OK shoe designers, who the heck do you think wants to wear

[yy4me]

some of the gawd-awful things you have designed and are now being foist upon us at all the shoe stores I visited today at a nearby Simon Mall--in fact at 2 malls. I never saw so many ugly, over embellished, expensive walking and athletic shoes. I need something suitable to wear to my casual job. Since I have little free time, I usually buy 2 pair of shoes and call it quits for a while.

Today, everything that I could find in a "sneaker" type walking shoe had about a million swishes, logo's, mesh, multi-material, multi-colored, ugly soled 2" off the floor disasters. It was no-wonder that almost all the stores I went into had sale signs all over the place. I don't have a ton of money to buy shoes but even if I could spend $150.00 on a pair of Ecco's, I could not find anything simple enough. Not all of us want to be walking advertisements for Nike or look as though out shoes were made with frayed jeans, string, patches and plastic. I have a foot problem so I have to try on shoes, I cannot buy on-line because I must put inserts in my shoes. It takes a lot of time for me to shop for shoes. I just killed the day and came home with nothing.

Please shoe designers and manufacturers, there are plenty of us who would like a nice pair of simple walking shoes. I don't need to make a statement, I need shoes!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. The worst ones are the dress shoes with the really, really pointy toes.

The shoes that look like what elf prostitutes would probably wear. Aside from the fact that they are miserably uncomfortable and would probably cause bunions or something, they look especially ridiculous in a size 10.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. I can't figure out why any woman would wear those

Unless she's just a slave to fashion.



Ladies! Want to make your feet look GINORMOUS and DEADLY?





:puke:

[bumblebee1]

9. There is one use for shoes like this.

They're great if you want to kill cockroaches in corners.

[KitchenWitch]

17. Imagine what that shoe would look like in my size 12...

:scared:

[Oeditpus Rex]

24. Kinda like this?

[KitchenWitch]

27. exactly like that.

[NewWaveChick1981]

18. In my house, those are known as Witchiepoo shoes.

:rofl: :yoiks: RIP Billie Hayes... but I'm not wearing shoes like that!

[Arkansas Granny]

14. It would be wonderful if they would actually design a fashionable

shoe for size 9 and larger. All of those pointy toes, metal studs, tassels and flashy patches might look okay on the little size 5 that they have on display, but when you see it in a size 10 it's downright scary.

[Cabcere]

21. Amen to that.

:toast: :applause:

[KitchenWitch]

19. Or Madonna (cone bra era) the Clown in size 12...

:crazy:

[MissMillie]

32. check out what shoes like that do to your feet

[AlCzervik]

2. i wear Asics running shoes, i also have a foot problem but i needed running shoes

and thats what my Ortho surgeon recommended, Asics also makes walking shoes, maybe you could try those out?

[Rosemary2205]

3. SAS

if you can find one in your neighborhood. They come in actual widths. Pricy but around this time of year they have a pretty good sale. They tend to target middle aged women who need supportive but decent looking shoes. I had a lot of trouble with my feet before I ended up being a wheelie and they did very good for me.

Clarks also has decent shoes. They tend to run a little narrow and can be hard to find. I found them at one of those outlet mall places like "famous footwear" or some such. I don't know if they are still made or not but it would be worth it to look for them.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. Zappos has an enormous collection of shoes...all types.

www.zappos.com

[AlCzervik]

11. i just spent an hour looking there.

my favorite brand is expensive so i'll be holding for awhile.

:cry:

[Turbineguy]

6. I think it was the platform shoes

of the disco era.

Designers realized people would buy anything.

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. Sneaker companies make the *ugliest* sneakers for women these days...

I'm a bit of a sneaker-whore but I've been having a hell of a time trying to find "non-couture" athletic shoes. I have to wear sneakers to work everyday so I'm almost dreading my next shopping trip to find a new pair. I've had some luck lately with Adidas and New Balance, who puts out some nice non-obnoxious running shoes but I fear that Nike has gone off the deep end with their stuff.

It seems that womens athletic shoes are going more and more like this...
I would be laughed out of my job if I showed up to work wearing a pair of those. I wish my feet were a little bigger than size 7 otherwise I could shop in the mens section that is not quite so tacky...yet...

[yy4me]

8. Funny you should mention the Mens department. I did look and

you are right, there were far more acceptable sneaks there. Because of the orthotics, I need a womans size 9 so I tried the mens 7. They were too wide. So much for that route.

[quip]

10. Not the designers fault!

This design is perfect:



We just need the damned shoe engineers to make them comfortable somehow!

:hi:

[Cabcere]

20. Owwwwww

x( :cry: I think I sprained a muscle in my foot just looking at that. :scared:

*sigh* Man, I am really not looking forward to going out into the "real world" and having to wear shoes even remotely like that. :( My last job was at a summer program for kids, so I mostly wore sneakers, and it was great.

[quip]

30. Get a job at a non-profit-- then you can wear Birkenstocks and as an added bonus:

not have to shave your legs!

:hide:

[Cabcere]

31. Pffft, I can get away with that second part longer than most, anyway

There are *some* good things about being a blonde! ;) :hi:

[MissMillie]

33. you wear 'em (n/t)

.

[quip]

34. That wouldn't be sexy!

[MissMillie]

35. well, look what shoes like that do to your feet

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7501638&mesg_id=7508115

wouldn't you love to have feet that look like that?

Looking "sexy" is worth it, right?

[quip]

36. No, really? I've not heard of anything like THAT!

[youthere]

37. That is a great shoe.

[femmocrat]

12. I swear by Skechers.

They are all I wear because I am on my feet all day and do a lot of walking in between classes.

They have some kind of plain styles, but I have them in just about every color. You can find them in JCPenney and some of the discount shoe stores. I also buy them from QVC and Zappos.


Some other brands I can wear: Clark's, White Mountain, Rykas (excellent walking and athletic shoes). Good luck!

[Paladin]

13. It's Impossible To Make An Athletic Shoe Too Ugly These Days

No matter how horrible they look, somebody will buy them. I have a 20-year old pair of plain white Wilson court shoes that I absolutely cherish; they're getting pretty beaten up, and I dread having them wear out, because I know how tough it's going to be, finding a new pair that will satisfy me nearly as much.....

[UncleSepp]

15. Try a uniform store that sells to docs/nurses/police

You should be able to find durable shoes good for standing and walking a lot in white and black that are plain enough to wear with uniforms. Sometimes, you can find tan also.

[tammywammy]

16. shoes.com

:) I've found some good shoes on there.

[FloridaJudy]

22. Have you tried Birkenstocks?

My sister and I both have bad feet (after 40 years of working stand-up jobs), and that's all we wear these days. They're pricey, but I buy mine online at a considerable discount. Once you know your size, it's a fairly safe bet that a different style will still be a comfortable fit.

They do make closed-toe and "normal" looking shoes, not just sandals. If there's a local outlet near you, you can try some on and see if you find them comfortable. Local outlets also have sales, if online doesn't work for you.

[Gonzo Gardener]

23. Plain, Comfortable, Reasonably Priced

They wear well enough, clean up easy and they're all from Lands End. I have both, the All Weather Moc and the All Weather Low. Sears and JcPenny have good practical shoes too. ...hope this helps. :hi:

All Weather Slip-on Moc
All Weather Slip-on Low
Low Lace -up Hiker
Weatherfield Zip-up Shoe

http://www.landsend.com/ix/shoes/Shoes/Women/Shoes/index.html?seq=1~2~3~4&catNumbers=916~917~927&visible=1~2~1~1&store=le&sort=Recommended&tab=9&setPageSize=72

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

25. I wear plain black New Balance walking shoes

You can wear 'em with anything.

[Critters2]

26. I have New Balance 811s in three colors.

Black for work in the winter, that tanny color for work in spring and summer, and white for just around or wherever. Comfortable, sturdy, vegan, and made in the USA!

[Mira]

28. I have inserts too. I have neuromas and pain in my feet. I bought Crocs.

My troubles are over. I have no more pain, and don't even think of my feet any more.

I was very concerned about their looks. That was when I bought them, this is now.
I now own three pairs, and unless I'm going to the Symphony or equivalent, my other shoes all are dusty and many will be given away.

[hiaasenrocks]

29. Get these.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=517656&in_page_id=1770