Are these shoes just too frumpy?

[88blueshoes]

I'm 31. Prefer wearing heels if possible but they need to be comfy as although I work in an office I spend a lot of time walking about.

Tried flat loafer style but they just didn't work for me at all.

A friend told me about Hotter shoes and I've ordered a pair which are super comfortable and would go with loads of outfits (I wear a lot of blue/burgundy/purple dresses). I realise they're not super stylish high fashion, obviously. But would you say they are:

a) run of the mill office shoes, which will go with lots of things
b) frumpy old lady

I'm going for a), obviously! Thanks in advance!

these are the shoes, in navy

As a previous poster said - if you have difficult feet, sometimes you have to go for the least worst option. Like these:

www.hotter.com/gb/en/widefit/wide-fit-shoes/georgette-heels?fit=Standard+Fit&colour=Black+Multi

Not what I'd wear on a night out, but I could walk between departments at work in these.

Sorry b. Search Kendall clarks they are ace I wear them all day in office and love looking at them it's not really about other people looking but me, a small part of me smiles when I like the shoes I'm wearing

Paint the heels, stick some of the kids plastic figures on top and then call them Irregular Choice.

Sorry OP, I would say B

I'm a rogue A. I like them. I wouldn't mind having footwear like that of the Queen. To me they are nice low-heel court shoes which would go with smart trousers or a dress - but then I'm old and generally clueless. Also I'm at the stage where I don't really care what footwear looks like anymore as long as it's comfortable.

You're 31 ffs. Get yourself to Clarks they do less frumpy (although so of thier styles are totoally wrong) but still comfortable. Or just get some of insoles

Haha thanks everyone! Love that I have had so many responses, and sorry to those of you who are now being followed around the internet by Hotter

Sadly the shoes went back, I just knew I'd always think twice before wearing them and feel not quite right in them. To anyone interested purely in comfort though I can recommend them as they were seriously comfy!

I've just ordered some from Clarks...will see if they suit better.

I really hate shoe shopping!!! I love clothes and like to think I have good dress sense down to my ankles but I really can't be bothered with shoes. I don't even have awkward feet, I'm size 6 and not wide fit or anything. I just hate feeling in any way restricted by my shoes yet flats don't look right on me, at least not with work outfits.

Anyway, first world problems and all that!

Achange are those shoes really meant to be comfy? They don't look it at all, would be interested to hear from anyone who has tried them.

Christ, some people waste far too much of their lives worrying about what's on theirs and others feet. If you can wear heels comfortably, great. If you can't, don't sweat it, wear flats. No one else really cares anyway.

I have bunions and used to wear flats going out for the evening then switched to impossibly high, but gorgeous, heels, sitting down to dinner. I finally stopped when I realised no one cared what my feet looked like under the restaurant table. If you can't wear lovely heels I wouldn't bother wearing heels like those - they really just don't compare. Just wear your flats and be glad you're not in pain

Whoever said upthread that they looked like shoes Theresa May would wear must have been joking (or very unobservant).I don't know where the PM gets her shoes but somehow I think neither Hotter nor Clarkes!

B. I like the insolia range in M and S for work.

John Lewis 's own have some comfy but not so frumpy.
Heel on these isn't too high. I tried them:

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-arna-round-toe-court-shoes-grey-suede/p2961349

Link below: these are really comfortable:
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-annabelle-block-heeled-court-shoes/p2283988?colour=Navy%20Suede

Thing is, where work is concerned, I'd judge someone far more for wearing stylish but clearly painful and impractical shoes. If I saw you in those I wouldn't think "there's a woman with no taste in shoes". I'd just think you had prioritised/compromised. People who stagger around the office in (fake) Louboutins just look as though their shoes are their number one priority. Which, frankly, isn't that impressive in anyone who isn't a shoe model. There's a time and a place for amazing shoes, and there's a time and a place for looking like an intelligent adult and getting on with your job.

You did well in sending them back, those saying shoes aren't noticed are talking shite, most of us notice shoes. Rightly or wrongly and those looked shit. Comfy, sure, but shite none the less and uou don't seem to be at the stage where comfort trumps style.

The PM gets hers from R and B which I like too ( though don't wear high heels).

Those ones in OP are grim - but I am a convinced Hotter hater. Good call to send them back.

Dreadful shoe horror thread, I have nothing else

[http://www.hotter.com/gb/en/womens/womens-boots/vanity-boots I am in love with these boots from hotter.]

Oh... link fail.

Nah, I think most people notice noticeable shoes, some notice many shoes, and some are oblivious. Someone upthread had apparently managed not to notice Theresa Mays!

Bloody hell, thanks to this thread I'm now receiving emails from hotter shoes!!! He did this happen!

OP I have these www.clarks.co.uk/p/26114559 and they are very comfy!
I always buy Clarks court shoes for work, because they have these cushions in the sole. Like you I walk around a lot and these are perfect for me.

I am pretty sure that most of the people who merrily criticise other people's shoes have not had a lifetime, or even half that, of suffering painful feet (for whatever reason).

A shoe that someone claims is 'cool enough' and comfy FOR THEM for a night out or even all day wear, is not necessarily going to be okay for someone with chronically painful feet, so suggesting a poster sends shoes back and gets 'x shoe' that was comfortable for you and is not 'frumpy' is just stupid.

Hope you find something OP, but you might also need to learn not to care what inconsiderate people think.

Well I guess the irony may well be that many of those that criticise shoes like the ones OP linked to (not just on this thread but in general) and feel that shoes that are so uncomfortable you can't wear them to get to and from work are more appropriate might well end up with painful feet themselves from years of wearing damaging shoes.

Why should anyone care if someone else's shoes are essentially a bit boring? I wear extremely boring shoes because I can't wear heels and have to have at least a strap over my ankles otherwise my feet really really hurt (I couldn't wear any of the 'comfortable' shoes linked to on this threat). They are about as boring as my male colleagues shoes, and I doubt anyone would comment on those!

My shoes are mainly from Clarks. They look good and feel good, imo. If I'm having a really busy day I'll wear my Clarks ankle boots or trainers. All my shoes are suitable for work, I can't tolerate painful shoes or ugly shoes! I don't really wear heels either as I can't walk in them but I love a kitten heel. Ballet pumps are nice but I don't wear the cheap crap ones, they need to have a decent sole. Apart from my broken little toe but feet are great. My mum always bought me Clarks or Startright shoes and I only get my son Clarks shoes for school too.

But even saying 'I can't bear ugly or uncomfortable shoes' is unhelpful. Clarkes might be okay for YOU, but someone else might really need Hotter or similar because THEIR feet are unbearably painful in anything else.

It's ridiculous to put other people's ideas of 'style' and this sexist and ageist notion of 'frumpiness' or 'mum shoes' above the desire for lack of pain.