Can I wear Birkenstocks to a Buckingham Palace Garden party?

[MrsSchadenfreude]

PPH, I can see you wincing from here...but am worried about being on my feet for along time. If Birkies not acceptable, please direct me to something suitably elegant and comfortable that is (and not Footgloves, please).

What a pile of horseshit. People are starving and being blown up all over the world tonight because of the residual effects of this arrogant elitist ethos. Horseshit. Says I.

That's ok Greensleeves. If you're invited to a royal garden party you can be a consciencious objector.

I would love the opportunity to be a conscientious objector

But sadly I am not important enough [huff]

Neither am I, but if I ever do become important, at least I will know what to wear.

Not with a straight-face MrsS

These are perfect. Closed toe. Her Majesty will delight at the pattern. And you'll get a bloody good view from up there.

here

these should capture the ethos of the occasion

Matching frock - the royal family love la Bassey, they'll be all over you like a rash.

Am loving the fact that there is a webstore called 'Sequin Queen'.

David Guess, just tell me who you are as I can't be bothered to work it out, and you're much funnier than anyone on MN!

Sorry Gest!

Mrs S - one thing you could try is Ecco shoes. I know you will have to fight off lots of 80-somethings, but if you sift through in one of their branches (concessions in department stores are awful) and discard all the obviously orthopedic you should be able to find some age-neutral plain, low-heeled pumps. They are the most comfy shoes on earth (if not the last word in glamour!). I have a pair which are like walking on air- I have small feet and am tall so my feet suffer. Also a terrible lower back and these are great for that.

Another idea is to buy a nice ordinary pair of shoes a size bigger and put some 'in-soles' in. I walked all over Rome with these in a roomy pair of Boden boots last year and my feet (and back!) didn't hurt at all. You can get the in-soles at sports shops.

Don't knock ecco, I live in them.

Website /link{http://www2.ecco.com/ss2007/Products/here}

Or even
Website here

Oh good - didn't want to get howled down like some who have admitted to Footglove on here ! Like the look of the very plain black ones in the business wear page of the link you gave, Slug. They weren't in the Ken High St branch when I was there 3 weeks ago! (There were some lovely flatties though - like slippers to wear...)