In an ideal minimalist world, I would absolutely love to have only two pairs of shoes that I could wear all the time. I love the added polish that a great pair of shoes can add to an outfit. I love the added length and height that goes with a 2-3 inch heel. I just literally cannot find a shoe that I can wear comfortably for hours that meets my style criteria.
I have wide feet, narrow heels and I overpronate. mr. mindful closet lovingly calls them “triangle feet”. I can go all day in Danskos or Birkenstocks, but that’s not really the look I’m going for. I am currently seeing a podiatrist and having orthotics made, but the maximum heel height for those inserts is 2 inches. I’ve tried many different brands, including La Canadienne, Vionic, Munro, Arche, Cole Haan, Aquatalia, Clarks, Earth, Born, Sam Edelman, Coach, Eileen Fisher, AGL, Blondo, Paul Green, Franco Sarto....
Here are a few of the options I’ve tried recently and a few that are on their way to me.
Top row, L to R: Vaneli “Xandra" - I love this chunky heel mod bootie style, good heel height, comfort is tbd. Dansko “Maria" - sadly I've had Dankso booties before that actually weren't that comfortable, hopefully these are better.
Middle row, L to R: Vionic "Becca" - Vionic is a great brand that has good arch support and removable insoles so that you can add custom orthotics. These come in multiple widths and it's a good heel height, but this shoe was just not that comfortable. Bella Vita "Fern" - not crazy about the fringe, but they come in wide and have rave reviews, we'll see how they feel. Nine West "Orion" - I own these and love them. I got them in a slightly larger size so I could fit my orthotics. These are what I currently wear for most shopping trips, sometimes I just want to feel a bit more dressed up than what a flat boot conveys.
Bottom row, L to R: Munro "Drew" - on the casual side, but very comfy. Unfortunately, my size is sold out in wide width. Cole Haan "Elsie" - I love how these look on and they're relatively comfy. In general, Cole Haans run narrow, and while they make some models in a wide width, this is not one of them. Sad face.
Ok, your turn. Please help me out - tell me you know the perfect comfy stylish shoe I've missed!
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