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!

No one cares about your trendy 23 year old daughter.

Well chubby 40 something here and I have just bought a pair of the National gallery DM’s! I love them.

No-one cares whether you care

DMs are massive. All ages. Classic.

Not a fan myself but if you like them and they suit you they are really versatile and transcend fashion.

Vegas are ubiquitous. I'd say it's a fine line between looking like you know what trendy trainers are and try-too-hard depending on your overall vibe. They are very distinctive. I'd maybe suggest Stan Smiths as something that blends in.

I am developing Bunion Feet. Would doc martens work for bunion feet? I’m looking at most of my cold weather footwear and thinking it will hurt to wear it.

I've had Fly Chelsea boots , very comfortable.

Trainers, would you not just go and try on some pairs and see what you like?

@Mogginsthemog yeah in an ideal world but who has time to go to an actual shop and try things on?! Plus what would I wear on my feet to get there 😂😂😂

I'm definitely middle-aged and I wear Solovair dealer/astronaut boots or gibsons. I get comments on how nice they are.

Fly London boots are comfortable and last ages. Colleague wears navy Vans in the office, she looks casual but smart.

Stan Smiths are awful. Uncomfortable and done to death about 15 years ago. Vejas aren't comfortable either.

You lot really are brilliant, I knew if I asked here I'd get loads of good ideas. Thank you! 🙏 I'm going to do an online binge and send back stuff that doesn't work...that's my new plan. What could possibly go wrong!!

I haven't shopped for a while but I remember M&S doing super comfy shoes and boots for wider feet that look really elegant.

Ok. I have about a million pairs of shoes/trainers/boots but I'll try and distill. I also am a similar size/wide of foot.

Trainers - I have the wide fit converse - they are a game changer but super limited in colours/styles. I have the white and save for summer. Air and grace trainers are a good alternative and fit well if your looking for that kind of look?

I'm now in boots permanently for the winter - but do have a couple of pairs of chunky brogues for shoe days. NOT Clark's. John Lewis Kin have some black ones.

Boots. There's so many! DMs are good on width but I don't find them super comfy beyond that. I love my grenson biker boots but you need to get them on sale. I'm desperate for solovair to do the brogue dealer boots in women's sizes but in the meantime bought some patent brogue Chelsea boots from M&S which are surprisingly wide fit.

Good luck OP. Shoe shopping is addictive. My wish list is expanding but I have a storage issue (and a furious husband who is muttering about a one in one out policy...).

@chalkyc2 thank you this is amazing!

I am now happily googling my way through a huge list of things from this thread, thanks so much everyone.

nothing screams ‘middle aged and lacking inspiration’ than DMs

There are no words adequate to express what utter bollocks this is.

Bollocks to your bollocks @Blossomtoes - fashion is purely subjective and my opinion of DMs is as valid as yours.

Patent loafers always look smart for work.

😂

And the same to you 😂

DMs aren't fashion, they're very popular shoes with different age groups. More a 'go to' than ‘middle aged and lacking inspiration’

@peasando , have a look on M&S web site and get the page showing all the jeans. The models are styled, and the footwear is chosen to make the products sell .

Of course DMs are fashion (not high/fast fashion) - unless they're a requirement of work or similar they are a choice of footwear, just as the same as any other shoe. My (middle aged) opinion about them still stands, in the same way that I have opinions about other shoes and clothes.

They have fashion styles, @SirChenjins , but the standard boot or shoe has been worn for decades, so isn't fashion as such. I don't wear them (any more) but wear a similar shoe and boot of a better quality. I'm middle aged too.

I'd put them in the same league as converse, worn by all ages and don't ever seem to fall out of use, so classics not fashion. The shape, style and sole doesn't change unlike, say, chelsea or ankle boots.

The platforms or trendy ones are fashion.

They are fashion as such - they are a choice of expressing a preference for a particular look that someone makes, in the same way they choose jeans over another type of trouser. They've been about for longer than DMs, they come in different fashion styles, but e.g. a straight leg jean is a staple fashion item that people choose to wear for aesthetic purposes. My personal opinion is that they look like the wearer lacks inspiration but has fallen back on the DM label as a fail-safe.

Wear the DMs or don't - dress only for yourself and sod anyone's else's opinions.

I live in converse shoes or boots, I also have black patent Chelsea style doc Martin boots aswell as fly London mid length boots. They were expensive (though did get a discount on schuh but they have lasted 3 winters already)