“Ouch, these shoes pinch!”
Are you willing to sacrifice comfort for fashion when wearing shoes? According to ShopSmart magazine’s 2011 survey, the majority of the women polled, 60% of them, said that they were willing to sacrifice comfort for fashion at least on occasion. 40% of women say that they will never sacrifice comfort and a mere 4% indicated that they were willing to forgo comfort for fashion frequently or everyday
ShopSmart also reported that foot troubles caused by shoes have increased over the last few years. So, it appears that sacrificing comfort for fashion has painful ramifications.
Here are the types of injuries that women reported experiencing due to their shoes. Among the ailments noted, blisters (59% of women experienced) and foot pain (46%) are the most common.
I decided a few years ago that I would no longer wear shoes that hurt my feet. That decision resulted in some financial losses. I had to cleanse my closet of all painful shoes (salvaging some value through resale). As much as I try to “test” new shoes before committing to a purchase, sometimes those shoes don’t show their true colors until I’ve worn them for an entire day or done some extensive walking in them.
Talking about comfort and shoes, though, I have recently grown fond of b.o.c by Born Concepts’ shoes. Last winter, I found the Maricela boot in DSW and it became my favorite shoe of that season. I recently bought the b.o.c. batik flat in yellow ($49.95). The color and texture/print are quite chic and I enjoy every step in these shoes.
Here is a close-up of the b.o.c. by Born Concepts batik flats:
Here are the flats complementing Tuesday’s teaching day outfit.
Top—Harve Barnard via Marshalls
Belt—Hobo International via Marshalls
Pants—Loft
Shoes—b.o.c. by Born Concepts via DSW
Watch—Michael Kors via TJ Maxx
I love the colour on those Born shoes! I must say that I've never come across an uncomfortable pair of shoes/boots from Born. Some of their styling might be a bit on the crunchy side, but they never hurt.
Funny, most flats hurt my feet, no arch support.
But I don't walk around in uncomfortable shoes, my knees are too bad for that.
Aren't they gorgeous @Peacheslcg? It's funny that you described the typical styling of Born shoes in that way. I never found Born shoes attractive. The most recent collections have me closely eying several pairs though.
That's no surprise @Sing. What I am learning from readings is that ill-fitting shoes frequently cause pain. While high-heeled shoes are more likely to aggravate if not cause pain/injury (because they concentrate pressure on the toes), poor-fitting flats can also be problematic. I am also learning that our feet are different and hence the best shoes for our feet will differ. I now know things like strappy sandals, ankle straps, and a host of other shoe styles aggravate my feet. That knowledge has forever changed the way I buy shoes.
I love those flats! Sad to say I am a person that really doesn't wear flats as much as I should. However, I will not wear a shoe that hurts my feet no matter what. It is not worthy it. I know what works for me and stick with it.
I am always on the hunt for some comfy shoes. Thanks for the new rec!!
Was eyeing those flats in cognac at Marshall's a few weeks ago – they're way cuter in yellow. I say HELL NO to uncomfortable shoes. They're are plenty of cute + comfy styles out there – why make yourself miserable for nothing?
Thank you for the great blog on shoes and comfort… Shoes should rock your feet as a baby in a cradle…ha
I did not know that BOC is Born…Born is a comfortable shoe but sometimes a little granola…Maybe BOC is the more stylish of the line?…