Well, it's chilly and rainy today but all I can think about is cute summer shoes to go with the sundresses I've been sewing. As usual, I find my desires very split between the practical and . . . not-so-practical.
First, on the less practical side, mint green clogs!
Now, I know that clogs aren't inherently impractical: they usually have a lot of support and have chunky heels that are easy-ish to walk in. But we're still looking at three inch heels here (even though there's a platform), and are those really going to be the shoes I reach for on a daily basis? More like the shoes I put on to take pictures in and then switch to something comfier for real life. And I have plenty of photo shoot shoes already!
On the very impractical side: Miss L-Fire's Lola mules.
4 inch platform heels with an open back? Definitely photo shoot shoes. After I picture how glam they'll look with a new dress, all I can see is the vision of myself face-planted after a nasty fall. Because just looking at them makes me feel unsteady on my feet.
Also from Miss L-Fire (my favorite-est shoe brand ever, BTW), a navy polka dot platform pump.
Okay, let's talk practical. Flat sandals, right? While that may have a very modern sound to it, flat sandals were very popular as resort-type shoes in the 50s. Check out the shoes on this pattern envelope (a
VoNBBS dress I made ages ago; have I really been blogging for four years?!):
So how about something like the Bass Margie sandal: comfy, classic, and inexpensive at $35.
Okay, obviously they're not as exciting as the prior three shoes. But they're the type of shoes you'll wear to death and also pair well with cute retro dresses.
I'm also really digging these sandals by Volcom (???) that are a steal at $27. Plus: they will more adequately display my foot tats.
Let's now talk about the sure-to-be controversial, vaguely orthopedic "granny shoes" that so many of us love.
Worishofer 562s in red!
I also love the Spring Step Breezy in white:
Lastly, on the practical side: canvas flats. The wear-every-day-until-they're-too-gross-for-words shoe.
The Keds Capri flat in gingham.
Sea green canvas flats!
Lastly, surprisingly cute shoes from Ugg.
Okay, I'm on shoe overload. For perhaps the first time in my life, I'm leaning toward making some practical decisions. (Okay, maybe I'll throw a pair of 4-inch-platforms in the mix, too.)
P.S. I don't own any of these shoes (only in my dreams), so can't vouch for them personally, but I did choose shoes with positive reviews on their respective websites, for whatever that's worth.
Are you going practical or no-so-practical with your summer footwear?
I had two pair of the Bass sandals. They are quite comfy, however because they aren't made of leather, the straps **really** stretch over time. Just so you know that they're a "one summer" purchase, not forever friends.
ReplyDeleteI can't wear anything but very practical shoes, but I like my Finn comfort sandals. Kinda ortho, kinda boho.
It's so hard for me to pick shoes I will wear every day from the ones I just love and have to have but will only wear on occasion. Good luck choosing. You've got a nice line up.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love those mint clogs. They look pretty practical to me :)
ReplyDeleteI have RA, so anything with heels is sadly too uncomfortable for me to wear now. Fortunately I've always liked clunky, vaguely orthopedic shoes like Docs so something like the Worishofer red sandals is right up my alley.
ReplyDeleteI love my Toms! They're super comfy, come in fun colors (even crochet), and you can feel good about buying them, because when you buy a pair the company donates a pair of shoes to someone who can't afford them. Unfortunately, I spilled paint on mine when they were new, but thankfully that doesn't affect the comfort level. :) I've also bought three pairs of heels this summer, but one is for my wedding so that doesn't count!
ReplyDeleteFYI The shoes themselves are still made in China something most Toms owners are unaware of.
DeleteAnd crochet has to be done by hand--there are no crochet machines.
DeleteEven your impractical choices don't seem all that impractical to me, especially the green clogs. I would definitely rock those on a daily basis. I say go for it.
ReplyDeleteNice picks, I especially like the polka dot ones!
ReplyDeleteI usually go for flats during the days and heels for at night. Seeing your post reminded me that I should actually start looking for a new pair of flats to go with my wiggle dress
Loving those mint green clogs you found. I'm trying to be practical-ish for my summer shoes this year. I've just bought my first pair of clogs - Sweedish Hasbeen low wedges. They're super comfortable (though I haven't quite mastered walking in them without clunking a little), but sometimes the low heel/wedge does make me feel a little bit granny.
ReplyDeleteLove all of those! I'm going for a mix of both. I'm a big clog fan *cough hoarder*cough*, and I love and wear my heeled ones as often as I can, but the ones I wear at home (which is where I work most of the time, and thus where I should put more shoe focus) tend to be the low ones. That really tells me I should invest in an another cute low pair!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me laugh - at my son's high school graduation on Wednesday night, many of the girls were wearing HIGH heels - really high. To the point that as they came on to the field to Pomp and Circumstance, one of the lines got seriously delayed because one girl kept (literally) falling off of her shoes as she walked....
ReplyDeleteSince I have bad knees (and am nearly 6 ft. tall), your sandals and Keds all look great.
Love the mint clogs!
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of making the shoe overload worse, I have to ask if you've ever shopped at ReMix, my go-to for not necessarily practical but also so irresistibly adorable repro shoes. (I am in no way affiliated with them, other than being a massive shoe whore. Ahem. Fan.) http://www.remixvintageshoes.com/
ReplyDeleteLove the Lola Mules!
ReplyDeleteHow about you meet in the middle - buy one pair of practical shoes and one pair of not so practical shoes. I love all of the ones you suggested but the first pair - the turquoise clogs... oh em gee.
ReplyDeleteLove your shoe picks for summer! Personally i like to keep it particle in the style, flats, but i love to get colorful, rainbow ones that never seem to match anything in my closet. I've never been much for any size heel (I'm clumsy) but the clogs looked like something i might want to try.
ReplyDeleteGertie I'm a product of the 50's I graduated in 59. I remember well the shoes we all coveted in HS. They were called 'Debs'. A flat make in a variety of colors in real leather with a narrow strap placed high up near the ankle. I could only afford one pair but there was one girl Flavia I was so jealous of who had a series of pastel pairs of Debs. Nan
ReplyDeleteNan, I think I'm going to have to be on the look out for something similar to the Debs--especially the pastel ones, they sound adorable.
DeleteI just bought myself a pair of these red peep toe clogs and I lurrrve them. Best of both worlds!
ReplyDeleteDude, I have the Margie sandals in the rose gold color and they are SO comfy.
ReplyDeleteReally love those little Uggs. I can see them being funkified with some great alternative ribbon! I just bought some leopard Kaydee crocs. Have to say they are great, I stand at work all day and these things really stop me from getting sore ankles and legs.
ReplyDeleteI have a pair of Saltwater sandals that I've had for over ten years. It looks like I may need to replace them next year. They're comfortable, practical, and cute. Plus if I've been developing the promised pregnancy foot swelling, I haven't noticed it yet with these sandals.
ReplyDeleteBecause I basically sit all day at my job, I happen to own quite a few pair of impractical shoes and I have to say that my go to shoes time and again are the cute, comfy stable ones by Seychelle's.
ReplyDeleteThose clogs are gorgeous. I can only walk in flats but otherwise I would go for them at the drop of a hat!
ReplyDeleteThank-you for mentioning that fashionable shoes are not always practical.
ReplyDeleteI walk a lot, and I buy shoes that I can walk in. My shoes of choice are not cheap, but they last about two summers of walking and biking. They are also made in the US of quality materials.
A retired pair:
http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2008/07/shoes-of-summer.html
My current pair are bronze metallic with perforated trim. Really cool, and as comfy as sneakers.
http://www.munroshoes.com/gallery?category=Shoes
My neighborhood's walkscore:
http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2013/05/themefriday-hometown.html
For summer I love wearing sandals. I just discovered they go very well with circle skirts!
ReplyDeleteOh I do love me a good vaguely orthopedic summer sandal and I love a good too high to move platform as well. Have you seen Bella Vita brand shoes? They sell them at 6pm (dot) com and they look so practical and slightly retro as well.
ReplyDeleteVolcom is on of those surf-y brands, so you know they would do summer very well - I used to wear it all the time in my surfer phase as a teen!(shudder...) I really like those mint clogs - 3 inches doesn't sound too bad and the solid heel takes off a lot of the pressure. I'm on the hunt at the moment for 60s style block heels for work which i can wear all day.
ReplyDeletehttp://alwaysalwaysalwaysthesea.tumblr.com/post/41242463114/vintageads-polly-debs-shoes-1949 This will link you to a blog with a vintage add for Debs hopefully those are the ones Nan was talking about. I love the clogs. I was looking into some summer sandal clog type shoes myself as I have been having foot troubles and clogs seem to help.
ReplyDeleteI just got a pair of red Saltwater Sandals today. Practical and sturdy and a great deal around $37 a pair for real leather sandals. Plus they are sized as "extended youth" sizes, which means generous on the width. I'm planning on wet-breaking them this weekend!
ReplyDeleteWell I've been making my own shoes this year so I can be unpractical and own ballet flats in as many colors as I want. This weekend I'll be starting my first high heel pumps though by high I mean 1.5"
ReplyDeleteI'm only in my 30's but I don't understand how high heels got all of a sudden 6" are you serious? And some people say that 4" makes a good everyday heel.
Wore these today.
http://sewunnecessary.blogspot.com/2013/04/purple-caviar-snakeskin-print-pigskin.html
Yep- wear until they are gross shoes are my style! sadly, as much as I love heels, I look more like a t rex than an elegant lady, so grubby flats it is!
ReplyDeleteShelly X
I second Tilly's recommendation for the low-heel peep-toe clogs from Lotta--I just bought a pair too and LOVE them.
ReplyDeleteI have become a real cranky old lady about shoes lately and find that I really love the brand Born. Sturdy, good support, cushiony insoles, and flexible, non-slip outsoles--and pretty stylish, too, I think. They have some great flat sandals this year.
I loved my Bass sandals, for the first couple weeks. And then a tiny hole in the padding developed and every step I took was paired with a little "puff" sound. I kept wearing them in the hopes that the sound would just go away, but it never did and I had to give them up to avoid going crazy.
ReplyDeleteI walk/bus to work and then spend all day on my feet, so I'm going practical all the way. Also, I'm finally accepting that sore feet make me grumpy all day, and I'll already be plenty grumpy enough about how hot it is, hahaha (not-a-summer-person). I already have one super cute pair of canvas maryjanes from Em & Sprout , and I think I will have to pick up a few more before long, as I pretty much live in them.
ReplyDeleteWe just found your blog and love looking at your vintage inspirations. We too have a fetish for retro styles, especially sewing patterns. Thank you for sharing the cute shoes. The first pair is our fav! It's so funny also because we started reading your post and it is raining here too!
ReplyDeleteWe'll be back to visit again :)
Sampson & Lorrie
www.puddlesprice.com
I love the first ones! and the polka dot ones, impractical, shpacktical! Gotta love shoes! :) btw: I'm having a Threads Magazine Giveaway on my new sewing blog!! Please share with your followers and come by and enter to win! http://mysewinghabit.blogspot.com/2013/06/threads-magazine-junjul-2013-giveaway.html
ReplyDeleteReyna
www.MySewingHabit.blogspot.com
www.Facebook.com/MySewingHabit
Tweet @MySewingHabit
Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest: @reynalay
Hey Gertie, I love your blog! Have you seen John Fluevog shoes? They are pretty cool, Canadian shoes. Check out www.fluevog.com
ReplyDeleteWow, those Ugg pumps are so cute, I have just been searching for suppliers here in the UK. The patterned ones are amazing.
ReplyDeleteDo I need new shoes? No. Do I want new shoes? Yes.
And I love your dresses, so inspiring
i have - like you - a lot "photo shoot shoes".
ReplyDeleteokay, i´m wearing them for going out on evenings and parties. but living in the woods there a not too much occasions.
since february i search for the perfect t-strap sandals, flat, brown, without lots of embellishments.......
Gertie I am so delighted that you wear practical shoes because I have imagined you happily zipping around in your photo shoot shoes and felt rather inadequate. I adore heels but rarely for walking in! by the way just bought some cute cowboy, vintage cherry gingham and pretty blue fabric with wee white planes and I will be adding to my stable of Portrait blouses shortly. Your book has made me very excited about sewing and I can't wait for the next one!!!
ReplyDeleteFlats are the most uncomfortable shoes for me. I have yet to be able to wear them for more than two hours with out crippling pain. I also hate how many blisters I get from them. How does anyone who walks several miles a day consider them comfy? I wish there were more options for cute shoes that were practical!
ReplyDeleteThe Lola mules are what are called "Spring-O-Lators". The elastic inside the shoe that pushes the foot up against the amp, is a patented device from the 1950's. This was designed so you don't fling the shoes off when you walk.
ReplyDeleteSo they are a practical choice, in my opinion. And fab.
Read about them here: http://www.theshoedictionary.com/spring-o-lator-mules.html
Regards from Manhattan!
I haven't even thought about summer shoes!! I'm usually crazy about shoes in the fall - buying boots and booties and loafers, etc - but wear the same Zara gladiators all summer.
ReplyDeleteI should look into other options.
I'm saving my pennies for a pair of Chelsea Crew 'Carla' sandals in black - they are super vintage looking and I think they'd transition nicely into fall. I have a pair of Chelsea Crew shoes and they are very comfortable - the cone-shaped heel makes them great for walking.
ReplyDeleteI got the gingham Keds and the sea green flats and they are both fabulous!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post this is. More over the designs of these posted shoes are extremly super. May be, most of the people like to get more comfort and flexible shoes practically rather than the designs or color. Because the only reason is that, the non quality shoes are care of address for hassles and problems while using them. They give less life and do not work properly while running or playing sports.
ReplyDelete