# I pit women's shoes! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 15, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270 "2013-10-15T02:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/61 "2013-10-17T16:48:06Z")
Let me put this complaint into a bit of perspective - I have in my life until recently not owned or worn ‘cute shoes’ or ‘strappy sandals’ or ‘FMP’. I have always had sensible shoes [my favorites were a pair of extremely expensive leather mary janes I bought up in Boston in the mid 90s, and a pair of pale grey almost glove leather lined in scarlet satinish material driving shoes] I can now, because I “walk” in a wheelchair so all they do is sit decoratively on my feet. Do you know what I would give to be able to walk and dance again? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/62 "2013-10-17T17:04:41Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Most of these things are not appropriate for many workplaces. Most women cannot just say, “Oh, boss, my feet hurt so I’m wearing tennies.” The OP is looking for “dress shoes” not Birks and hiking boots. But there are a wide variety of relatively comfortable dress flats and Mary Janes that one can wear to the vast majority of jobs. There didn’t use to be, but there are now. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/63 "2013-10-17T17:16:31Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > But there are a wide variety of relatively comfortable dress flats and Mary Janes that one can wear to the vast majority of jobs. There didn’t use to be, but there are now. I don’t have the OP’s feet. I have no idea what shoes she finds comfortable. The poster I was responding to was saying she’s too picky because she can wear tennis shoes and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/64 "2013-10-17T17:45:30Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI779D2tLyk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI779D2tLyk) > > Who fucking cares! > > If this is the worst of your troubles…bite me. I have no sympathy. > > Little children are starving. Animals are being tortured and killed…and you are worried about shoes. Spare me!!! > ~Linus van Pelt This would be a valid comment, except this particular little corner of reality is for people complaining about the problems they have with shoes. As it is, your comment is pretty much just thread-shitting. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Donna\_Lange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Donna\_Lange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donna_Lange)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/65 "2013-10-17T17:48:55Z")
If you have a shoemaker anywhere near you, it may be expensive but they could make shoes for you that both fit as well as have your insoles and look great. I got a custom pair of heels because my feet are wider than most other girls I know and for a long time I had to wear 9W in mens or my feet would be in unbearable pain. At home I certainly still just wear the guys shoes when gardening and stuff, but when it would be better to wear the custom ones I certainly do. Oh, as for the foot fetish? Please. I’ve seen a man I know have a closet full of over 40 shoes! It might be a little more common in women (Fashion and all) but shoe collecting is far from something all women do and men don’t. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/66 "2013-10-17T17:53:30Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Ehrm. Yes, feet sweat, but they don’t stink unless there’s a medical issue. Fungus infection being the most common. If your feet are smelly just going around barefoot, there’s a problem. I’m around people in sandals often, including at work, and it’s just not an issue. > [@perfectparanoia](#): > > I disagree. I have a couple of pairs of shoes that smell terribly while the rest of my (extensive) collection have nary a smell. It has to be the materials or something. > [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > It could be the particular pair of shoes for some people. For others, I think their feet just stink. Certainly not everyone’s feet stink all the time. I live in flip flops or sandals 2/3 of the year and my feet never stink. My son’s feet stink when he’s been wearing closed shoes all day, but when he’s wearing his flip flops or his Keens all the time, no stink. > [@BeeGee](#): > > My feet sweat in close toed shoes, certainly, but not in flip flops. If anything, having the air circulate around them makes them a little dry and I have to use moisturizer. I also keep baby wipes around for clean up. If you want to find out where most shoes flat out stink, look at the stitching. Dirt gets rubbed into the stitching and collects and now you’ve got your stink. It’s a regular Saturday morning chore in the spring-fall to clean the soles of my sandals with soapy water and a toothbrush, leaving them to air dry. Interesting. So no one that works with filks that wear sandals or flip flops have ever had an issue with smelling foot odor? If true, i am amazed. Especially when i look at those flip-flops linked to in this thread that have what appears like a gel-like sole. I don’t see how those **wouldn’t** make a person’s foot sweat, but I confess I’ve never worn them so I don’t know. I am rather sensitive to odors because I worked with a woman who had the worst hygiene you could imagine. Thank goodness she didn’t wear flip-flops, but she didn’t use deodorant, and she didn’t wash her clothes between each time she wore them, so things deteriorated during the week and toward the end of the month. I am not making this up… It was like the BBO from a Seinfeld episode. My clothes actually picked up her stink so when I drove home I could smell her stench, and my wife could smell it as soon as I walked into the house. I guess my feelings on foot odor stem from my unpleasant experience with that person. I just assumed that when feet sweat, they would most likely stink, unless you put something on them to cover up the odor. Perhaps I’m way off base. Sorry for the hijack. Back to your regularly scheduled thread. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/67 "2013-10-17T18:06:15Z")
I think well-groomed feet in flip-flops would tend to smell less (because they are open to the air and allowed to dry out), but I still don’t think flip-flops at work are a good idea. People’s feet _do_ have different levels of stinkiness; my feet never smell (not bragging - they just don’t), but I think my husband’s would smell even in flip-flops, and you can’t trust people to be diligent about not stinking up the joint. Also, flip-flops seem terribly unprofessional to me (and even dangerous - your toes are all out in the open, just waiting to get something dropped on them!). ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/68 "2013-10-17T18:23:46Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > Little children are starving. Animals are being tortured and killed…and you are worried about shoes. Spare me!!! > ~Linus van Pelt I’m worried about how being employable and not being in pain seem to be mutually exclusive propositions for me. It’s not starving children, but it’s not “There are little woodland creatures tidying my house while we all sing together, and they’re exactly the wrong shade of pastel pink,” either. > [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > I as a person of the male persuasion have very little sympathy. Your problem is not that you can’t find _any_ shoes, it’s that you can’t find \*cute \*shoes. You’ve got “tennis shoes, hiking boots, Birkenstocks and their ilk, and the occasional pair of boots, cowboy boots, and Mary Janes.”, and it appears that you can wear stuff from certain shoe manufacturers. > > You could be a guy, and have all your shoes fit orthopedic inserts, because they’re all the same fucking shoe in various shades of brown and black! You want the same “convenience” as guys? Buy 1 pair of dress shoes (you can find them, you said so in the OP) and that’s it. You’re done. What? You wanted cute shoes? Well, too bad. You want guy convenience, you get guy choices. Sorry, but as I made it clear in my OP, I am looking for business-appropriate dress shoes, not cute shoes. I give less than one-half of a darn about cute shoes. And if you think that I can find one pair of dress shoes, you badly misread my OP. > [@aruvqan](#): > > Let me put this complaint into a bit of perspective - I have in my life until recently not owned or worn ‘cute shoes’ or ‘strappy sandals’ or ‘FMP’. I have always had sensible shoes [my favorites were a pair of extremely expensive leather mary janes I bought up in Boston in the mid 90s, and a pair of pale grey almost glove leather lined in scarlet satinish material driving shoes] > > I can now, because I “walk” in a wheelchair so all they do is sit decoratively on my feet. > > Do you know what I would give to be able to walk and dance again? Yeah, I do know what you’d give to be able to walk and dance again, because my first bout of plantar fasciitis was so debilitating I couldn’t walk for more than about ten feet, or stand up for more than fifteen seconds. Need to run to the store? Nope. Make lunch? Nope. Unload the dishwasher? Nope. I got better, eventually, but it was severely limiting. I am so glad things are as good as they are now. Also, thanks to all the posters who suggested various brands of shoes for me to try. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to take you up on it. I can’t order shoes off the Internet-- my feet are a pretty unusual shape to begin with (narrow heel, wide front), so most shoes don’t fit me even in the best of circumstances. I can’t front that much money to order a bunch of shoes online, try them on, and send them back. Instead, do you know of any good shoe stores in the Washington, DC metro area? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/69 "2013-10-17T18:33:26Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > Instead, do you know of any good shoe stores in the Washington, DC metro area? Many of my pairs of Munro shoes, recommended above, came from the Nordstrom in Tyson’s Corner. You could certainly give them a try (and speak with the Nordstrom’s shoe department – they are experienced at fitting unusual sizes and can even order shoes for you to try on in store). ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/70 "2013-10-17T18:37:16Z")
You could try on brands/styles in stores (Nordtrom does have a wide selection), and then once you have a better idea of what brands/styles work for you, have better luck ordering online. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/71 "2013-10-17T18:50:04Z")
Tried Nordstrom’s and many other shoe departments, and the bottom line is that they just don’t have flats, or flats that accommodate orthotics. Barring a major paradigm shift in the way women’s shoes are made, I’m going to have to stick to specialty stores. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/72 "2013-10-17T20:25:59Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > Tried Nordstrom’s and many other shoe departments, and the bottom line is that they just don’t have flats, or flats that accommodate orthotics. Barring a major paradigm shift in the way women’s shoes are made, I’m going to have to stick to specialty stores. Have you tried Crocs? ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/73 "2013-10-17T20:47:56Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > I can’t order shoes off the Internet-- my feet are a pretty unusual shape to begin with (narrow heel, wide front), so most shoes don’t fit me even in the best of circumstances. So you have duck feet too, huh? Right pains in the arse, they are. Do you have high arches and insteps, too, or is it just me? Heel guards are your friends. I recently got some [Alegrias](http://www.alegriashoes.com/products/belle-pewter-wrinkle-shoe.html) at Dillards (on super-sale, even–I paid $35 for them) and they’re pretty damn awesome. A little snug on the ball of the foot till they stretched, and kind of sloppy on the heel till I got some heel guards in, but now I love them so much I went back and got [these](http://www.alegriashoes.com/products/debra-brown-embossed-rose-professional-nursing-shoe.html) last week. (Also on sale, but only 50% off instead of 70.) ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/74 "2013-10-17T21:11:57Z")
If you’ve been in physical therapy, or are currently seeing an ortho specialist, try asking them where the good specialty footwear stores are. The lady who made my orthotics actually worked out of one, and they had a lot of good options for people with foot problems. But yes, it’s going to take some trial and error. I busted my leg originally in 1996, and I’m still experimenting! Zappos has free returns, for one… ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/75 "2013-10-17T21:43:20Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > If you’ve been in physical therapy, or are currently seeing an ortho specialist, try asking them where the good specialty footwear stores are. The lady who made my orthotics actually worked out of one, and they had a lot of good options for people with foot problems. My PT actually had coupons for a custom athletic shoe store not far from where I work. It’s where I bought probably the most expensive pair of sneakers (over $100 with the coupon plus the in-store sale) I’ve ever owned in my life. OTOH they’re the most comfortable pair of sneakers I’ve ever owned, so YMMV. But yeah, they also gave me recommendations of where to go for specialty footwear. I’ve been to a couple. A pair of work shoes at either one would run me twice as much as the sneakers, and sadly I don’t have that kind of money :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TimToyGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@TimToyGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimToyGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/76 "2013-10-17T21:54:52Z")
There’s a Skechers retail store at the Tyson’s Corner mall too. My wife has been getting a few pairs from them lately, not the Shape-ups (most of those are out of stock now, except on their website) but they have some good looking comfortable flats you might like, and they carry a good amount of wides. She likes the Relaxed Fit shoes from them - dressy flats or mary janes, with a Memory Foam insole - or the GOwalk shoes, which weigh nearly nothing but are still very comfortable. Tim ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/77 "2013-10-18T00:20:39Z")
You might try a New Balance store - they do have some shoes that straddle the orthopedic and fashion line, and IME, the employees know their stuff. However, I have never seen a shoe that would be appropriate with a skirt, which also has a removable insole that allows for orthotics. It kind of sucks. Especially since some workplaces still require a woman to eschew pants suits if she wants to look properly professional. I’m also going to put a (long-term) word in for physical therapy. My podiatrist pretty much shrugged his shoulders and gave me orthotics, whereas my subsequent physical therapist analyzed \*why \*my stride was messed up and flipping well fixed it. I now don’t need orthotics, just a neutral shoe with good support. That opens a BIG world of choice! I’m currently working on intrisic muscle strength and flexibility, and maybe someday I could wear a pump again. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/78 "2013-10-18T00:41:51Z")
I wonder why I’m not finding any of the “quit yer whinin’” posts in the other BBQ threads. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/79 "2013-10-18T15:12:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Also, flip-flops seem terribly unprofessional to me (and even dangerous - your toes are all out in the open, just waiting to get something dropped on them!). If my professional setting was a corporate sales office or other business type setting with visitors coming and going and meeting people face to face, they wouldn’t be professional and I wouldn’t dress this way. Since my professional setting involves none of that, I’ve adapted to wearing what everyone else does. Believe me, I showed up here 20 years ago in hose and heels and a suit like I’d worn in my old job. My boss wore a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Now the mainstay of the modern workplace? Earphones? Boss would have a conipition fit if we used those because we’d be tuning out people instead of interacting. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270/81 "2015-02-27T21:37:44Z")
Spam makes for a lousy arch support. Reported. ( **Ladybug3** ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-womens-shoes/671270.md?page=3)