New Shoes

I always struggle with the issues of comfort versus style in terms of shoes. I love summer sandals, both flat and with heels but I do also occasionally need to walk and then comfort comes into play.  Luckily I live a mostly suburban life revolving around a car so my choice of footwear is not critical.  But, as I continue to battle episodes of hives and accompanying angiodema of the feet, I find myself relying on a trusty old pair of Mephisto sandals that I bought three years ago for casual summer comfort and have loved ever since.

As you can see they are beginning to show their age, and although they may last through the summer I don't think they will see another.  Unfortunately I haven't found a current style that fits my admittedly picky standards and is also available in my all to common (39) size.  It seems that, athough summer weather is just beginning, the summer shoe season is nearing its close, at least in the stores.

I like the shiny patent but I haven't found a patent Mephisto that I like; in fact I have found few Mephistos with the latex/foam sole and I am loathe to try the cork, fearing it is too hard.  I have had bad experiences trying Birkies; they always cause great pain at the metacarpal heads, which when combined with my already high arches, my natural turn-out, and my tendency (although usually only when my back is sore) to roll to the outside of my foot, makes them not only uncomfortable but dangerous, as I roll over and trip on the thick sole.

  Sigh.

Still, I have found two new pairs of sandals that I think I may love, although they don't quite replace the old favorites.

These shiny red patent sandals are quite comfortable (I am wearing them today) and G likes the color.  They are a little more red than they appear in this photo, actually the exact same shade as my favorite "Bogota Blackberry" OPI nail polish.  Unfortunately my toes currently sport a clashing shade of red.  I see a pedicure in my future.

These are quite comfy and they fit snugly, but comfortably, so they don't flop around on my feet.  I am not sure if they would be good for a day walking around a city, say NYC; the high t-strap of the Mephisto's was good at keeping them in place, but they might work quite well.

I also got these elegant metalic thongs from J. Donald Pliner.  I had been coveting them since I saw them in a Neiman Marcus Catalog which I subsequently lost.  When I found them on Zappos I was quite happy.  I really like the lines of the sandal and they seem to be comfortable as well.  The sole is firmer than either the Mephisto or the Taryn Rose, but the shape and support are good for me and I think they will be good to wear.

Now these shoes also come in a black leather, although not patent, and I am contemplating ordering them.  But I really like the patent on my old faithful pair.  Taryn Rose makes the same sandal as the red one in patent, but I think I like the lines of these Donald Pliner sandals better, it just seems more elegant and more "dressed" to me.

I think I will have to think about this a little bit.  Should I order black, or should I just wait and figure that the perfect shoe will appear either in the summer sales or next spring?