Greeting and salutations, Cheap JAP!
I’m supposed to visit a buddy in New York in about TWO MONTHS and my footwear collection is tailored around the SoCal drive-and-browse lifestyle – definitely not the hike-for-miles-around-a-giant-city reality that I am about to face. My last two vacations left me practically crippled – even though I gave in and wore sneakers! Grr! So I was wondering if you had any further suggestions for stylish brands that could get me through several miles of walking.
I don’t get too bold or “urban” with my casual shoe choices; lately, I’ve been wearing a pair of leather Target boots for almost every casual occasion. Before that, I wore a pair of combat boots until they fell apart. I also own an array of sandals and a few mocs, although none of these have adequate arch support. Ummm… oh, I’m also 5’4″, and the bf hates how I look in heels (freak, I know). I hope some of this info turns out to be helpful.
Infinite thanks for whatever help you might be able to give,
Rae
Re: Subject: Serious (Yet Unfugly) Walking Shoes
Dear Rae,
Firstly, I must commend you for your use of Salutations; I’m inspired to adapt your (and everyone’s favorite spider’s) way of saying hello. Onto your Urban Shoe Conundrum. While I obvs heart New York, you’ve clearly already experienced the ways in which this city can be a bitch and a half on your tootsies. Add warm weather to the equation and your shoes have to be more than just comfortable and stylish; they’ve gotta protect the your feet from subway grime, garbage water, urine puddles, et. al. Last summer, I made the mistake of wearing Havaianas in transit. No matter how nuts you are about this city, a layer of black muck on the bottoms of your feet cements its reputation as one of the dirtiest places on earth. For this reason, summer shoes need to have some sort of securing mechanism (no slip-ons whatsoever) and must also be slightly elevated (sans socks or tights, true flats are a No-Go). Should you end up with a wedge, your BF will deal; just threaten to infect him with New Yorker’s Foot or something.
OTBT (i.e. Off The Beaten Track) has more than the California Girl walking shoe nailed; they’ve got the Any Girl, Anywhere thing happening too.
The line’s claim, “One hand in fashion and culture, the other in comfort” seems to actually not be a crock of PR bullshit: Their shoes aren’t just practical – they’re so effing cute that I found myself caught in a series of I-Want-That-Ones as I browsed the merch.
OTBT’s shoes feature high-grade rubber outsoles and extra padded, antibacterial footbeds that wick moisture and odor away from the foot. Each style, named after an international destination, comes in low-waste, eco-friendly recycled packaging. Look for trademarks like hand-dipped organic canvas boots and sneakers, as well as supple leather boots and sandals in earthy tones. With so many wallet-friendly options, this collection certainly is “off the beaten track.”We’re all-too-familiar with that old adage about New York – the notion that if something can make it here, it can make it anywhere. OTBT proves the cliche’s as true of shoes as it is of anything else. With these on your feet, you can do more than tackle the craziest city in America. You can walk anywhere in the world, methinks. I hope yours serve you well.
(Pictured, clockwise, from top left: Natick Trekker ($79.95); Richmond Wedge ($99.95); Beaufort Globetrotter ($99.95); Lagrange Wedge ($99.95)).
Mwah!
Cheap JAP
P.S. I love that you wore a pair of combat boots until they fell apart. That’s effing badass.
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Right on – wedges all the way. I’m off to SF next week and plan to pack a pair for the loooooong walkings.
THANK YOU for both cheap jap and rae for recognizing the nyc shoe conundrum! most people think i just talk too much when i emphasize about the importance of high quality shoes and high quality bags in nyc (we walk and we carry our shit all day long, need i say more?!)
take it from a born & bread nyc’er whose 24 and still doesn’t have a driver’s license, your feet will worship you if you treat em right
i’m a bit of a heel hater- and give serious credit to cheap jap for rocking them and not cracking a heel or something every time she goes out- i walk too much and am too cheap to go to a shoe repair guy- but low wedges have been taking me through the summer months for a few years now, my bf also hates heels and these seem to be the best compromise between what i need and what he doesn’t scoff at.
last summer i spent a ridiculous $100 bucks at a sample sale on a pair of nautical style (logo-free) tory burch sandal wedges with one inche heels- in the winter i saw them on sale at the outlet for $75. they survived all my nitty gritty sidewalks beautifully and went with everything all summer long
for this summer i picked up a similar pair of michael michael kors wedges for $40 bucks, same 1 inch wedge, peep toe, & patent top. i’ve seen a few similar wedge styles at urban too – good luck!
Yay! Thank you SO much! This post is beyond helpful. I had never even considered the filth factor before, and that could have been a major disaster in itself. Plus, nothing here looks even remotely like an orthopedic moon shoe! Sweeeeeet.
oh, wow, great