Free your feet, free your soul!

That indeed can be very painful and you need to cushion your feet even
more so than under regular circumstances.

Look at these shoes that are good for "arthritic feet"....all of them have thick
soles, MsOlga!
http://www.healthyfeetstore.com/arthritis-shoes-for-women.html

Thanks, Jane.
The arthritis is (thankfully!) confined to that one big toe.
Taking a look at that link now.

The "walkers" look very similar to what I wear now.
But soon I'll be looking for replacements.
Added to the "toe problem", I have to take width into account. I have wide little duck's feet! Small size, though. It's not always easy to find good shoes that don't cost a small fortune, or that don't look incredibly ugly!

Yes, I know what you mean, MsOlga. I'm living on a rather large foot and
the selection isn't that great either for a big foot like me!

You should look at some Italian shoemakers, they always make small sizes
as the average Italian woman has small feet, like Taryn Rose. Unfortunately,
they aren't cheap!
http://www.designerapparel.com/Taryn_Rose.html?KID=4113003&gclid=CJ_PwNe4kaoCFecaQgod-Xaxwg

Alegrias are my favourite California export. Comfy comfy shoes - and not too stodgy looking. I just got my second pair last week - hope to find another pair at a good price at the summer fair at the end of August.

this is the Paloma pair I just got (brand new at a thrift store!)



they're going to be fantastic for walking and getting around on transit during the day - and don't look like deathly boring sneakers. I found there was an initial adjustment to the rocker type sole.

I find them much easier to walk in than my former standby - the Birki.

They're decent with wide feet and/or high arches. I find they fit a bit big - i.e. I'd normally wear a 38/39 in a German shoe - 37/38 in an Alegria is better.

uh oh

now I want all of the colours/patterns!

http://www.alegriashoes.com/paloma/

You're right. Way out of my price range at the moment, Jane!
Which may not be a bad thing, you know.
Price considerations, combined with my "big toe" considerations have severely curbed my past shoe buying tendencies.
Which were... um ... somewhat excessive.
But heaps of fun!

Oh!
I'm interested, ehBeth!
Not least because I prefer to dress fairly casually.
I like (or my feet would love) the width.


What a find!


Over the years I have accumulated something like 12 different pairs of Birkenstocks (because they seem never to wear out!) ... different styles, colours. I've worn then a lot in the past.
My summer stand-bys, along with bare feet.
But, you're right, they're not always the best thing for lots of heavy-duty waking around the streets.

Stop looking!
Now!

The black Mary Janes are very similar (minus the "rocking" heel) to a pair of very trusty shoes I bought a couple of years ago & have worn heaps in winter, with jeans & pants.
They cost me a small fortune, but they have been so worth it!

I want the tartan clogs! and the bronze shearling-lined boots ... and and and

My first pair are the soft bronze clogs - I've even worn them in light snow - they're tough little shoes - but sooooooooooo cute!

Soft leather?

How long did it take you to get used to the "rocker" soles, ehBeth?
Like would you drive in them?

the Carinas! I hadn't seen those before <sigh>

The non-patent ones are very soft leather. I haven't worn the new patent ones enough yet to know how quickly they will feel as soft as the bronze ones.

It really only took a good day of walking to adjust to the rocker sole. They call it a mild rocker sole ... not sure what that means.

Great for driving - certainly better than heels!

Right then.
I will check out Oz distributors!

"Mild" rocker soles probably means mild compared to the full-on rocker walking shoes. My guess.

I like the wide strap. Good for stability & comfort.

Thanks, ehBeth.
I will explore further!
I have a feeling Jane might be checking these out, too!

Glad to lure someone else toward these pretty things

I've been told that if someone wears orthotics, it's easy to remove the innards of the Alegria and put in their custom orthotics (I've tested the first part - not the second).

A bit of online checking .....
I think they may be available at the store that I've bought my Birkenstocks from, over the years.
I'll pay them a visit, soon.
(The staff great me by name when I walk in there! )

I like Taryn Rose... got a pair of loafers on sale (still horrendo expensive) that I've worn about eight years now. That particular pair are good for my type of foot, high arch, relatively inflexible ball of the foot that needs cushioning.
But, the best shoes for me have been Danskos. Good for cobblestone walking!

"Sports chic": gosh I glad I no longer feel the need to wear the very latest thing in fashion!

How do they walk in those things?



Stiletto trainers take sports chic to new heights:
http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/stiletto-trainers-take-sports-chic-to-new-heights-20120911-25p5o.html
.

ha! everything comes back into fashion

I have (had? I think they went in the last swap meet) a pair of high-heeled pumps that look like pink and white sneakers. Loved those things.

I can appreciate some incredible stilettos as art objects.
And can fully appreciate why some develop fetishes about them.
Some are simply stunning.
But try to walk in them? (say nothing of run!)


Where they any where near as high as the shoes in the photographs?
And you managed to get around in them?
I am in awe of anyone who can do that!