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Shoes!

March 16, 2011 / 38 Comments
I know this post sounds like another vapid maternity leave post, but I’m actually here, typing next to my sleeping (although he’s in the process of waking) baby.
But I really want to talk about shoes.

It’s a funny topic for me because unlike many bloggers I know (and non-blogging women, too), I am not a shoe person. I spend a lot of money to get durable, comfortable shoes, and then I wear them for years. For real. Case in point: the shoes pictured above are pretty much the shoes I wear on a daily basis. The picture was taken in India in 2005 (and I actually got the shoes a year earlier!).

For the past seven years, Dansko–the shoes of nurses and teachers–has been my go-to brand. They are expensive, but the clogs last forever, and they are good on my feet. I’m convinced they’ve helped me avoid the Curse of the Bunions that plagues the rest of the women in my family.

But now I’m on the lookout for new sandals, and Dansko is totally letting me down. Everything looks so dowdy! I’m thinking it might be time to branch into a new brand.

But, I still want shoes that are comfortable, durable, and good for my feet.

Any shoe brand recommendations that fit the bill?

38 Comments

  • Tori

    March 16, 2011 at 11:26 am Reply

    I love Chacos to, if you want a sport sandal or flip flop.

    If you want a dressier sandal, Sofft is a brand that I love! It's one of my go-to brands of teacher shoes. And their sandals are really cute! I find them a good mix of comfort, durability and fashion forward.

    However…I am a bit of a shoe person and don't wear any shoes every day!

  • Anonymous

    March 16, 2011 at 2:16 pm Reply

    Hi Sara! I'm actually a pedorthist so my job entirely revolves around getting people healthy feet. My recommendation would be Naot or Finn. Finn are far more expensive and tend to have a bit of an older look. I wear Naot every day I'm not wearing my Brooks. Super comfy but stick to anything that has a removable foot bed, those are the higher quality ones. I would warn against Chacco and Born as we see die hard fans regularly with fallen arches and plantar fasciitis, they just don't have adequate support. We put them in a Finn or Noat.

  • Autumn

    March 16, 2011 at 2:28 pm Reply

    I will second the Clarks recommendation– I have high arches and they have great support. They're expensive but last a long time and are very comfy. I bought a pair of tall boots this winter and did not regret it once, they will be in my wardrobe for years. Some of their styles are a little dowdy– but less so than Danskos.

  • Elizabeth

    March 16, 2011 at 2:33 pm Reply

    I swear by my Chacos. I have had my original pair for a decade, and I wear them most every day weather-permitting. It was only a year or two ago that I needed to resole them! They're super comfortable, versatile, and you can pass them for somewhat professional shoes depending on what you wear. I've never had a problem with my arches, but maybe I'm just lucky. But seriously, they're amazing and totally worth the investment. (And get the Z2s- the ones with the toe loop- definitely the best.) 🙂

  • diana

    March 16, 2011 at 2:35 pm Reply

    Chacos are great for a sport sandal. I LOVE my birkenstock gizeh sandals. I also love my Born sandals and shoes, and I have a pair of Clarks with a heel (for work) and a pair of flats, and they are very comfortable and hold up really well.

  • Anne

    March 16, 2011 at 2:39 pm Reply

    I'm a HUGE fan of Camper and their philosophy (comfort first, durabilty, recycling, fun colors…) Your shoes actually remind me of that brand.
    They're on the pricey side but I've been wearing mine for 8 years and they still feel great.

  • Rebecca

    March 16, 2011 at 2:59 pm Reply

    I live in my Keens during the spring/summer. I recommend the leather versions, as the fabric ones didn't hold up as well. They have a great warranty and I actually got the leather ones for free after some of the stitching on the fabric ones started to come apart although they were still wearable.

  • Kerstin

    March 16, 2011 at 3:20 pm Reply

    I'm going to second the Birkenstocks. Forget about the stereotypes of tehse sandals. They'll last you several summers. I like the three-strap sandals so much I have a back-up pair for when I wear out my current ones. It takes a couple weeks to break them in, because they form to your feet, but once broken in they're the most supportive and comfortable shoes around. I only wish I could wear them in wintertime!

  • Maureen

    March 16, 2011 at 3:33 pm Reply

    I love Sofft sandals. Not cheap, but very pretty and also super comfy. My favorite sandals were the old dansko style with the higher heel, but you're right, they are downright grandma now. Good luck!

  • MegCox

    March 16, 2011 at 3:38 pm Reply

    I definitely second (or 3rd, or 20th…) the vote for Chacos. I live in mine, and they have started making some really cute "dressier" sandals. I'm wearing some custom ones in my wedding this weekend and cannot wait!

  • Tamar

    March 16, 2011 at 4:18 pm Reply

    I get a lot of my work shoes from Aerosoles. Their styles or hit or miss for us "young'uns" but every so often they have some classic or clean looking shoes that aren't dowdy. They're pretty comfortable and reasonably priced. I used to love wearing Birkenstocks/Naot (once you get past the 2 weeks when they're incredibly uncomfortable) though I haven't splurged on a pair of those in years. Also Naturalizer is really comfy but right now my shoes from there aren't entirely durable. Finally, Reefs/Tevas are very comfortable but don't offer that much support.

  • Anonymous

    March 17, 2011 at 12:06 am Reply

    I second the Keens suggestion, I have a few pairs of different types of Keen shoes (boots, clog, sandal), and they've all been durable and comfortable, and non-ugly sporty/funky look.

  • Linsey

    March 17, 2011 at 3:42 am Reply

    I love my Keens. They are supportive, cute and perfect for any kind of activity. I had a foot injury a few years ago and part of the problem came from wearign flip flops all the time. Keens fit the bill of being comfy, and designed to protect and support the foot.

  • Anonymous

    March 17, 2011 at 3:54 am Reply

    My favourites are MEMPHISTO (similar style to birkenstokes, but more expensive), and KEEN's. If you go with the leather Keen's (vs manmade materials), be forewarned they take much longer to dry.

  • katie

    March 18, 2011 at 9:37 pm Reply

    i have to put in another vote for chacos — i love mine (and have gotten their new clogs as well — i can be on my feet all day in those, whereas my custom supports leave me limping and crying), and my husband *lives* in his — he wears them every day six months of the year (boots the other six months), has done so for about seven years, and only now are they starting to die.

  • E.

    March 20, 2011 at 10:52 pm Reply

    I love my Earth sandals. The arch support is amazing and they have some really nice styles that are pretty cute. I wear the flip flops with the 5 strands that meet in the middle, and I actually get a lot of compliments on them.

  • Purple Closet Beauty

    March 22, 2011 at 1:14 am Reply

    I love crocs. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned them yet. They have made some really cute designs lately. They're not expensive at all, but they are very comfortable, light-weight, waterproof, durable and convenient. Note: I am definitely a shoe person, so my 'comfortable' may be different than yours, but I do honestly believe crocs are comfortable for many many people.

  • Moxie

    March 27, 2011 at 3:33 am Reply

    I *love* my Keen sandals! I have two pairs–one that covers the whole foot with straps, more like a shoe, and one that looks more like a traditional flip-flop, but with more support & comfort.

    They're not cheap, but this will be my 7th summer wearing the first pair (many miles in several countries). I got the vegan ones, and have not experienced "lesser quality", as a previous commenter warned. These are great casual shoes! They are 100% waterproof and you can even throw them in washing machine or dishwasher if you want to clean them.

  • Rebecca

    August 1, 2011 at 2:23 am Reply

    way late on this bandwagon, but I recently tried on a pair of shoes and almost melted…they were so incredibly comfortable. I like you, am NOT a shoe person, at all…but this was amazing – I felt like I should give my feet and these shoes a moment alone….they were the http://www.zappos.com/el-naturalista-wakataua-n433-brown-leather
    I could not afford them b/c I am currently trying to dig myself out of a financial hole right now, but when I do step out of that hole, I will be wearing these shoes! Phenomenal.

  • elementsofmylife

    October 13, 2011 at 5:12 am Reply

    I thought I remembered posting on this last year when I was still trying to figure out what worked best for me. Guess not.

    Birks had been been great for me… until I tried teaching. Then not even my Mephisto's were tolerable for a whole day so I split my time between them and hiking shoes. Beautiful, I know!

    This past summer my second order of business (after a week of rest) was to find shoes. I found some second hand Dansko's but they were so tall and just didn't fit my feet worth a darn. I ended up spending a fortune but I wasn't willing to repeat last year.

    First I bought a pair of wolky's. They don't quite meet my need for aesthetic but they allowed me to make it until about 1 before my ankle (which I hurt 3 times last year) started to ache. Then I switched to my Clarke waves. Those two shoes together in my day was okay but they both have a bit of a heel and that was wreaking havoc with my back.

    Enter the most expensive pair of footwear I've ever purchased – my Finn Comfort Jerez Schwarz's. They are, by far, the best shoes I have ever worn and even accommodate my orthotics.

    My colleague with over 30 years of experience suggested them to me and on first try I thought they were too flimsy. Well, I was wrong! If you haven't tried them and you like flats, I definitely recommend them now. My ankle and back are like new at the end of the day now!

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