Hi. Thank you for your take on this topic. I´d love to see what kind of shoes are there in your wardrobe or at least see pictures of the type of shoe you are talking about as I am not a native English language speaker and I have some trouble figuring that out. Have a nice day, maria
Noted! Thank you for your comment. In the future, I will either show the items in the video or include a link to a page that shows all the items in one place. My apologies for any confusion. 💕
Hi Kristen. I really appreciate this video on styling shoes. I have too many pair, and I never know which to wear with what. Also, very few are comfortable other than my good old flip flops.😊 Thanks to this video, I plan to be more mindful about what styles feel most authentic for me and only buy those that are comfortable when I first walk in them. Like Maria, I was DYING for you to hold up a pair representing each style you mentioned. Question: in all the work you’ve done helping women find comfortable shoes, have you found a brand that is comfortable and stylish for women whose feet are wide across the toes; toes turned up requiring a deeper toe box; a high instep; and are much narrower at the heel? If so, please help by naming brands. Trying on shoes is exhausting. Thank you!! @@KristenCainStyle
I’m confused because I have found that “comfort” and “staying current” in style are mutually exclusive in my opinion. Would have liked to see some examples of the style of shoes you are talking about that have qualities of both.
Great topic. I love and live in Birkenstocks spring, summer, fall. They have saved my feet. Winter, I love Thursday Boot Company boots and shoes… and have had Frye boots for years as well. I will always love my Converse leather sneakers, have several, just part of my style. I agree, taking care of them & keeping them looking fresh and new is most important. I have some “trendy” shoes and they seem to last a few seasons and then I never wear them again. Quality over quantity. My dad was military and police and I still remember him polishing his dress shoes often.
Great advice, Kristen! Any shoe can feel comfortable for a minute, but I wear potential purchases (with socks, naturally!) for about 5-10 minutes to walk around the store. It’s saved me from several wrong choices.
Thank you for such a relevant topic. I happen to be one of those who try to be careful about 90% of my outfit and when I get to my footwear I scream “oh no”! I do have shoes which I love and are very comfortable. My boots are Josef Siebel , Loafers from Easy Spirit. And my sandals are Easy Spirit and Birkenstocks. While these are just naturally favorites of mine I do not feel like they are intentional if that makes sense. I feel like I am throwing them on last minute without carefully finishing my outfit. That’s what I need help with! Again thank you for your careful explanation of footwear.
Oh my gosh you read my mind Kristen. I've been on a shoe search lately and I couldn't agree more. Caring for them is key and I love the story about your dad. 100% on the comfort priority too. For me, I tend to buy backups of the ones I love. I'm a huge fan of Tieks and have worn them for years but I can't wear them year round because it gets too cold here. My fall/winter shoe collection is 90% boots, mostly black.. Miz Mooz and Josef Siebel are faves and I invested in tall Stuart Weitzman which I've worn nonstop too. CPW made them a bargain. I can't fully get on board with the sneakers although I keep trying. I am picky with color and sometimes they seem too bright. My daughter lives in her sneakers and looks adorable. Sorry this is so long! I feel like I'm talking with a friend:)). xx, Kim
I loved this conversation. I have so much trouble picking shoes, especially for dressier situations. All my shoes either tie or buckle on because my heel is narrow and they won’t stay on otherwise. I haven’t worn heels in years, but ballet flats don’t stay on my feet, so in the summer I wear these “granny” chunky sandals for dress up, and in the winter I wear booties. With laces😬 And I never feel elegant, that’s for sure. For casual wear I can have on leather sneakers and feel great.
I whittled down my shoe collection when I retired. My closet does contain about 8 pairs of "event shoes" purchased for weddings, fancy parties etc. and I am loathe to get rid of them as I still have the dresses. I tend to be barefoot when possible as I hate shoes and am very difficult to fit. I cannot wear a ballet flat and need a bit of a heel so tend to stay with wedges of varying heights (have 7 pairs of wedged loafers in various colors and leather types) and got rid of most of the heels. Got rid of the red shoes and switched to oxblood instead. Can be worn year round and adds a spark to navy, black and denim!
I love you! I’m a classic and shoes are a huge dealbreaker. I love your oxfords! I had a bunion removed 43 years ago and have had my hip replaced 6 years ago opposite side to the foot. I’m a hard classic and have avoided wearing dresses and skirts because in my mind they only look good with heels. I’m 5’5 and my husband is 6’6 and my son is getting married so the challenge was on to find a comfortable pair of “heels” to wear with my dress. I found a pair of Ara shoes that as you say “I could walk out of the store wearing”. They have a more block type heel (not as feminine as I would like) but I believe they will stay current for many years.
A recent brand I tried is Vivaia. Their shoes are comfortable right away and even their heels. They are over $100.00 per pair though. They are made from recycled bottles and are machine washable. I may be adding to my collection again next year.
Hi.. this was thought provoking for me. I’m that one who has more shoes than I know what to do with. I know why… maybe it’s time to rethink the excess. I’m not a traumatized child without shoes anymore..
I have a walk in shoe closet. I love shoes and I love to clean them. I am a matchy matchy person, so all my outfits have dedicated shoes. At the same time I have a hallux valgus issue. My shoes need to fit in this spot.
I’ve been Dansko clogs for years and just started wearing Birkenstocks for the last year. Also, I’ve been eyeing a pair of sandals that scream “old lady shoe” but I think I could offset the look with an updated outfit.
I have more shoes than I need and some pretty significant foot pain and foot issues. My foot issues change constantly so from season to season I may not be able to wear what I wore the previous year without causing pain and other issues. I found awhile ago that Minnetonka Moccasins work for me and I thrifted maybe 10 or or pair of them in many colors and patterns, which is fun. Vans sneakers also work for me because their classic canvas style is wider at the toe box. I recently discovered Duck Feet and also have 2 pair of colorful Mary Janes from them. Honestly this summer I have been wearing a pair of Crocs Mary Janes that I thrifted years ago and also Birkenstock Arizonas.
Because of my Flintstone Feet I find I must base my entire style around shoes I can wear comfortably. I hate ruining the look of an outfit with the wrong shoes aka shoes that are comfortable. I wore my slippers (quite by accident) to work but to be fair they are very well worn in pair of Birkenstock clogs. It was so hot I dared to wear a tank without a cover.
What a great topic. My dad worked in a paper mill but still polished his work boots and always had his “dressy” cowboy boots polished. I need to do better I am going to a graduation party today. Wearing navy wide leg pants,short sleeved jacket, striped t AND white tennis shoes. I had navy loafers out, but will give the tennis shoes a try. I think it will be more sporty and comfy!
I love my Sam Edelman Loraine loafers & prefer Mary Janes over plain ballet flats. So excited they’ve been on trend. I got a pair of red leather double strap Mary Janes with a square toe from C. Paravano this past fall. My style is very similar to yours. Very neutral, classic, with some stripes for pattern. The red Mary Janes go with everything. I love them! I also have a dark green pair of Mary Jane walkers from Vivaia. Very comfortable and they also work in well with my neutrals.
Shoes are a real struggle for me. I have neuropathy in my feet as well as plantar fasciitis. Size 10 and have a narrow foot and a narrow heel so I usually buy shoes that zip up or have Velcro on them. Have not worn white sneakers yet. I’m in Canada and it seems harder to get the sambas here. Six weeks ago, I tripped and fell and broke my shoulder and the reason I tripped is because I started to stumble because of my shoes and then couldn’t break my fall in time. Now I’m really nervous about what shoes I wear. I don’t wear heels.
Agree! Comfort is number one for me and can be a bit more challenging the older I get even though my feet are in pretty good shape. Or maybe I am just more honest with myself now and don't fall for a shoe just because it is cute. Pairing shoes with outfits can be tricky. Would love a video on general pairing rules and how you sanitize thrifted shoes. Thanks
Thank you for your comment and suggestions for future videos. Happy to address both topics soon! Quickly, I will share that I really don't sanitize the shoes I purchase! If they look like that's needed, I might honestly pass on them. I do clean thrifted shoes up when I get home and give them a polish or sit them outside in the sun.
PS I'm also a follower of this rule (I tend to avoid fashion rules in general though). Spend extra on shoes and handbags because they will elevate the look of the entire outfit.
I thrifted a pair of red leather Cole Hahn driving loafers for $8.00 but don't know how to wear them. I still have only worn them a handful of times. Maybe red is too loud? Any thoughts?
Ooh, I'm envious! I'm ready for some red shoes!! I'd wear them with jeans and casual pants... but also with skirts and dresses. They're such a classic, timeless style! And the red is always a great choice!
Ah shoes, what a topic. I have very narrow feet and have always struggled buying shoes. When I was young I used to go to a special shop in London that catered for narrow feet and bought some lovely Italian leather shoes. Now I live on the west coast of Canada and struggle to find narrow shoes. I used to buy Munro shoes (still have and wear some) but I can no longer buy them in Canada nor will they ship to Canada. Sneakers have been a life saver and as I now live a casual lifestyle fit the bill. I wear boots in the winter (Munro) and sandals in the summer (Mephisto). Although shoes are costly I look after them and still wear ones I have had for years as like you I tend to buy classic styles.
I am 68,150 pounds, 5'6", however, over the years my feet have changed so that now I need 8.5 double wide in most brands but depending on the style. I want comfort and style, not comfort and frump. I usually have to order a ton of shoes online and then return most of them because stores do not stock many styles in double wide, and I feel bad about the carbon footprint involved. Just paid $179 for a nice pair of Munro sandals at Nordstrom. I got rid of classic black mid-height Ros Hommerson pumps that were perfect, but I did not feel stable in them anymore. So, yes to ballet flats, loafers, boots and booties, driving loafers, sneakers, low wedge sandals - just have to find ones that fit and are comfortable and good quality, and I feel like I spend waaaay too much time and money on this quest! Polishing shoes was done every Sunday night growing up in preparation for the week ahead - also handbags and belts! So many people wear sneakers and Crocs all the time so that shoe care has fallen out of style, I think.
This would have been an effective youtube if you had given specifics. I understand some people can only wear sneakers. I concluded this video wondering if I had learned anything about wearing something comfortable and current.
I cannot wear sandals or court shoes, ballet flats or Mary Jane’s because my feet are 1cm difference in length, and because they swell width way at the drop of a hat…but not predictably. I can have a slim foot one for a week then boom. I’ve take… like your client…to only wearing sneakers in summer and Chelsea boots in wither. For some reason the Chelsea boot is comfortable even if my feet swell and they look lovely with everything.
would love to have seen some photos of what you are talking about
In the future, I'll include photos or share a link to one page that has all the styles I'm mentioning. Thanks for the feedback!
Hi. Thank you for your take on this topic. I´d love to see what kind of shoes are there in your wardrobe or at least see pictures of the type of shoe you are talking about as I am not a native English language speaker and I have some trouble figuring that out. Have a nice day, maria
Noted! Thank you for your comment. In the future, I will either show the items in the video or include a link to a page that shows all the items in one place. My apologies for any confusion. 💕
Hi Kristen. I really appreciate this video on styling shoes. I have too many pair, and I never know which to wear with what. Also, very few are comfortable other than my good old flip flops.😊
Thanks to this video, I plan to be more mindful about what styles feel most authentic for me and only buy those that are comfortable when I first walk in them.
Like Maria, I was DYING for you to hold up a pair representing each style you mentioned.
Question: in all the work you’ve done helping women find comfortable shoes, have you found a brand that is comfortable and stylish for women whose feet are wide across the toes; toes turned up requiring a deeper toe box; a high instep; and are much narrower at the heel?
If so, please help by naming brands. Trying on shoes is exhausting. Thank you!!
@@KristenCainStyle
I’m confused because I have found that “comfort” and “staying current” in style are mutually exclusive in my opinion. Would have liked to see some examples of the style of shoes you are talking about that have qualities of both.
Great topic. I love and live in Birkenstocks spring, summer, fall. They have saved my feet. Winter, I love Thursday Boot Company boots and shoes… and have had Frye boots for years as well. I will always love my Converse leather sneakers, have several, just part of my style. I agree, taking care of them & keeping them looking fresh and new is most important. I have some “trendy” shoes and they seem to last a few seasons and then I never wear them again. Quality over quantity. My dad was military and police and I still remember him polishing his dress shoes often.
You make a lot of sense ❤ I have quite a large shoe collection and I take good care of them all😊
Great advice, Kristen! Any shoe can feel comfortable for a minute, but I wear potential purchases (with socks, naturally!) for about 5-10 minutes to walk around the store. It’s saved me from several wrong choices.
Great tip!
Thank you for such a relevant topic. I happen to be one of those who try to be careful about 90% of my outfit and when I get to my footwear I scream “oh no”! I do have shoes which I love and are very comfortable. My boots are Josef Siebel , Loafers from Easy Spirit. And my sandals are Easy Spirit and Birkenstocks. While these are just naturally favorites of mine I do not feel like they are intentional if that makes sense. I feel like I am throwing them on last minute without carefully finishing my outfit. That’s what I need help with! Again thank you for your careful explanation of footwear.
Oh my gosh you read my mind Kristen. I've been on a shoe search lately and I couldn't agree more. Caring for them is key and I love the story about your dad. 100% on the comfort priority too. For me, I tend to buy backups of the ones I love. I'm a huge fan of Tieks and have worn them for years but I can't wear them year round because it gets too cold here. My fall/winter shoe collection is 90% boots, mostly black.. Miz Mooz and Josef Siebel are faves and I invested in tall Stuart Weitzman which I've worn nonstop too. CPW made them a bargain. I can't fully get on board with the sneakers although I keep trying. I am picky with color and sometimes they seem too bright. My daughter lives in her sneakers and looks adorable. Sorry this is so long! I feel like I'm talking with a friend:)). xx, Kim
Hi Kim- Thank you for your kind comment! I'm sure you'll find the right sneaker option for your style!
I loved this conversation. I have so much trouble picking shoes, especially for dressier situations. All my shoes either tie or buckle on because my heel is narrow and they won’t stay on otherwise. I haven’t worn heels in years, but ballet flats don’t stay on my feet, so in the summer I wear these “granny” chunky sandals for dress up, and in the winter I wear booties. With laces😬 And I never feel elegant, that’s for sure. For casual wear I can have on leather sneakers and feel great.
Oh my gosh do I ever relate to this!!
Thanks for sharing!!
I whittled down my shoe collection when I retired. My closet does contain about 8 pairs of "event shoes" purchased for weddings, fancy parties etc. and I am loathe to get rid of them as I still have the dresses. I tend to be barefoot when possible as I hate shoes and am very difficult to fit. I cannot wear a ballet flat and need a bit of a heel so tend to stay with wedges of varying heights (have 7 pairs of wedged loafers in various colors and leather types) and got rid of most of the heels. Got rid of the red shoes and switched to oxblood instead. Can be worn year round and adds a spark to navy, black and denim!
I love you! I’m a classic and shoes are a huge dealbreaker. I love your oxfords! I had a bunion removed 43 years ago and have had my hip replaced 6 years ago opposite side to the foot. I’m a hard classic and have avoided wearing dresses and skirts because in my mind they only look good with heels. I’m 5’5 and my husband is 6’6 and my son is getting married so the challenge was on to find a comfortable pair of “heels” to wear with my dress. I found a pair of Ara shoes that as you say “I could walk out of the store wearing”. They have a more block type heel (not as feminine as I would like) but I believe they will stay current for many years.
I'm sure you will look beautiful for your son's wedding! So exciting!!
Thank you. What about purses? I tend to use the same one all the time.
So do I! It's too much trouble to switch out my handbag so I carry a Madewell Transport Tote in olive green and I love it!
A recent brand I tried is Vivaia. Their shoes are comfortable right away and even their heels. They are over $100.00 per pair though. They are made from recycled bottles and are machine washable. I may be adding to my collection again next year.
I have been looking at a pair of their Mary Janes. Do you find that they run true to size?
@@faeriesmak yes. I am a size 6 and they fit perfectly.
Hi.. this was thought provoking for me. I’m that one who has more shoes than I know what to do with. I know why… maybe it’s time to rethink the excess. I’m not a traumatized child without shoes anymore..
I have a walk in shoe closet. I love shoes and I love to clean them. I am a matchy matchy person, so all my outfits have dedicated shoes. At the same time I have a hallux valgus issue. My shoes need to fit in this spot.
I’ve been Dansko clogs for years and just started wearing Birkenstocks for the last year. Also, I’ve been eyeing a pair of sandals that scream “old lady shoe” but I think I could offset the look with an updated outfit.
I have more shoes than I need and some pretty significant foot pain and foot issues. My foot issues change constantly so from season to season I may not be able to wear what I wore the previous year without causing pain and other issues. I found awhile ago that Minnetonka Moccasins work for me and I thrifted maybe 10 or or pair of them in many colors and patterns, which is fun. Vans sneakers also work for me because their classic canvas style is wider at the toe box. I recently discovered Duck Feet and also have 2 pair of colorful Mary Janes from them. Honestly this summer I have been wearing a pair of Crocs Mary Janes that I thrifted years ago and also Birkenstock Arizonas.
Because of my Flintstone Feet I find I must base my entire style around shoes I can wear comfortably. I hate ruining the look of an outfit with the wrong shoes aka shoes that are comfortable. I wore my slippers (quite by accident) to work but to be fair they are very well worn in pair of Birkenstock clogs. It was so hot I dared to wear a tank without a cover.
What a great topic. My dad worked in a paper mill but still polished his work boots and always had his “dressy” cowboy boots polished. I need to do better
I am going to a graduation party today. Wearing navy wide leg pants,short sleeved jacket, striped t AND white tennis shoes. I had navy loafers out, but will give the tennis shoes a try. I think it will be more sporty and comfy!
Bravo! I'm sure you looked fabulous!!
I love my Sam Edelman Loraine loafers & prefer Mary Janes over plain ballet flats. So excited they’ve been on trend. I got a pair of red leather double strap Mary Janes with a square toe from C. Paravano this past fall. My style is very similar to yours. Very neutral, classic, with some stripes for pattern. The red Mary Janes go with everything. I love them! I also have a dark green pair of Mary Jane walkers from Vivaia. Very comfortable and they also work in well with my neutrals.
Shoes are a real struggle for me. I have neuropathy in my feet as well as plantar fasciitis. Size 10 and have a narrow foot and a narrow heel so I usually buy shoes that zip up or have Velcro on them. Have not worn white sneakers yet. I’m in Canada and it seems harder to get the sambas here. Six weeks ago, I tripped and fell and broke my shoulder and the reason I tripped is because I started to stumble because of my shoes and then couldn’t break my fall in time. Now I’m really nervous about what shoes I wear. I don’t wear heels.
Oh, no! I hope your shoulder is healing well. Wishing you great luck finding some shoes that fit well and offer stability. 💞
@@KristenCainStyle thanks. I’ve had two sessions of physical therapy which is really helping.
Agree! Comfort is number one for me and can be a bit more challenging the older I get even though my feet are in pretty good shape. Or maybe I am just more honest with myself now and don't fall for a shoe just because it is cute. Pairing shoes with outfits can be tricky. Would love a video on general pairing rules and how you sanitize thrifted shoes. Thanks
Thank you for your comment and suggestions for future videos. Happy to address both topics soon! Quickly, I will share that I really don't sanitize the shoes I purchase! If they look like that's needed, I might honestly pass on them. I do clean thrifted shoes up when I get home and give them a polish or sit them outside in the sun.
PS I'm also a follower of this rule (I tend to avoid fashion rules in general though). Spend extra on shoes and handbags because they will elevate the look of the entire outfit.
I thrifted a pair of red leather Cole Hahn driving loafers for $8.00 but don't know how to wear them. I still have only worn them a handful of times. Maybe red is too loud? Any thoughts?
Ooh, I'm envious! I'm ready for some red shoes!! I'd wear them with jeans and casual pants... but also with skirts and dresses. They're such a classic, timeless style! And the red is always a great choice!
I was looking for some recommendations of some shoes, not the general discussion about shoes. 😔
Ah shoes, what a topic. I have very narrow feet and have always struggled buying shoes. When I was young I used to go to a special shop in London that catered for narrow feet and bought some lovely Italian leather shoes. Now I live on the west coast of Canada and struggle to find narrow shoes. I used to buy Munro shoes (still have and wear some) but I can no longer buy them in Canada nor will they ship to Canada. Sneakers have been a life saver and as I now live a casual lifestyle fit the bill. I wear boots in the winter (Munro) and sandals in the summer (Mephisto). Although shoes are costly I look after them and still wear ones I have had for years as like you I tend to buy classic styles.
Would love to see examples
I found I really prefer to have two main pairs of shoes for each season plus tall boots for church. I have a light and a dark pair.
I am 68,150 pounds, 5'6", however, over the years my feet have changed so that now I need 8.5 double wide in most brands but depending on the style. I want comfort and style, not comfort and frump. I usually have to order a ton of shoes online and then return most of them because stores do not stock many styles in double wide, and I feel bad about the carbon footprint involved. Just paid $179 for a nice pair of Munro sandals at Nordstrom. I got rid of classic black mid-height Ros Hommerson pumps that were perfect, but I did not feel stable in them anymore. So, yes to ballet flats, loafers, boots and booties, driving loafers, sneakers, low wedge sandals - just have to find ones that fit and are comfortable and good quality, and I feel like I spend waaaay too much time and money on this quest! Polishing shoes was done every Sunday night growing up in preparation for the week ahead - also handbags and belts! So many people wear sneakers and Crocs all the time so that shoe care has fallen out of style, I think.
Munro makes a really great quality, comfortable shoe!! Good choice!
This would have been an effective youtube if you had given specifics. I understand some people can only wear sneakers. I concluded this video wondering if I had learned anything about wearing something comfortable and current.
I cannot wear sandals or court shoes, ballet flats or Mary Jane’s because my feet are 1cm difference in length, and because they swell width way at the drop of a hat…but not predictably. I can have a slim foot one for a week then boom. I’ve take… like your client…to only wearing sneakers in summer and Chelsea boots in wither. For some reason the Chelsea boot is comfortable even if my feet swell and they look lovely with everything.
I love that you've taken a struggle (and I'm sure an uncomfortable situation) and found two options that work for you! Great work!
Curious about the brand you mentioned that is considered hard to break in. My IG search couldn’t find it.
Freda Salvador. To be fair, I haven't owned shoes from this brand, I've only heard multiple influencers share how lengthy the break-in period can be.
@@KristenCainStylethank you!
I wear Frye Harness boots all winter to cool summer nights.
Love!
I'm the opposite. I love shoes and I have a great collection. But the rest of the outfit. That's where I struggle
Some visual material to demonstrate what you're talking about would really improve your videos.