Last week, we asked you to tell us your shoe problem. Not your general vibe, not your style aesthetic, the actual, specific, unsolved thing. The “I need the perfect shoe for ___”
The submissions came in from Nashville, Toronto, Lisbon, Los Angeles, New York. Healthcare sales, teachers, podcast hosts, furniture designers, creative consultants. The problems were different on the surface but when we read through them, three patterns kept coming up. And we’re willing to bet at least one of them is yours too.
So this week’s edit isn’t a trend roundup. It’s not a top-10 list. It’s the three shoe situations we heard most, answered properly.
The Situation · 01
“I need to walk 10,000 steps and still look like I tried.”
We heard this one in multiple forms. Comfy neutral shoe I can walk 10k+ steps in and still look good with dresses. Comfort for travel for 15k steps but with style. I love my Brooks and they do the job but anything that looks good.
The problem isn’t that comfortable shoes are ugly. It’s that most brands solve for one or the other and call it a day.
The shoes that actually answer this:
(THE CLASSIC) Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10: The retro-dad shoe that people stop you in Trader Joe’s about.
(THE NEUTRAL) New Balance Absorb 1890: The silhouette you won’t see EVERYWHERE, but she’s equally as comfortable as say a 574.
(THE FUN PAIR) Nike Air Superfly: Straight luxury in a running-style design.
The rule: if it hurts in the store it will ruin your trip. Non-negotiable.
The Situation · 02
“I have a foot situation and I’m tired of sacrificing style.”
Plantar fasciitis. Flat feet. Achilles tendinitis. Orthotics. We heard from teachers in Toronto, executives in Atlanta, marketers in New York. All different jobs, same underlying problem: the shoes that fit their feet don’t fit their life.
A few things that actually work:
For plantar fasciitis + orthotics (Erin, Toronto): The trick here isn’t finding a stylish orthotic shoe — it’s finding a shoe with enough depth in the toe box and removable insole that your orthotic actually fits.
Our pick?
New Balance 990v4. AND, if you hurry you can grab in this insane pumpernickel color (this will sell out VERY soon).
For flat feet + Achilles (Sam, NYC — office to evening): The one that looks like a fashion shoe, but functions like a proper one.
Our pick?
Adidas BW Army. Still forever that perfect, classic, everyday shoe.
For flat feet that want cute, not dad shoe (Ilene, Atlanta): A sole structured enough to support flat feet, low profile, and nobody will ever look at your feet and think “she’s wearing a comfort shoe.”
Our pick?
ASICS Gel-NYC. A sleeper good pair (in so many good colors).
The rule: the best shoe for wide feet or foot issues isn’t always a specialty shoe. It’s a round toe box. Look for that first!
The Situation · 03
“I need a capsule.”
A casual summer shoe that’s IN ADDITION to the flip flop. Something for jeans, shorts, a night out.
For the three-shoe travel capsule (Hayley, Lisbon):
01) The workout to wear all day: If you want your sneaker to be theeee moment right now: the Saucony Ride 1
02) The sport sandal/flat: The Naturalizer jelly flat Slightly glossy, slightly unexpected, photographs beautifully on any surface. You get the comfort story and the style story without exposing a single toe (no free foot pics around here).
03) The fun pair: Nike Air Rift Lace sneaker. Your sneaker hybrid.
Now it’s your turn.
If you saw yourself in any of these situations, or if your situation is still unsolved, tell us. The form is linked below. We go through every submission and we’re answering as many as we can in the next edition.
And if you want to be featured in our “She Asked We Answered” video series on Instagram, include your handle and we’ll make it happen.
Comment below or fill out the form. We read all of it.
Enjoying this? Forward it to a friend who’s been buying the wrong shoes.
— KJ
Ugh, why do I literally want every pair in the foot situation??