20 September 2013

For the Love of a Shoe

red wedges

Meet my current favorite shoe in my closet. They've got some sort of heel so I'm elevated, they've got the point-toe so I'm on-trend, they've got color, and my toes and insoles are not screaming for mercy. That's win in my book.

I'm sure you can all commiserate, but I am on a perpetual search for comfortable dress shoes.

My dress shoe collection currently consists of "pretty" pumps, to be worn for office days or evening events where I know I'll be sitting on my butt for most of it. Those high tottering clickety toe smashers that serve no purpose than to look great and be barely tolerable. And then there are the "pretty but practical" pumps for more mobile days.  You know, lower heels, no platforms, soles with some actual traction so I can actually move around without wincing.

red wedges  red wedges

Then the "cute comfortable" section which consists of shoes I'd wear for those days I will be on my feet a lot, like going to trade shows or on-site meetings, etc. These are the lower stacked heels, rounded toes, fully broken in shoes that come from comfort brands like You by Crocs, Aerosoles, Sofft. They're really practical if you've got to wear heels but they're not so much high fashion, you know.

These shoes fall into the "pretty but practical" category right out of the box, which means with some insoles and breaking in, I may actually end up having a pretty shoe in my "cute" category soon. Oh the things we do for fashion.

Do you have some preferred brands for nice but still wearable dress shoes?

red wedges

red wedges

Dress: Zara (worn here - sim, sim, pricey)
Jacket: F21 knit moto (worn heresim, sim, sim)
Bracelets: YuniKelley (sim), Tag Heuer, Overstock (sim), Sage K and Co (sim, pricey)
Ring: Tiffany 1837 (same narrower, interlocking)
Shoes: Pour La Victoire mai nubuck (sim patent, pricey, lower heel)
Bag: Coach poppy flight bag in metallic mirror (worn here - same mini, sim, larger)

55 comments:

  1. Love these shoes, Lisa! The color is perfection!
    Ginny

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  2. I love those shoes Lisa! You have such immaculate taste in shoes!

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  3. Cute shoes!

    I spend a lot of time in flats, but recently found some wedges from Nine West that seem promising. I also like Aerosoles (but like you said, they're not really high fashion).

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  4. I have a pair of JS from dsw that are super comfortable. But like you, I find pump shopping difficult. I tend to be in between shoe sizes so that adds another tricky dimension.

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    1. I have a pair of JS pumps that are pretty OK - or as OK as a pair of stilettos with a point toe can be, I guess!

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    2. I should note that they are round toed. Maybe that explains it...

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  5. I love the color of those shoes! I usually wear flats to work...my feet just can't handle wearing heels all day.

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart
    Style Lately Giveaway!

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  6. I totally know what you mean. As a teacher I dont even bother with the "pretty" pumps because I'm always on my feet. And my cute and practical heels are usually from Aerosoles, etc. The only pretty shoes in cute and comfortable are flats, and really, they just don't get that pretty.

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  7. I totally know what you mean. As a teacher I dont even bother with the "pretty" pumps because I'm always on my feet. And my cute and practical heels are usually from Aerosoles, etc. The only pretty shoes in cute and comfortable are flats, and really, they just don't get that pretty.

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    1. The Artisan brand by Clarks made these awesome ballet flats a few years back with a big bow on them that fit my feet really well and wore soooooooo comfy! I have them in three colors and still search Ebay ever so often for replacements because cute flats are hard to find.

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  8. Oh gosh--almost ALL of my dress shoes fall into the "cute comfortable" category. I'm on my feet too much for anything else!

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  9. Those are some awesome shoes, Lisa - and they're so you! I have kind of the opposite problem to you; I'm so tall that I never learned to walk in heels properly, I didn't want to be taller than ALL the boys, as opposed to HALF the boys. So the only heels I can wear without fearing for my life are low kitten heels. The brand I always stick to is the Urban Outfitters brand, I think they're called BDN or something? I basically bought the same shoe in three colours; rust, electric blue and nude. Those shoes are amazingly comfortable once they're broken in; and they break in so fast! I can really recommend them!

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    1. Well I never said that I can walk properly in heels, haha!

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  10. Those shoes are really cute Lisa! I love the cut and color of them. Also loving that jacket. I'm so limited when shopping for shoes. I have a long foot so I have to rely on JCrew or Nordstrom or a place like that.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  11. Hi Lisa, this is one of my favourite outfits that I have seen on you! Love the graphic black and white, you look so chic. No idea on pretty yet practical shoes - when I was in the corporate world, I wore J. Crew Valentina pumps, pointy toe with a mid heel. They still crushed my toes so as soon I was back at my desk, I would slip them off. And I wore flats when walking to and from the office!

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    1. J.Crew shoes have gotten more comfy lately, in my opinion, but overall they are still generally not that comfortable. They never seem to have any insole padding.

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  12. Sadly I tend to stick to flats since I walk to/from work and am too lazy to carry a second pair of shoes with me.
    The color on these are gorgeous! I can see why they are a recent favorite. :)

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    1. Haha, I am all about bringing second pairs of shoes if I need them. People I know don't even blink anymore when I start the day in heels, change to flats, then back to heels again!

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  13. I have zero luck with shoes. Even expensive shoes like Fluevogs that I *think* will be more comfortable, have a smaller heel and rounded toes make me wince after 20 minutes. I need to be self medicating with a stiff martini every 30 minutes if I want to wear them past the 20 minute-brain-screaming-I'm-gonna-kill-someone expiry limit.

    I have way too many of these shoes.

    I simply don't know why they don't put a nice rubber backing on every shoe and a good insole inside. Nothing worse that doing a face-plant because your soles are slippery.

    I love the colour of your shoes. So lucky that they are comfy!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. I have a pair of Jack Rogers sandals with the slickest smoothest soles ever. I've busted my butt on them going down a set of wood steps before because the soles have no flex and so they are slick!

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  14. Eeeeek! We have the same shoes. I love the Mai style by PLV. They are super classy and comfortable.

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  15. I love the color! My shoe collection is classified the same exact way.
    -ash
    www.thestylizedwannabe.com

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  16. cute outfit! loving the transition to fall w/ the white leather so cute on you!

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  17. I love the color of these "pretty but practical" shoes! I am always on the hunt for colorful shoes that I can wear all day at the hospital.

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  18. my favorite are the j.crew factory sylvia wedges. yes, they're a little bit more on the practical side than fun side, but I think they just wear to so nicely and I'm honestly excited every day I get to wear them!

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  19. Go to the QVC website and check out Isaac Mizrahi's shoes. I find them to be really comfortable and currently he has a suede wedge heel that is very cute. I bought it in the green color and I look forward to wearing it when the weather cools down. Shoes are a challenge!

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  20. Stunning shoes! Speaking of which, I can't wait for my first Tribute and red soles to arrive! I've been splurging a bit ;)

    GREETINGS FROM DUBAI
    MRS JACK OF ALL TRADES (a fashion and life-style blog)
    http://mrsjackofalltradesdaily.blogspot.ae/

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  21. Great wedges on a pair of great gams!

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  22. Great outfit, great shoes. Nice to see a piece of your fireplace.
    I have just bought orange brogues with white/brown laces, soft as a glove and they look really nice. I am just as happy as you are.
    Greetje

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    1. I used to not like brogues but they are "wearing me down." I've seen quite a few pairs I've liked recently, so I may succumb!

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    2. Me too. I used to HATE brogues. But I succumb thanks to Angie from You Look Fab. She wore shiny silver brogues with blue laces. Great and unfortunately sold sold out everywhere. But since then I am game.

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  23. Pretty pop of color with your favorite shoes. I am always in pursuit of the perfect heel. Not sure I have found them yet. Until then, I will keep shopping :)

    Alice
    www.happinessatmidlife.com

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  24. Love your bag! I don't have the answer to comfortable heels! I just try to put pads and insoles in to make them more comfortable. I also don't like to buy heels higher than 3 inches.
    ~Jessica
    Jeans and a Teacup

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  25. I am into this look! I love shoes like these-- a perfect balance of all things!

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  26. I haven't been wearing wedges much lately because I feel like they are too casual. I think your outfit shows that maybe I should think twice!

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    1. I know what you mean though - I kind of go back and forth on wedges. I love them but dependent on the heel or shape of the toe, they can easily look very cas.

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  27. You look gorgeous Lisa! I love the whole outfit and those pumps are just beautiful!!

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  28. I'd put most of my shoes in the cute comfortable category. I have to walk around for long periods of time on cobblestone or uneven brick so often that more that that's about all I can handle.

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  29. I try not to purchase ANY uncomfortable shoes. After years of wearing slightly uncomfortable shoes, I've noticed a huge change in my feet. I think they're quite gross now... all because of the shoes I wear.

    7% Solution

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  30. Finding a stylish yet comfortable heels or shoes is a challenging task. I am in health profession so I do quite a bit of walking on my feet but don't want to be in a dansko clog all the time (they're comfortable mind you). it's a hit and miss for me since some of my most comfortable pairs include Melanie from mossimo target, charles by Charles davis,some JS style, vince camuto, clark, sofft, talbots, lauren by RL; my rule of thumb is I would put on the shoes in the store, walk around the area for like 10 minutes. if my feet hurt, I'll put it back. Two years ago I purchased 3 pairs of heels from ninewest and they weren't very comfortable after standing for 40 min at a church service. so I have stayed away from ninewest since. may be it was that style but I find their cut a bit straining on the feet in general. didn't want to single out ninewest but just curious if other people find that to be the case.

    I'm a small 5.5 so most of the time I have to buy full price shoes since sales item often run out of small sizes :(.

    like your shoes. such vibrant color! very fall-ish.
    m

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    1. Thanks for your feedback, you've given me some new designers to try.

      I can agree with the Mossimo by Target though - I have some wedge sandals from them that are really comfy!

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  31. I work in an office but recently have begun work with a long commute made up of a combination of various public transport/some walking, so I've taken to wearing flats for the commute and sticking heels in my bag. I find that shoes made by shoe brands (as opposed to shoes by J Crew, for example) tend to work best for me in terms of comfort. I don't generally like to wear shoes with less than a 3" heel because I feel short and stumpy (my own issue, I know), but I need to be able to walk comfortably in them for some distance as well, so I tend to be very picky! For me Nine West and Seychelles are the brands that work best for my particular feet. I also have some Steve Maddens that work pretty well (and used to wear them much more in the past).

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    1. I totally change from flats to heels and vice versa dependent on the amount of walking I need to do. I actually think J.Crew shoes are now comfier than they've been in the past, but you're right, I don't reach for them on days where I'll be doing a lot of moving around!

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  32. These are absolutely 'WOW' shoes! I absolutely love the color! I've heard people swear by Cole Haan heels. I have a pair and they're comfortable, but they're a little snug and I should have sized up.

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  33. That bag is glorious.. (insert angels singing here).

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  34. Girl, I know you love shoes and besides Londyn, you are another blogger whose shoe closet I admire toe to toe LOL. The bright Neon Wedge Pumps pop for this Black+White Look. I am currently craving some Bright Wedge Pumps, too. =) Nice Dress too - super chic!!

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