M&S ladies trousers to school, they cost £25-£35 depending on style, her dad's similar fabric, better made ones were £19.95.

Yes, I'm maddening the argument, but why do we put up with so much expensive tat.