# Ladies, shoe advice needed. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418 "2003-08-20T13:08:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/1 "2003-08-20T13:08:41Z")
I own 5 pairs of shoes: 2 nice work pairs, dingy torn up hiking shoes, a pair of hiking boots (gaudy) and a pair of flip flops. As summer winds down I will start wearing jeans and khaki pants more often downtown and to other social outings, I realize that my footwear is inadequate. My work shoes are too dressy and my flip flops are obviously too casual. I need a happy medium but I can’t think of what that would be. And if you’re a guy, I really don’t give a damn what you think. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/2 "2003-08-20T13:20:11Z")
Look into Ecco shoes. They’re a happy medium between dressy and ultra casual. Do you have a Johnston and Murphy near you? They carry a selection of Ecco shoes. If you’re looking for a trendier, lower-quality shoe, there’s always Aldo. You can score a decent pair of shoes there but don’t expect them to last longer than two seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/3 "2003-08-20T13:24:19Z")
What about the classic loafers? Clarks also have several “nice casual” shoes that are extremely comfy as well. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/4 "2003-08-20T13:29:04Z")
I like loafers or deck shoes on a guy. Comfy, classic – what’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/5 "2003-08-20T13:33:25Z")
Riekers Eccos Clark’s Aerosoles All of these can offer style without sacrificing comfort. I especially like Rieker’s; they are quite distinctive yet easy on the eye as well as the foot. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/6 "2003-08-20T13:37:04Z")
oops Just realized that Aerosoles probably don’t make shoes for men. But the others do. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/7 "2003-08-20T13:41:18Z")
I’ll field that one, twickster. Loafers and deck shoes are so…suburbanite…so uninspired…so _done_. For awhile, I was convinced when a man got married (esp if he lived in the 'burbs), he recived a uniform that consisted of Dockers, a braided, leather belt, a polo shirt and deck shoes. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/8 "2003-08-20T13:44:31Z")
You mean men wear shoes that aren’t sneakers? Then again hubby doesn’t wear dockers either. I should never have opened this thread 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/9 "2003-08-20T14:11:16Z")
I’m no fashion hound but [Ecco](http://www.ecco.com/ss2003/products/ProductDetail.asp?sCountryID=99&sGenderID=04&sArticleID=23054&sColourID=00504&sSubbrandID=&sProductGroupID=)[makes](http://www.ecco.com/ss2003/products/ProductDetail.asp?sCountryID=99&sGenderID=04&sArticleID=23084&sColourID=00504&sSubbrandID=&sProductGroupID=)[ugly](http://www.ecco.com/ss2003/products/ProductDetail.asp?sCountryID=99&sGenderID=04&sArticleID=23084&sColourID=00504&sSubbrandID=&sProductGroupID=)[shoes](http://www.ecco.com/ss2003/products/ProductDetail.asp?sCountryID=99&sGenderID=04&sArticleID=23084&sColourID=00504&sSubbrandID=&sProductGroupID=). So does [Riekers](http://www.reviewshoes.com/brands/rieker_shoes.asp). Ah, Clarks is perhaps what we’re looking for. What do you think of [these](http://www.clarksusa.com/men.asp?view=product&catid=2&id=532) or [these](http://www.clarksusa.com/men.asp?view=product&catid=3&id=386). I’m not feeling very masculine right now. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/10 "2003-08-20T14:14:08Z")
If I had to pick between the two these’s … I’d go with the second one and those other shoes you linked to scared me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/11 "2003-08-20T14:44:17Z")
You may as well just buy a pair of Rockports, Bruce. Have you considered Kenneth Cole? ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/12 "2003-08-20T14:56:49Z")
I always thought of Rockports as old man shoes, but [these](http://shop.rockport.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1243384&cp=1251850.1251861&parentPage=category) aren’t too bad. [Kenneth Cole](http://www.kennethcole.com/scripts/shop/thumbnails.asp?cc=KMCAS) isn’t my cup of tea. They’re all starting to look the same now so I’m going to quit looking at shoes and go look a [Men’s Health](http://www.menshealth.com). Thanks for the advice. I had to google everyone of those except Rockport. I promise. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/13 "2003-08-20T15:08:37Z")
I recommend Doc Martens… not the boots, but the casual shoes. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/14 "2003-08-20T15:08:55Z")
Who you callin’ suburban, **Juanita**??? I’ll have you know I pay a wage tax to the city of Philadelphia – and a not inconsiderable sum it is. You raise a point, though – how old are you, **Bruce\_Daddy**? I’m middle-aged, and that would perhaps be ever-so-slightly relevant to my taste in men’s shoes. Of the links, I like the second pair from Clarks best. The others look too sneakery. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/15 "2003-08-20T15:16:08Z")
I agree – you can’t go wrong with plain black Doc shoes. They’re quite difficult to destroy and most people find them comfortable (if you need a lot of arch support they’re out, though) Or a less expensive oxford shoe that you can knock around and not worry about keeping “work nice.” Or a pair of nice-but-not-excessively-trendy sneakers. It sort of depends on what clothes you wear in your casual time. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/16 "2003-08-20T15:30:11Z")
**twickster** , I’ll be 28 in 2 weeks. And [sneakery](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sneakery) is not a word. 😉 **Hello Again** , we’re talking about short sleeve button-up shirts or golf shirts with jeans or khaki pants. Pretty casual. Let’s be honest. I’m looking for shoes that make women follow me home and bake pie. Maybe I should just take my old hiking shoes and tape hundred dollar bills on them. Yes I know all women aren’t into money, calm down. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/17 "2003-08-20T15:44:30Z")
Well, I’m a woman the same age as you **Bruce\_daddy** and I reiterate my suggestion of Doc Martens (the oxford-style shoes, not the boots). Dressy enough for dressing, casual enough for kicking around. The classic style: [http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/536811/c/1670.html](http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/536811/c/1670.html) or you can find variations (chunkier lug sole, wing-tip detailing, etc.) Somewhat $$ but they last and last. Also a pair of sport sandals… dunno, I just hate flipflops. If you want to wear sandals, Tevas or their like are nicer. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/18 "2003-08-20T16:00:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > [sneakery](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sneakery) is not a word. 😉 > > \*\* Harrumph. A word means what I want it to mean, as someone in Wonderland said. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/19 "2003-08-20T16:02:20Z")
Yeah, I’ve seen alot of guys with those on. Oh, and I guess my flip flops are actually sandals if [these](http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/508636/c/6345.html) are sandals since they’re similar. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418/20 "2003-08-21T06:41:22Z")
Aerosoles make shoes for men. I associate them with bosses - in a good but not follow you home and bake pie way. If you want me to follow you home and bake pie, some stylish sneaks might work, but it’s tricky. Converse works for some, and nto for others. Mephisto shoes kick ass, in all ways, but cost zillions. If you are the kind of guy who can wear clogs without looking gay, go for it. Ask a doctor for advice on man clogs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-shoe-advice-needed/196418.md?page=2)