Oh, SIL (shoe and shopping related)

DG1

She is getting a new job (YAY! I think.) and has asked me for shoe advice.

I mean, she seriously needs shoe advice. If you guys think MY shoes are ugly, boy, have you not seen anything yet. 

She specifically says, "I was wondering if there was a particular brand at Sears that has good arch support?"

SEARS!

This is followed by "Because I looked at Shoe Carnival, and those shoes seemed like they would be really bad for my feet."

Um, yeah. It's a desk job. I wouldn't sweat it too much. (Then again, maybe that's why my feet hurt all the damn time.)

Truly, I have a pair I think I can give to her. But boy does she give me extremely limited criteria to work under. NO open toes of any kind because she doesn't want to have to paint her toenails. Very low heel or flat shoe. Good arch support. Must be incredibly versatile so she can limit her shoe wardrobe to only 2-3 pair, including sneakers for weekends. 

So yeah, if any of you guys have any advice on brands at SEARS, I'm all ears.

(Actually, any brands in general would be OK, but price is definitely a factor. We have Kohl's, Macy's, Sears, JC Penney, Shoe Carnival, Burlington Coat Factory, and Famous Footwear, plus Target, Payless, and Marshall's.)

Cant_wait!

The thought of limiting a shoe wardrobe to 2-3 pairs including weekend shoes makes me itchy. I cannot help you.

MinM

The only thing I might buy at Sears is an appliance.

I would recommend on pair of tennis shoes to her, and a brown flat and a black flat. How one can exist with two pairs of shoes is beyond me.

hmonkey

why anyone wants to buy cheap shoes rather than comfortable and well-fitting shoes is beyond me.  when she buys $20 shoes and they feel like $20 shoes, she might reconsider.

have her look at skechers and lands end.  and zappos ships for free.

DG1

I'm wondering if she should just get an insert for arch support. Then she can move those from shoe to shoe.

And really. If I suggest $60 shoes, she will laugh and shun me. And it'll look like I'm throwing our good financial fortune in her face, even though it's her own damn fault she's in bankruptcy.

If I only had 2-3 pair of shoes, I'd definitely spend a lot on each one. But since I prefer to have like 30-40 pair, I look for great deals and/or buy really cheap ones.

And really. She wears crocs. Do crocs even have ANY arch support?

DG1

Sears carries lands' end. Maybe they would have the shoes, too. Although LE shoes are on the pricey end. 

IDK why she's so obsessed with arch support.  She has weird feet. She's 5'2" but SWEARS she wears a size 10 shoe. Oooooooookay. And she's always been obsessed with arch support.

Then she told me today, "I can't wear a platform heel. It has to be a very low heel." To me, platform and low are not opposites, but whatever.

She recently had bunion surgery, which also seems weird to me, as she has never worn shoes that would lead to bunions, at least as far as I can tell. I, on the other hand, could kill someone with my bunions but will not be having surgery anytime soon.

She is overweight, which has to be hard on your feet, but she isn't pushing housebound obesity or anything.

Really, though. I like shoes, not feet. So I won't be examining her feet to determine what kind of shoe she actually needs.  But really, it's like shopping with a petulant teenager, where you want to scream, "JUST TRY IT ON, OK?!!!!" 

hmonkey

[QUOTE] But really, it's like shopping with a petulant teenager, where you want to scream, "JUST TRY IT ON, OK?!!!!" 
Posted by DG1[/QUOTE]

huh.  i kind of a have a blanket policy of not helping adults who will not be helped or accept help.

loveshine1

This makes no sense to me and I have no help to offer. 

However, I have a few questions:

1) How old is this woman?

2) Why is she limiting her shoe wardrobe to 2-3 pairs? How does that even work, especially with it being, you know, SUMMER? I'm pretty sure you guys experience a pretty harsh WINTER, so where do boots fit into the 2 or 3 pairs? Or are boots considered in case of emergency shoes?

3) What the what at the not painting of the toenails, or at least keeping them neat enough to wear open toed shoes?

*Barbie*

is she looking for dress shoes? something business casual? sneakers?

at least she is making a priority not to spend a ton on shoes when she doesn't have the money...?

if you guys have outlets nearby, try Naturalizer

they sell some Aerosoles at Kohl's, but i don't think they have a huge selection.

I doubt she's going to find a quality shoe (especially if she's looking for something to cater to her foot problems)for $20 - even on sale/clearance.

i can't help on Sears. I refuse to shop at Sears/K-mart. The boycott has been going on for 5+ years now.

6fsn

I don't mind Sear's because they do carry Lands End.  They also carry Carters for pretty good prices it's a good place for uniforms.  Check the LE catalog too.  You can order from them and return to Sears.

I'd also check Clarks shoes.  They have a couple of cute pairs and sometimes they can be cheap.

At Kohls check the A2 (Aerosoles) and Naturalsole (Naturalizer).  My mom and sister love Mootsies Tootsies. 

DG1

I admit I did actually find one cute pair of flats at sears once. And I have seen things that I wanted to try on, but they didn't have my size.

But really, I don't think it would be the first place I'd look, nor would I expect to find something affordable that doubles as some kind of medical orthotic.

$20 is just a number I threw out there. I'll have to ask what her actual budget is this time around. But we have been down this road before.


LS - as for winter, she says she can't wear any boots because her calves are too big. I get that, but there are women all over the place who find wider-calf boots. I found some online today on sale for $120/pair (and 20% off first purchase if you sign up for their email list). Heck, I'm considering getting some.

She has been a midwestern SAHM for almost 3 years, so shoe variety isn't exactly a necessity. She has a good pair of skechers that she wore to her job at home depot (on her feet all the time), the pair of crocs, one pair of dress shoes (that are ugly and she wore to my wedding 5.5 years ago and is still wearing). There is at least one pair of "red" (rusty brown) moccasin-type things that I've also seen her in. But really, I think that's it.  The 2-3 isn't a philosophical number, just sortof a "I'm more into having one pair that I can wear with everything instead of making fashionable choices with multiple pair."  Since she's already up to 4 and is adding at least one pair.  So maybe 5 or 6, including the sneakers and junk shoes.

I'll have to see if I can find the email with the "red" shoes. It's hilarious.