William Morris Sneakers - okay or frumpy?

[HyancinthsAndTulips]

I bought a pair of William Morris print sneakers from Next (yeah, I know...urgh) and really like them (they also make my big feet look smaller) but wondering if they're a bit on the frumpy side? It shouldn't matter, but I'm mid-thirties and just starting out in a fairly 'young' industry, so would like to avoid looking too staid. I've added a picture of the type of outfit I would wear them with.

Finding summer shoes is such a nightmare for me - I have wide size 8/9 feet which I prefer to keep hidden as they aren't exactly my most attractive feature. Really hate white sneakers (they also make my feet look huge) and can't get on with most sandals (they all rub and do nothing for me). I like vintage look Converse, some loafers, espadrilles and ballet flats, but most of my shoes are dark colours and never look quite right with summery clothes. I also don't like bright colours or anything too 'loud' and live in neutrals and muted colours. I used to to find so many nice shoes in my early 20s but now seem to return just about everything I order....not sure where it all went wrong for me. 😩

Is it just me, or do models seem more and more depressed? If they look miserable in what they're being asked to wear, how does that sell the clothes? And what are those awful poses?

I also have no idea how people keep light trainers looking nice and suspect many just keep buying new ones at fairly regular intervals - which seems very much at odds with the focus on sustainability in most other areas.

TikTok is full of helpful videos on how to keep white trainers sparkling.

But then, people are very insulting about people who like to wear heels. I mean quite rude in a personal way, not just about the shoes.

Yes, I've seen that too.

‘Honestly so bloody bored to my bones of some people on this board desperatelysearching for something to be offended by. I suggest you try and find a more fulfilling hobby’. A-bloody-men!

What she said. I like them and can imagine me wearing them but I'm 56!!!

Op, there are a lot of high-top Converse and similar around at the moment. I have a plain black pair that I like as they are quite understated and I prefer to wear darker trainers in the colder months/to work.

Like you I have big feet and prefer the all black ones as I find the white toe caps make my feet look longer.

I think they look a bit frumpy, compared to say, the nike blazers in liberty print.

Rude you mean like all the sneery, ageist comments on here about ", frumpy" "something like OAPs" would wear?

Rather selective quoting there.

What I said was I might wonder but not say anything - unlike the posters on here telling the OP she shouldn't wear these "frumpy" shoes.

There's no reason to change your style.
If I were you I would continue wearing my pointy flats and preppy loafers and inwardly wonder why my colleagues are wearing such dreary and ugly trainers. I wouldn't say that but the fact I was the only person wearing pointy flats and preppy loafers wouldn't in a million years make me think I should change.

Of course you’re right, I shouldn’t have to change my style and won’t, but it would be nice to have some more causal summer shoe options. I don’t particularly need arch support and get on fine with ballet pumps and the like but do appreciate the comfort of trainers when I have to walk a lot or am out and about with my annoyingly fast-walking DH who just cannot get into his head that men’s shoes tend to be a lot more suited to that kind of pace than dainty flats. I just can’t seem to find anything that appeals.

Op, there are a lot of high-top Converse and similar around at the moment. I have a plain black pair that I like as they are quite understated and I prefer to wear darker trainers in the colder months/to work.

Like you I have big feet and prefer the all black ones as I find the white toe caps make my feet look longer.

I already have (and love!) several pairs of Converse, so while that suggestion is generally right up my street, I probably don’t need another pair. Strangely, I find the cream / off-white toe caps more flattering on large feet than the standard white ones. Bright white on shoes IMO always seems to scream ‘Look at me!’ in a way slightly more muted colours don’t. I even have a cream pair of Converse and while they don’t exactly look dainty, it’s the only white trainer I’ve ever liked on my feet.

I think they look a bit frumpy, compared to say, the nike blazers in liberty print.

Just had a look but sadly the ones I really like (pic attached) seem to be from over ten years ago so not available anymore. I’d also prefer something without a big brand logo, but that seems to exclude about 90% of all trainers.

He's a really fascinating man. Unbelievably creative – just a powerhouse of ideas and energy. The 19th-century aesthetic movement (John Ruskin, Walter Pater, Oscar Wilde, Swinburne, Morris, Beardsley, etc) fascinates me. Whenever I re-read Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray, I am spellbound by the dialogue. But I always wonder if that's how men like Morris and Pater and Swinburne really spoke. Did Wilde capture the speech of real British aesthetes? Or did he invent it? God, I wish British people spoke like that today! I also wish we had a modern William Morris. (Then again, imagine taking William Morris to a modern British town – the endless new build estates, the ugly out of town shopping centers, the bumper to bumper traffic, etc. God, he'd put his head in his hands and sob!!)

I read the shoes were frumpy, not the person.
As someone in my 60s, I'm a lot more insulted by people saying, "only thick people wear those", as opposed to, "only OAPs wear those".

But whatever, as I've said on many threads, they're just shoes. People can give opinions on whether they like things or not but they don't need to be nasty. This is Style and Beauty. People are always lovely and kind on this board. Except for shoes. There seems to be almighty praise for people, especially young people, brave enough to wear trainers but denigration for those who like a heel. Or maybe I'm just feeling persecuted so am a bit biased. ☺

I don't personally perceive frumpy to be an ageist term. A person can dress frumpily at 25. Saffy from AbFab was a young frump.

You can argue it's sexist though.

OAP here, would you like my opinion?

They're Ok.

I like them, and worn with the right outfit, not frumpy at all (I like your example)
I’d not wear them with floppy bowed laces, though - I’d tuck them in or get some of the elastic ones for a cleaner look

The second photo looks very Sezane-esque and although I'm not a massive fan of the sneakers they would work with the outfit.

I commented earlier OP to say I don’t like them. And honestly I really don’t.

Neither would I say they’re a particularly “young” choice - as that was your original question.

But the thing is, it’s such a personal issue. You’d probably hate the shoes I wear! And that’s ok too 🙂 I’m another size 8-9 foot hobbit too, btw 😂

Looking at the photos you uploaded re the clothes you’d normally wear, I’d say these shoes would go really well. You seem to have a classic style and if that’s the case, I can see these shoes complementing your wardrobe beautifully.

And that’s the question that matters - do they work with your style? I think yes.

Whether I or anyone else likes them is irrelevant. Some will, some won’t. You’ll never get a consensus. They’re entirely suitable for work, they’ll complement your wardrobe, and they’re probably bloody comfy- win/win!

If you like them, please don’t doubt yourself.

I’m an artist that works in fashion, and to me they seem like something an OAP would wear.

Out of interest, I would like to ask this poster what exactly they were thinking when they said this?
Did you not think any OAPs would see it?
Do you not think OAPs have any opinions worth listening to about art or style or fashion?
Was it just for a cheap laugh?
Or did you just not care how it might make someone feel?

You were obviously expecting a reaction as you said you were putting your head above the parapet so I hope you're not going to insult our intelligence as well as our clothing sense by claiming you just meant it in a neutral way.

OAP here, would you like my opinion?

They're Ok.

Of course I want your opinion! I love reading your posts on S&B because they're always interesting, well-considered and I'm sure you have great taste! I know lots of older women whose style I admire and would very happily take advice from.

I like them, and worn with the right outfit, not frumpy at all (I like your example)
I’d not wear them with floppy bowed laces, though - I’d tuck them in or get some of the elastic ones for a cleaner look

That's a good point, duly noted!

I commented earlier OP to say I don’t like them. And honestly I really don’t.

Neither would I say they’re a particularly “young” choice - as that was your original question.

But the thing is, it’s such a personal issue. You’d probably hate the shoes I wear! And that’s ok too 🙂 I’m another size 8-9 foot hobbit too, btw 😂

I'm not head over heels in love with them myself, it's more a question of being mildly pleased with finding a comfortable summery light-coloured shoe that doesn't give me clown feet. Summer shoes for me tend to be a question of finding the least bad option, really. I might actually start a new thread asking those with large and wide feet to share their flattering shoes. I'm curious now, what shoes do you wear?

Personally I think that anyone who is truly happy with their own personal style and is confident wouldn't feel the need to be so derogatory about other people's choices. It happens all the time on this board lately and the ageism element is becoming so tiresome.

I like, and live in, coloured trainers,my bottom half is usually in black.
I prefer flatter shoes with wide legged trousers and have bought the Cath Kidston/Gola ones for the summer

Those are pretty too.

They look nice, OP, main thing, are they comfy, if they are and you like them, I would keep them

They are lovely op my dds wear these type of shoes all the time with most outfits.