shoe consultation shopping for OTHER people

[cimorene]

I would love to set up a free Personal Shoe Shopper thingy. I mean, I'm always seeing people in the wrong shoes and knowing where they could find the right ones, because one of my hobbies is obsessively checking the new shoe offerings by brands and in boutiques (my favourites are UK shops Shuh and Treds, and also Office, but only for browsing, because their shipping prices are so exorbitant I would never actually consider paying them). So like, people could say, "Cim, I need a comfortable but appropriate business casual shoe that I can jog in!" or "Cim, what in the world should I wear to a wedding next summer?" or "Cim, I need a pair of shoes combining smartness, preferably with a low heel, and comfort." And then I would solve their problems! It's nice to dream. There just aren't enough shoe-buying tasks in my OWN life to satisfy me.

Comments

[cimness.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you though. Zappos is awful if you don't KNOW what you're looking for already. Shoe-store sites in the UK are much more user-friendly and browsable! But I will look into your problem (though I'm not by any means an expert in comfort shoes. My mom is on her feet all day as a teacher and she was prescribed Dansko, which are moulded-footbed clogs made in Denmark. I like Birkenstocks, too, and they have some lines that don't look like bedroom slippers now. But such shoes (a) don't really follow fashion, which is probably a good thing, and (b) are super-expensive, which is not such a good thing).

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Money is not such a big deal. With shoes, it tends to be worth it; I would pay $500 for shoes unless they were really exceptional, but, like, $300? Yes. But I see your point with the fashion-following. Still, if you have suggestions, they would be welcome.

Right now, I am seriously contemplating purchasing these:



I realize I would probably regret it, but it's so rare for me to look at a pair of shoes and actually WANT them, you know?

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Dude. DUDE. I WANT THEM TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

All Danskos look like that, though, so if you have an aversion to Swedish clogs (or in this case Danish clogs, but I suppose the difference is whether they're actually made of wood or not...) - or if you get bored easily - you might eventually long for something else.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Also! Some people love Birkenstocks and some people HATE them - it depends on your foot. They take the paiiin away from an 8-hour day on my feet/running up and down stairs at daycare for me, but they've been known to give people awful blisters. All depends on the fit, sadly. You probably wouldn't want to buy without trying on. But I'm coveting these:



Birkenstock's Footprints line of non-sandal shoes from www.footshopping.com/

[cimness.livejournal.com]

I belatedly realised you said 'slip-ons, black'. Is that slip-ons like 'Don't need laces' or like 'Must be able to put on and off while holding Earthling, without looking at feet'? Because in the latter case I guess you need slides, clogs, moccasins or ballet-shoe-alikes. But in the former these might work (also Footprints):

Clarks

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Clarks does great dressy shoes in the $80-100 range like these, "Apple", "Bahama Beach", and "Malta"



As well as casual and cute stuff including the wallabees they invented and got famous for (slightly higher-priced it seems - more like $110-120). (This is the wallabee followed by Desert Trek. I don't care what people say! I think they're cute!) (All these come from the Casual category HERE (http://clarks.zappos.com/n/es?&d=722668891&page=1)) (All of the casual shoes come in black and most come in several other colours as well)



"Adore Kiss", "Un.gear", "Funky Star", "Un.poem"



"Funky Fun", "Nicolette", "Un.loop"

Aerosoles, Hush Puppies

[cimness.livejournal.com]

A:

Army, $69 (http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=ARMY)

Blossom, in black also, $69 ()

HP:

Sonnet, $69 (http://www.hushpuppies.com/US/en-US/Product/NZVSZZZZ/G-W-NewA/new-arrivals/WOMEN/34656/Womens/Black/H500523/Sonnet.aspx)

Melita, $69 (http://www.hushpuppies.com/US/en-US/Product/NZVSZZZ/G-W-CAS/casual/WOMEN/Womens/Black-Leather/H55383/Melita.aspx)

Verse, $69, also in black (http://www.hushpuppies.com/US/en-US/Product/NZVSZZZZ/G-W-CAS/casual/WOMEN/34663/Womens/Coffee-Bean/H500439/Verse.aspx)

Re: Aerosoles, Hush Puppies

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Wow. We liked a lot of these shoes, and after careful reflection and a lot of clicking (Best Beloved, in particular, was massively torn; apparently you nailed her taste perfectly), she got a pair of Un.poems and I got a pair of Un.loops. (BB actually like the Birkenstocks the best - lo, we are stereotypical lesbians! - but we took your warning about fit and will not purchase those until she can actually get to a store and try them on.)

I also got the pirate clogs. Because: pirate clogs.

Thank you! You've made shoe shopping painless and easy. (And I will probably come whining to you again the next time either of us needs shoes.)

Oh, and. Um. If a person were to get a pair of shoes that weren't black - like, say, merlot ones, or olive ones - what would that person be able to wear with them? Like, do you have to have clothes that match the shoes, or what? Particularly I am wondering about the merlot. Just, you know. Out of curiosity.

<3 Clarks & Footprints

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Wow, I feel so useful ♥! I sympathise with BB. I really like those two-strap wing-tipped Birkenstock maryjanes, myself. They have just enough sassiness and funkiness with an unobtrusive, timeless shape. (I believe they all use the same footbed, so it probably doesn't matter which ones you try on.)

I am a firm believer in Red is the New Black (For Accessories)! (Green is my second favourite colour for accessories.) Which is to say, if the shoes are any shade of red, I believe they can be worn with just about anything (certain exceptions, like forest green pants would probably look silly with them; and if you have carefully constructed an 8-piece outfit where everything from the tights to suspenders is in red and cream then olive shoes would probably seem out of place).

But still, merlot and olive shoes don't really have to *match* clothes, even if those clothes are matchy outfits such as coordinated skirts and sweaters. Either one of them would look good with essentially any colours in the traditional "autumn" family, as well as any neutrals including navy, darks with pale accents (eg pastel oxford shirts or sweaters), bright spring/Easter-looking colours. The only thing I can bring to mind that would really fail would be pastels EVERYWHERE except the shoes, like a powder-pink Jackie O suit or baby blue jogging suit. Fortunately such outfits rarely come up in real life.