MrsBJJr

SHOES

When I walk in the U.S. it is always sneakers!

While in Italy, what type of shoes/sandals do I wear? I most likely will have long pants on, and would like a small heel at least since I am only 5'4".

How many pairs of shoes should I bring? Do I need a pair just for day walking, another for going out to dinner?

Has anyone worn a 2.5" wedge or platform heel and been able to walk without crippling themselves w/blisters or plain aching feet?

I want to look fashionable, but I look terrible in flats with a skirt. Flat shoes with pants are ok I guess.

starrsville

Wear sneakers and take the most comfortable pair of other shoes you own.

NeoPatrick

A vacation, particularly one that will involve tons of walking, is no time to think about a different type of shoes than you normally wear. Starrsville is right on.

cigalechanta

Do not bring new shoes
Only bring fashinable ones if you have tested them in your own town,
over and over again.
I didn't care if posters thought UGGS were ugly. In February it was raw and rainy, I was warm and dry as toast.
Thank you , UGGS!

GreenDragon

Remember, cobblestone streets may look quaint, but they are hell on heels!

nytraveler

You will be running into a lot of cobblestone streets, other uneven pavements, stairways (often with several hundred year old uneven steps) and a LOT of walking.

What matters is comfort. I wold no wear giant white clown sneakers - but any of the cute fashion athletic shoes (reaally sneakers in colors and slightly better styles) will be fine.

You need 2 pairs of walking shoes for day (if one gets wet - and it will rain - you don;t want to be wearing damp shoes the next day). If you want to get a shoe with a small heel or wedge for wearing out to dinner fine - then you won;t have SO much walking to do.

Wearing heels in Italy when you're ued to sneakers here is close to madness - and sure to cause blisters, sore feeet and possibly a turned ankle.

L84SKY

Like nytraveler said, "no need to wear giant white clown shoes".
Go to Nordstroms.com and look under comfort shoes to get some ideas of what might work for you.
Also, try doing a search here for "shoes", there's been a lot of discussion on the subject.

nbujic

I keep recomending Mephisto shoes and sandals ( they are comfortable, look good, come in many colours ,but they are expensive).

My feet are very bad, but 2 pairs of Mephistos ( one for rain) are all I take anywhere

FauxSteMarie

There are THREADS, THREADS, THREADS on this SUBJECT, SUBJECT, SUBJECT.

Search and you will find.

rosetravels

If you take a 2.5" wedge or platform it will be all you think about as you wobble on the cobblestones. Truly! Then you'll be looking for the nearest shoe store to replace them. Make sure your shoe has a wide base, a good rubber sole and is very comfortable. I think arch support is a must. Brands: Naot, mephisto, wolkies...

djkbooks

Comfort is more important than adding 2.5" to your height. You won't be "short" in Italy.

Yes, wear the most comfortable walking shoes you can find and bring another pair for going out to dinner if shoes that look nice with a skirt is important to you.

Flat, low heeled, shoes, the most comfortable you can possibly find, with very thick soles (not to be confused with a wedge), are essential for walking all about.

You will not look terrible with flats with a skirt. No one but you will care or even notice.

I do NOT recommend Mephistos. They are neither comfortable nor fashionable (along with the aforementions "very expensive". But, my feet do not care for "support", which I believe contributes to the pain. They feel wonderful in the store, but miserable after an hour of walking.

It's a huge challenge to find shoes that are comfortable, but also fashionable.

Eleni

I agree totally about Mephistos. For me, they are not comfortable for the kind of walking I do when I travel. One time I made the mistake of bringing Mephistos with me on a trip to Italy, and my feet hurt the whole time.

Everyone has their own favorites. Mine are Keens. Last year, I couldn't find my travel shoes and bought a pair of Keens the night before I left for a two-month trip. Even the first day, my feet never hurt and I walked and walked and walked. Because the shoes are made of lovely black leather, I felt comfortable wearing them with everything.

And I agree with everyone else. No way on the 2.5" wedge for walking any distance on Italian streets.

crefloors

I wore a pair of Softwalks closed shoes with about an 1 1/2" wedge heel. The inner sole is cushioned. They were incredibly comfortable. I also had a pair of Clark boots. I only wore the Clarks one day because it wasn't raining, and I found them to be heavy after hours of walking. They were very comfortable on my feet however. We walked for miles and I was very glad to get off my feet at the end of the day because often they were aching as well as my legs, but that had nothing to do with the shoes, but everything to do with the fact that I'm out of condition. My feet never got a blister or a sore of any kind with those shoes. I love them.

amyashworth

I wear the "Combat Cocktail Shoe", from San Miguel. Go to: www.outersole.com The shoes are fantastic...especially the sandals! Their called the Combat-cocktail shoe, because they can take you anywhere from Day - night. They're not only cute, comfortable, go with everything, but washable! I have 5 different pair, but only took a sandal and an ankle boot with me. Also remember, whatever you buy, if they have a RUBBER SOLE, they'll be comfortable regardless of the heel height. Try and stay under 2 1/2 inches though. Outersole Shoes are sold out of Austin, TX, and are handmade in San Miguel Mexico. They're all around $60.00, go with pants, shorts, skirts, jeans, and are femanine, comfortable, and cute! DON'T wear WHITE TENNIS SHOES TO EUROPE unless you have a camera around your neck depecting yourself as the traveler from the U.S.

Hope your feet love these San Miguel shoes as much as I do! Also, my podiatrist told me to wear a 1-2" wedge as much as possible, for it gives your feet more support. Wedges are comfortable to walk in, and Outersole.com has a few different styles to try. Hope your feet are happy with whatever you choose, just remember about the RUBBER SOLE SHOES and their comfort. If you have a DSW Shoe Warehouse, they'll have rubber soles for you to choose from in nice price ranges.

lawchick

Why are there so many threads on shoes on Fodors - and on raincoats?

Do people not walk anywhere before they come to Europe? Or, is there no rain in your country?

kfusto

I would never wear sneakers but then at home I only wear them to the gym.

I bring two pair of walking shoes as my feet enjoy the break. Microfiber is great for wet and dry weather and I like a small heel. For evenings, I bring a low heeled boot for winter, sandal for summer.

I like Born, Merrell, Clarks, Stuart Weitzman, Donald Pliner.

Comfort is key but I disklike the look and feel of athletic shoes with regular clothing so that is never my personal choice.

kleeblatt

OK, when I travel with my Swiss group to Lisbon in March, I'm going to purposely note what kind of shoes they are wearing. I hope to heck one poor soul will be wearing white tennis shoes so I can report back:

HAH! Europeans wear white tennis shoes too!!!!!

(Although I find the wind situation in Europe much more interesting at the moment.)

kfusto

IME, Europeans wear the much more fashionable Pumas and Filas, soccer shoes in great colors and textures.

In 15 trips to Europe, it has been my experience that Europeans save their tennies for the gym.

Pausanias

Now why do I suspect that MrsBJJr (cute) is a close relative of MrDreamer?

starrsville

WEAR your white (clown) shoes.

Who cares? They don't. We don't.

Europeans wear white tennies in the US. And, tennies of all color. And, shoes of all colors and descriptions. Most of us don't even notice - and when/if we do, so what?!?!

I've yet to see the Shoe Fashion Police called - anywhere!