Real quick — The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life — my new set of books — is 30% off along with everything else at Sophia, until February 9th!
I might as well go on with this wardrobe basics project, right? In the comments the question of boots came up, and so let's talk about all things footwear!
We will skip lightly over the reality of today's footwear market, which is an insult and a travesty. If those stupid clunky heels don't go away soon, I quit. They are not just ugly; anyone walking in them clearly cannot walk! It's like someone decided to make a metaphor for life today and evilly wants to make people pay for it and wear it on their feet.
Instead, let me tell you what I have found to suit myself. Keep in mind that I'm getting older, and with age, apparently, comes a certain obsession with having one's feet be comfortable, with an inverse possibility that they will be. Also that I have collected these over years! Don't panic.
For so long I was trying to keep my kids in shoes, sneakers, and boots. There was hardly any time and even less money for me to have just the right thing for myself.
So what you see here (especially in the boot department — anyone can afford flipflops!) is what I've pulled together over time. Just to say: I understand the problem!
So the emphasis here will be on comfort. But I love me a cute shoe, sigh… As we go along I will describe my feet so you can determine how yours differ. People are constructed differently; one kind of shoe might work for one person and not another. Some people swear by Clarks — I have never once had a pair that felt right. You have to try different things. But above all, do try to get footwear that enables you to get out there* and do what you have to do! And be cute doing it!
*for that matter, that enables you to walk around the house! These slippers (affiliate link) have great traction and support, and these (not an ad), with a shearling insert, are super warm. In summer I wear flip-flops, see below
So let's do boots first, since it's still winter here in the frozen north. One thing you should know about boots: your toes need to have room in them. You will not be able to get away with them being tight, because in the cold your circulation will be cut off and you will never feel warm. You need room to wiggle your toes wearing thick socks. Be sure you get boots for your kids that have plenty of wiggle room in the toes!
Another thing you need to know is that there should be a certain thickness of the sole, or the cold of the ground is too close to your footbed. I tend towards wanting to be up off the ground anyway, at least a little, but in boots it's a must.
Over the years I have collected this boot array for all my boot needs. I am not one of those ladies who wears boots as a fashion statement (you know, like just after Labor Day there they are with their classy boots — I'm not like that). Overall I would prefer to wear shoes due to not wanting to spend the time bending down and tying/zipping etc. But I will tell you the kinds:
Hiking boots that I got at a rummage sale a long time ago. They are a good brand and fit me — just needed an insert for arch support. For many years I wore them in snow too, until I found something better.
The dressiest boots I have (affiliate link; I bought them 8 years ago and they were not this expensive!).
I am somewhat hampered in the boot department by having thin calves. With the advent of online shopping, the very great boon of having calf measurements in the listing came along, and I put in all my criteria and found these. I wear them when I have to be dressed up but it's wicked cold and possibly also snowing (otherwise I would wear shoes); the soles have good traction, the uppers are suede and fleece-lined so they keep my legs warm and look fairly dressy even so, and they are comfy. The heel is more dressy for me, but doable, even in my new developmental phase of not wanting to wear heels at all. Since all my dressy things are in the black family, they go with everything.
I finally splurged a few years ago (using the deep discount offered in early Fall) and got these shearling-lined LL Bean boots in this color, for snow. (not an affiliate link) — and note the brown is on sale now!
They are pricey, but at I think 40% off I went for it as my early Christmas present. Perfectly warm, virtually waterproof, breathable. I like that they can be worn low, folded over, above, or up high, like this:
They work with my rather high instep (top of my foot) which makes something like Boggs (affiliate link) not a choice for me — too tight across the top. I had to get shearling liners (affiliate link) for them — these are great because they also have arch support built in. The one drawback of these boots is that their soles are not thick enough for my taste, to keep me up above the cold ground, but the shearling liners take care of that. At this price they should come with that lining but this is the world we live in.
This Fall I added these Taos boots (affiliate link) to my lineup. They are on sale now!
The pros: super cute; thick sole; a zipper and laces, so you can get them fitted to your own shape, but then not have to mess with the laces again; lined with a thin, soft fleece so the tops are warm but not bulky; did I mention super cute with skirts as well as jeans? Also virtually waterproof — the full grain leather is wonderful, and I have put them to the test via long tramps through inches of slush and mud.
This brand has beautiful form-fitting footbeds that are the closest to Dansko clog soles I have found (well, nothing else comes close). So they have great support and feel super cradling. Once I got them laced to my Princess-and-the-Pea standards, they were excellently comfy.
Cons: the laces could be nicer I suppose, but that can be upgraded I assume, and note well: this color, which is absolutely brown and appears brown on the listing — and I wanted brown! — is called “Grey” so don't be misled. I took a chance and was happy to find that they lied.
I wanted brown to wear with my corduroy and denim skirts and jeans. They are honestly nice enough to wear to Mass when the weather requires it, but also good for, as mentioned, tramping around the countryside. I can see them lasting for years.
On to shoes!
Right now I am having trouble finding nice dress shoes; my nice ones have worn out and we are not going to talk about current fashions as per our agreement above.
Maybe I'll look for the ones I have loved in the past on one of the second-hand clothing sites. Naturalizers seem to work well with my need for arch support. I have shorter toes too, so not every sandal works and not every flat stays on. I am determined not to do any weird gripping action with my feet as I walk, so having my shoes stay on is a must, and I encourage you to look into it!
My go-to is clogs. I just love Dansko clogs! However, their regular style is too tight across the top for me.
This style is perfect (Phoebe), but they have discontinued them. For me, Danskos are supportive and incredibly comfy. I can walk miles in them. I like that you can slip out of your slippers and into your clogs without bending down! Fits my hasty lifestyle.
They are cute with skirts and everything, and they are pretty waterproof and keep your feet well off the ground; before I got my snow boots I would wear them when it snowed! I know they are not for everyone.
I like these flats (affiliate link) — stylish yet comfy, with soft leather that wears well, and they stay on during a brisk walk. They are not the most supportive ever, but I'm comparing them with Danskos when I say that.
They come in lots of nice colors. I did put in a cork innersole (affiliate link) so that I didn't slide around wearing tights. It feels nicer with bare feet in summer too. You used to be able to get cork innersoles even at the grocery store, but now you have to order them. These are sold as leather innersoles but I just flip them over and use the other side! I like that grippy feeling.
In my heart of hearts I like the way a ballet-style flat looks better, but I haven't found any that stay put on my foot.
These are nice too — they are golf shoes (affiliate link)! I did splurge on them a couple of years ago when I was despairing of ever finding comfy shoes again in the stores, and they look put-together with tights and a neat skirt. I don't know why companies put slippery insoles in their shoes. Used to be they'd use suede, which was much better. It's amazing how tiring it is to feel you are slipping inside your shoes every time you take a step.
I do think that you could easily spend $25-30 every few months in hope of workable shoes, and fail; if you can save it up, it might be worth spending $80-140 for a pair that last a few years. Once you know what works, you can find them on ebay; I have found Danskos there as well as Madewell sandals and all sorts of things.
Sandals — I love sandals!
Birkenstocks: These are the prettiest ones, I think, in a not very pretty kind of shoe.
They took me a while to get used to, and then suddenly they were good. You are very stable in these sandals. Naot has a similiar sort of idea in narrower styles, but I have never found a pair that worked with my short-ish toes.
Taos: For dressier wear but still being able to walk.
Nicely supportive — like the boots, that footbed is beautifully sculpted, and the straps stay on no matter what (they are velcro).
Breaking my heart: the Dansko Madeline sandals of yore that I wore all across Italy, Paris, and London (as well as Central MA of course), with the clog footbed, that they have discontinued — why. Nothing, but nothing, can beat them for comfort.
I even ordered a newish-looking pair from eBay when this pair fell apart, but they too fell apart, literally. I think the sole was old enough — had been manufactured long ago enough — that it just disintegrated.
Flipflops: I find them very comfy! Every time I see an article about how bad they are for your feet, I can't help thinking that Big Shoe can't take the competition! I get mine at Old Navy. But do know that they really are super dangerous on wet surfaces — I am pretty sure I broke my arm slipping and falling one day…
(Buy an extra bottle of nail polish remover and have your manicure utensils where you can find them, so you can keep your toes looking nice, a must for sandal-wearing!)
One last thought: Do tinker with your shoes by trying different innersoles, arch supports, heel lifts, and so on. Often you can make a pair that are so-so quite useable!
So that's my roundup! Of course I've had a lifetime of shoe-wearing and think fondly on some sweet pairs I've had in the past (I mean, I really care about shoes), but these are the ones that are getting me through today.
bits & pieces
- A charming story about an 8-year-old boy who slipped his own handmade book onto the library shelves when no one was looking. I've long dropped hints here that having children make their own books is an excellent way to encourage writing (vs. having them answer tedious questions about what they have read, which is not). Making books isn't hard to do and the library will have books to guide you if you can't find tutorials online. I loved making little books with Bridget along with envelopes to slide them into for her lapbooks. (By the way, all these ideas are in my new work, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life!)
- Kevin Wells with a first-hand account of Morgan Wootten: The Hidden Fuel of a Legendary Coach and his deep faith — a great story! Be sure to share with your sons!
- An important interview: Brooke Taylor with Leila Miller about her books on divorce and marriage — an interview to share as widely as possible. Leila expresses the issues so well. Our culture is suffering from divorce in so many ways, and we need to tell the truth about it.
- Last Year, I Was a Bryn Mawr Girl. Now I’m at Hillsdale. A student offers her perspective on how her elite college experience compares with that of a small, Christian institution forging its own path.
- I have posted it before, but it's worth putting here again. I do want to be sure everyone reads this post from Stella Morabito: The Little Mother Prevents Big Brother.
from the archives
- I have a whole series on getting your children to write well without the agony recommended by curriculum experts. Here's one of the posts (and it's all in my book!): Playing, Writing.
- The moral education of the child, which we are made to feel guilty for attempting, really does matter. Men without chests, or, what C. S. Lewis made me think about.
liturgical living
The Seven Sundays of St. Joseph have already started (sorry for not giving the heads up last week — I only remembered myself on Sunday afternoon).
follow us everywhere!
My book, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life is available now from Sophia Press! And it's 30% off (along with everything on the site) until Feb. 9!) All the thoughts from this blog collected into three volumes, beautifully presented with illustrations from Deirdre, an index in each volume, and ribbons!
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kyndrasteinmann says
I’ll put in a plug for Dansko Mary Janes. I have fairly flat arches and feet/ankles that roll inward so a dress shoe that offers support so my knees don’t hurt is huge. I bought a pair of Dansko Mary Janes and wear them every day.
Alesha says
I am trying to work on buying footwear that I can take out each season and rely upon to serve me well. I simply don’t have time (or money) to buy new sandals or shoes each year and then throw away only to search again for something adequate the following season.
On that note, I bought a pair of Blundstones a few years ago. They are not the most feminine but I LOVE THEM.
You can pull them on easily while 9 months pregnant.
They are waterproof.
They don’t smell (I’ve worn them in (light amounts of) manure with no troubles).
Removable insoles.
Leather.
Room for toes.
I wear them gardening, wipe them off and go to town.
I highly recommend.
The trouble is they’re hard to get on for someone like my husband with high arches. And they don’t go on sale.
Next up, Birkenstocks for summer! But I agree, they aren’t very pretty. But the style you posted is the best, for sure. My sisters in law have gotten 2 for 1 deals on them before.
I’m loving this series! Keep ‘em coming!
Betty says
What a great post and thank you so much!
I really love the looks of danskos goes but not the feel of them😢 on the other hand I also love Birkenstocks and have that pair👍❤️
Caitlin says
I found a style I can only describe as “clog sandals” that I love for everyday wear. They are more spring-summer appropriate, obviously, but here in NC I can wear them almost year-round. These are the styles I have, both of which have been discontinued, boo:
https://www.amazon.com/B-O-C-BOC-Womens-Gianna/dp/B077MMYZQN
https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/b.o.c-persi-clog/379231
They are often listed, mysteriously, as “wedges.” I am hopeful that similar styles will be offered in the spring and of course keep an eye on poshmark, ebay etc. I’m at a point where I know what I like and when my things break down, I just want to buy the same one I had!
“lotta from stokholm” has investment-level versions of this look, I believe.
Clogs are so great. I wear them with slim-cut jeans and they provide a little visual balance (I am not a fan of the insubstantial shoe trend, with the pointy mules that look they would fly off your feet and also make you look weirdly cut-off below the ankles, imho). But they are also cute with wider pants and keep the hems of those from dragging. I’m 5’3″ so the little chunky stacked heel and bit of a platform are welcome. When it’s really cold (for NC…) I have a pair of dansko-like clogs (i think they are b.o.c. brand as well) that I can just slip on. I personally think they are pretty cute even with midi skirts and dresses, in a folksy traditional way. If they’re not I don’t want to know 🙂
Love the story about the boy and his library book, so cute!
Tarynkay says
For ballet flats that stay on, I love these: https://www.everlane.com/products/womens-day-glove-caramel
They have a higher vamp, I think it’s called? So they stay on.
I don’t have the leather ones, mine are this thick knit material. I don’t think they sell them anymore, there is another knit type but they are a different shape.
I used to love Danskos, but I’ve converted to zero-drop (or close to zero) in my old age.
Elizabeth says
I’m going to add a plug for caring for your leather shoes too! When I’ve been dissatisfied with my shoes and feel like they look too old and worn, a little bit of polish and leather conditioner ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NB5QC0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_ZAHEJG2VHMDY3YDZ5JQ0 ) goes a long way. It’s satisfying to take a few minutes and clean and polish your shoes. It’s one of those instant-gratification tasks (with the added bonus of making me feel delightfully old-fashioned, like Almanzo Wilder).
Leila says
Oh yes, I meant to say this! (My hiking boots need it!)
Post already too long though haha…
It IS instant gratification! After polishing up the shoes, one feels a sense of having restored to life some items that were not giving satisfaction.
Mrs. Bee says
I am a loafer/driving moc person. Naturalizer used to make a shoe that was my heaven, it was called Fadrina – now I buy them used on eBay whenever I find my size. I also like the Jambu Rosetta Mary Janes a lot, they can be found at TJ Maxx/Marshalls pretty often. My third pregnancy changed my feet for good, I did not expect that… afterwards I was never able to fit inside my older shoes, now I must have a wide fit. I also can’t wear very open sandals: my sense of balance has gotten weird ever since I started wearing progressive lenses, and with open sandals I feel like I am not safe (I had a nasty fall last summer while wearing sandals like these https://www.ebay.com/itm/113704641169?hash=item1a79532291:g:kTMAAOSw9LxZspSf)
The Ambrosian Gloria reminded me that the Ambrosian rite has its specific tune for the Loreto Litanies after the Rosary: I think it’s very beautiful and I’m convinced it helps us memorize them, too – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIP5eCxV4zU
Dixie says
I’m a “barefoot shoes” girl now. I don’t mean the weird toe shoes! Just shoes that don’t change the natural posture or shape of the foot.
I don’t want to pooh-pooh cute heels, so wear them if you like. They look fabulous and make legs look great.
But, they are really hard on your body. So my two cents is to encourage folks to look for shoes with no heel (i.e. totally flat, or as close to it as you can get), and flexible sole (bends easily in your hands) and a wide toe box for their everyday shoes, and save the heels for special occasions. It’s really much better for your back, neck, and core…pretty much your whole self!
In terms of sandals, flip-flops meet these criteria except that they have no back strap, so you have to sort of use your toes to keep them on. If you can find sandals (even flip-flops) with a back strap, you’re golden for the summer. And of course…go barefoot whenever safe and practical, especially outside!
If you’re interested in learning more, Katy Bowman (a biomechanist) has a great website (https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/blog/) with some articles and also podcasts about this, among other things. She’s great on diastasis recti, too!
Ellen says
I’ve made this switch too yet i still long for pretty shoes and boots are hard. If anyone has good flat sole ideas, I’d love to hear them.
Kelsey says
Ellen, I really like the site Anya’s Reviews for finding barefoot shoes… you can search for different types of shoes at different price points. So helpful.
Ana Maria says
Softstar shoes, lems for walking shoes and boots, and the sandals (Greek sandals sold on Etsy) I posted below are all great. Boden now makes a flexi-sole loafer and ballet flat thought the loafer was too narrow for me (easy return!). These are very pretty though I haven’t tried them https://www.wolfandbadger.com/us/ballerina-black/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwLvtl-nr9QIVgxXUAR0bXgIUEAQYBCABEgKE9PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Rebekah says
100% and learned the hard way when repairing a broken pelvic floor. Also the minimal shoes options are more attractive and affordable than they used to be. Beside the toe shoe trend, they have completely avoided the awful pitfalls of things such as the chunky heels and the space shoe.
Dixie says
There are really cute flat-soled shoes out there now. I got some sneakers from VivoBarefoot (or their “used” site, Revivo) that look so good and are amazing. They have boots, too. If you search around, there are also companies now that make dress shoes for men and women that are absolutely professional and stylish. Poke around that Katy Bowman website I mentioned above for recommendations. I like the sandals from XeroShoes (their sneakers aren’t my style).
They’re often expensive. But they last, and they do have Black Friday sales! I myself just don’t have a lot of shoes. One pair of sneakers, one pair of boots, one pair of everyday sandals, two pairs of dressy flats (one black, one brown). We don’t have to have a zillion pairs. We need workhorses!
Eryn says
I was hoping someone would mention Katy Bowman! I’m certified to teach her approach to movement/exercise. Wearing flat shoes and working on foot strength has helped a lot of my foot, knee, and hip discomfort. Definitely recommend looking into it. For tons of options of healthy (and cute!) shoes, check out https://anyasreviews.com/
She organizes by style and gives good info on what type of feet each shoe works for! I think a lot of them are cute even if you don’t care about the health benefit 🙂
Dressier minimal shoes can be expensive, but in my experience they last really well and I only have one pair per season. Vivobarefoot shoes have served my whole family well and can be found second hand or even new on eBay.
Amelia says
Yes, I ended up switching my whole family to minimalist footwear. It’s not the only thing I’ve been doing to take better care of my poor abdomen and back, but it’s been really helpful, and when I try on heels anymore I can now really feel how they throw things off. Depending upon one’s situation, consider also how gradually transitioning to *less* supportive shoes can allow your arch support muscles, etc. to strengthen into their natural, self-supporting state, for instance.
I find anyasreviews.com helpful for shopping. I just invested in some high-quality Chelsea boots for everyday wear. I’m also looking forward to getting Splay shoes for the kids.
Nicole says
I was about to post about barefoot-style footwear, so I will just piggyback here!!
This is maybe more pertinent to the younger women, because the sooner you can “get back” your natural foot shape/freedom of foot movement, the less you will need to rely on inserts, specialty shoes, etc as you get older. I’m in my mid-30s and started having bad toe pain/neuromas a few years ago. Which seemed way too early for foot pain! But with a narrow heel, I had been wearing *way* too tight shoes so that they would stay on my very small heel/size 5 foot. Anyway, my mom has major foot problems, (bunions, neuromas, arthritis, etc) and it’s probably a little too late for her to rebuild the muscles in her feet naturally, so she’s heavily reliant on the podiatrist type inserts and specialty shoes. She tried to convince me to go for the super-supportive type shoes, but I am really trying to do the Katy Bowman stretches and foot exercises and barefoot shoes.
Barefoot shoes have really helped me so far. They require a shift in posture, have massively increased muscle tone/strength in my feet and toes, and my toes just feel so much better in them. Check out https://anyasreviews.com/ for TONS of barefoot/healthy shoes reviews and recs. There really are so many better options now. I save a pair of very comfortable open-toe Vionic wedge sandals for special occasions because they are really cute and don’t constrict my toes (they don’t fit barefoot requirements, but again, I do want something to “lift me up” for special occasions and look a bit dressier, so it’s a rare use thing). Here is a list of the most affordable minimalist shoes from Anya’s site: https://anyasreviews.com/affordable-barefoot-minimalist-shoes/ (because barefoot shoes are NOT cheap). Also look on Facebook for barefoot buy/sell/trade groups!
Dixie says
Amelia makes a really good point — you have to transition to minimalist shoes *gradually* in order to not injure yourself. You have to build up those muscles. So when you get a pair, wear it a couple of hours a day first, and build up to where you where it as your go-to shoe.
Emily says
I shall leave this comment for anyone who, like me, has bunions (as in, ones that could be resolved surgically but I’m not ready to do that yet) and wants to find comfortable shoes, or shoes *at all* that work on your feet, because that’s where I was last year. So these are more expensive, but I just wanted *shoes at all* that were reasonably cute and that I could actually get on my foot!
I went to a podiatrist this summer and he introduced me to orthopedic shoes that don’t look like orthopedic shoes! They’re called Dr. Comfort. If you have FSA/HSA, you can put that toward the shoes, and if you have Medicare, they might be covered! Mine were, which was flabbergasting to us. The site is currently having a big sale, so it might be worth watching. I ordered mine right from the doctor’s office.
For flats, I have found that the best ones for me are Rothy’s. I can walk everywhere in them in the summer and my feet don’t hurt. They are also washable! The best way to save money on them is to find a friend who wears them and have her give you her affiliate code–that’ll get you 10% off, I think. I love that they are washable because so many flats, at least in my experience, just smell bad after awhile but you can’t get that out.
Annie says
I recently discovered the answer to flats coming off the feet/needing to grip them while walking, via a thrifted pair I love: ankle straps!! I am surprised that I actually love the look of them, plus the strap keeps the shoe on even if it stretches out. I needed a pair of these in high school and college when I was forever losing shoes and walking all funny to keep them on!
Anamaria says
As far as sandals go, I love these https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnaniasSandals?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=494192922
I found them when the pair my sister brought me from Greece had worn out.
I get a style that doesn’t affect my gait, unlike flip flops. Plus they look much nicer! Some of the styles are mass appropriate, at least here, where it’s approaching 100 for much of July and August
Ann Marie says
I was excited about this post as it seems like our feet might be kindred spirits ( high arch, short toes). 🙂 Then I read that your feet like Danskos. I spent a large sum on them years ago when I was working and wore them for a couple days before calling it quits. As you say, we’re all different.
Anyway, I wear a 5.5 and it’s quite difficult to find a decent pair of shoes in this size. I have had good luck at places like TJMaxx and Ross. And there’s some woman with expensive shoe tastes who consigns at a shop near me. Of course, these places are hit and miss but small footed people are used to this. Still looking for a good pair of snow boots that I don’t have to mortgage the home for … 🙂
Thanks for your ever- practical writing!!
Leila says
Oh, sorry about that Dansko experience…
Sue D says
Taos👍🏼Boots …. Mine are red and I LOVE them♥️
Leila says
Yay! Someone has the same something as me!
Aren’t they CUTE!?!
You’re out there with the red, girl!!
Juliana @ Urban Simplicity says
Putting in a plug for Blundstones (the original 500 series). Once you get past the break in period (which is pretty tough, not gonna lie) they are the comfiest things ever and go with everything. I found mine half price on eBay by looking for store models that had been tried on but not worn. Added an insole for arch support. I went with my European size as I’m finding it to be a more reliable fit. I have short wide feet with high arches and two neuromas so can’t mess around with shoes. I also second the Birks rec. I wear them in summer and have another pair as house shoes. Can’t stand flip flops because they rub between my toes oddly.
Chloe P says
I need to be better about thinking of shoes as investment (worth saving for) vs purchasing “cheap” (but still $$, really) shoes that don’t hold up.
What do you suggest for really awful, cracked heels? Nothing seems to change no matter how good I am about moisturizing them, and it does detract from the look…
Dixie says
For cracked heels (or hands), coat well with Vaseline every night before bed. Wear socks over the Vaseline. It’ll do wonders. Moisturizers just don’t cut it.
Anamaria says
Sweating more often (and fairly promptly showering) has really helped my dry skin.
It is also a symptom of thyroid problems.
I would say a very good moisturizer and then immediately applying Vaseline and socks. They will lock the moisture in better. That is from dealing with one kids eczema and another’s super dry skin. Those two (and I) get tubby Todd or beauty counter lotion (the others get cheaper stuff!).
Leila says
I have read that badly cracked heels can be the result of a fungal infection — do a search and see what you come up with.
If it were me, I would get a porous rock (they sell these or maybe you have this kind of rock where you live) and soak my feet (Epsom salts are nice to soak in and help skin heal) and then scrub the heels (and callouses on the big toe) with this rock. Then I would apply tea tree oil and vaseline, putting on cotton socks for bed. I would do this routine diligently for a week or ten days and see if it helps.
I keep this sort of rock in the shower and do my feet with it at least once a week.
Did you ever hear about pedicures that have you soak in a pool with a kind of fish that nibble the dead skin of your feet??
Jalaena Kelley says
I just ordered my set of “Summa Domestica”! I’m so excited. My sister ordered earlier this week, so we’re going to have our own little book club haha.
Leila says
That sounds like fun!!
Lisa says
I think I’ve always been a bit obsessed with footwear because even as kid my shoes often didn’t fit well. My feet are wide – but short – and with a wide calf I just used to wear too-long boots that made tripping much more likely. I stick with low boots now.
It’s hard to find good quality but I have had some luck buying boy’s shoes. Doesn’t work for boots though; they definitely don’t have big calves! Last summer I discovered Clarks cloth sneakers: breathable, slip-on, and surprisingly supportive ( I like to feel the ground – former dancer). I liked them so much I went back for a second color.
Catherine says
I have short, wide feet too and am a big fan of Walking Cradles. One pair of boots, one pair of flats from them, and I’m set in shoes for 5 years at least. (But I’m not a shoe person. Multiple times my shoes have literally fallen apart in public—only then am I convinced to buy new ones.)
Lisa says
Thank you for the lead! I just ordered 2″ heels for my son’s wedding. I hadn’t quite known where to look so this is great. I have time before June to send back / reorder if necessary. So exciting! 🙂
Catherine says
I hope they work!! And yesterday I ordered some of the Clark’s shoes you mentioned. 🙂 Hoping I find a good pair for running around with the kids this summer. Thank you!!
Ruth Barker says
Thank you for the coupon code. I’ve finally ordered myself your books which I have been looking forward to for years.
In the comfortable shoe department, I recommend Xero shoes. They’re probably not good for MA winters (we’re in LA and can wear these minimalist shoes all year long). They aren’t beautiful, but they’re the only shoes you can wear that feel like you aren’t wearing shoes….
Leila says
I hope you enjoy the books!
Elizabeth says
Just coming back to add that I appreciate your understanding of cold weather, Auntie Leila! I get so annoyed seeing pictures of “winter” fashion and everyone has their ankles exposed. (I know, I know, some people live in milder climates…..)
Cold ankles/feet really make winter unbearable, so good socks and cute boots all the way!
Leila says
Thank you, Elizabeth! It’s so true! Why insist on not dressing warmly and then be miserable? This is the gift of the northern “all the knitted things, all the cozy things” mentality! It’s what makes winter bearable. Even in warmer places, it can get unusually cold — look at Texas this past year. It’s worthwhile having the know-how tucked away in order to do more than just barely survive.
Christine Smith says
Most shoes are impossibly uncomfortable! If the weather and social proprieties allowed it, I would honestly be barefoot all the time.
When I hit my mid 30s, I swore off shoes that hurt my feet or were otherwise unpleasant to wear – which meant ditching every single pair of high heels I owned, and many more besides. I haven’t regretted the decision at all, although it’s led to a lot of necessary trial and error, trying to figure out what type of shoes work best for me.
My preferences for footwear are: a “foot-shaped” toe box (toes are not naturally shaped into a point!), a very low or non-existant heel, and something my feet cannot slide or pop out of while walking (sorry, Birkenstocks!). Real leather holds up so much longer, especially if you care for it well, so I’ve found it to be worth the initial cost. My husband surprised me with a pair of tall leather Miz Mooz boots this winter, and I’ve been loving them.