Melissa,

Here is a version of a loafer from Born that I bought and am happy with:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1823767/c/3.html

Summersquash- I like your name. Don't want to be argumentative but do soft leather and support go together? If you have a brand that combines the two, I'd be game. I learned by trial and ERROR that the soft leather shoes I adore for home have no support and left me crying the blues after a few hours of walking on tour. Even my trusty Aerosoles are just for the plane, and relief from laces for the day after I spend all day exploring a city on foot.
Cigalechanta- that is good news. I love vendors like LLBean who offer lifetime gaurantees with no fuss. They reinforced pockets on my leather shoulder bag and seams sheepskin slippers, just great. Now I will consider Mephistos when I need to replace my Rockports - 3 years, 5 trips plus NYC outings and still going strong. Now Marty's shoes carries them for $40-$60 US.

I walk a couple of miles every day with the dog here in Brussels, going over a lot of different terrain, including cobblestone streets. My most comfortable shoes are either from ARA (a German brand) or Bass. I have a pair of Bass "maggi" (could be Maggy or Maggie) loafers that are GREAT. I got them at the Bass outlet in Orlando for $44.99. They look good and I can walk in them for miles and miles. I'm sorry I only bought one pair!
P.S. Completely flat shoes are a bad idea for heavy walking...you need some lift and support in the heel.

I love the Munro's also. I have taken those on several European trips of 2-3 weeks in length and only needed the one pair. They are great on the cobblestones!

Also agree on Nordstrom...and remember when it was a shoe store only:)

My wife finds good prices on Sierra Trading Post SierraTradingPost.com on the web for Eccos, Clarks, Mephistos and other good lines.

I had a great pair of 'Lizflex' by Liz Claiborne that sound like what you are looking for - ankle boots, black, 1-1/2" chunky heel, zippered. I also have a pair of Ecco I like but they are pretty flat to the bottom and not quite as comfortable.

I studied this site for shoe tips, and wanted a sturdy shoe to walk around europe
with pants in late fall/winter.. so I tried a pair of merrell ankle boots, recommended so highly on this site. I thought I would just start to break them in, and now I just can't take them off.. so comfortable for walking and wearing all day.. a bit of heel elevation works with boot cut pants..

Giselle, I feel your pain. Balancing fashion and foot health requires lots of shopping.

Last winter I bought some low-heeled Aerosoles black boots and they worked well for me. I bought them at DSW Shoe Warehouse. I mostly wore these at night, as I find changing out shoes during the day seems to lessen foot fatigue.

This spring, I spent the better part of an afternoon at Nordstroms looking for the perfect pair of kitten heels, and --spare the one pair I loved that cost $300+ -- I didn't find any that were comfortable enough.

While walking out of the mall, I stopped by the Bandalino shoe store and found a great pair of black low heels with a pointy toe that turned out to be great. They're a tad higher than a kitten heel, but cute and comfy. I wear these at night for the most part and stick to something more flat during the day -- usually a mary jane style shoe.

May the force be with you in your search for the perfect shoe.

anyone else wonder why 666 was chosen as the "dumb shoe question" number?

numbat, that's exactly what happened to me with my first pair of Merrells. I couldn't take them off. I now own 5 pairs in different styles and colors, but haven't seen any ankle boots like the ones you describe. Can you tell me the style name or refer me to a web page? Thanks!

I have a great pair of slipon Merrells with a suede finish. I got them a few weeks ago and these are definitely one of my favorite shoe purchases in terms of comfort, and they don't look bad either. However, my time with them has been limited because I've been afraid to wear them when there's any possibility of rain. I'm afraid to take them to Italy for the same reason. Anyone have any foolproof waterproof sprays to recommend?

Will, I've used London Fog's product and it seems to work. They are certainly in the business of rain protection. I'm not sure where you get it unless you have a London Fog nearby. Maybe someone else has another rain proofing for you. It is important for Winter!

(I did the #666 as a joke because all these clothing questions bedevil people.

very good, Giselle........ i wish i could say i got it the first time..

Hi
I, like, LUXING, prefer the Dansko Golden Gate Collection. Extremely comfortable and a lot of style. If you are looking for a bit of dress, try the company called "Think". They make a great pair of ankle boots with a 3/4 inch heel that are very comfortable for walking and look very chic. Good luck!

Most of my time is spent in slides and sandals...how I miss "real" shoes! They just sit and languish in my closet...till I go a traveling...poor me, yes? When I put on regular shoes,,,my tootsies start to scream ;-), Any other Fl lady have this trouble?

I always wore sneakers when I could until I got these Merrells -- so that tells you how comfortable they are for me. They are called Tetra Pace, really nice leather. I found them on several sites, Nordstroms, I forget where else, when I googled on Merrell. I got the best price at Lordjohnsfootwear.com, and they carry lots of Merrells. Nordstroms was pretty competitive though. Most of their styles are sportier, but these are leather and look nice with pants. At least I think so. And who really cares how shoes look when they are this comfortable anyway :)

Judyrem, I have that problem now. I found out when I was getting ready for our trip to Portland in Sept. My feet only want to spread out in a sandal now ~
Flaarda Feet :)

These may not be the best for all-day sightseeing, but my favorite moderate heeled boots this year are Franco Sarto "Santori Ankle Boot." After wearing the black ones around for a while, I went back for the red ones...and now I may get the brown ones as well. I know different feet need different shoes, but these are nice for dress up or down in the cooler months. Online at Nordstrom:

http://store.nordstrom.com/product/p...tyleID=2828723.

(Page 3 of the mid-heeled boots section)

Carmen

Great boot, Carmen, but I just can't imagine walking all day in them!

You're right, Marilyn, that's why I said not all-day sightseeing. But they're really pretty comfortable for a decent amount of walking...in cooler months, they'd be great for going out to theater, dinner, etc...