Shadow

Only 15 days until my dh and I leave for NYC!! First time!! But, I have some clothing questions.

1) There will be 2 different days that we'll be casual tourists...just seeing the sights but in the evening we'll be going to dressier places-and, we'll be checked out of the hotel. One day: walking around Central Park, etc. evening: Rainbow Room for a drink (but then a non-dressy pub for dinner) (NY relatives have planned this). We could go to car and change shoes....any suggestions though on shoes to wear walking around with a nice pants suit?
2) Another day we'll be with same relatives walking around Brooklyn and dinner at the River Cafe. I could do the same....nice outfit but change shoes (in car) or dressier walking shoes??

Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Shadow

mclaurie

Bring another pair of shoes with you and change. It's a good idea to change shoes anyway. Whether to leave them in the car (and have to go retrieve them in a garage?) I'm not sure. If you have to go back to the car anyway, leave them in the car. Otherwise, consider putting them in a tote bag.

As for a suggestion of shoes, what would you normally wear to do a lot of walking?

emd

The most important thing is to wear the most comfortable shoes you have during all the walking. For me, I must have the support of athletic training shoes. I have some Nikes that are dark grey and don't stick out as much as white ones. I wore those w/capris during the day on our trip to NYC at the end of August and believe me, no one sneared at my feet and my feet did not hurt even at the end of the day. I wished I had had heavier pants or jeans because it was actually cool (to downright cold one day when it rained) while we were there.

If you will be wearing your evening outfit during the day, then if it was me I'd carry a backpack w/the shoes change for evening, but that is just me.

BTW, I recall from another post that you (I think it was you) have a relative who was a captain in NYFD. I hope you will be able to go to the NY Fire Dept. Museum. My husband has a relative who was fire chief in Boston in early 1900s and I really enjoyed the NYC Fire Museum.

http://www.nycfiremuseum.org/index.php

Have fun! Late Oct. is a great time for NYC.

lizziea06

EMD made a great suggestion. Many NY women have your same dilemma every work day. Rather than pull the "Working Girl" look with white sneakers and a suit, I usually wear neutral color pumas (grey or brown) or flip flops and pack my work shoes in my bag. Slouch shoulder bags are in fashion right now, and you can pack everything you need (including another pair of shoes).

GoTravel

Most alarming, why do you have a car in Manhattan? I hope you aren't thinking of driving from site to site.

As lizzie stated, I keep my dressier shoes in my bag and wear trainers or walking shoes around town.

marginal_margiela

Put extra pair of dressy shoes (Taryn Rose, Christian Laboutin, Ferragamo) either in your Marc Jacob's bag. Or do what a lot of other Manhattan women do: put your extra pair of shoes in one of those little shopping bags from Godiva or Tiffany's. Hey, even a plastic Duane Reade bag will do.

Don't worry too much about it though. You could show up for drinks at the Rainbow Room in Bjorn clogs and no one would really care.

happytrailstoyou

I didn't read other replies; however, I used to have the concern you express until I discovered that I was the only one worried about my footwear.

Your friends know you are traveling, and, when traveling, there are oodles of options for shoes that are comfortable for walking and that will make nobody gasp at places like the Rainbow Room.

Shadow

Thanks for all the great suggestions...I live in the middle of the mojave desert and nobody worries about anything here such as clothes!

What I forgot to mention is the main reason I am concerned is that I have osteoarthritis in my hips and its getting worse...if I don't wear shoes with lots of padding I am in a lot of pain....so, tennis shoes work best for me and that is what I will wear on the other days that I don't have to be "dressy".

Emd...yes, my cousin is retired but was a Captain in Brooklyn. The museum sounds interesting! In fact, it is that cousin and his wife we will be with on both these occasions.

We will NOT have a car!! My cousin who lives in Long Island is driving in to get us and we'll walk around together and then we'll stay with them and they will bring us to Brooklyn (where he grew up and wants to tell/show us all about it...he has written stories(non published) about street games, playing in Prospect Park,
being a child of Irish Immigrants in Brooklyn, they are fabulous stories and now I will get to put a face to the stories and see these places....

My trip is a bit complicated since we'll be staying with cousins, then staying for a few days in Mid Town Manhattan then staying with the cousins again....

Anyway, you have all given me great ideas but most importantly made me feel that what I need to do will work out...

Thanks so much...
I promise to do a trip report when we get back!!
Shadow

Austin

Shadow, I recently bought a pair of Sofft shoes. The most comfortable shoes I have ever worn - only next to my Merrit Sandals. Try some if you can find any in your area.

Shadow

Austin...thanks for the infor.....I will check that out.
As ususal, as soon as I post something...something changes!! But, this is good: my cousin emailed that they could only get a reservation for the River Cafe for 9:30 pm!!! So, we will tour Brooklyn, go back to their place on Long Island and have a chance to rest and change then go to the River Cafe.....however, it will be dark then...I hope to get some pictures sometime that day from that area (towards Manhattan)...
Shadow