Sandals/shoes for a boiling hot office in summer

[SweetSakura]

I'm dreading this summer. I have a neurological condition that means I am very heat sensitive and our office is boiling hot.

I think I'd love some sandals that look smart enough for the office but will help me stay as cool as possible. They need to be flat (ish) due to my neurological condition.

It's public sector so dress code isnt too strict but I have quite a senior role so feel the pressure to look smart really

(The office used to be freezing to the point I took in huge thick cardigans to wear in the summer, so this is a new challenge!)

Whatever style you choose make sure they are easy to slip on and off.
Presuming you spend quite a bit of time at a desk, wear shoes that have no buckles, laces or ties.
If you choose shoes that can be put on or off without using your hands then no one even need know. If you have to move across the room- simply put them back on again in a second.
If over heating is a problem take a couple of ice packs in an insulated lunch bag, and you can put your feet on them under your desk.
Hands and feet play a big part of heat loss areas, if you can cool your feet- or hands and wrists under cold running water it will cool your whole body.

I have only worked in one office in my life, but visited two other HQ offices on a regular basis.
Most of trhe female admin staff walked around the office barefoot .
These were biotech companies- I know different industries have different cultures.

I wear Birkenstocks in the summer in the office. Dark blue ones, look smart enough with a dress or long skirt, or cropped trousers.

They are also chunky enough so you don’t trip over the front (flip flops are banned at work as not safe on stairs etc).

For super smart meetings I have a lightweight pair of shoes (closed toe flat ones) I can keep in my bag.

Sorry, Birkenstocks are not smart, especially with long droopy skirts.

There are not cheap but are reasonably smart. Gabor -- they come in black, brown and navy.
https://www.gaborshoes.co.uk/womens-c1/sandals-c4/sweetly-ladies-casual-sandals-p31970/s418074?cid=GBP&glCurrency=GBP&glCountry=GB&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6cKiBhD5ARIsAKXUdyaqrlXnHEyZMj6fXuBAqX89bUTnp8Irz4Ii-1-oNvFwcDlFzCAC2UQaAgiNEALw_wcB

Rieker are just the best. I'm wearing these ones today - the white version which has green in it. Normally I wear a slip on ones, which you can just pop off at the office desk. These ones have velcro straps so you can get them to exactly the right size. They have a super soft feel too. I always have a proper pedicure so as to look smart.

Rieker 67476 Women Sandals - Rieker Women's Footwear from Rieker UK UK

Something like this which are a bit less open
https://www.whitestuff.com/accessories-and-shoes/womens-shoes/mid-pink-fisherman-shoe/

The Gabor ones would be a nightmare if your feet swell because they’re elasticated. Counterintuitively, it makes them unbearably tight as I’ve discovered to my cost.

I looked at these last week and they’re beautiful. Definitely on my shortlist. Whatever you wear, a pedicure and painted toenails are a must and they elevate even the chunkiest of sandals.

https://www.russellandbromley.co.uk/boston/432032

There is NO WAY ON EARTH my ridiculously hot feet would cope with enclosed shoes. If people don't like looking at bare feet, they shouldn't look down! (I do look after my feet;they are clean with trimmed nails, generally a pedicure.)

I have timberland ones I highly recommend, comfortable and reasonably smart

I think the openness/strappyness is only half of the equation .You've got to have the sole of your foot on something cool,so definitely nothing synthetic .And suede would be more comfortable than hard smooth leather.

Agree re pedicure if I have open toes! My toes aren't too bad thankfully but I definitely think they need to look particularly neat if I am wearing open toes at work.

Still undecided , maybe I will just have to buy several pairs

Interested in this thread as we have to wear closed toe shoes for ‘healthy and safety reasons’. It seems the person who has decided this should be the dress code thinks that spiky heels are ok! We have no aircon and our classrooms are boiling in summer.

Keep trying to post and losing it!!

I love yoox.com. Lots of discounts though the shoes aren't cheap. They're lovely soft Italian/Spanish leather and some brands like Lodi and Marian have gel insoles which are lovely to walk on!

Two recent purchases:
https://www.yoox.com/uk/17279673WO/item#dept=women&sts=sr_women80&cod10=17279673WO&sizeId=-1

https://www.yoox.com/uk/17394595LR/item#dept=women&sts=sr_women80&cod10=17394595LR&sizeId=-1

Also try https://www.gadeastore.com/en/

https://www.google.com/search?q=lodi+shoes&rlz=1C1GCEU_enGB1018GB1018&oq=lodi&aqs=chrome.2.69i59l3j69i57j69i60l4.7061j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://marianwomanshoes.com/en/

Just wear Birkenstocks. Everyone in my office does. No point making yourself miserable with pain just to look slightly smarter.

Yes I worked as laboratory admin so never went in the lab but we couldn't wear open toe sandals for health and safety reasons, I think they just wanted it the same throughout the building. I wore those fishermen type shoes as they were deemed ok.

As long as they're not scruffy I'd really go for comfort in the summer. I find Earth Spirit works for me, only brand I can just wear without having to break in and pure comfort.

I think closed toe flat slingbacks, as someone upthread has said, would be the best choice. Some of the sandals featured here would look wrong with office wear.

I second the Saltwater sandals. They are really comfy and will last for years. I work in an office setting and my boss is happy with me wearing them for work

What is office wear these days? It’s more than five years since I had a job but people were wearing smart casual then. All those sandals would look fine with trousers or a summer dress, which is what most people wear for work.

Whilst shoes may help, I think you ought to consider or explore options not to be in said office during the heat of the day.

Could you work from home midweek, for example?