Our Friday Fox asked, “Have your footwear choices changed as your life, or lifestyle, has changed?”
The short answer for me is: Not really. I’ve never been able to wear fashionable shoes. It’s always been a matter of function over fashion.
Growing up, I wore thick-soled orthopedic shoes because I had flat arches. I hated that I couldn’t wear cute shoes like some of my friends. On Sundays I wore dress shoes to church, but I took them off as soon as I got home because it made my feet hurt to walk in them for more than a few minutes.
In college, I wore tennis shoes most of the time. But then I began to experience pain while walking across campus. When the pain became unbearable, my dad took me to a podiatrist who prescribed special insoles. They only fit inside tennis shoes, which worked well for me since those were the only shoes I wore except when playing concerts.
After graduating, I started teaching and had to dress up every day. I always wore sturdy shoes. Fortunately, by this time there were more options that allowed me to use my prescription insoles. I did wear two inch heels for my wedding – but had flats ready for the reception.
Now that I’m sort of retired, I rarely dress up. I “attend” church online, and I’m teaching via Zoom. During the day, my feet are in slippers with a hard sole. When I go out, the only shoes I need are my walking shoes. I have a white pair for every day and a black pair for when I need to wear slacks rather than jeans. When I play a concert, I wear my one pair of dress flats with a good arch support in them.
I guess I’d rather be able to walk around the block comfortably than walk across the street looking good.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Style over comfort s something that I could never understand, so good for you,Patty. There seems to be no middle ground in my family: we either have high arches or flat feet. It is very funny between siblings,(my sons included), but at least shoes are among the few things that I never had to worry about my sister ‘borrowing’ that usually meant I never saw the things again.
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It amazes me that one of my daughters and my sister-in-law are able to wear high heels all day long! I would be in pain. I was fortunate to be the only girl – no sisters to “borrow” anything!
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Interesting topic. Wait till you see what the Hound has to say.
Love this quote:
“I guess I’d rather be able to walk around the block comfortably than walk across the street looking good.”
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As they say, it’s all about priorities!
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This is such an interesting topic. I don’t think people who do not have any arches can really understand how difficult it can be for those who don’t have them. Wyatt was put on crutches several times by doctors here because he would start limping and they assumed he had just sprained his ankle. Finally, someone sent him to a specialist who told us he has no arches. He has special inserts for his shoes now and he doesn’t limp any more as long as he remembers the arch support.
Comfort is certainly better than style.
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I suppose if you’ve never been around someone with those issues it’s hard to understand. I’m glad Wyatt’s problem was finally diagnosed properly!
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I used to be able to wear heels – so I wore them all the time. I loved them until my feet were so wrecked that I needed bunion surgery on both feet and developed plantar fasciitis and heel spurs on my right foot. Three surgeries later and, technically, I could wear heels again but I choose not to. Lower-heel options are so much better than they used to be. Age and experience has made a huge difference in my footwear.
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I agree! It used to be that the only shoes with good support were huge, clunky things. Now it’s possible to find dressier ones.
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Growing up, I had to wear hush puppies and would spend hours scraping them trying to wear them out. They wore like iron. Before marriage, lots of heels. During marriage, barefoot, tennis shoes, and sandals. Then in my 50s, it became nothing but flats–feet were going numb. Then I had to wear expensive shoes that didn’t hurt, which is still my style today. It’s all about comfort. Used to own so many shoes, now only a couple for winter, and several for summer. Just like my wardrobe. Same style of pants in winter, shorter pants for summer, then same style of tops for summer and same style cardigans for spring/fall, and sweaters for winter. Comfort and not having to think about what I’m going to wear. Packing for trips is so easy.
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P.S. I sold shoes at one time and was appalled at how women of all ages were destroying their feet by wearing shoes for looks rather than comfort.
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I remember Hush Puppy shoes! Yes, they were tough. Having a limited wardrobe definitely makes it easier to pack! Thanks for weighing in. And yes, it’s appalling how many women are wiling to make the sacrifice.
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I’m all about comfort now.
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It makes life simpler, doesn’t it?
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Comfort over fashion. Definitely. I look at the women on the Today show in their very high heels and wonder how they can manage. I’d rather go barefoot than wear anything on my feet. Unfortunately, I can’t go outside like that. LOL Athletic shoes are my mode or sandals. I, too, have flat feet. I like shoes I can kick off as soon as I’m indoors.
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It amazes me, too! Of course, those women are a lot thinner than we are, so their feet don’t carry around as much as our legs and feet do! I’ve never gone barefoot except at the beach or at bedtime.
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