Help me find COMFORTABLE non-frumpy shoes that go with dresses

[Salisburyspire]

I am about to start a new role - semi-corporate but also arms-length public sector. I will be working with a chief exec as well as creative types.
I am pretty huge so my staple wardrobe is Boden dresses (some wrap, but some structured A-line ones). I had a social lunch yesterday and trialled one of my dresses with my usual pair of Clark's boots (not much of a heel, usually comfortable). Dear reader, I was in agony by the time I got home. I am so used to wearing trainers. I cannot wear heels due to age and weight. Also I have huge legs so ankle boots outside of the winter season when I can make my legs blend in with dark tights that match the boots are going to be problematic. What flat (but padded sole) shoes can you help me find? Trainers I fear will be too casual. Are there are other shoes that go with dresses that are not boots or heels? I quite like platform type leather sneakers in black leather with a white sole but are these too casual? My usual staple is black but will consider a navy pair to go with blue dresses too...

• * [Thread title edited by MNHQ] **

These are the trainers i reserve to wear with work dresses. Incredibly comfortable.

www.hobbs.com/product/arwen-leather-trainers-/0221-LE48-001H020-WHITE.html#gclid=Cj0KCQjw29CRBhCUARIsAOboZbIPCAz_icfvfRkbH0Q_ej48ETRIUWPLi8XmhInCqm0r8XDuugqcL0caAmefEALw_wcB&utm_term=hobbs%20trainers&utm_content=135352453148&utm_campaign=14504394908&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&cgid=shoes-trainers&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=0221-LE48-001H020-WHITE&pos=1

@Thoosa - they are fab!

I have sandals by Hotter, so comfortable with memory foam type heels, my 87 year old grandma has the same ones but in blue

@thisplaceisweird

Gabor is ultimate granny, opposite of what OP wants.

I've just had a look - yes, there are a few screamers there but some of them are quite nice. I wouldn't automatically dismiss Gabor.

I wear these gb.ecco.com/en-GB/product/5638272196/ECCO-SOFT-7-W with almost everything .... if you have smaller size feet you can get a fantastic ecco bargain in the teens section gb.ecco.com/en-GB/product/5642846131/ECCO-STREET-TRAY-K

@Billandben444

Some really good suggestions on here and, as a granny, I'd say go for what's super comfortable - people are unlikely to notice/comment on shoes if the rest of you is pulled together.

Ha ha. This is how I think as well, but I was warned by a colleague ones that a lot of people really do judge others on their shoes. I think some of the shoes recommended with the massive bottoms to them would definitely attract attention.

"What's wrong with 'stylish but comfortable shoes?'"

Because it's not just about that. Comfortable shoes are often targeted at old people eg Hotter so wearing them could potentially make someone look older.
I bet if they're honest the grannies on here don't want to look like great grannies either.

I walked 20k steps around London yesterday in my (usually comfortable) Grensons and by the end of it the balls of my feet were burning. If someone offered me a pair of Hotter/Gabor/similar I'd have bitten their hand off

@Gwenhwyfar

"What's wrong with 'stylish but comfortable shoes?'"

Because it's not just about that. Comfortable shoes are often targeted at old people eg Hotter so wearing them could potentially make someone look older.
I bet if they're honest the grannies on here don't want to look like great grannies either.

No, they really don’t - just as wearing the shoe brands my 22 year old wears won’t make me look younger.

I’m curious though - what is it about ‘looking older’ that is so awful? Does looking younger fill you with as much horror? And what does a great granny wear precisely?

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Pure-Easy/p/26157396

"I’m curious though - what is it about ‘looking older’ that is so awful? Does looking younger fill you with as much horror? And what does a great granny wear precisely?"

Most people don't want to look older than their age. I'm in my 40s and completely understand that women younger than me don't want to look my age, just like I don't want to look 60 and a 60 year old granny doesn't want to look like an 85 year old great granny.
The reason why is that our body, health and looks generally (but not always) get worse as we age and in the end, we die. People these days don't want to acknowledge death so they pretend ageing is this nice thing that happens, but in fact it's a deterioration. Sorry if you don't want to face that.

Having said that, I do have insoles from Hotter!

@evilharpy

I walked 20k steps around London yesterday in my (usually comfortable) Grensons and by the end of it the balls of my feet were burning. If someone offered me a pair of Hotter/Gabor/similar I'd have bitten their hand off

So the other option for OP is wearing trainers/walking shoes when she's walking distances eg to work and having another pair to wear at the office or whenever she only has short distances to walk.

Most people don't want to look older than their age. I'm in my 40s and completely understand that women younger than me don't want to look my age, just like I don't want to look 60 and a 60 year old granny doesn't want to look like an 85 year old great granny

What on Earth does a 60 granny look like?! You seem quite fixated on the idea that a granny looks a certain way - it’s very odd. The young people now are wearing fashion which was around when I was a teenager in the 80s, but that doesn’t make them look older - just as whatever shoes I wear will still make me look like someone in their early 50s.

Let’s not conflate unstylish and older - the two things are very different.

I don't think people always want to look younger than they are either - if I was wearing shoes that turned out to be in fashion with teenagers, I wouldn't feel comfortable about that either.

"You seem quite fixated on the idea that a granny looks a certain way - it’s very odd."

Not at all. It's not being a granny, it's being a certain age. When I'm 60, I won't be a granny, but I will look like a granny to younger people. I probably already do now in my 40s.
And as I've said, 60 somethings don't want to look like 80 somethings.

Sheepskin insoles from Celtic and ®co make my shoes really comfortable but you do need to size up.

Vionics have the occasional ok style. They are comfortable.

For work, where I'm not allowed trainers or open toed shoes, I like pointed flats. Next have some at the moment.

@Gwenhwyfar

"You seem quite fixated on the idea that a granny looks a certain way - it’s very odd."

Not at all. It's not being a granny, it's being a certain age. When I'm 60, I won't be a granny, but I will look like a granny to younger people. I probably already do now in my 40s.
And as I've said, 60 somethings don't want to look like 80 somethings.

No, you will look like an older woman - and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that just as there’s nothing wrong with being young or middle aged. Younger people won’t be able to pinpoint your age - and they certainly won’t by your shoes. If I can look like a stylish woman of 80 when I’m 60 I’ll be delighted.

I’m 40s too @Gwenhwyfar but I cannot believe how crass you are being. Have you tried reading your last few posts back?

@Mistressiggi

I don't think people always want to look younger than they are either - if I was wearing shoes that turned out to be in fashion with teenagers, I wouldn't feel comfortable about that either.

Me neither. I'd rather look my actual age or a few years younger. Wearing clothes generally seen on much younger women could actually make me look even older.

@Thoosa

I’m 40s too *@Gwenhwyfar* but I cannot believe how crass you are being. Have you tried reading your last few posts back?

Crass? Is it your fear of ageing and death that makes you say that? Am I not allowed to say that ageing is actually a deterioration? Is that what bothers you? It's happening to all of us from the moment we are born, there's no point denying it.

"No, you will look like an older woman - and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that just as there’s nothing wrong with being young or middle aged. "

Of course, but most people don't want to look older than they actually are.

What on earth are you going on about - a fear of ageing and dying??! You keep conflating older and unstylish - why is that?

"You keep conflating older and unstylish - why is that?"

I don't think I've even mentioned the word unstylish, have I?
The fact is, certain looks are associated with certain ages and most women don't want to look older than they are. That's all.

Most women want to look stylish - not older, younger or anything in between.

@SirChenjins

Most women want to look stylish - not older, younger or anything in between.

Plenty of people don't care about being stylish, though those people may not be on Style and Beauty.