Do You Choose Style or Comfort?

....but I will never have Velcro fastenings....I intend to stay supple enough to either bend, to do my sketchers up , or get my feet on my knees to do same. When I can’t do either, it’s time to stay home!

Love the shoes , but couldn’t wear them for long as I have three prolapsed discs in lower back! Maybe just to attend a wedding ...but then I’d take ‘flats’ for the reception.

I wear both heels and flats, but in actual fact I rarely need to wear heels. Just for weddings, special occasions, or on cruises in the evening. I wear Sketchers a lot, boots in the winter (I do have a pair of boots with heels, but rarely wear them) sandals or ballet type flats in summer. So mostly, I wear flats.

Comfort every time!! Think I damaged my feet in my teens when I crammed them into my sister's shoes (she was 1/2 size smaller) and had. Then as soon as I could afford it bought a pair of winklepickers! Then a fewyears later, I acquired a pair of really high heels and got an injury while wearing them and had to wear them for two weeks until the injury was better! Really messed up my feet.

I saw an article where Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall) now wears shoes from a company called sole bliss. I’m going to try some! They are on FB.

Comfort! High heels and short skirts when I was at work. Osteoarthritis and a hip replacement - boots in winter, Sketchers trainers and sandals in summer. All with corrective heel inserts. No one will notice the shop assistant said. Enter super observant granddaughter. "What's that in your sandal Grandma?" Vanity doesn't work with grandchildren!

My mother wore 3 inch high heels ALL her life from her teens to her late 80s, she never wore anything else even on the beach! She favoured shoes with pointed toes, she thought her feet looked smaller, she was a size 3! Her feet became fused into the shape of her shoes. When she took them off she could not flatten her feet nor her toes on the floor they were permanently turned up. I think it was the sight of her feet that made me choose well fitting comfortable shoes.

When I was younger and tottering about in my stilettos (wore them every day for work as well as at weekends), I always wondered why old ladies (to me then, that meant anyone over 50?) wore such awful flat shoes with velcro straps and thick soles - and now I know! I can't say I've got to the velcro straps stage yet, but can now only wear flats or a 2in heel if I'm going on a night out. I can't seem to walk properly in heels any more, and agree that Dick Emery's Mandy comes to mind when I have them on ? I am so pleased that FitFlops have been invented, in summer I live in them, they have an arch support and a 'bouncy' sole; the most comfortable toeposts ever.

I have always had difficulty obtaining comfortable yet stylish shoes as I have extremely broad feet. Now in my 60's I have the added problem that I'm developing a bunion in my left foot which, on a person with normal or narrow width feet is probably not yet bad enough to cause a major problem but on my foot is making it impossible to get on anything other than real orthopedic "granny" shoes!
I did find a website called "Sole Bliss" (sorry I find doing links on my phone difficult but they're easily googled) and they do have one or two nice styles which look hopeful but, oh my! The prices!

I walk barefoot or in socks whenever possible.
Comfort always. Lowish heels as I’m tall.

I have always put comfort first where my feet are concerned. Never wore high heels, even in my teens - couldn't walk quickly or chase a bus in heels - so always flats or no higher that 1 inch. I too like the Mary Jane style and Reikers are usually my favoured brand. But I just bought a pair of Pavers (MJs) and they are SO comfortable and very well made, also bought two pairs of their stretchy sandals - like walking on clouds - and as my feet swell through the day they stretch with them. I'm not a huge fan of trainers I prefer leather slip-ons or moccasin styles. Can't wear toepost sandals either they usually hurt the joint between my toes. My shoes have to be wide fitting and always leather. They are my one extravagance and in the past I had shoes made to measure. Half sizes are getting harder to find these days, usually I can wear a 4 but sometimes the extra half size would help. I generally only have 2 pairs of closed shoes and two pairs of sandals, I don't buy dressy shoes or keep shoes for best.

My doctor always said that wearing higher heels led to contracting the tendons of the lower limbs which makes perfect sense. We were designed to go barefoot!!

Initially comfort, but if I was going to Ascot or a wedding I would wear heals to match outfit then flats for the evening. My Dr told me continually wearing flats is bad for your back posture and creates hard skin on your feet. He recommended to always have a small heal or a wedge.

paperbackwriter- I looked at the Tracey Neuls website. Very expensive but lovely shoes. If I was near one of the shops I might investigate but they're too pricey to risk ordering online. I need to try shoes on first.
I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for shoes. They have a hard life transporting me about!

Love my heels for outings but they have to be comfortable. Can't imagine why this cannot be the case. No comfort, no purchase. Currently only in flats - and scruffy ones at that - because my life consists of either gardening or interior decorating. When I take my riverside walk I smarten up (of course!) but still in flats. Wouldn't feel dressy without my heels but fully appreciate this might have to change with circumstances. So far so good. Margsus, that pair you photograph are lovely. Thanks for sharing.

Comfort for every day, but definitely style when (if ever I can!) on a social occasion.

I’ve just put three pairs of Mary Jane type shoes in the latest charity bag. I retired five years ago and decided I would never wear them again. I have a selection of Clark’s ballet pumps which I love. I may need to investigate heels for my daughter’s wedding when it comes along next year, though.

All my life shoes have had to feel comfortable as soon as I tried them on or I wouldn't buy them. I wore 3" heels at least despite being 5'10" for many years and only owned flat boots and 1 pair of flat shoes . Now in my 70s and with cancer in my spine and pelvis it's flat comfortable shoes for me. Hotter and Skechers and Reiker anti stress are ideal. It's just as well I have plenty as I can only buy them on trips to England and I cant see that happening for a long time.

I was always, ALWAYS a heels kinda girl. It changed about 10 years ago when I fell downstairs and badly damaged my ankle; it was a long recovery. Now I work in a busy, on my feet all day job, so comfort rules.

However, I still have most of my heels, (I had over a hundred pairs at one point) but they're saved for special occasions. I still feel great in them, just don't wear then every day.

Comfort always! (It's my belief that uncomfortable shoes will always show on your face.)

I gave up wearing heels in my late forties. Now it's comfort all the way. It's lucky that trainers, worn with a dress, is now perfectly fine!

I broke left leg and right foot simultaneously some years ago and my first question to the surgeon was 'post operation, will I still be able to wear my heels?'!

Although now 'old' I would hate to give heels up. Most are now 'car to bar' (love that expression) but I do feel that heels make almost any outfit look better.

I bought Hotter on recommendations from Gransnet but many have heels; I think at least 3 or even 4". One pair (liked them so much I have two colours) of wedges are really high, so Hotter are not all flat.

I have one arthritic foot and several other foot problems but will keep battling on with heels because I am a stubborn old bat and not yet ready to give in (although I appreciate comments regarding comfort and also enjoy wearing my flatties)!

Have just measured the Hotter wedges and they are just short of 4", at 3 3/4". Obviously I am not recommending high heels for every day wear as that would wreck a foot but sometimes a girl just has to wear heels....

Sooze58, my daughter got married ten years ago, and I was persuaded to buy some very elegant four inch stilettos to go with my Mum of Bride outfit. Fortunately, the outfit I chose had a long skirt. I put up with the pain for the ceremony; then switched to a pair of (still quite smart) wedgies for the rest of the day and the evening. Oh the relief! best decision I could have made....
And I don't think anyone noticed.

As I take size 2 shoes, it's difficult to find any on the High Street even my local Pavers store stocks fewer styles than they used to. Flyflots or Skechers for walking are always comfy, haven't bought high heels since I needed some for a special occasion we attended a couple of years ago.

I know what you mean Tedd1
I have always envied my cousin her near-perfect feet and the gorgeous strappy, heeled shoes she wears to parties and on holidays when we’ve been together.
And she’s 5 years older than me - I tell her I’m envious - I don’t let the green eyed monster get in the way ?