Just because we have gotten a bit older and our feet are a little fatter doesn’t mean that we want to wear ugly summer sandals. What does it matter if your vacation is a trip to Paris, a cruise to the Caribbean, a whirl at Disney World, or a walk to the local park with your kids or grandchildren? Adorable sandals are a summertime necessity.
So, you need something with a little style. But, style is no good without a bit of cushioning. And, if your cute sandals are not comfortable, people will only see your grimace and your tears. You are better off wearing bedroom slippers than wearing chic shoes, if those chic shoes rub you in the wrong spot to give you blisters. Travel tip: Rub antiperspirant (not deodorant) over your feet if you expect to walk long distances. Moist skin leads to more friction and more blisters.
Buying Shoes Online
Some women don’t think they can buy sandals online. I disagree. I buy almost everything online and I think the Internet is fabulous. Hey, stores know that we are going to send some of their shoes back. That’s why they give us little sticky return labels.
Instead of buying gas, driving around looking for a place to park, and running from store to store, ladies can buy shoes the lazy-girl way. If you’ve got a credit card, shopping is a yummy piece of cake. Online shopping is like asking your own man-servant to run to the store, to pick up your packages, and to announce his return, “Madame, your shoes have arrived.” Cool.
Cute Sandals at Sahalie
So, where do we start? I have seen some goodies in the Sahalie catalog. If you don’t get their catalog, try Sahalie.com. Sahalie is a Pacific Northwest Indian word that means heaven, sky, or high mountain, so this catalog is geared towards outdoorsy girls who like to hike.
Cushe Sierra Sandals: If you want a charming boho sandal with a touch of gladiator, check out this flower-bedecked shoe. It has a leather-lined, molded rubber footbed and a microfiber-lined leather upper. It comes in an earthy brown, a soft black, and a denim-friendly blue and white, which also would look hot on a cruise. You can also find this at Amazon and other sites.
Born Rubena Sandal: If you want a bit of height, with stability, try this shoe. It has a 2 1/4” platform wedge with cushioning, and it will look primo with any summery outfit, especially skirts. Find this on sale at Sahalie and other websites. It comes in brown or black.
Comfortable Summer Flip Flops at Nordstrom
Since I’m a Seattle native, I’ve been shopping at Nordstrom’s since the 1960s. It is still my favorite shoe store, although Zappos is another (newly-purchased) local fave.
Jack Rogers Ibiza Jelly Sandal: This is so cute. It’s expensive for a flip flop but the bow is just adorable.
Mephisto Violette Thong Sandal: Mephisto is my favorite travel and comfort brand of shoe in the whole world. Mephistos are expensive but they will last forever and a day, no matter how much you beat them up. This French shoe has an elegant dogwood-style petal. It’s good for travel, beach, pool, cruise, cruise excursions, anything. But, like all shoes, break these in before going on a European-tour “Bataan Death March” or you will have blisters between your toes or some other horrid place. The gray shoe is metallic, which is tres trendy.
Footsmart Sandals
Easy Spirt Women’s Hartwell Sandals: This is a cuter and cheaper version of my favorite Mephisto sandals (the style with three Velcro straps). And, I see this as a perfectomundo cruise-ship shoe. Why? Because it comes in ship-shape colors: navy, red, white, black, turquoise, pink, and yellow. Normally, I would say it’s a bit square to wear white, red, or pink sandals like these, in a matchy-matchy way, but on a cruise ship or on an excursion to a tropical island, this shoe is just right. And, you won’t topple over while wearing these in rough seas. I can see any shipboard woman looking hotty-totty in any of these hues. Sizes to WW. For really wide feet, try Propet brand.
Klogs Women’s Santa Rita Sandals: Tons of women with average C-width feet love Klogs. So, I wanted to add this cute design, with Celtic-knot style leather straps. This shoe is chic. And, I really love it in the copper/coffee combination.
Well, these are just a few of the cute sandals that I would try (and will try, eventually). It’s a bit late into the 2011 sandal season, but that means savings for you. What could be better?
Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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