Most comfortable designer shoes?

[rubyshoes]

My feet have been killing me lately! And it seems like my feet are growing! Either that or my shoes are shrinking, HA! I used to be a 7 W, then I went to 7.5 and now I can't wear anything but an 8 and in some brands even 8 is tight! Just fyi I haven't put on any weight at all (and am not pregnant)- I've always been about 115 pounds and 5'2".

I want to buy some new flats - I really like Coach loafers... any other brand you ladies would recommend? Throwing out my now-tight shoes and planning to hit the mall this weekend to pick up a couple pairs. (Don't want to spend more than 100 per pair so all the uber fancy brands are out) My poor feet thank you!

 

[distracts]

Not likely to be at the mall, but my wedding shoes were by Hey Lady and are RIDICULOUSLY comfortable and ubercute.

Also, in terms of comfort, the, uh, what's that boat shoe brand again? I can't remember the name. But anyway it's like a store full of boat shoes and just go in and ask for their most comfortable pair and it's like wrapping your feet in pillows except much cuter. I'm not really fond of the patent leather ones though, even though I have some I had to get for work once.

eta: SPERRY. Why couldn't I remember that?

 

[rubyshoes]

Distracts, that's funny! I was just browsing a few websites and I saw a pair of leopard print boat shoes and they were Sperry. Looked v comfy for sure

 

[chrono]

Here's a thought that might sound strange: are your arches collapsing, hence your feet are now longer and seemingly bigger and shoes don't feel as comfortable as they used to?

 

[rubyshoes]

Chrono, I don't know... how to know? Should I be seeing a chiro?

 

[decodelighted]

If your arches are collapsing you really don't want to get ballet flats. You need something that has some arch support.

 

[pregcurious]

Your arches should not be falling. I would go to a podiatrist to determine what is the cause, and get a good set of corrective shoe inserts with arch support.

 

[VRBeauty]

Another possibility - are your feet getting wider across the widest part - i.e., could you be developing bunions? As in... more of the upper is being used to accommodate the extra width, making it seem like your feet are getting longer? My shoe sized has changed a few times since my 30's, but at least some of that change can be blamed on bunions. ETA Nordstrom's sells a brand called "me too" is very comfortable. Not the most fashionable shoes around, but definitely comfortable.

 

[rubyshoes]

Well, I went and bought a pair of size 8 Coach loafers this evening. My neighbor works at a chiro's clinic, so I am going to talk to her and maybe go see him. Or my orthopedic doctor should be able to tell me. I was at the ortho's clinic 6 months ago with an inflamed knee (I have those weird lopsided kneecaps) and he didn't say anything about the feet then... but doesn't hurt to go pay him a visit!

 

[rubyshoes]

Oh, another thing... I stopped running 3 months ago and started swimming 4x a week, 1 hour lap session. I don't suppose that would affect my feet? I have noticed changes elsewhere in the body, but those are just toning related i.e. positive.

 

[AprilBaby]

Feet naturally spread as we age, it stinks. See a good podiatrist to check your arches and wear good shoes, no junk.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Well, I went and bought a pair of size 8 Coach loafers this evening. My neighbor works at a chiro's clinic, so I am going to talk to her and maybe go see him. Or my orthopedic doctor should be able to tell me. I was at the ortho's clinic 6 months ago with an inflamed knee (I have those weird lopsided kneecaps) and he didn't say anything about the feet then... but doesn't hurt to go pay him a visit!

I had knee pain several years ago (one of my knee caps tracks in a "J" rather than straight up and down) and the problem was that my arch had fallen over time and dragged my whole leg even more out of alignment. I got orthotics (which were HORRIBLY uncomfortable in the very beginning) but within a really short period of time my knee pain (which had been getting progressively worse for YEARS) was GONE. This post doesn't answer your shoe question, but I just wanted to share that because you might consider going to a specialist. And even though I'm recommending a podiatrist , the person who diagnosed/fixed me BTW was a physical therapist. This is in contrast to the knee surgeon who I had seen the week before and immediately went the "when do you want to have the knee surgery?" route.

 

[rubyshoes]

Thanks AprilBaby and DeeJay. I am definitely making an appt to see a doctor soon. I really hope it's not an issue with my arches but I will find out soon... I hope. DeeJay, that knee doctor sounds really extreme