39 Comments
User's avatar
Ruth Ann Harnisch's avatar

Next time do the “hide my toes and heels” version, please and thank you

Expand full comment
HeatherW's avatar

Cole Haan ballet flats. (I say CH specifically because they make them with some padding/support.)

Expand full comment
Goldfish's avatar

Sweet, but since I am Of A Certain Age I kept going, nope (bunions), nope (no support),....

Expand full comment
Candy's avatar

Yeah, sigh, me too. Between wearing a larger than average size (12) and needing much more support to avoid plantar fasciitis and shin splints, I sadly had to pass. For those poor souls (and soles) like me, any recommendations for supportive but attractive sandals would be appreciated.

Expand full comment
Robyn's avatar

I know everyone is probably tired of Fitflops and it’s a drag to see your sandal on every other foot in town but they are the most comfortable I’ve found! (Old feet, arch issues, knee problems.) As comfy as my clunky clownish Hokas, even. I prefer the Gen FF sole.

https://www.fitflop.com/us/en/shop/gen-ff-leather-fisherman-sandals-p-IZ1

Expand full comment
Maya's avatar

Hi, fellow bigfoot here. I have a recommendation. I normally wear the FitFlop Lulu sandals because I can walk miles in them, but they are SO ugly. The less ugly ones I have found that are somewhat in the same realm of comfort and walkability are Lifestride Gillian (https://www.lifestride.com/product/womens-gillian-2-strappy-sandal-5279490/creme-beige-faux-leather-84312) or Zing (https://www.lifestride.com/product/womens-zing-slingback-sandal-5265370/silver-faux-leather-14459).

They are not particularly high-quality but they are comfortable, affordable, and not ugly.

Expand full comment
Dawn's avatar

For what it's worth, Maya, anyone who walks miles comfortably in any shoes looks good! It's the glow from the walk that outshines the shoes. Keep on truckin'.

Expand full comment
Allison's avatar

I like the Gillian. Thx!

Expand full comment
Goldfish's avatar

SO appreciated. It is still inexplicably hard to find cute stuff in wide width.

Expand full comment
Allison's avatar

fwiw. Regular/wide, many with buckles = https://tinyurl.com/yp779szm

Expand full comment
Allison's avatar

fwiw. Wide width only here: https://www.nordstromrack.com/s/gizeh-birko-flor-sandal-women/2896753?

Expand full comment
New Englander's avatar

I'm wearing the birkenstocks which are featured above and they are supportive, also very comfortable despite my half-century feet's challenges. And they are attractive enough that my teen daughter approves of them.

Expand full comment
maryse's avatar

Birks are my go to due to my big ass potato feet but Birkenstock has betrayed me by making their women styles in regular/narrow fit only. *shaking fist*

Expand full comment
Dewie's avatar

May I suggest Camper please? I bought the Dana last summer for an Italian wedding trip. (I was looking for dupe for the R .. W 🫢) and these came up. I walked all over italy in them and wore for rehearsal dinner with a linen dress. They still look new. I also put Summer Soles in all my sandals, you just peel them off if they get icky. Leave no residue and are great for humidity. So nice to chat about shopping with you guys.

https://www.camper.com/en_US/women/shoes/dn0/camper-dana-K201600-007

Expand full comment
Claire's avatar

I keep hearing good things about Camper shoes

Expand full comment
Sharli's avatar

Would love to see sandals with more coverage of the toes, and an ankle strap. Mules and flip flops are hard to keep on and my bunions and toes are ugly so I like to cover them a bit.

Expand full comment
Janet Jeffers's avatar

Great selection! I have an old (like 10+ years old?) pair of Ancient Greek Sandals — it looks like they make the same style but mine are mixed metallic and the current ones just come in platinum or black or tan. I remember balking at the price back then, but the darn things are still going strong! No arch support whatsoever but that’s not an issue for me as it is for so many others. I cannot wear Birks, even though I think some of them are kinda cute.

Expand full comment
Nnn's avatar

Okay, these are not sandals but I kind of like them - they are sandals with a sneaker bottom. The second one covers the toes. We got some for summer house slippers.

https://www.rei.com/product/796011/teva-tirra-sandals-womens

https://www.rei.com/product/245165/teva-tirra-sport-ct-sandals-womens

Expand full comment
Nnn's avatar

I also liked the idea of these - but I'd like loud blue ones. I guess I have bad taste.

https://www.rei.com/product/208331/merrell-hydro-moc-shoes-womens

Btw - has anyone here tried the step-in Skechers? Could I put my superfeet insoles in them? How are they? I am a bit intrigued.

Expand full comment
Nnn's avatar

These have only elastic straps - I didn't see them in the store, I just saw them online now. They are a bit more bare.

https://www.rei.com/product/244934/teva-tirra-traveler-flip-flops-womens?color=WHITE%2520PEPPER

Expand full comment
Mary Alice's avatar

Love this roundup! My problem is that my feet are so narrow that they slide right through most sandals, so I have to have an adjustable strap across the foot. This is why I own 9 pairs of Birkenstock Arizonas….I don’t see a problem here, do you?

Expand full comment
Ashley's avatar

My feet are also super narrow, I discovered the brand Munro a couple years ago—they actually sell shoes in a number of widths (including narrow). I got fisherman’s sandals and going into their third summer they still look great.

Expand full comment
Joni's avatar

Kim, I think you've written about the Beek sandals before and liked them . . . do they actually stay put on your feet? I like the look of them and love the platform but I'm worried about them flying off my foot!

Expand full comment
New Englander's avatar

I'm wearing those berry red Birkenstocks at this very moment, as I read this! They are great. (I'm intrigued by Sorel's Kinetic Impact Y-Strap High Sandal, also at Zappo's.)

Expand full comment
Claire's avatar

It's the Beek Kea Suede Slide sandals that make me swoon. I think the plum color is dreamy. They are way out of my price range, though.

Expand full comment
Francesca Russell's avatar

Saltwaters forever and ever amen.

Expand full comment
Linda Fairchild's avatar

I just bought three pairs in Puerto Rico. They so get sandals and bathing suits! I'm in heaven.

Expand full comment
Gablesgirl's avatar

Love the Bernardo sandals. My mom always wore them for pedicure day. They have a padded foot bed so much more comfortable than regular flats.

Expand full comment
Kate's avatar

Those braided gold ones (pretty!) above sent me down a Nordstrom Rack rabbit hole, and I might have finally satisfied my espadrille craving (lower wedge, ankle strap). Fingers crossed!

Expand full comment
Stephanie's avatar

Every summer I fall in love with beautiful sandals with decent arch support, only to remember that anything without fully functioning adjustable straps -- ALL the straps, at every point -- is going to flop and flap and fall off at the worst moment. Sigh. My thin-footed kingdom for a sandal with buckles all over.

Expand full comment