Please help me move beyond running shoes with jeans

[94bruin]

I often wear my running shoes with my jeans. (I'm on my phone; I'd otherwise insert the smiley with the paper bag over its head.)

They are just so comfy, esp if you are chasing around an active toddler, walking around.

However, lurking on this board recently has made yearn to be a little more fashion forward.

Any suggestions on shoes that are more esthetically pleasing but as comfy? My feet tend towards normal to slightly wider width.

Thanks!

[hellokitty]

Do you dress more casual then? If so, maybe something more sporty looking, but not a tennis shoe. Like mocs, or sporty (merrell/keen) type of flats or mary janes?

[elektra]

If you still want truly comfy, I might go for some clogs or the sporty merrel/keen type shoes that hellokitty mentioned.

Or maybe try some converse low tops if you still want a sneakers look.

There are also so many cute ballet flats out there, and many are made by clarks, naturalizer, etc. that will have some added comfort features.

:)

[94bruin]

I do dress more casual,but I'd like love to to break out of the t-shirt, jeans and running shoes look. I do have some nicer tops that I occasionally wear with jeans. Just trying to figure the shoes first.

Links would be appreciated!

[artvandalay]

I'm in the same rut. I've got plantar fasciatis and I've found my running shoes are the only shoes (besides my Orthaheel flip flops) that don't kill my feet so I wear them all the time now.

[elbenn]

A t-shirt and jeans with running shoes or the same outfit with ballet flats totally changes the entire look. Loafers are a good option also. Loafers or driving mocs are good for a pulled together preppy look.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Boots, ballet flats, booties or non-exercise type sneakers like this:
http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=19818&vid=1&pid=852454&scid=852454022
http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=19818&vid=1&pid=889383&scid=889383002
http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=19818&vid=1&pid=819933&scid=819933032

Beth

[crl]

I wear jeans and a t-shirt regularly but don't own any true running shoes. I have a pair of trailer runners that I sometimes wear for walking the dog. But I take them off when I get home and don't wear them the rest of the day. I typically walk another mile or so over the course of my day and do a fair amount of standing/toddler chasing so my shoes have to be comfortable. My feet are wide, but not wide enough to need wide sizes.

My go-to shoes are keen sandals, born booties, born sandals, teva sandals (not the standard ones, but a dressier looking wedge pair), merrel sandals (one of their dressiest pairs), merrel slip ons, romika sandals. I just bought a pair of Josef seibel (sp?) clogs/slides to wear for the "winter" we have in San Francisco. Mostly my shoes are not cutting edge fashion, but I think they look a bit more polished than sneakers and they are still comfortable enough for me to function.

You mght try going to one of those stores that sells comfortable shoes and trying on some different brands to see what fits and what you like. They seem to carry higher end European stuff though so I'd also go so where that carries things like Merrels to try on. Or order a bunch from Zappos and return the ones that don't work. I'd try to get at least two pairs to start with so you can alternate wearing them.

Catherine

Catherine

[DrSally]

I think clogs are an easy, fairly lateral move. They're still comfy, have traction, and slip on (which I love--I don't have the time or space in the mudroom to bend over when everyones tripping over each other to get out the door). I have several pair from LE that I really like. I also wear Converse sneakers (black, but blue and gray are nice too) or ballet flats.

[hellokitty]

Lol, I am a total clog girl, but hesitated to recommend clogs, b/c so many on BBB think that they are fugly. I'm glad that there are others here who really love them and think that they are still stylish. :)

[lizzywednesday]

Lol, I am a total clog girl, but hesitated to recommend clogs, b/c so many on BBB think that they are fugly. I'm glad that there are others here who really love them and think that they are still stylish. :)

I don't care if they're stylish - they look a lot more work-appropriate than my on-their-last-legs New Balances!

(That reminds me, I really do need another pair of clogs. The toes of my tooled leather Danskos are really scuffed.)

[Twoboos]

Dansko has so many fun clogs!!

You could also check out Merrells, they have very cute shoe type options that are still sporty. In fact, I just saw a bunch at Marshalls.

[94bruin]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Merrells - the ones I've tried on in the past have seemed a bit narrow, so not as comfortable for me. I'll have to try them again.

Ballet flats - I do have a couple that I will wear if I'm going out at night. However, they are NOT comfortable. I usually end up getting blisters on my heels just from a bit of walking. I bought them from Nordstroms - do you think I could return them and get something more comfortable? Is there a time limit to when I can return shoes? Or the condition? Better brand/more money spent = more comfort?

Clogs - never really been a clog girl. I guess cause I associate clogs with the hospital and I always feel like they would be too chunky for my smallish frame. (That's just me.)

Boots - I'd love to get a pair of low boots, but really don't know where to start. Never have owed a pair!

If anyone has any specific links, I'd love to get some visual ideas. Thanks!

[curiousgeorge]

I have these and wear them a lot with jeans/t-shirts and cardigans. It seems to dress the outfit up a bit beyond my running shoes. I think these are super-comfy and wish they had them in another color!

http://www.shoebuy.com/privo-jetty/268725

[joules]

For times where there's lost of walking involved or chasing around DS, I'm only truly comfortable in sneaker type shoes. Or something I can wear socks with due to my sweaty feet.

I had Puma's for YEARS but they are totally worn out now and the new styles are way to narrow for my slightly wide feet.

So then I found Merrels, they have much more padding than my Puma's. I like the Siren Sport:
http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/12014W/0/Womens/Siren-Sport?galleryId=W-F

I also like the less "heavy duty" looking sporty sneakers. I don't have this pair, but this is the look I like:
http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Product/EC1272317-5112513/Privo/Dark+Grey_Denim/Women's+Bingle.aspx

These are not sneaker-y, but my mom recently got these and I think they are SUPER cute! I might have to get a pair for myself. She got them in the white/beige/green and a blue/grey combo:
http://www.shoes.com/en-US/Product/EC1243516-5139065/Privo/White_Stone/Women's+Polar+Lake.aspx

[hellokitty]

For those who want a clog, "feel" w/o the chunkiness that danskos can have, I really like Eastland shoes. I have a pr that feels similar to clogs, but look less clunky... http://www.eastlandshoe.com/product/womens+caldora+slip+on.do?sortby=bestSellersAscend&from=fn I also like that Eastland is a more affordable brand and easier to find.

I haven't gone wrong with any shoes that is the Born brand. They are comfy AND stylish and I've gotten compliments from ppl asking where I got my shoes at. I always find mine at TJMaxx or Marshalls for no more than $40 each.

I also have a pr of Klogs mary janes that made me realize that they actually make mary janes for those of us who need arch support. I've always been so envious of those who can wear flats, I just cannot wear them, they kill my feet. I have it in brown and they are not only cute, but also comfy. http://www.footsmart.com/P-Klogs-Womens-Cape-May-Mary-Jane-85205.aspx

I have also discovered that boots can really dress up an outfit. I can't find links to the ones I have, since they appear to be discontinued models. However, I have a pr of suede ones from JCP (their brand), that I get compliments on all of the time. I also have a pr of Khombu ones that are stylish and comfy, and a no name brand I found at TJMaxx that many friends have commented on as well. The problem with boots is that if you get anything higher than ankle length, unless you have straight or skinny jeans, it will be a PITA to stuff your pants into the boots. I don't have any short boots, b/c I just wear my clogs when I wear boot style jeans, since there is a little bit of a heel on them and they go well with the casual look.

[lowrioh]

How about Clarks. I have these that I wear pretty much everywhere.
http://www.zappos.com/clarks-wave-run-dark-brown-leather
http://www.zappos.com/clarks-un-charm-dark-brown-leather

[erv917]

What about a pair of "fashion sneakers" (I have no idea if that's a real term, I just made that up:rotflmao:) instead of actual running shoes that you'd wear to exercise? I just bought a pair similar to these:
http://www.zappos.com/asics-gel-holland-black-white
Very comfy. Since I have rather tempermental feet, I like that I can put orthotics in them.

[crl]

I just bought a pair very similar to these at the Nordstorm sale--not sure why my sale pair doesn't show up online.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/josef-seibel-chelsea-mule/3116006?origin=category&resultback=0

Described as mules, but I think very similar to clogs. Not exactly the height of fashion, imo, but comfortable and a step up from running shoes.

Catherine

[g-mama]

Got these low boots a few weeks ago and am loving them:

http://www.dsw.com/shoe/se+boutique+pola+bootie?prodId=226641&cm_mmc=Shopping-_-all-_-SEBoutique-_-226641&mr:referralID=f8bf0fe6-073a-11e1-931b-001b2166c2c0

I am not a clog/mule kinda gal.

[cono0507]

Here are my go-to shoes with jeans (in lieu of gym shoes):
Fall/spring (warmish weather):
mary janes.
I have these in green from DSW and LOVE them:
http://www.zappos.com/ahnu-benicia-ii-fig (looks like green is no longer available?)
I've also been eyeing these:
http://www.zappos.com/merrell-encore-emme-merrell-stone-leather

Colder weather/requiring socks:
Dansko clogs (I like the closed back ones best). I've been wearing them since 1999 and absolutely love them. I know they aren't the most popular shoes on this board, but they are comfy, slip on, come in narrow and wide widths and last FOREVER and I like how they look.

Winter/cold weather:
http://www.zappos.com/merrell-encore-ice-merrell-stone-leather
For when boots aren't quite necessary/just running errands/etc.

And someone else posted the Merrell Sirens. I picked these up at Nordstrom Rack this fall and LOVE them. Easy slip on/off, very comfortable, wash well (I wore them to a very muddy day at the pumpkin patch/corn maze and they were covered with mud and look new again).

I'm not a fashionista by any stretch, and I live in an area with a very outdoorsy and casual vibe, but thought I'd add these. :)

[Kindra178]

Ugg Evera. How can you go wrong with fur lined suede brown sneakers? So comfy and cute. I love Dankos, but they are not good for playing soccer with the boys. Merrell Chill Stitch (love them too) are great for doing school drop off in cold/snow, but definitely don't win any cute awards.

Keen ballet flats are sporty and cute. For ideas, take a look at websites like Title Nine and see what shoes they sell. You will see that they sell sporty and somewhat stylish/comfy shoes.

[mezzona]

with jeans, for running around with toddlers, this is what i wear:

ecco mary janes bouillon (http://www.bestdolcegabbana.com/ecco-womens-bouillon-mary-jane-whisky-leather-p-4380.html)

puma saba (http://www.spysneakers.com/puma-saba-ballet-gloss-women-white-black-p-11020.html?zenid=sel33jm1np1no5vmvus7rab6a5) (i have them in black)

teva westwater (http://www.endless.com/dp/B003VPA8TY/ref=asc_df_B003VPA8TY1769586?tag=googlecom09c9_end less-20&creative=395033&linkCode=asn&creativeASIN=B003VPA8TY)

patagonia maha (http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/patagonia-maha-smooth-flat/3230710?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=patagonia_'maha_smooth'_flat:399190&cm_pla=shoes:women:flats&cm_ven=Froogle&mr:referralID=NA&mr:trackingCode=BDEBBA5D-4BFF-E011-8116-001517B1882A)

and i always have a pair of vans or converse for my sneaker days.

cole haan ballet flats have nike air technology, i believe. i love them, but never got them because they tend to show too much toe cleavage.

[n2ou]

How about a pair of Tom's?

Easy on and off, super comfy, and a child in need gets a pair of shoes.

[essnce629]

I pretty much wear ballet flats every day with jeans and cords. I have a brown pair and a black pair from Land's End that I got last year and are quite comfortable after I added a $2 Dr. Scholl's insert.

[kijip]

I never used to like ballet flats and then I found Ecco ones. They have so many different fun colors and details (buttons, buckles, bows, studs etc) and they are really comfortable even for walking. I am a bus commuter and these are great. I also have worn them for longer walking trips no issue.

Very cute with jeans and all kinds of outfits.

http://www.zappos.com/ecco-keystone-ballerina-cognac-leather

I got my first pair at a Nordstrom sale and since then have found deals on EBay and online stores too.

[elephantmeg]

(That reminds me, I really do need another pair of clogs. The toes of my tooled leather Danskos are really scuffed.)

I had great success with painting my dansko clogs when they got scuffed, I get lots of complements on them!

[etwahl]

I had great success with painting my dansko clogs when they got scuffed, I get lots of complements on them!

Speaking of clogs, I've always wanted to like Dansko clogs, have tried them on several times, but just didn't LIKE the way they looked. Recently I found a clog that is similar but just looks better IMO. I have been wearing them recently and I LOVE them. They are comfortable, much cuter than Danskos on my feet, and give me a lift of height. They are fabulous!!
http://www.zappos.com/ariat-dawson-sable