Do all shoes hurt past a certain age?

[mumonahottinroof]

Just ordered a pair of LK Bennett block heels with 25% off. I love them, but they bleeding pinch around the front of my toes, so they're going back. I am SURE 15 years ago I would have borne the pain for beauty's sake.

So do a) shoes hurt more as you get older or b) Does your tolerance for discomfort vanish? I could try to wear these in but I can't be bothered any more and if it doesn't work that's £200 down the drain.

Am 45, am I doomed to a lifetime of Hotter and M&S Footglove?

DD 21 popped her feet into these this morning to pick a few apples and has not returned them yet (currently in the pub). She has mentioned they are super comfy several times.

I too have gone up at least a shoe size over the last 10 years. I have very wide feet across the toes but a very slim heel. I find clog/mules the easiest to wear. I do own a large collection of shoes as I am always on the 'ultimate quest to find comfy shoes'. I have learnt to never buy shoes when my feet are cold, I am sure I grow half a size when I have hot feet, but then that backfires when my feet are cold because the shoes start slipping and rubbing.

Similarly someone mentioned converse which I used to love but they are flat with no support and I now find difficult to walk long distances in.

I prefer thick solid soles (dm style boots or fly etc) to thin ones as I slid or can feel stones through them (I'm sure I never used to be so sensitive.)

I've always needed proper straps, couldn't wear flip-flops or ballet flats or anything which requires toe curling.

It's interesting though- there's one bad of thought that suggest supportive trainers, shoes with some support/shape rather than say converse.

And another school of thought is all over the barefoot being better or barefoot like soles.

I have found my people.

Even fit flops are too narrow for me. Even some hotter extra wide are too narrow. Clarks. Hahahahaha

Birkies. Also rub my wee toes. They are so painful.

I have crocs as slippers in the house. Total style fail I know.

And for reasonable priced stuff Evans extra wide shoes and boots. Even wider then footglove.

Also my local cobbler stretches shoes for £4 a pair. I have tons of new shoes now 😂

I've always struggled with heels due to hypermobile ankles, an underdeveloped muscle in the side of my calf and short achilles tendons, but I'd manage occasionally for a short time in low heels. Since having my bunion done (caused by the above problems), I have no chance. I'm a doc martens girl. They fit my orthotics and I walk properly in them, meaning no knee, hip and back pain.

DMs are awesome. My work shoes are DM brogues.

auser some fitflops come up wider these lulu ones are called generous fit. They are just wide enough for my flipper toes. The standard width ones do not fit me.
Moshulu also do some wider ones.

I think there is a gap in the market for orthopedic shoes that don't look orthopedic - there's no excuse for stuff that looks like this

I'm 43 and have stopped wearing high heels about five years ago. My mother has always loved beautiful shoes and her shoe collection is epic. She developed plantar fascitis in her early fifties and severe knee problems a few years later. She's now waiting for knee replacement surgery. I don't want to go down that route.

I've started walking a lot, at least 5 miles per day. I had some knee pain last year but buying proper walking shoes has helped a lot (Salomon makes really fab ones). I've also realized that some extra space in the shoes makes them much easier to wear - with my Sz 7.5-8 feet, that has not always been possible, and I've spent years wearing shoes that are a bit too snug. These days, I wear NB trainers or proper walking shoes for my commute and comfy minimalistic black rubber soled flats or suede boots at work.

I think the esthetics have changed. You can now pair trainers and flat boots with skirts. Hobbling around in high heels looks dated - I'm going for a dynamic stride. Work dressing is changing too, more casual outfits are perfectly okay. I won't buy shoes that pinch or feel bad, but I'm not ready for Hotters or Riekers yet. I'd happily spend €€€ on shoes that are both stylish and comfortable.

Hotter don't even fit me. I am doomed.

I have these www.hotter.com/gb/en/vanity-boots?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyozABRDtgPTM0taCrKsBEiQATk6xDoeWfYydMA90QE0LTqKJBKp85IDsEghXIdhppP2lb-QaApRF8P8HAQ# not all hotter boots are granny like

Palladium come up wide, converse/ plimsoll type.
Their website is crap and only shows a side view. I think it may be the unisex styles that are wider. They have no padding however and require good thick socks. So good points and bad points.

Those boots are gorgeous Dragon. I have just shown them to 16 year old DD and she likes them as well. She hasn't heard of Hotter so had no preconceived ideas about their target market.

Pestilence13610 I love those boots in your post last night, where are they from?

garibaldi from Toast about 3 years ago.
Find they are a store worth checking out, they get some nice shoe manufacturers to do stuff for them, sometimes wide fit.

I haven't worn heels since I was 19 unless very low and clumpy. I agree with 'Frugal' - the way we dress, even for work, has changed and I think the idea that clothes look better with heels is a bit dated.

Agree with everyone on this thread. LKB and Boden are really narrow so hopeless for me. I have baby's feet - as wide as they are long. Basically as someone has already said, the shape of the shoebox rather than the shoe...

I have recently had success with these Skechers for casual and these for work despite cost from Russell and Bromley. They have a hidden platform inside so not as high as they look and mean you can stand on those bobbly things at crossings. I wouldn't want to walk 2 miles in them but they get me through a work day.

Like elephantoverthehill I have slim heels with wider feet near the toes so I need something that has a more substantial upper. Ballet flats and court shoes are like flipflops on me.

Pestilence13610 thanks, never thought of looking there for footwear!

My podiatrist said to me when I was about 9: if a pair of shoes y is uncomfortable it's bad for your feet and your health.

I've never seen the need to wear something uncomfortable. It's madness. Plus uncomfortable makes you look decidedly unstylish if you ask me.

I've come back to this...the last two pairs of shoes I've gone to buy in my usual 6 have felt 'big', I couldn't figure if my feet had shrunk

I have over the last year made an effort to always wear something supportive of my arches. With shoes you can find arch support but it was at home I tried to steer away from 'flat' slippers and have been wearing a Birkenstock style with more support. I do revert to slippers if its really cold, though think I will try and find some inserts