Do you find yourself shopping online and drooling over shoes like this?
Sexy shoes
You can just picture how hot you will look strutting your stuff in these babies…
Now that you’ve come hurtling back down to earth from your delusional super galactic high and been slapped upside the face with some harsh reality I’d like to share with you some
Practical sensible shoes for women over 40
These are the shoes you can actually wear for more than 30 minutes…
without worrying about a strutting malfunction or mind numbing pain.
And if I’m being totally honest the only ones I know for sure I could wear and walk in all day long would be the upper right MaryJanes. Often my heels still slip out of shoes without straps, or I get blisters on the back of my heels, even with ballet flats or oxfords. Plus I have Fibromyalgia which amplifies any kind of discomfort or pain a thousandfold. So yeah, my feet are two super annoying high maintenance divas. I call one Mariah and the other Celine.
Has that stopped me from buying impractical shoes?
Ha ha!
Have you seen my closet?
The heart wants what the heart wants
…regardless of practicality. There is constant war raging of practical vs fanciful shoes in my head. I foolishly thought I was past the days of buying what I like to call either “bedroom” or “5 minute” shoes. The five minutes is the time it takes me to walk from the car to the restaurant. Anything beyond that and we are into some serious pain. The “bedroom” shoes sometimes don’t really touch the ground. I’m sure I don’t need to explain that any further. If I do, you are too young to be reading this.
I was so proud of myself when I’d inadvertently stumbled into a shoe store ( I hate it when that happens!) and discovered these glorious floral works of art.
Stunning…
Yes!
Perfect for Spring!
Yes yes!
But totally unreasonable. The heels are 4″. Plus, I walked out of them after the second step.
Oh you bet I was sad, BUT I put them back in their place on the shelf and took a photo of them rather than taking them to the cash to add to my collection of beautiful but unwearable shoes. Then I walked around the store and found these sensible comfortable pretty sandals instead. I was so proud of myself for fighting the urge to buy impractical shoes.
At the tender age of 48 I was finally becoming a responsible shopper.
I gave myself an imaginary pat on the back.
It was all going splendidly well until…
I accidentally wound up in yet another shoe store later that same week
( I was lost! I swear!)
and found these…
at a mere 70% off…
and then…
as if by magic…
responsible shopper just disappeared.
Instead, in her place, Melanie from Bag and a Beret and Vix from Vintage Vixen whispered in my ear…
“Don’t be a FOOL woman! When are you ever in your pathetic life going to find another pair of Make-Even-****ing-Elvis-Cry crushed blue velvet booties with white heels at 70% off?”
They took me by the shoulders, shook me violently and stared intensely at me with their hypnotic glacier blue pools of persuasion. My legs got weak, my head started to spin and I lost all sense of practicality. Common sense didn’t exist anymore. Yes! I was willing to put out a hip and self medicate on vodka martinis every 30 minutes just to walk around in those too-tall-hooker-heels.
I dutifully grabbed the boots and raced towards the cash in fear that responsible shopper would reappear at any moment. She was probably hiding out in the support hose and Spanx aisle.
In the end I can’t blame myself for yet another utterly impractical purchase.
I had no chance against Melanie and Vix’s far reaching powers of enticement. We are all but pawns in this universe that is ruled by Mistress M and Queen Vix.
Well…that is what I told my husband anyhow. I’m not sure if he bought it, but it makes me feel better.
I will say this…in my defence…they are booties, and I cannot walk out of them.
Are they comfortable? Up until the 30 minute mark. Then I need to take a break.
Why oh why are shoe makers not able to put some serious padding in the footbed of heels? Is that so difficult? Everyone would be happier. No matter the age. They have all this wonderful advanced technology in running shoes…just put that into heels. With padding. Lots of good, serious, padding. They don’t need to look ugly. I know it can be done.
We put a man on the moon! Making heels comfortable has to be a whole lot simpler than that.
I tried on a pair of booties by Chanel that were regular $3,000 expecting that at that price…they would be crazy comfortable.
They weren’t.
At all.
Zero padding.
Seriously???
For $3,000 can’t you invest in some padding?
It’s just compressed plastic foam for Pete’s sake. Or is that because if I can afford to buy a pair of $3000 booties I should never need to walk anywhere, ever? My manservants should be carrying me atop their well oiled muscular shoulders while I rest comfortably in a velvet lined chaise, my new booties at eye level of all those poor peasants passing by.
Just guessing.
And for those of you that can wear any kind of heel no matter your age,
I salut you!
You have been awarded a rare precious gift. Use it wisely, don’t take it for granted and please, please …don’t make fun of those of us that must wear, as a friend so lovingly recently pointed out to me, ” old lady shoes”.
Do you buy shoes for your heart or your head? How many pairs of 5 minute shoes do you own?
I loved this oh-so-dramatic tale! The first pair of #4 shoes are gorgeous. But I don’t even look at sky-high heels. I really like comfort and beauty to combine, and I am on my feet a lot, so I need shoes that I can walk forever in. My ugliest shoes are the ones I bought when I started beauty school–they are very professional and clunky, but my black work slacks hide most of the clunkiness, and they are heaven on the feet, even when I was doing 15 haircuts a day. Some ballet flats cut into my heels, while some don’t, I guess it depends on the angle–so I wear the ones that don’t cut into my heels until they’re falling apart and then despair over their loss. I think I should just accept at this point that sparkly/polka-dot/metalic/floral/otherwise showy flats are destined to be my signature shoe.
I know the feeling about finding that one pair of shoes and wearing them until they fall apart and then crying over it.
I do think you “own” the blinded out flats though : ) It’s like “the Rachel”.
Oh sigh, I am with you on this sister. Except I’ve pretty much stopped even drooling over towering heels, b/c I am older than you and so wise. The manservant solution is the only one I have come up with that really appeals. xoxo
I’ve got lots of questions for you “o” wise one. Can’t wait till we meet in person. ; P
Pregnancy cured me of the pretty shoe fetish, I just can’t. even. But I’ve managed to replace it with a desire for really well made leather shoes, with nice detailing and colours and low heels- for a while I was only in for flat shoes- but now I’m back up to a 2.5-3 inch heel. The problem is these types of shoes are so much more expensive and rare!
I’ve seen some ladies that are well into their pregnancies still wearing high heels and I wonder how they do it.
LOVE those booties. I owna lot of 5-minute pairs of shoes. But I wear them all the time. It’s bad. As I get older, though, I see myself buying more comfortable shoes. I dont’ want to end up in Crocs, though!!!
You must have a higher pain threshold than me. Lucky duck!
The older I get the more practical I am…but it’s hard. I still want all the shoes. All the impractical, 10 minutes only shoes. I really love #3 & #4 in the 1st group.
I think I own maybe two pair of 5 minute wonders and one of those might not even be five minutes. It’s not really the shoes fault on that one. I had a slightly thicker hose on when I tried them on and didn’t think about how I would be wearing them normally, so they’re a bit big. I don’t like flat, flats…I cannot wear Ballerinas (bloody uncomfortable), but not too big a heel either. About a two inch heel is ideal for me. I don’t blame you at all for the blue booties, those are just TOO cute. And it’s not like it’s a spike heel, so they’re easier to wear (right? I think so anyway).
I can’t wear ballet flats either. I keep trying and I keep getting let down. Everyone else says, “They’re so comfortable!” They’re flat! With no support. And they give me blisters. I do so wish I could wear them though.
Yes, the chunky heel was another reason I was attracted to those damn boots.
I think you and I might be feet sisters.
Oh the whispering blogger fairies! We are nothing but helpless against their whisper! Those booties are great (and I loved your shoe closet!). I so agree with you about the man on the moon!!! I do buy comfortable shoes though. They make, hmm, sometimes, stylish AND comfortable shoes. Yes, it must be a little easier than sending a man to the outer space. And a little less expensive too. You’d think! xxx
Bwa-ha-ha-ha. There’s a book in this post somewhere Suzanne. Love your writing! I also love that little video clip at the beginning, known as me-in-a-another-life-with-a-cheerleader-body but still a klutz.
I’m so glad you heard the Voice of Reason from me and Vix (I’m flattered to be included in the same sentence as she!) in this precious footwear decision. Those boots are gaaaa wonderful. Wow. Let’s see what you wear with them.
If I’m having a tender tootsie day or it’s raining, I turn faithfully to my sexay brown granny shoes. They are awesome in their tight-laced discipline.
Miz Bagg’s well-oiled men are free next weekend if you need a lift.
I have styled the boots once as the rock start Goddess that I am in my head. I think you will approve.
I’ll take you up on your men the next time I’m in BC : ) I’ll need them in tip top shape. I think I might have put on a couple of pounds.
This article is definitely magazine worthy. I’m still laughing as I type this. As a fellow petite friend, I think heels just came with part of our package. With each year, I have become a bit wiser and yet I so related to this hilarious scenario. Now I can just blame it on Suzanne speaking in my ear.
So looking forward to seeing those Elvis booties on you.
You made me laugh! I get lost and end up in shoe stores too…what up? You clearly, dearly, scored with those blue suede boots! You will style them to perfection, I know it!
So wonderful! I am experimenting a little with heels (1 inch!) I know!
I have worn flats forever and go for detail and cuteness or grungy and coolness.
Just bought cute red leather boots on ebay which are flat but causing issues in the width. Still trying to stretch because they are gorgeous!
No old lady shoes seen here, just wearable ones.
And the blue booties?…a must have! Even just as a sculpture to admire! 😀 xo Jazzy Jack
It’s funny you wrote that. I actually had them sitting in my office on my desk for a while. They brightened up the whole space : )
Oh these are beautiful!
Have you seen the blog called Barking Dog Shoes?
I hadn’t! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m going to be stalking that blog from now on.
Who is that in the gif, I cannot stop laughing, it is hilarious! I have never been a big shoe gal, I really don’t own that many pairs, and as for heels, 3-inch heels are my limit. I am SO glad you bought these blue velvet boots. I do think the chunky heel makes those kind of shoes easier to walk in but I hear ya on the 30-minute limit. I would LOVE to see you style those blue shoes for ‘How I Wear My: Layers.’ Think about it, anyway. xx Jill
I don’t know that poor lady in the gif. She has spunk though! I’ll give her that.
I’ve been thinking about the layered looks for “How I Wear My” and everything is so “winter”. I’ll get something off to you : )
Loved reading this post! Those floral shoes you passed up…LOVE! The blue velvet booties you did buy…LOVE EVEN MORE!!! I definitely want to get a pair of FLAT floral shoes this Spring, because THIS old lady doesn’t wear heels.
Darlene
http://whosaprettygirl.com
I always enjoy your writing skills Suzanne and always get a laugh at your sense of humor. To be honest with you, I do better in heels than flats. I pretty much live in heels and can wear them all day long in most of my heels. When I wear flats, my feet hurts so much. I need something with a little heel to feel comfortable.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
Your new blue booties are divine! I have had shoe envy my entire life. Not only do my feet give me trouble in even the comfiest of shoes (damn you, plantar fasciitis), but at 5’9 I already feel too tall, so high heels have never been in my wardrobe. I do find them so beautiful though and I always admire them!
I’m so happy that Mel and I forced you into that shoe purchase, they really are incredible, although in real life I’d probably have fought you for them!
It’s looks over practicality every time for me. The day before my hip replacement operation I walked the two miles to work in 4 inch heels.
I like flats on other people but on me I feel drab, stumpy and crap. xxx
Haha … such a great post and so true! Last time I wore heels to school, a fellow teacher asked me how I could possibly teach all day in those and I told her that I had a pair of flats behind the desk. She asked puzzled, “Then why not just wear the flats all day?” …
Some people will never get us! 😉
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
I used to be able to do heels, and I still can for an evening involving little walking… And I do enjoy the look of them, but I much prefer a mid-height chunky heel or wedge these days. The pressure on the ball of my foot gets really painful after too long in heels, and life’s too short to suffer needlessly!
Those blue suede boots are fabulous! I have a pair of blue suede 70s platforms (strictly taxi shoes) which I couldn’t resist, despite their impracticality. The fact that they only cost £1.49 helped too! xxx
I totally agree with your plea for more padding in shoes. I also think it is ridiculous that the manufacturers haven’t fixed that by now. Especially when you see the price they ask for some of them. And I feel sooo terrible and sooo guilty about the old ladies shoes. I apologize. I know it is very hard to find flat shoes which are good looking. I need them myself too. I also cannot walk on heels all the time. It was just the brand name…. I hadn’t heard that brand for thirty years. And way back, when they were populair in Holland, they were only popular with… you guessed it. Can I hide behind a cultural difference?
Greetje
No worries. I’ve also called shoes “old lady shoes”. Everything in life is relative. I think I did that more when I wasn’t pushing 50. LOL
BTW…you’d asked me before who took the photo of me in the airport when on the way to Holland that I used for my mantel…it was a selfie : )
I love the drama with which you related the tale, but even more I love the idea that we put more padding in heels. Hear, hear!
Exactly, Suz, exactly!
I talked about this twice last week even. Once with my BFF in Singapore and once with the hubbie. My heart wants what you call decently ‘bedroom’ shoes, my feet cringe and need the ugliest grandma-shoes. Sad, so sad!!!
My closet is filled with 5 minute shoes. But I need shoes to walk in as well…duh!
Yesterday I went looking for comfy shoes that were not too ugly. I found a pair that was nice. Not super sexy hot, but not ugly either. Golden sandals with padding. They are 150 euro!!!! I went twice, tried them on, but so much money for a pretty sandal! Maybe third time I will buy them;-)
Why it seems so impossible to create painless shoes that are not disgustingly ugly is a riddle to me.