Don’t you just love shoes? I certainly do. You’re probably thinking, this girl chooses fashion over function. You’re not wrong. When I travel, especially to a destination where I know I’ll be putting on some miles, I’d like to have fashion AND function. And so my search began for not only cute shoes that look great with my outfits, but also won’t hurt my feet after a long day. Let me preface by saying I do love all these shoes, but one in particular is far more comfortable to wear. The following is my personal opinion based on my own experience.
No two birdies are created equally. The Starling (on the left) is like wearing a slipper. Even though it makes my feet a little sweaty, it makes up for in comfort. The Swift (to the right), on the other hand, is quite uncomfortable for me. It is a stiff material and I did wear these fairly new walking plenty of miles while sightseeing in D.C. I have never had such a terrible blister on the back of my heel. These are fine to wear out and about in my daily life (they are cute!), but I won’t take the chance bringing them on a trip anytime soon. Birdies does allow you to make returns, even with slight wear, or exchanges within 30 days of purchase. These fit true to size. http://birdies.com
Rothy’s became quite the rage several years ago, especially when photos surfaced all over social media showing Meghan Markle sporting these shoes. They do have the most beautiful prints and colors, you have to take a look for yourself. Gentlemen, you’re in luck. They make shoes for you as well. And they’re washable! I also found these shoes to be true to size, even though I purchased a more pointed-toe style (doesn’t always work well with my wide feet). I do love the pretty Mary Jane style and the cinnamon color. Unfortunately, the ties do come undone quite often. I can’t wear these for any length of time as the material feels scratchy on my skin after awhile. The company makes all their shoes with “eco-friendly” materials, according to the website. Returns or exchanges are simple, as long as it is within 30 days with unworn and unwashed shoes. You can also do the same in any of their stores peppered throughout the US. I don’t think I would necessarily bring these shoes on a trip when I would be putting in 20K+ steps each day. But I am considering another style and color for shorter excursions, as they do have quite the selection. http://www.rothys.com
For those of you with high arches like mine, you will feel the comfort that Vionic shoes give. I have heard that people who suffer with plantar fasciitis, benefit from wearing this brand. No one wants to be in that much pain, especially when you should be enjoying your vacation. This company also sells men’s shoes. They have a variety of styles besides ballet flats, which includes heels, sneakers, and sandals. A shout-out to my friend Pam who insists on wearing sandals to the point of frostbite here in the Northeast. Girl, if your toes are going to turn blue from the cold, at least the rest of your foot should be comfortable! I purchased my usual 7.5 size and wore these around NYC. I think if I had broken in this style just a little, they would have been top-rated. I had a small blister on the top of my foot but it wasn’t unbearable. Within 30 days allows anyone to make a return or exchange as well. http://www.vionicshoes.com
In my opinion, I saved the best for last…Tieks. These shoes have been surprisingly comfortable. When you see these in person and try them on, it doesn’t seem like it would do your feet any favors. First of all, they package them folded up in their signature Tiek blue box (reminds me of Tiffany’s). Yes, you heard right. They are flat and have no arch, however, they have given me the greatest comfort. My family wants to disown me by the end of vacation when we’re sightseeing (beach vaca, not so much). They know we will be walking A LOT. I have worn these while in Disney World, London, Paris and Italy. If any of you have been to even just one of these places, you know there is plenty of pavement pounding. Now, they do only make ballet flats for women and a few colors for little girls! They have a rainbow of colors and some prints to choose from only in full sizes. They suggest ordering a size down, only because they are leather and will stretch over time. I personally sized up to an 8 (because of my wide feet) and like the way they feel. If you suffer from buyer’s remorse, the return policy is amazing, since there is no time limit, as long as the shoes are new. Shipping and returns are free (and fast!) as well. http://www.tieks.com
Recently, my 8 year-old granddaughter was rummaging through my closet. She replied, “You have the best shoes” and continued to play dress-up (now there’s a girl after my own heart). Of course, she chooses the 4″ heels over the safe, flat shoes indicated above. As you can probably imagine, I do not wear sneakers when traveling (maybe on travel days, not always). As I said in the beginning, I want fashion AND function. Tieks checks off both boxes. It’s worth mentioning, the shoes referenced are not cheap. Let me save you the sticker shock if you decide to investigate. Each of these brands range from $120-300. It is not worth buying a cheap pair of shoes if you will suffer and ruin your trip to save money. I do realize there are people out there, including my family members and friends, who have serious issues with their feet or joints. This would require a professional recommendation from a podiatrist as to what support one would need. Even if you find another brand that gives you happy soles, invest in a comfortable pair of shoes. I hope you have found this to be helpful when deciding on your next pair to buy. For me, there is always a future purchase (wink, wink). Just don’t tell my husband.
