Help. Tell me these aren’t ugly AF

[GenuineKlatchianPottery]

In the last year to 18 months I put on 5 stone. I’ve managed to drop 1 of them but I’m still really self conscious about my size and appearance.
I’ve got bad arthritis in my joints and plantar fasciitis.
Now that the weather is getting cooler I’ve decided to get my finger out and make more of an effort with how I look. I’m 53 so want to look more elegant and put together but don’t mind a bit quirky.
Anyway, shoes have been a problem for me as top priority is comfort, yesterday my DD recommended these and they’ll be here tomorrow. I do like them, I think I’ll be able to wear them with pretty much all of my Autumn stuff.
Have I made a mistake?
www.marksandspencer.com/leather-wide-fit-tassel-loafers/p/p60188297?prevPage=srp
I’ve got them in the berry colour

They look lovely, very classic

They look nice, especially in berry. Not sure about your PF though, i have similar issues and the only thing that helped me was wearing plain nike trainers constantly. The hotter and padder shoes and insoles didnt work for me, but different things work for different people.

Hope it gets better for you

Tbph they remind me of something my elderly nan used to wear. But if you like them wear them

Ooh, I like those.

I'd wear them in all sorts of places, and some people think I'm quite stylish (at least some of the time ).

I think they're stylish and very on trend. I personally wouldn't wear them but they look lovely on other people I've seen wear them

I have a pair of M&S loafers they're so comfy and I get loads of compliments on them.

If you have PF I would look at having some specially made insoles - they're not cheap but you can swap them about in different shoes.

Yes, I second custom insoles. I used to fit them (worked in a sports equipment shop for many years) and everyone who bought them gave feedback that they worked very well in easing the pain and also in correcting overpronation. We had many clients who had been recommended to come see us by chiropodists and podiatrists. I also suffered for many, many years with chronic severe plantar fasciitis and I can’t begin to tell you the relief I got from them.

We sold FootBalance insoles.

They’re not cheap. But well worth the price if you can afford it.

Second best recommendation I can make is FitFlop shoes. Nothing else is as comfortable for the feet, and any completion doesn’t really come close in my opinion. I wore them exclusively for years although my feet are better now so I can wear anything. Again, they are really not cheap (although their outlet section has some great bargains and is always worth a look. And they also do regular sales or % off promotions) but absolutely worth stretching to if you can.

Sorry but they are.

As for the loafers, I think they’re great! Classic and very trendy right now so you will look current and ‘with it’ in fashion terms.

If you have to choose between insoles and fitflops definitely get the insoles first, as they are much more versatile - you can slip them into any number of styles as long as it’s a closed shoe.

Make sure they are custom fitted. I would always recommend FootBalance as I personally think they’re the best (they are also the company that came up with and patented the material and fitting method for that type of insole, if I’m not mistaken).

Sorry but i do not like them.

I like the berry ones. I also have arthritis (so I like comfy shoes) and I would wear these with some 7/8 pants for work.

I am sorry to hear you havent been well, and try not to be so hard on yourself

I really like the shoes ! I would wear them with some smart trousers where you see your ankles (sockless obvs ) i wouldnt wear them with black tights in berry but would in black

I think the loafers look great and would go with so many things.

However, have you considered visiting the Podiatrist and having a gait test done? I have RA and found it really useful. He also recommend the type of shoes that I should wear, the specific features I need (eg straps or laces across the instep) and places to buy them. My private health cover also paid about 50% of the cost of custom made orthotic inserts.

If you like them and they are comfy OP then wear them with pride :) However they do remind me of the shoes that elderly ladies of my Nana’s generation wore in the 1980’s!

The headmaster of my junior school wore shoes like that in the early 80s! Having said that... I really like them 😂.

I really like them. They are fashionable atm and as a pp said you could wear them with a 7/8 trouser.

FootBalance insoles do not need a gait analysis beforehand as gait is accounted for by their method of custom fitting, so that saves you a step (pardon the pun) in the process.

Thanks everyone, I have insoles for my shoes which do help a little with the PF. I can’t wear trainers for some reason, I end up tripping up when I wear them. I’ve put my knees through a fair few pairs of pants before now. I’ve had Sketchers a few times which while they are comfy aren’t very attractive.
Shoes arrived about an hour ago and they are really nice and feel good on, so hopefully I shall be stepping out a little smarter this Autumn.

Perfect! Around Black Friday time or in the January sales, have a look at fitflop. Highly recommended. As I’ve said in my experience nothing else really touches them for comfort factor.

Keep looking out for similar shoes in M&S as you will be able to pick up more pairs in their very good further reductions. I often buy leather or suede shoes there for not much more than £20, and sometimes even less than that!

They're not achingly cool, like a lot of M&S designs they're a tiny bit basic, but loafers like this are in vogue, yes. A lot depends on what you wear them with - rayon slacks from the Classic Collection, definitely a bit nan; with slightly cropped trousers and a half-tucked tee, sleek and current.

I'm thinking of buying the berry ones and I like to think I'm reasonably well-dressed, if that helps. I'm 35 and wear a lot of Cos and Kin.

What do you wear on your ankles with the cropped trousers, do you think, Cressida or anyone else?
Knee high tights?

OP you know they are hideous otherwise you wouldn't have made this thread. They are clumpy and old fashioned - far from the 'elegant' look you want to go for. I assume you are trying to create the Russel and Bromley look but ended up with sad goth teenager with the only shoes she would let her mum would buy her for school.

I’m going to wear similar shoes with ankle skimmers and argyle socks or stripes in an accent or contrasting colour.

Ideally I go bare ankle and wear an invisible footsie sock, or knee highs if it's really cold, but the latter are a tiny bit uncool. Showing off funky socks is an option.

Those Russell & Bromley loafers aren't really the aspiration, no. It's a classic style yes, but comes off a bit frumpy right now. A chunkier sole is more in vogue.

I don't like them (the Russell and Bromley pair are worse though), but I wouldn't be caught dead in loafers. And if I was I'd come back to haunt whoever put them on me. But if you do like them that's all that matters. I can see that they'd work with cropped trousers, if you were going for a preppy look.