why I hate the dress shoe industry

[swan_tower]

A while ago I posted about needing new dress shoes. A lot of you gave helpful feedback, whether on LJ, on DW, or by email, and I was optimistic for the future.

Then I actually tried to get some shoes.

Really, I should have started this hunt way sooner — and with that in mind, I’m going to continue the hunt, because the shoes I bought for my immediate purpose meet basically none of my initial criteria. The heels are too high, they have no padding, they have no arch support. They’re just the best I was able to obtain on short notice. The shoes I found that might have worked weren’t available in my size, or couldn’t be obtained in time (one site has no shipping option faster than 10 business days — wtf). But this rant is about something bigger.

This rant is about the dress shoe industry basically telling me to go to hell.

ME: I would like a pair of heels that are not an ergonomic disaster.
INDUSTRY: I suppose I can help you. Here, have a small selection of shoes with padding and arch support and heels of less than two inches. They are very suitable to wear to work.
ME: No, I need something dressy. Evening wear shoes, not business shoes.
INDUSTRY: Oooh! We have those! You can enjoy a wide selection of beautifully designed platforms and wedges and stilettos, with heels ranging from three inches up.
ME: Did you forget my first criteria? I want dressy shoes without insanely high heels.
INDUSTRY: Three inches isn’t insane.
ME: Yes, it is. Look, I don’t want to argue; just give me the kind of shoe I’m looking for.
INDUSTRY: They don’t exist.
ME: What? Why not?
INDUSTRY: Because fuck you, that’s why. If you want to look fancy, then you have to pay the price. You have to be unstable, incapable of walking quickly, and in pain by the end of the evening. Those are the rules.

There are exceptions — a very, very, very small number of them, in the grand scheme of things. But on the whole, the dress shoe industry is flat-out uninterested in letting women look nice and take care of their feet. The shoes that are comfortable are also sensible, in the aesthetic meaning of that word. Even though there’s no reason you can’t design an attractively strappy shoe with a heel of, say, an inch and a half. Even though there’s no reason you can’t build a small amount of padding into the sole of something other than a sedate pump. We live in a world where anything less than two and a half inches is a “low heel,” and the three-inch mark is treated as the median. Never mind the detrimental health effects of wearing shoes like that on a regular basis: as a woman, you can wear good shoes, or you can look nice, but you can’t do both at once. (And god help you if you decide to flip the bird to the notion of “looking nice.”)

Ten minutes at DSW and I wanted to light the entire dress shoe section on fire. I ended up walking out with a pair of not-too-expensive heels that have no padding or arch support, but do unexpectedly offer ankle support — not by intent, I imagine, but simply because they have a decorative bit that laces up. These are not the shoes I want; they are not the dressy black heels I can wear with many outfits for the next ten years. I’m going to have to keep searching for those. But I can’t say I’m very enthusiastic about the hunt, because the industry has zero interest in providing me with what I want.

Originally published at Swan Tower. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[via_ostiense]

I missed your original post, but if you're still on the search, dance shoes may fit the bill. Tango shoes, f'rex, are beautiful and dressy, and although they look like killer stilettos, they are actually stable, padded, and easy to walk in. They also come in a wide range of heights. I got a black pair with a 5cm heel a few years ago, and wore them out for eight hours of dancing the first night I had them, and didn't have a blister or an ache at the end of the night. The fashion industry is annoying, because clearly the know-how to make women's heels that are beautiful and comfortable exists, but you can't get them anywhere outside of the specialized world of dance shoes!

[starlady]

I think you need to go a few cost notches higher than DSW, sadly. I would check out Nordstrom (and Nordstrom Rack), Fluevogs, and also Bloomingdales. There are brands that make less of a compromise between fashion and comfort, but they start at about $100 a pair. They're worth it, but we can't have nice things for less money than that because Capitalism.

[rosefox]

Definitely seconded! Also, Mary Janes have big stable heels, though they're not very dressy.

[swan_tower]

You know, that's a very good idea. Part of my lack of tolerance for shoes is borne from my experience buying pointe shoes: I was trained at an early age to believe that my shoes ought to fit, and not cause me any more damage than strictly necessary.

I will indeed look into tango shoes.

[swan_tower]

Oh, I didn't expect to find good shoes at DSW. I'd run out of time to get good shoes; I went to DSW to get something I could live with for a night and obtain without delay.

I am happy to pay more than a hundred dollars if it means getting shoes I'll actually want to wear.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Oh, this is so true!
There's a European brand called Gabor who do very well-constructed, supportive and pretty dress shoes, but they're pricey. They last forever, though. Their UK website is here: not sure what their US presence is like, alas. http://www.gaborshoes.co.uk/

[scribblemyname]

I never wear anything higher than two inches, due to the rapid increase in osteoperosis odds, but I do occasionally find something strappy/dressy at Ross or a department store. Arch support is lacking (I have high arches too) and quality is middle level, so they aren't last forever shoes, but I usually find one decent pair per year that has a decent heel and pretty top and that doesn't cost $70+ either.

Sadly, I almost never get to wear them because I get sciatic pain when I go for more than a day or so in shoes without good arch/ankle support.

[amysun.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's awful, isn't it? I can't wear heels over 2 inches, which makes it almost impossible to find an attractive dressy shoe. If you ever find a better source, let me know!

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

try getting them in 10-11 that leave room for the toes and the orthotics.. I tend to get my shoes at the walking or clog stores.. they do have dressy Eccos, Danskos and similar brands. With a nice heel that isnt pencil thin either.

[lowellboyslash.livejournal.com]

Word on the street is that Fluevogs meet all of your criteria, but I can't verify this personally, because I've never been able to afford them.

[slb44.livejournal.com]

I realize it's a different country and all (which is why I didn't post this previously), but the exchange rate is really good for you right now.

http://www.arkashoes.com/arka-beautifeel.php

[silme.livejournal.com]

Three inches is insane. I can't wear anything higher than two inches and those two inches must be chunky -- no spikes. I also need lots of padding around the balls of my feet. Oh, and I have extremely high arches.

I'd recommend brands for you, but they'll be pricey in the US as they're not cheap over here and they're European brands, such as Think!, Hispanitas, Camper, Gabor, Rieker etc. I have a pair of dressy but very comfortable Hispanitas (about 1.5 in. heel)
http://www.think-shoes-online.co.uk//Women?XTCsid=b1081e061268d0cdc599b3a826ba0e9f&cat=165422&sTypFilter=Pumps

https://www.shoon.com/womens-shoes/shoes-courts

I find Campers to be very comfortable, albeit not cheap. They have lots of good padding and are very well made. When I bought my first pair, my feet felt so good I thought I could bounce around in them. I've only bought them on sale, though. What about a low-heeled one like this?
http://www.camper.com/en_GB/women/shoes/sinuosa/camper-sinuosa-21620-001

Or for a higher heel?
http://www.camper.com/en_GB/women/shoes/lila/camper-lila-46793-001

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I've several pairs of Gabor shoes and they're both comfortable and elegant.

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Rieker has some decent stuff, too. So has Tamaris, but it's a bit of luck to find a comfortable pair (I got some lovely sandals and a pair of fur-lined boots that don't look like elephant feet). Waldläufer has some very comfortable mocassin style shoes that go well with more sportive clothes like plaited skirts or trousers and still manage to look more elegant than your average sneaker. But they're expensive, too.

In short, I may have less shoes than some, but I spent as much money on them. *grin*

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Walking Cradles' Natasha (http://www.zappos.com/walking-cradles-natasha-black-patent)?

[(Anonymous)]

/unlurk/
I hate high heels too. I recently needed some new dressy shoes and wound up with a Cobb Hill model. I'd gone for a hike in the hills before shoe shopping just to make sure my feet would have the swelling and feel stressed, so any shoe that felt halfway comfortable under those conditions would be worth considering. The Cobb Hills felt really comfortable. And the heel is less then 3" or so. The salesguy said his wife said she felt like she could go running in them. ... I think the model is called Audrey - the pictures look right.

Elaine T.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Possibly not as glitzy as you are hoping for, but I think the Gabriella Rocha Ginger (http://www.zappos.com/gabriella-rocha-ginger-gold) is pretty cute, or the Vanelli Genie (http://www.zappos.com/vaneli-genie-red-smack-metallic-patent).

[spiffikins]

hah! this is timely!

I wear sandals like these 99% of the time - basically from about February to November.
When it is too cold, I switch to knockoff converse sneakers (real converse are too skinny for my feet).

Once or twice a year I have to wear dressier shoes - usually for our company Christmas party and for one or two work functions where I have to dress up - which was today.

Today I wore 2 inch wedge heel slides - the comfiest shoes I could find that look like women's shoes - and by the end of the day - MOSTLY spent sitting - I was hobbling along.

For our Christmas party, which involves more standing and sometimes dancing - I have a pair of - not kidding - isotoner ballerina slippers - like these

They aren't technically suitable for much outdoor walking, but I also don't want to tear them off my feet after an hour :)

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

I'm willing (and able) to shell out a big chunk of money up front in order to have a pair of shoes I'll want to wear for the next decade. Unfortunately, I've looked at their site and the shoes I like best are also the ones that would not go with a very wide variety of things.

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

I don't see a way to order on their site? Possibly I'm overlooking something . . . .

[slb44.livejournal.com]

Sorry about that. They're an old fashioned family run store, and do business via email or phone. I called them for you and they said that Nordstrum carries Beautifeel shoes in the US. They also specifically recommended the Nadia heel in black, as the most fitting your description.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/beautifeel-nadia-kitten-heel-pump-women/3794248?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Black+Patent&resultback=167&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_1_A

A quick google search also kick up this site with many more styles.

http://www.thewalkingcompany.com/beautiFeel-dressshoes-womens

I hope this helps. As an ex dancer I know how hard it is to find comfy, stylish dress shoes.

[sillylilly-bird.livejournal.com]

I had a thought. Find a cobbler in your area and see about either altering a pair of shoes that's almost right or making a custom pair.

[sarcastibich.livejournal.com]

So, how are those pre-WFA nerves doing?

*hug*
I'm rooting for you. I have finally gotten around to reading the book (having owned it for almost a year) and I LOVE it. I'm gushing about it to everyone I know, because it is goooooooooood. Better than the Gaiman book you are up against, for sure. I haven't read any of the others, but of the two I have read yours is better by far.