Ladies: Walking shoe recom for BKK?
 

Hi Ladies,
Does anyone have a favorite walking type shoe that won't look dorky with a long skirt in Bangkok? I normally would wear a comfy, walking type sandal, but those are frowned on in the temple complexes. (yes, I know I need to remove them entirely to enter a temple) Yet, I prefer not to wear socks so need a closed toe shoe that breathes and is cool. It would be most helpful if you could name a specific brand. Thank you for your fashion & comfort wisdom.

I love my El Naturalista Iggdrasils for travelling. They come in a lot of funky colors and you can choose clogs or full shoes. I happen to have the full shoe in black. Comfy with socks or barefeet, look fine with a skirt or capris. What I really like is that they have a thick rubber sole so if it is raining, as it often does in my favorite coastal destination my feet don't get wet. This feature might also work for you in BKK as I remember the heat of the sidewalks. The rubber might offer a bit of protection though the shoes don't have any actual ventilation... I prefer the full shoe for looks and it's sturdy velcro closure, another thing to consider for the temples.

I prefer sandals in the heat of Bangkok. I have lots of kinds - Keens, Merrills, Tevas. For the Grand Palace/Emerald Buddha, they cannot be flip-flops, but must have a heel strap. That is not true at other temples in Thailand.

I wear my Arche ballet slippers everywhere -- city, country, beach. They're very pricy but they last forever, provide good support, are very comfortable and can be dressed up or down. I like the gold ones best but they come in all colors.

my wife likes teva ventura corks

Skechers are comfy, stylish, and nice on your feet.

Why do you say that sandals are frowned upon in temples?

I would not think of wearing anything else in the heat of Bangkok.

Thanks for all your great suggestions and I will look into these. I read somewhere that sandals were on the no-no list for visiting temples, but that they didn't always enforce it. But now that I know you can wear sandals, I most certainly will!