New Shoes
I’m not really a shoe person. I mean, I love cute shoes as much as the next person. I just don’t love to wear shoes where the only thing going for them is cute. I’ve done that far too long and I’m on strike. From now on, all shoes must fit the following criteria before they will be allowed to live in my closet.
[An army of Blythe doll shoes by Dr. Blythstein on flickr ]
- Comfortable, even when you are walking/standing for 12 hours at a time*
- By comfortable I mean excellent arch support. Even my flipflops have arch support. No OldNavy flipflops over here. And no Crocs. Shudder.
- Preferably a Mary Jane, with the crossstrap closer to the toe as opposed to closer to the ankle.
- Cute. Or at least cute enough to pass for cute most of the time.
That’s pretty much it. What this all means is that I rarely buy new shoes. Being cute/cheap is just not enough, no matter how cute/cheap they are. I have been wearing the same pair of perfect Steve Madden MaryJanes for 8 winter’s in a row. The sole has been reattached three times, and I’ve had the elastic on the strap fixed probably five times. The tread is worn absolutely smooth (that’s much better for winter traction you know.) But sometime in the middle of last winter the footbed cracked right in half on the inside. On both shoes, within days of each other. I patched them up as best I could, and covered the gap with a really cushy insole so I didn’t pinch my skin in the crack. And I’ve worn them like that for the past 8 months. It’s time for them to retire.
Yesterday their replacements arrived. Dansko Savanna MaryJane. And they fit my criteria. Comfy, (by comfy I mean they have great arch support) Probably the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever owned, MaryJane, Cute enough to pass for cute most of the time. I’m a Dansko Convert. I want three more pairs. But it will probably take me six more years to do it. Also, being a Dansko Convert makes me feel old.
*I realize that there are a lot of heels, even high heels, if designed correctly can be comfortable, even for 12 hours at a time. My sister has oodles of them. But high heels and baking cookies/playing hide and seek/chasing my one year old in circles around the dining room table don’t always go together. Of course I believe cookies go with everything.
pinksuedeshoe 
Those are definitely NOT old lady shoes. Very cute. I need red ones, though.
DON’T FEEL OLD – Unless I’m old. I’ve been wearing Danskos for 8 years. I have 2 pair of clogs (one of them being the black ones sort of like these) and 2 pair of sandals! i heart them so much! def. worth the price tag. they last forever! and yet another reason we were meant to be friends. you will find being a dansko girl is kind of like being in a secret club….
(and sorry about the bad typing. holding baby)
i LOVE dansko! If it makes you feel better, I was converted at 19 for working on my feet all day. hope you love these, they are so cute!
I love dansokos. I work at a bank and they are perfect for standing all day!! I got a pair from graduating college, and they are amazing. I have been eyeballing those mary janes too for a while know. My co-worker has them in the sage green and she really likes them too. And they are definitly not old lady shoe, i’m 22, i hope i’m not an old lady!!
I have a pair of brown Danskos clogs and I love them. I wore them out amazingly because I used to wear them every single day. I got them in highschool and I wish I had another pair. Your new shoes are lovely!
Very cute! I’m super picky about cute and comfortable shoes, too. I don’t get the Crocs thing either. I’ve even seen doctors wear them on the job with their scrubs. Totally not professional looking. Or attractive looking on anyone for that matter.
Love the Dansko shoes! I’ve always wanted some…
I didn’t realize you were a WEAR SHOES ALL DAY type person. I am not. I’m a WEAR SHOES ONLY WHEN GOING SOMEWHERE WITH SIGNS SAYING “NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SERVICE.”
i am so with you on this. i don’t buy shoes, ever. My tennis shoes, Roos, i have had for years, since Russ and i first met, which was about 8 years ago. i still haven’t retired them but i need new ones. i just can’t find anything that fits my criteria. oh well, i guess i will keep looking. i am glad you have found some replacements that fit your criteria!
Where can I get a pair of those cute red Mary Jane’s with the white polka dots (second row, third from the left)? I’m done wearing sensible shoes. My feet hurt all the time, orthopedic shoes or not, so I’ve decided that I may as well look pretty.
xo -El
remember how i hate danskos? well i still love you. xoxo