Help needed! What should I be wearing on my feet?!

[peasando]

I have recently realised that I am completely and utterly lost in the shoe department.

I spent the whole of summer alternating between two pairs of TOMS (no socks) but clearly this is not the weather for that now (and anyway, they look as knackered as I feel).

So what should I be getting? Budget is not massive but reasonable. I think I need:

• Trainers - what is comfortable in right now? Quite like the look of Vejas but oddly DH told me they're old hat (how would he know?!)

• Something to wear to work (I have a professional job but the vibe is v much smart casual)

• Boots? Do I need boots? They'd have to be ankle length as my calves are practically cows. I used to live in my DMs as a teenager - are they still having a revival or would that be tragic?

For context I'm early 40s, chubby, spend a lot of time either working or running round after kids and definitely need a wide fit shoe.

(I am a bit overweight and my feet are wider than they used to be. They're a size 6-6.5 so not teensy delicate little things, but im only 5 foot 4 and don't want to look as though I'm wearing clown shoes.)

I cannot wear heels.

Any ideas gratefully received!

Hmm … This is a strangely wide request.

I’m curious about what you think the thirty odd million other women in the country are wearing on their feet!

It depends on what you're wearing on your legs!

An ankle boot / Chelsea boot is usually a safe bet. Don't you have any boots? What were you wearing last year?

Chunky loafers / flats are in this season

Sneakers

One pair of white trainers
One pair of black (chunky ish) Chelsea boots
One pair of brogues or other flat shoe

Honestly, I honestly honestly don't know. I feel hopelessly lost and out of my depth and I don't know how this has happened. I used to be able to dress myself!

Vejas are what my trendy 23 year old and her pals are wearing. I don’t think they’re old hat

Agree with pp - brogues/loafers/chelsea boots with a chunky sole. Stay away from the DMs - nothing screams ‘middle aged and lacking inspiration’ than DMs.

Just get some DMs, they’ll cover you for most things!

Trainers, I’ve never had Vejas but I think they look great. Stan Smiths also seem to do the job, or failing that you can’t go wrong with converse. I think some Nike Blazers or some Adidas Astir might be next on my list.

I have a pair of Ugg boots - like these (possibly exactly these, I'm not sure) but in black. I've had them for about five years and they're really destroyed now but that's basically what I wore last winter...

Haha good advice thank you - just because I am clearly middle aged and lacking in inspiration doesn't mean I want to look it...

Oh I'm 26 and I love my DM's hoping I'm still young enough not to scream that!

26 year olds can pull off what chubby 40-somethings cannot!

I bought these chunky boots a few weeks ago. I NEVER buy non leather but I just needed something like this and couldn't afford anything more. They are great! Really comfy and Incan wear them to work, with skirts and dresses and with jeans. I've worn them loads since I bought them.

I have been browsing at M&S and found this: https://www.marksandspencer.com/wide-fit-chunky-chelsea-ankle-boots/p/clp60526680?intid=mobileappppdpshare

@Clarabellawilliamson thank you! I think that this is what I really need, an idea what other people are wearing. I don't want to be super stylish or anything (couldn't if I wanted to!) but I just don't know where to start.

38 mum of two, love my DM’s, wore them as a kid. Not giving them up now because someone deems them ‘inappropriate’ for my age.

Wear what you love, and fuck whatever anyone else says.

You can get wide fit Converse 😀 also I love the Birkenstock mules, unisex DMs are wide fit too, mine are brown and so comfy

I’ve got wide feet and I’ve heard that Vejas are a bugger to break in - ain’t nobody got time for that!
Trainers, I tend to wear AF1s, Adidas 80s Continentals and Stan Smiths - no idea if they’re particularly on trend or old hat, but I’ve found that they’re all comfortable styles on my wide feet.

I don’t think you can go wrong with a classic Chelsea boot.

I have some converse high tops and low tops, adidas superstars. Boots are uggs but leather ones not those ones that look a bit like slippers. I also have some shoe boots. I'm not going to be leading a fashion revolution though by any means

Omg wide fit converse...game changer. I do actually have a pair of white converse and felt v cool when I wore them to work one day and saw one of my v glam junior colleagues wearing the same ones but they destroyed my feet and were agony after about an hour and a half, just too narrow.

Off to google wide fit ones...

Clarks orinorico (sp?) boots. Lace up but with a zip too and a bit dm ish but come in wide fit and ridiculously comfy. Work well with both dresses or jeans, this is their second year for me and I really like them. On trainers days I like my new balance (black with a bit of white this year, I had the wine coloured ones last year but they look a bit knackered now). I also still like my adidas gazelles but they are also rather knackered. I am also same age as you and run around after my kids a lot (but not enough to compensate for my biscuit intake).

Thanks to @adagio I'm now £80 worse off 😆

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Orinoco2-Edge/p/26166752

Have a look at Art boots or something. Fashion reflects the state if the economy and frankly no one knows what the fuck is going on.
Trainers feel old, boots feel old m flats feel old, heels feel old….. we are a.holding out the “ next thing”

Art Company are great for something a little different but not too young or too frumpy - good for wider feet. Also a fan of Birkenstocks - have mules and shoes - have been looking at the boots but I have some Art ones and a pair of Fly Chelsea boots so can't really justify it (I know Fly are are bit passé now)

I have some New Balance trainers - I always trawl through the Office Offcuts site which has some real bargains (all ex display etc) - I got New Balance there very reduced.

I understand the opinion that, "nothing screams ‘middle aged and lacking inspiration’ than DMs"😊🤔, but I have about 10 pairs of DMs and I'm in my early 60s, so well past middle-age. Three of them are Chelsea boot style, a couple of pairs are sandals, and the others are the original DM style in various patterns and colours. Quite a few people have recommended Chelsea boots on here, so I don't think it matters if they happen to be Doc Martens. Also, there seems to be so many inexpensive copies of what used to be a Doc Marten style now, ie sturdy utility footwear with thick soles, that I think you can get away with DMs at any age.

Another vote for The Art Company. I have trainers, boots and flat shoes by them.
They are really comfy, great for my wide feet and I like the fact they look a bit different. I get complimented on them all the time.

I love boots in the winter- some chunky black ones with lots of straps and a pair of being fake suede lace up ones.

trainer wise I’ve switched from adidas to Next forever comfort as they come in wide fit.

Both work great for chasing kids or going with a dress for work.

Late 50’s and love my Blundstones - very comfortable from the start.
I also have a pair of Vejas which I love and have become more comfortable with time.