Ladies Shoes That Can Be Dressy or Casual

[tarheelmjfan]

We have a trip to Arizona coming up next month. I'm trying to cut way back on my usual packing style & only take two pair of shoes. One pair will be tennis shoes that we expect to get really dirty on our tours. They probably won't be worn otherwise. For the other, I need a pair of comfortable shoes that I can wear with jeans or dress pants to nice restaurants. Any suggestions?

PS: I have little feet & can't wear anything larger than a size 5 1/2, even with inserts. Unfortunately, shoe brands that start at size 6 are out for me.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

A nice pair of flats, maybe? I'm not up on the latest shoe trends I must admit.

 

[Christine]

We have a trip to Arizona coming up next month. I'm trying to cut way back on my usual packing style & only take two pair of shoes. One pair will be tennis shoes that we expect to get really dirty on our tours. They probably won't be worn otherwise. For the other, I need a pair of comfortable shoes that I can wear with jeans or dress pants to nice restaurants. Any suggestions?

PS: I have little feet & can't wear anything larger than a size 5 1/2, even with inserts. Unfortunately, shoe brands that start at size 6 are out for me.

Mary Jane shoes are making a comeback. You can buy them in one of the comfort brands or get a dressier type. They look great with jeans, leggings, dress pants, etc. My daughter has a very cute pair from Rothy's pictured with the double buckle. She has them in red and they go with so much. But they are pricey. There are tons of other brands that are more affordable and will do the job.



This pair below is from DSW and I think it's the B.O.C. brand.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

A nice pair of flats, maybe? I'm not up on the latest shoe trends I must admit.

Mary Jane shoes are making a comeback. You can buy them in one of the comfort brands or get a dressier type. They look great with jeans, leggings, dress pants, etc. My daughter has a very cute pair from Rothy's pictured with the double buckle. She has them in red and they go with so much. But they are pricey. There are tons of other brands that are more affordable and will do the job.

View attachment 891624

This pair below is from DSW and I think it's the B.O.C. brand.
View attachment 891623

Thanks for the suggestions. The top pair is really cute. I'm going to see if I can find them to wear in the winter here. I'm not sure how well they'd hold up to the rugged west though. I was thinking I'd need something with more grip & cushioning on the bottom to walk around in the National Parks & Monuments at night. This will be our first trip there, so I may be imagining it differently from what it actually is.

I have ballet flats, but they're not super comfortable & I'm equally concerned about their ruggedness. I may end up having to take three pair, which I'm trying to avoid.

 

[Christine]

Thanks for the suggestions. The top pair is really cute. I'm going to see if I can find them to wear in the winter here. I'm not sure how well they'd hold up to the rugged west though. I was thinking I'd need something with more grip & cushioning on the bottom to walk around in the National Parks & Monuments at night. This will be our first trip there, so I may be imagining it differently from what it actually is.

I have ballet flats, but they're not super comfortable & I'm equally concerned about their ruggedness. I may end up having to take three pair, which I'm trying to avoid.

Oh I see. I thought the sneakers were going to be for all the park and monuments and the dressier shoes are just for going out to dinner or something "easy."

 

[NYCgrrl]

Blame my older sister. She keeps texting me pics of clothing to wear to a wedding. I wish I knew somebody getting married…

Kate Spade currently marked down to $100.00

 

[SueInBoston]

these are my Dansko comfy travel shoes and they pack really well too.


Just saw your reply about rugged, my rugged travel is Blundstone Chelsea boots.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Oh I see. I thought the sneakers were going to be for all the park and monuments and the dressier shoes are just for going out to dinner or something "easy."

That would be ideal, but I'm afraid the sneakers will get too dirty to wear for any other reason than off road tours. I don't want to be wearing nasty shoes around everywhere.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Blame my older sister. She keeps texting me pics of clothing to wear to a wedding. I wish I knew somebody getting married…

Kate Spade currently marked down to $100.00

View attachment 891636

You don't have to wait for a wedding. You live in NYC. You can wear those to lunch.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

these are my Dansko comfy travel shoes and they pack really well too.
View attachment 891635

Thanks

 

[NYCgrrl]

You don't have to wait for a wedding. You live in NYC. You can wear those to lunch.

…but but I eat lunch at home….

 

[tarheelmjfan]

…but but I eat lunch at home….

Take pictures & post them on social media for all to see.

I'm sure, if we keep tossing around ideas, we can come up with a way for you to justify buying them.

 

[AustinTink]

A comfy wedge is my go to. https://www.skechers.com/bobs-desert-chill---uptown-haze/114688_BLK.html

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I would have suggested these that I got last year although mine were solid black and it looks like they may not be sold much anymore however I wouldn't suggest this for walking around outside in dirt and such. I'm also not certain if they had smaller than size 6. But these are my go to dressy shoes that can be worn with nicer dresses but also dressed down with jeans or skirts. It has memory foam cushion. (again mine are just matte black).

https://www.jcpenney.com/p/liz-claiborne-womens-renny-heeled-sandals/ppr5008384457?pTmplType=regular



Personally I prefer open toed or peep toe on sandals as my feet do better in them. Closed toed shoes outside of tennis shoes and boots are just uncomfortable to me. I used to wear some of those flats shown in some other posts but I think the narrow toe box just over time causes more grief than anything for me. I also prefer an ankle strap for stability when wearing sandals outside of flip flops.

This may also be a choice though I don't know if the material holds up well under desert conditions. Sizing starts at 5, 3 colors, and at least to me could be dressed up or dressed down. I don't own these but I do own another East 5th branded sandals that are comfortable enough although for me my normal size is 6 1/2 and the ones I own are size 6. For the Liz Claiborne pictured above they only had a size 7 so I went with that and I probably could have done a 6 1/2 but a 7 still fits well.

https://www.jcpenney.com/p/east-5th...GE-VIS-NAVS-_-DEPT-SHOES-_-X2-_-WOMENSSHOES_1

 

[disykat]

We went to Arizona in October and I just took my walking shoes and a pair of walking sandals I could wear either hiking or with casual but "dressier" clothes.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

One of my coworkers and I were discussing our love of Birkenstocks and how they can go with something dressy or casual. She was in a pair of Arizonas, but I was wearing my Bostons because I didn’t paint my toes. If adult sizes are too large, kid sizes are an option.

 

[NYCgrrl]

The Arizonas by Birkenstock (and look a likes) are getting a lot of style play these days and they are quite comfortable too. I like the ones with rhinestone buckles for that Euro take on American sportswear look

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/...ing-slide-sandals?ID=4682722&CategoryID=16961

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Mary Jane shoes are making a comeback. You can buy them in one of the comfort brands or get a dressier type. They look great with jeans, leggings, dress pants, etc. My daughter has a very cute pair from Rothy's pictured with the double buckle. She has them in red and they go with so much. But they are pricey. There are tons of other brands that are more affordable and will do the job.

View attachment 891624

This pair below is from DSW and I think it's the B.O.C. brand.
View attachment 891623

That top pair... I need those in my life!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I would have suggested these that I got last year although mine were solid black and it looks like they may not be sold much anymore however I wouldn't suggest this for walking around outside in dirt and such. I'm also not certain if they had smaller than size 6. But these are my go to dressy shoes that can be worn with nicer dresses but also dressed down with jeans or skirts. It has memory foam cushion. (again mine are just matte black).

https://www.jcpenney.com/p/liz-claiborne-womens-renny-heeled-sandals/ppr5008384457?pTmplType=regular

View attachment 891670

Personally I prefer open toed or peep toe on sandals as my feet do better in them. Closed toed shoes outside of tennis shoes and boots are just uncomfortable to me. I used to wear some of those flats shown in some other posts but I think the narrow toe box just over time causes more grief than anything for me. I also prefer an ankle strap for stability when wearing sandals outside of flip flops.

This may also be a choice though I don't know if the material holds up well under desert conditions. Sizing starts at 5, 3 colors, and at least to me could be dressed up or dressed down. I don't own these but I do own another East 5th branded sandals that are comfortable enough although for me my normal size is 6 1/2 and the ones I own are size 6. For the Liz Claiborne pictured above they only had a size 7 so I went with that and I probably could have done a 6 1/2 but a 7 still fits well.

https://www.jcpenney.com/p/east-5th-womens-ivey-heeled-sandals/ppr5008380193?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000018&catId=cat100240063&urlState=/g/shoes/all-womens-shoes?id=cat100240063&sort=LPLH&page=2&productGridView=medium&cm_re=ZH-_-DEPARTMENT-SHOES-_-VN-_-SHOE-DEPT-PAGE-VIS-NAVS-_-DEPT-SHOES-_-X2-_-WOMENSSHOES_1



View attachment 891674

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm always on the lookout for brands that carry size 5.

We went to Arizona in October and I just took my walking shoes and a pair of walking sandals I could wear either hiking or with casual but "dressier" clothes.

Interesting. Did you go to a lot of national & state parks? Maybe, the terrain will be different that I'm imagining. It seems like the dry dirt would make my feet nasty in sandals.

One of my coworkers and I were discussing our love of Birkenstocks and how they can go with something dressy or casual. She was in a pair of Arizonas, but I was wearing my Bostons because I didn’t paint my toes. If adult sizes are too large, kid sizes are an option.

Good suggestion. I never would have thought to look for Birkenstocks for this situation.

That top pair... I need those in my life!

I agree! Those are adorable. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have them in my life. I hope they fit.

 

[disykat]

Quoting .... "Interesting. Did you go to a lot of national & state parks? Maybe, the terrain will be different that I'm imagining. It seems like the dry dirt would make my feet nasty in sandals."

My response..... I mostly wore my hiking shoes on longer or more obscure hikes, and sandals in town and in parks with pretty good paths, etc. If I'm on a pretty good busy path I'm not worrying about stickers or poisonous plants and because the dirt was dry it shook right off my sandals and rinsed off of my feet. I don't remember having to slosh through any wet spots at all - something that is an issue where I live. (I am actually shopping for a new pair of muck boots for walking on certain beaches and the wetlands behind my house as we enter the Fall season. Yesterday I got my beach shoes REALLY muddy!)

oops - I put my response in the quote so I tried to clarify what I was quoting!