If you had to wear Fit Flop Rally with dresses etc - leather or canvas?

[QuattroFromagio]

I have bad feet. Very bad. I've tried everything and nothing is comfortable. I bought some black fit flop Rally and put my orthotics in, and I have slightly less pain on the balls of my feet, though still not great.

So I was thinking of getting some white ones, as sandals are just not working well, even walking sandals give me blisters on my soles/balls of my feet.

The exact ones aren't available in white, as they are a sort of stretchy mesh with laces, but pull on. The white ones are either leather or canvas. Any thoughts on which might look better with summer dresses? I know Rally is generally thought to be a bit hideous and orthopaedic, but I haven't much choice. I currently have Air and Grace, but there is so little padding in the sole that I have very sore feet, and the lack of give in the leather means my toes push together a bit. I'm fat, and frumpy already, but I'd rather not make it worse if I can!

So would leather or canvas look better with summer dresses? Leather is more expensive, possibly longer lasting/cleaner, but might be less giving/stretchy, and hotter. I presume all the Rally fit fairly similarly, but I don't know.

canvas: www.fitflop.com/uk/en/shop/rally-canvas-trainers-p-FB8#926

leather: www.fitflop.com/uk/en/shop/rally-leather-trainers-p-X22#194

the leather are more white; the canvas say cream though looks kind of white on the picture. I haven't seen them in person.

I think the canvas ones would look nicer but, as you say, may be less practical re. cleaning. I haven't read the full product info but one thing to consider is that some types of canvas can shrink a bit when wet, particularly if unlined...so maybe not so good if you were hoping to wear them in most weathers.That said, Fitflops are so well made that maybe this wouldn't be an issue. Good luck with whichever you choose. I'm a great fan of Fitflops 🙂

thanks, that's something i'd not even considered. I expect they'd mostly be a summer thing with dresses, so probably not as likely to wear them on rainy days anyway, but always a chance of being caught in a shower!

I wonder if the canvas is quite rough inside (I have easily blistered skin from even the smallest seams etc!).

I wonder also if the canvas is a bit stretchy. My leather Air and Grace ones mean my little toe squashes the one next to it. I don't want wide fit generally as I have narrow heels, but the place my little toe is just always gets squashed, so the stretchy mesh fit flops were ok for it - but they wouldn't look great in white even if they did make them.

hmm, actually there is a knit style as well. Hideous? or ok?

www.fitflop.com/uk/en/shop/rally-e01-multi-knit-trainers-p-FB6#477

The fitflop site itself seems to carry half sizes, but other shops (some of which are cheaper, like Outdoor Look etc, but also places like John Lewis) only stock whole sizes.

Not hideous at all. I think they look nicer than the white leather ones as the texture and flecky effect base give a less "stark" white look. The reviews are good too: one mentions that they are super stretchy, though many say they come up large around the heels. When I look at the site it offers 15% off the first order of full price items, but I don't know how that compares with other retailers.

I have white leather FF trainers, they don't look exactly like these but are a few years old now so might be old styling.

They are the most comfortable thing ever and I'm contemplating getting them in other colours. The white leather is looking old and scruffy now, I've washed and bleached the laces a few times before replacing but the shoes now just don't look smart, despite thorough cleaning and use of white polish.

I might have unreasonable expectations though. How long do people normally expect to have their white shoes looking good?

I have the leather ones in white, navy and silver. I wear the silver ones more than any of the others. They are fantastically comfortable and well made. The leather is quite soft and does have a fair amount of give. I’ve put the navy ones through the washing machine a few times (unexpectedly muddy dog walks) and though it’s probably not recommended they survived pretty well.

I think the knit looks fine. I don't wear trainers with dresses but I wear Fitflop knit trainers and they are fine with or without socks for me. I get heel blisters at the drop of a hat so generally try to wear socks if I know I have to do a lot of walking.

I would always choose leather if there was the option.

thanks everyone. I think I'll order the knit ones to try first, and if they are too wide in the heel, I'll try the otehrs.

I wish I could wear sandals with dresses instead, but I get so many blisters that I need something comfortable. Even fit flop sandals aren't good - I liked the Gracie ones, but they have slight stitching around the edge of the sole or straps, and that was enough to give me blisters.

So i'm grateful that the trend (sort of ) is for trainers now, or at least it doesn't look as completely out of place as it did when I was younger. I think I still look fat and frumpy with them, but I probably would anyway! it's a trend that young people carry off better than I do.

I prefer the canvas

I really like them! I don’t think they look frumpy at all. The canvas ones are my favourite

@QuattroFromagio if your feet are wide with a narrow heel take care with fit flops
Some are ok but others pitch over time at the big toe which is a shame because the footbed is really comfy.
I thought they were fab as I have severe arthritis in my feet but unfortunately I've had to get something different as they have aggravated my big toe and my orthotics don't really fit in them.

I much prefer the leather ones from a style point of view. Also canvas always tends to be more uncomfortable.

Yes I found them hard to fit orthotics in too, and even in my old black ones, the heel slips a bit, so they're definitely not perfect. But i haven't yet found anything else and really need to.

I'll see how the stretch ones go for fit, and then consider the others. At least places like JL have the leather ones and you can get next day collection, so it would be an easy order if I needed. they only do whole sizes there, whereas I've been ordering a half size from fitflop, but I don't think the difference is great.

I have the leather in silver - somehow the silver makes them more acceptable I feel? White look like nurses shoes! Also there's the Velcro style that I quite like?