Going to Paris - Are there any comfortable walking shoes that look OK?

A classic challenge, one that I haven't quite solved. I'd recommend a sandal (Clarks has some good options) that will give you support with enough style to avoid the white athletic shoe look. Another option is some of the more modern athletic shoes (Puma) that look a little more stylish (and you'll seen worn in Paris). The capris will be fine, and yes, it will likely be warm when you're there. Enjoy!

PLEASE !!
If you are comfortable, wear the white shoes.
Like anyone in Paris cares...

Hi. I just bought a pair of Rockport shoes "Latorio" in black and they are quite stylish and super comfortable with lots of cushioning.They are available in other colors too. I will be taking them to Paris this September.

Google the Rockport website and you will see them.

I'm taking the finncomfort.com, style-soho 82743, suede tennis shoes. I wear them almost every day at home and they are totally comfortable. Finncomfort can really make a pair of shoes. I have two pairs of that style tennis shoe.

I'll also take the Mephisto, Allrounders and a pair of shoes for if I want to go out in the evening. Happy Travels!

I don't give a fig about stylish whether in my home town or Paris! They don't either. I saw more Crocs than ever been worn from people in the UK to Paris. (if they are the genuine article) a very comfortable shoe.
Your legs are tired because they probably need 'Support Hose' or what we refer to as medical stockings. Believe me nobody knows you are wearing them and at the end of a very very long day walking the length and breadth of Paris your legs(and veins) will be in excellent shape with no tired feet.

I recently bought a pair of Ecco sandals that have velcro on the straps and found them so comfortable for walking all around Rome that this was all I wore.....without socks and feet felt great!

Mephisto black suede sandals are super comfortable and look good anywhere. I walked all over Rome and Paris in them. For an inexpensive black sneaker, try the Reebok women's Classic. It's not super attractive, but it is comfortable, black and easily kept clean with just water. They look fine with capris or city shorts, as long as you us low-rise "tennis" socks in black or white.

Hi usafran,
We too will be in Paris in August. Capris it is for me. I too was wondering what would be a good shoe to wear with capris, comfortable etc.

For a test run, last summer I bought a pair of Teva sandals (the style from Magellans). I bought the ones with the adjustable strap that goes across the top of your foot and the strap behind your ankle.

I love them so much I am ordering another pair this week as this will be the only shoe I plan on wearing with my capris for our three month trip this summer.

They have got to be THE most comfortable sandal I have ever worn. I had major back surgery last year and they are the only sandals I can walk in for more than 30 minutes without my back hurting. I also need good ankle support. Even though these sandals are thin and strappy, they do the job. My ankles never feel wobbly in them. Must be the cushy cork soles and all the straps.

My other shoes are Sketchers tennis shoes. Tan and dark brown and sooooooooo comfortable too. Good luck with your search.

Take care,
Michele

No one in Paris will care what you wear--not even Carine Roitfeld--so wear what is comfortable to you.

Thin

I agree---no one cares what you wear---be comfortable. I always take a pair of Ecco or Mephisto cushy type sandals and a pair of multi-colored suede tie-ups(I call them my bowling shoes). I wear one on one day, the other the next day to change it up.

One of the best things to do in Paris is walk, please make sure you're able to do so.

Sure, it can be hot in Paris in July and August. I always take some capris. I do like my Ecco sandals very much for walking a lot -- they might be the kind lowcountrycarol has -- they have black straps, a velcro closing, and the sole is cork, which absorbs shocks a lot. They are not super great looking, but are nicer looking than those real casual thinkgs, such as Teva. I also have some sandals by Merrell that I like a lot -- they are sort of sandals, sort of flip-flips, I guess (but not flimsy ones), with a thick sole (rubber or something, cushiony) , sueded upper and the straps are thick and sueded, also. Those are more casual than the Eccos.

As for lace-up shoes -- There are a lot of them, I'm sure Ecco has some, and I've seen others. I actually have a very comfortable pair by Naturalizer that is kind of a European walking shoe look.

Don't worry. Here, once again, is my link to what Parisians were wearing last summer in my residential neighborhood in the 18th arrondissement: http://tinyurl.com/d36vxo

Frankly, anybody who worries what it is appropriate to wear on the streets of Paris after seeing that has a screw loose.

Naturally, it is not forbidden dress nicely for certain outings in the evening.

I recently bought a pair of Coach sneakers/tennis shoes (tan "C" print canvas with gold leather trim). They are very cute but also very comfortable. I plan to wear them on my upcoming trip.

I wear Clark black tie shoes. They are part suede and leather. They are very much like a tennis, but don't have the look of tennis.

Since I have a basic black or khaki wardrobe they work with everything. In the evening I wear black sandals. I also bring ECCO sandals for daytime just in case I should get a blister or want to look better in my capris.

The Clark tie shoes are in all Clark stores or online.

Hi; Try Land's End and look for 'trekker shoes'. www.landsend.com/ Dick

Hi USAFran -

I just came back from Paris, and I wore brown suede Champion walking shoes that I bought at Payless. They are inexpensive and very comfortable. You're going to have a great time. Paris is charming. My favorite museum was the Musee Rodin, and my favorite meal was at Le Cigale Recamier. Be careful around the Eiffel Tower, there are very aggressive Nigerian pickpockets.

My advice is whatever shoes you take, make sure that they've been worn often enough to determine if they'll be comfortable.

Merrell makes the most comfortable walking shoe I have ever worn. All kinds are available and some look very nice....not at all like walking shoes.

My favorite comfortable, but still good-looking, shoes are ARCHE (a French brand) and CAMPER (a Spanish brand).

Arche has some frumpy styles, but some hip styles as well. They are on the expensive side.

Camper definitely is more funky and trendy, but still very well made. They seem to be at a lower price point than Arche.

Both brands have styles that go well with pants as well as dresses and skirts. So just because you are out walking all day... you can still wear these out to dinner and not feel like your wearing your sneaks.

Oh, and I don't know about the "lace-up" part that you're looking for. Both brands I mentioned have a lot of nice-looking flats that you slip on. And even some with good-sized heels that still manage to be very comfortable. Of course, everyone's feet are different so sometimes you don't know until you try. Wear them a lot BEFORE your trip if possible.

www.mephistoxpress.com

www.finncomfort.com Happy Travels!

I recently bought a pair of Easy Spirit Travel-time shoes and loved them so much I bought 2 more in other colors. The shoe is like a clog, but somewhat like a sneaker on top with lots of air vents. These are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned; they're like the wonderful Haflinger wool slippers that I used to wear all day in the house. I don't think you could go wrong with the Easy Spirits: good cushioning and support.

Paris in July and August if often hot and humid as well. Hope your hotel has AC.

There are a ton of comfy shoes that look good. But I don't go for sneaker type with laces. Have a couple of pair of Skechers Mary Janes and they're incredibly comfy. Also look at some of the flats with a cruved up rubber sole - you can walk hours in them and they look hardly different than regular cute flats.

(I'm never comfy in lace up shoes since I have skinny feet and it's very hard to get them narrow enough - and then the two halves of the top start overlapping and making bumps.)

I think the most comfortable shoes in the world are Mephistos.
I have a pair of black nubock slip-ons that are like butter.
They are my second pair - I nearly cried when the first ones died - they looked so beat up after so many years - I had to retire them. They are pricey but worth every cent.

Clarks makes some good ones also.

You can wear whatever you want. I don't know who said to stay away from white sneakers, but that's simply not true.

It depends on YOUR feet. Some people like Ecco, Mephistos, Birkenstocks, Joseph Seibel but NONE of those fit me. I do better with Naot or Clarks for sandals, and New Balance or Nikes for sneakers. My friend swears by Sketcher's Mary Janes for traveling.

I also like Arche sandals. The soles are very soft, made of latex, and most of the uppers are super soft suede. They often have interesting, jazzy colors, too. I buy them from Zappos online, as they have the best free return policy, and I like to try them on at home and walk around in them. I like Mephisto, too. The only problem with Arche can be if you have to stand on cobblestones. We did that for at a festival in Barcelona, and I felt as if I were barefoot on those sharpish cobblestones. Ouch!

I always wear SAS sandals..They are so comfortable..

Anyway dont worry about what to wear..

The Paris of Today is Not what it USED to be.

I know I have traveled to Paris since I was a teenager, when it really used to be a very fashionable city,now unfortunately everything goes.

Just dress comfortable and neat,but wear good sandals or good walking shoes and enjoy yourself.

Capris are still in style which makes me very happy ,because I plan to be there in September.

Forget trying to look cool. Wear shoes that you are comfortable. No on will be looking at you anyway. You may think they are, but people have other things on their mind than look at you and what you are wearing.

Hi usafran,

I went to Paris in mid-May. I took a pair of Clarks un-Structured flats (can't remember the style, though). They were great. I purchased a pair of Clarks dressy sandals in Paris - very comfortable as well.

Wear what you would be most comfortable walking on cobblestones, asphalt, sand, cement, etc. Once you arrive, you will notice every type of shoe being worn. Even (gasp!) the white sneakers/trainers.

Enjoy your time in Paris! I miss it already and am looking at flights to go back soon!

TR

usafran,
It's all about the feet when visiting Paris. As all have mentioned, bring your most comfortable shoes. I also suggest that you bring several pairs, because no matter how comfortable your favorite walking shoe may be, once you've spent too much time in THAT shoe (or it was too hot that day, or it rubbed your toe the wrong way), your feet feel better in a different shoe for awhile. Bring socks, bring bandaids, bring moleskin. With some luck, you won't need any of it, but always best to be prepared. Enjoy, EJ

If you asked me this question one week ago, I would answer whatever. But this week I've read at least 2 or 3 articles talking about shoes. I suggest you go on ehow.com or ezinearticle.com to find some articles and read them, they are good articles and you can learn a lot from them. For buying good shoes online perhaps you can use my site.

CEO of http://www.shopcarefully.com/index.php?option=com_jreviews&Itemid=131

Another vote for Clark's unstructured ("Un.") shoes and sandals.

http://clarks.zappos.com/n/es/d/722685834/page/1.html

Ecco sandals, I am on my 5th pair, all of which have walked the streets and lands of Paris, Cahors, Munich, Emden, and on it goes. I never leave home without them!

happy travels,
Julie

People swear by Mephistos, which I own, but frankly, my Merrell's are THE best. The sandals and the clogs are all so comfortable.
Have a great trip!

Here is one of my favorite styles of non-sneakers sneakers, Merrell's Relay Tour:

http://www.onlineshoes.com/productpage.asp?gen=w&pcid=71609

These are very comfortable, and easy to get on/off because of the velcro strap (and a bit adjustable). In the summer, they are cooler than regular athletic shoes because of the mesh, but they give you toe protection and a good sole. I think they are discontinued, I bought an olive pair last year and liked them so much, I just bought three more pair on the above website (black, beige and blue). Zappos only had them in my size in red, but the above site has a lot more inventory. I do have an odd size, though, which is why I buy multiple colors when I find a good, comfortable shoe.

I have gotten a lot of compliments on those, for some strange reason, from both women and men, so they are cute for a sneaker, but of course, not remotely dressy for skirts.

So happy to read that you can wear whatever shoes are comfortable for YOU. We travel several weeks a year and on many of the trips we hit National Parks; thus the foot ware I'm most comfortable in are white sneakers. We're only going to be in Europe for 10 days. I really don't want to spend/waste $$ and space in a suitcase for additional pairs of foot ware.

We just returned from 10 days in France. I bought the Merrell Chameleon Arc before the trip because all my casual shoes were "dead". They are a Mary Jane style but with a hiker type bottom. They may not be "cute" but they were comfortable. I have degenerative disc disease in my lower back and had kidney stone surgery three days before we left. My feet never hurt one minute. My legs and back held up well too. We walked miles and stood up a lot. I have really good luck with Merrell and these are my new favorites. I am actually wearing them with a skirt at work today!

Wear what you think is comfortable sore feet and travelling do not mix.

Bonne Chance !

Have fun!

Holy cats, please take a well-worn and comfortable pair of shoes. Whatever you wear at home will be fine. I've been in Paris during the last two summers and have just taken the same sandals that I have worn at home - last summer it was a pair of gold leather flat gladiators. Also, I did wear a pair of Converse All-Stars that were two years old, and nobody pointed or stared.

If you like the Prowalkers, wear the Prowalkers. Paris is full of tourists in the summer and you will blend right in.

Wear whatever is comfortable and then have a glass of wine and don't care what other people think-its so much easier!

I haven't read all of the posts but I love Cole Haan. They come in various colors. I know they're not lace ups but they're so comfortable and give me enough support. I've bought them from Nordstrom's but also ordered them from Zappos.com. Here's the web page from Zappos. http://www.zappos.com/product/7395800/color/211661

I know alot of people like wearing tennis shoes but I can't wear them all day in the warmer months as they tend to be hot.

I've also worn Mephistos but haven't been able to find any recently that are as comfortable as Cole Haan.

Wear whatever is comfortable for you.

Each person's feet are different. Wear what you would at home that is comfortable to you. No reason to purchase a new pair of shoes obviously that have never been worn and torture yourself regardless of recommendations from anyone else.
Function over fashion!