You must have chic and comfortable women's shoes for your travels in Europe because you will be on your feet for most of the day and you will be walking more than you usually walk at home. Good footwear will make your trip fun. Bad footwear will ruin your European vacation.
I have been wandering around Paris for the past week and I've almost fallen on my face a few times. Well, I can handle cobblestones while wearing high-heel boots, but I keep forgetting that Parisian curbstones are always an inconsistent height, and there are holes (where high heels can get stuck) in French sidewalk grates, and old European pavement is never totally flat or smooth. Today, I almost tackled an elegant older woman, in a Metro subway tunnel, when I tripped over her tiny suitcase.
All cities in Europe (and around the world) have similar boobytraps, so you need to have good balance. In Paris, you will spend enormous amounts of time and energy going up and down stairs in places like:
- Metro stations (subways)
- Churches and cathedrals
- Hotels (if you like to travel on the cheap)
- Restaurants (because bathrooms are usually down a narrow flight of stairs)
Comfortable Shoes for Women
Unless you have a mother or boyfriend who wants to pay for expensive taxis in Paris (or London or Rome or any European metropolis), you will be on your feet for many hours every day. I love walking around beautiful cities and I think that you will, too.
So, you need footwear that is comfortable, cushioned, and chic. No woman wants to look like a dolt. And, while you may not pass for Parisian, you will not want to stick out like a sore thumb in white Nikes. Flat shoes or boots are the most comfortable footwear, and flats will keep you from tumbling down when you stumble over uneven walkways.
Parisian Shoes and Boots for Young Women
In Paris, no one cares what kind of car you have, but your footwear is one of the ways that you are judged. You can usually tell a lot about a lady from her footwear and her handbag. And, her shoes or boots are what you will see first because, if you don't watch the ground in an old European city, you will fall on your face.
Right now, it is late winter (almost early spring) in Paris and I have been taking mental notes on women's footwear during every excursion I have taken to a store, museum, or cafe. For girls and women under 40 (and some trendy older females), here are the most common types of footwear, in descending order. These styles are usually worn with skinny jeans, leggings, or mini skirts paired with black tights or leggings:
- Flat knee-high boots of expensive, supple leather
- Flat ankle booties (or mid-thigh boots)
- Cuffed boots (flat or with heels)
- Elegant or trendy sneakers (many are black with red trim, usually worn with skinny jeans or regular jeans)
- High heel ankle booties
- Ballet slipper shoes (more common on warm sunny days)
- Over-the-knee boots (worn with mini skirts or over skinny jeans)
Shoes and Boots for Women Over 40 & 50
Parisian women and girls, of all ages, wear mostly black during the colder months, however their shoes are one area where they show their individuality. I have seen quite a few chic women wearing all-black outfits paired with wine, red, or purple shoes. Most older women wear black boots or shoes, but it is extremely common to see tan shoes worn with black tights, black nylons, or black pants.
Since most Parisians don't spend money on car insurance or gasoline, they use their Euros to buy amazing shoes and boots, instead. And, if you love your shoes, you want people to notice them.
Comfortable Shoes for Paris or Europe
Here are shoes that will help women over 40 or 50 fit right in and look chic:
- Beautifeel Adrianna: This is a Maryjane style with a small heel. Baby Boomer women were wearing good quality Maryjanes with flat or high heels, or with small leather-covered wedges.
- Beautifeel Ivana: Here is a nice ballet slipper that will look chic with black tights in winter or without stockings in summer. These flats are good for trousers or skirts.
- Umberto Raffini Freesia: These shoes, or something similar with a flat heel, will help you look like a chic European.
My favorite brand, for comfort, is Mephisto. Their shoes are expensive, but I have worn my Mephistos for almost seven years. Although the shoes are a bit beat up, they look better than tennis shoes and, if my newer shoes give me blisters, I always have them as my fall-back footwear.
Women's Boots for European Travel
I realize that I am pointing you in the direction of more expensive footwear, but you can probably find cheaper versions, if necessary. Inexpensive shoes or boots won't be as good and they won't last as long, but if they are comfy and chic, they may be worth a try.
- Loeffler Randall boots
- Stuart Weitzman Over-the-Knee Boot
- La Canadienne Tovah Boot
- Cole Haan Air Liberty Short Boot: Most Cole Haan shoes have Air Nike (sports shoe) cushioning.
My current high-heeled boot is fairly solid and stable. It is made by Sofft and found at Nordstrom (if they still carry them).
As soon as I get home from my trip I am going to look for cute, flat European-style boots for my next holiday. See more ideas about chic, trendy European boots and shoes in the photo gallery below.
More Articles:
Paris Street Style for Women over 40 & 50
How to Dress in Paris Using Layers and Accessories
What to Wear in Paris in Early Spring or Late Fall
Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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