Have you checked out Munro shoes? They come in an extensive range of hard-to-find sizes, most are designed to fit orthotics, and they have some dressy flat styles. Everyone I have recommended them to has bought at least one pair, and many have become Munro converts like me. I have purchased at least 30 pairs, and wear Munros almost exclusively.
I was just talking to a co-worker this morning about how we are now spoiled for shoes, because most shoes are just too uncomfortable after you’ve worn Munros.
I agree. Surely a pair of male dress shoes with slacks would be acceptable in most situations? Might look a little weird if you wanted to wear a dress though.
I heartily support this rant. I’m looking for my Christmas shoes again, to go with my Christmas party dress outfit, and once again, all the shoes in the stores are way, WAY too high or completely flat (both of which wreck your feet). I don’t have severe foot problems, but I do have flat feet that require an orthotic, and I want to keep my feet from having severe foot problems, so I don’t wear shoes that kill my feet.
A foot doctor looking at extremely high women’s shoes commented on them that they would be okay to wear once or twice a year without damaging your feet too much - I don’t want to wear them even that often. They freaking hurt!
I wear a narrow in women’s shoes. Men’s shoes simply don’t fit my foot, with a few exceptions like Birkenstocks (which are unisex in some styles) in narrow.
OP, I’m right there with you. Along with the plantar fasciitis in both feet, I also have Achilles tendon issues, weak ankles, and arthritic knees. I wear orthotics too. I haven’t worn anything resembling a heel in at least a decade; I can’t wear flats either – my shoes have to have some kind of thick sole and a big toe box to accommodate the criss-cross hammertoes, which I’ve been told is part of the plantar fasciitis.
Right now I live in either a pair of Adidas cross-trainers or my work shoes. Adidas tends to run small, but they’ve got one of the wider toe box of any name-braind athletic shoe out there, from what I’ve been told. My work shoes are from here, and I cannot recommend them enough for someone who’s on their feet 8+ hours a day. Lots of styles too, some of which can certainly be construed as a dress shoe.
I’ll wear a one inch heel to a wedding, but that’s it. I do not give a damn for what the fashion is; I’m done slipping and sliding off of high heels and walking on the balls of my feet. One of the perks of getting old.
To most men most of the time, shoes are just something to separate the soles of the feet from the ground, and maybe keep the feet warm in cold weather. But it seems women get rather obsessed with them – extremely obsessed, in some cases. I guess it’s one of those Mars-Venus things.
I’ve got no cartilage in my left ankle, plus a neuroma in the right foot, and have had plantar fascitis in the past, too. Generally, my feet are a mess, and I wear prescription orthotics too (and have been told I’m just buying time until I need to surgically fuse my left ankle or do a total joint replacement, to which my response was “I’ll just continue buying time, thankyouverymuch”), so I feel your pain (literally).
Other brands that have worked for me are Mephisto (expensive, but they make some dressier styles and they last forever) and Chaco (sandals, and they do also make boots and some athletic and casual shoes). Mary Jane styles also help with the problem of the depth of the orthotic placing my foot so high that it comes out of the shoe. Some of the time, anyway. Some Chaco styles are even supportive enough that I can do without the orthotics.
Good luck, and let us know if you find other brands that work for you. I’m always looking for new ideas.
P.S. It ain’t worth causing yourself pain for the sake of fashion. Hell, I wore flat Mephisto sandals for my own wedding. I didn’t want to be limping within an hour!
“Appropriate” meaning both an orthopedically suitable shoe and a fashionable lady’s dress shoe. The problem is with the latter. Frankly, I don’t think it’s the fault of men that so many women’s shoes are as impractical as they are – I suspect it might be exactly the same among the Amazons of Paradise Island. Likewise with clothes and cosmetics.
P.P.S. You might also try Think! shoes. Some of them might meet your height/support/dressiness requirements. They are expensive, but get rave reviews and you can look for clearance sales.
I have issues with plantar faciitis, too, but not the other problems. So I don’t know if the following will help, but it works for me so I’ll put it out here. Everyday shoes I use are Dansko, Vasque (trail runners), and Chaco shoes (one leather pair and one canvas). I have two pairs of dressy shoes from Earthies, great arch support and cushioned ball. I wouldn’t wear them every day, but I can get through an evening with them fine and not hobble around the next day, ugh, that’s the worst.
When I’m having a flare-up, the only time I’m without shoes is in the shower and in bed. I have a pair of old Vasque with the laces taken out that I use as slippers during flare-ups. I also found these at CVS of all places, and they’re great for around the house or if I really just want to wear my damn fuzzy slippers or feel a little bit barefoot during a flare-up. Very high arch support, and have been tempted to try them in other shoes but for some reason (lazy) just haven’t yet.