ISO low heeled shoes?

[kamikat]

I've given up looking on ebay for vintage low heeled shoes. Can anyone recommend a good substitute? My saddle shoes are getting worn out and I need something new.

 

[Leading Edge]

Me too!

I've given up looking on ebay for vintage low heeled shoes. Can anyone recommend a good substitute? My saddle shoes are getting worn out and I need something new.

Good question.
Since I have refused to wear high heels for most of my life, I been looking for good low heeled shoes a loooong time - mostly unsuccessfully. I never thought of eBay though. I am never quite sure what people envision when they use the term "vintage" (saddle shoe is a big help there) so I offer the following with some trepidation.

The Earth Shoe (too pricey for me, but I bought a pair once; probably on sale) has some that are styled as classic Mary Janes and t-strap pumps. One of the problems I have found is that many of the good low-heel shoes like Mephisto (also too pricey for me, but I treated myself out of a tax refund once) are European sized. I have trouble getting a good fit, but you may be more successful.

I will be interested in what others have found because my feet and I are really, really disenchanted with constantly wearing the running shoe sneaker type shoe.

 

[leaette]

my friend has these shoes and she loves them. i want a pair. maybe for xmas. they are an oxford show with a lower heel.
http://www.fittedshoe.com/CLINIC_SHOES/C_COQUETTE.htm

 

[LizzieMaine]

I *strongly* endorse the Clinic Coquettes -- they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned, and they're impeccably vintage in their style. Good for walkin', good for workin', and they've even got real arch support. I'm wearing mine right now -- having just gotten home from work, where I spent seven hours on my feet, and they feel just fine.

 

[GoldLeaf]

Glad to know you recommend them, Lizzie. I need healthier shoes for the rest of my pregnancy. I don't want to end up with even bigger feet than my size 11/12 because I let my arches go flat!

These are kind of cute, too https://www.tocynbro.com/CLINIC_SHOES/C_GEM.htm
Too bad these are discontinued https://www.tocynbro.com/CLINIC_SHOES/C_APRIL.htm

 

[Blondie]

How about a pair of penny loafers ????

 

[gluegungeisha]

When I'm not in heels or saddle shoes, I wear those $4 Chinese mary janes (Kung Fu shoes). Not too good for your feet, though...they're completely flat and have no padding.

 

[rubyredlocks]

I used to wear those GGG.Usually,I would buy them a bit big and then purchase insoles at the drugstore.Worked like a charm.

 

[Miss Sis]

Too bad these are discontinued https://www.tocynbro.com/CLINIC_SHOES/C_APRIL.htm

Goldleaf, I thought the same! They are sensible but still sweet.

 

[ssubialdea]

What about vintage tap shoes? I had found a pair of black ones from the 40s at a thrift store for $4. The heels are usually low (and comfy to dance in) and the style of the shoes are really cute. You should be able to find some on ebay too. Most people sell them for pretty cheap (because of the taps I imagine). I was able to remove the taps myself or you could always take them into a shoe shop to remove.

 

[ssubialdea]

Like these:

Or mine are more like these:

 

[kamikat]

All good ideas, ladies! Thanks! Those clinic shoes are really nice, perhaps after a couple side jobs, I could get those.

I didn't even think of loafers. I have a brown pair, but never wear them with dresses.

I think I might even have a pair of those tap shoes somewhere in the back of my closet. I took tap for many years, even into early adulthood. I've always planned to go back to it once the kids were in all-day school.

 

[ssubialdea]

those clinic shoes are cute! Goldleaf: I love the discontinued ones (of course)

 

[leaette]

here are a few more clinic shoes:
https://www.tocynbro.com/CLINIC_SHOES/C_RENA.htm

https://www.tocynbro.com/CLINIC_SHOES/C_CROSSTOWN.htm

https://www.tocynbro.com/CLINIC_SHOES/T_TIME.htm

why do these shoes have to cost so much!!??
I want all of the ones that have been posted here.

 

[timorous me]

I used to wear those GGG.Usually,I would buy them a bit big and then purchase insoles at the drugstore.Worked like a charm.

Absolutely. I LIVE in my china flats, but recently they've been awful on my feet/back/knees - I have rheumatoid arthritis, so it's not hard to get achy!

Recently I invested in a couple of pairs of Dr Scholls insoles... not the "I'm Gellin'" kind, mind you. They're specifically for flat shoes without arch support, they have a hard plastic arch covered with padding and a pillowy little cup for your heel. THEY ARE AMAZING. They're thin enough to slip into any pair of shoes, even china flats.

Other than that, I too am on the hunt for some good comfy shoes!

 

[SarahLouise]

Absolutely. I LIVE in my china flats, but recently they've been awful on my feet/back/knees - I have rheumatoid arthritis, so it's not hard to get achy!

Recently I invested in a couple of pairs of Dr Scholls insoles... not the "I'm Gellin'" kind, mind you. They're specifically for flat shoes without arch support, they have a hard plastic arch covered with padding and a pillowy little cup for your heel. THEY ARE AMAZING. They're thin enough to slip into any pair of shoes, even china flats.

Other than that, I too am on the hunt for some good comfy shoes!

I really need some of those Dr Scholls insoles! I wear ballet flats regularly and have put normal insoles in all of them but these ones you're talking about, designed specifically for flat shoes, sound brilliant! Wherabouts did you buy them? I don't think I've ever seen them around.

 

[Lady Day]

Absolutely. I LIVE in my china flats, but recently they've been awful on my feet/back/knees - I have rheumatoid arthritis, so it's not hard to get achy!

Recently I invested in a couple of pairs of Dr Scholls insoles... not the "I'm Gellin'" kind, mind you. They're specifically for flat shoes without arch support, they have a hard plastic arch covered with padding and a pillowy little cup for your heel. THEY ARE AMAZING. They're thin enough to slip into any pair of shoes, even china flats.

Other than that, I too am on the hunt for some good comfy shoes!

These? If so Ive been meaning to try these!
LD

 

[NicolettaRose]

What about ballet flats? These are very classy and oh so comfortable. Steve Madden makes a whole bunch of cute ones.

 

[Lovely Leah]

why do these shoes have to cost so much!!??
I want all of the ones that have been posted here.

Hi Leaette, Clinic shoes are expensive, but incredibly well made and comfortable. They're worth every penny. I wore an oxford made by them. It was discontinued a while back, but I got them at a closeout sale.

Check out the "Trinket" by P.W. Minor on the same site, I wear that one now. I wish there were more colors than just black. This shoe is very supportive.

 

[timorous me]

These? If so Ive been meaning to try these!
LD

Actually, these are the ones I bought:

Those other ones looked really comfy, but harder to fit into super-flat shoes.

These are very, very thin - maybe 1/2 inch at the thickest part, and it thins out to nothing just before the ball of your foot, but my lord are they comfy! They make all the difference... and they are MUCH better for super flat shoes like ballet or china flats than the regular "For Her" insoles, as they have a thin slip of plastic on the underside to create an arch and the heel is slightly elevated.

In the week that I've started wearing these insoles (keeping in mind that I 1: LIVE in china flats, and 2: have a joint disease), my feet and knees and back feel AMAZING, much better aligned and generally less jammed up.


Walgreens.com is selling them for $10.99 per pair, but I found mine at my local supermarket for like seven bucks.