My summer shoe challenge

[shinypenny]

Please help me out - I need ideas and recommendations for stylish
summer shoes that will accomodate my orthotic heel insert.

I am req'd to wear this thing round the clock to correct piriformis
syndrome in my hip, which has led to a lumbar instability, which has
led to a herniated disk. I have been wearing it now for a few weeks
and it makes a huge difference. (Apparently one of my legs is shorter
than the other, a leg difference that is only exacerbated by wearing
heels - the higher the heels, the worse). I am determined to stick
with the PT's recommendation and wear this thing as much as possible
this summer, in the hopes that by the Fall I will be strong enough to
start running again (I miss running soooo much, darnit!!.... )

The trouble is that the heel insert falls out with any shoe that is
strappy or doesn't cover the back of the heels. Forget sandals, sigh.
This greatly limits my options this summer. Yesterday I wore comfy
cushiony Lizsports which are cute, but my feet were sweating in the 80
degree heat. I am *not* a sneaker person either - will only wear
sneaks when I'm exercising. The heel insert also seems to work fine
with a mid-heel pump.

Please give me some ideas. Requirements:

- must have some sort of a back to the shoe
- must have some arch support (keds or docksiders are out)
- preferably something that gives me a little height (I could use all
the help I can get in that area, and frankly I have little desire to
hem all my dress pants and then let them out again in a few months)
- must be stylish
- something that won't make my feet sweat in the heat - open toes
would be sooo nice
- I'm taking recommendations for casual, work, and going out wear

Thanks in advance

jen

[maud silver]

Post by shinypenny
Please give me some ideas.

Hey, Blushun, call for you!! :)

[Charles Perrin]

Post by shinypenny
I am req'd to wear this thing round the clock to correct piriformis
syndrome in my hip
I am *not* a sneaker person either

Well, sneakers fit all the mechanical requirements to keep your "load
leveler" in place.

Post by shinypenny
- must have some sort of a back to the shoe
- must have some arch support (keds or docksiders are out)
- preferably something that gives me a little height
- must be stylish

Here's something that has a back, has arch support, has a bit of a
rise, but doesn't scream "SNEAKER!"

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/657939/c/6.html

Stylish is in the eye of the beholder... but I've definitely seen
uglier.

--
"So many sneakers, not enough feet."
http://sneakers.pair.com/

[betteeboop]

what about danskos? they're my favorite shoe; i always go back to them.

Post by Charles Perrin

Post by shinypenny
I am req'd to wear this thing round the clock to correct piriformis
syndrome in my hip
I am *not* a sneaker person either

Well, sneakers fit all the mechanical requirements to keep your "load
leveler" in place.

Post by shinypenny
- must have some sort of a back to the shoe
- must have some arch support (keds or docksiders are out)
- preferably something that gives me a little height
- must be stylish

Here's something that has a back, has arch support, has a bit of a
rise, but doesn't scream "SNEAKER!"
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/657939/c/6.html
Stylish is in the eye of the beholder... but I've definitely seen
uglier.
--
"So many sneakers, not enough feet."
http://sneakers.pair.com/

[shinypenny]

Post by betteeboop
what about danskos? they're my favorite shoe; i always go back to them.

There's something about the shape of the sole that doesn't do my feet
and calves any favors. I'm not sure what it is. I had a pair once and
every time I wore them my feet would be screaming at the end of the
day.
Glad they work for you though. :-)

jen

[shinypenny]

Post by Charles Perrin

Post by shinypenny
I am req'd to wear this thing round the clock to correct piriformis
syndrome in my hip
I am *not* a sneaker person either

Well, sneakers fit all the mechanical requirements to keep your "load
leveler" in place.

Yes, I know, but ****WHINE**** they make my feet look big and ugly and
clunky!!

Post by Charles Perrin

Post by shinypenny
- must have some sort of a back to the shoe
- must have some arch support (keds or docksiders are out)
- preferably something that gives me a little height
- must be stylish

Here's something that has a back, has arch support, has a bit of a
rise, but doesn't scream "SNEAKER!"
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/657939/c/6.html
Stylish is in the eye of the beholder... but I've definitely seen
uglier.

I am fairly certain that I would look completely ridiculous in these
shoes. But thanks anyway for the suggestion!

jen

[philosopher]

Some of the Aerosole styles have a covered heel with an open toe. They are
very comfortable and stylish, too, IMO. I love them especially for when I
want an open toe shoe but my heels are a little scruffier than normal.

Philosopher

Post by shinypenny
Please help me out - I need ideas and recommendations for stylish
summer shoes that will accomodate my orthotic heel insert.
I am req'd to wear this thing round the clock to correct piriformis
syndrome in my hip, which has led to a lumbar instability, which has
led to a herniated disk. I have been wearing it now for a few weeks
and it makes a huge difference. (Apparently one of my legs is shorter
than the other, a leg difference that is only exacerbated by wearing
heels - the higher the heels, the worse). I am determined to stick
with the PT's recommendation and wear this thing as much as possible
this summer, in the hopes that by the Fall I will be strong enough to
start running again (I miss running soooo much, darnit!!.... )
The trouble is that the heel insert falls out with any shoe that is
strappy or doesn't cover the back of the heels. Forget sandals, sigh.
This greatly limits my options this summer. Yesterday I wore comfy
cushiony Lizsports which are cute, but my feet were sweating in the 80
degree heat. I am *not* a sneaker person either - will only wear
sneaks when I'm exercising. The heel insert also seems to work fine
with a mid-heel pump.
- must have some sort of a back to the shoe
- must have some arch support (keds or docksiders are out)
- preferably something that gives me a little height (I could use all
the help I can get in that area, and frankly I have little desire to
hem all my dress pants and then let them out again in a few months)
- must be stylish
- something that won't make my feet sweat in the heat - open toes
would be sooo nice
- I'm taking recommendations for casual, work, and going out wear
Thanks in advance
jen

[Stevie]

Top posting here
Interesting information since I have exactly the same problem but in reverse
order......
anyway I had a couple of orthotics done by PT's... and then I had a pair
done by a podiatrist. What a HUGE difference! The podiatrist (a woman)
understood exactly why I needed TWO--one for heels and one for regular
shoes. She also can do one for slings but it's harder and more expensive.
Considering that I use my orthotics daily, I am going to get them
refurbished after I return from vacation...
there are some great shoes from gianni bini that I have found are amazing
comfortable and fashionable. google them ..... I have found them very
comfortable and the heel placement is so much better than most. I think it's
because it's set back rather than at the front of your heel that it makes a
huge difference
email me for some commiseration.. remove the publication

Stevie

Post by shinypenny
Please help me out - I need ideas and recommendations for stylish
summer shoes that will accomodate my orthotic heel insert.
I am req'd to wear this thing round the clock to correct piriformis
syndrome in my hip, which has led to a lumbar instability, which has
led to a herniated disk. I have been wearing it now for a few weeks
and it makes a huge difference. (Apparently one of my legs is shorter
than the other, a leg difference that is only exacerbated by wearing
heels - the higher the heels, the worse). I am determined to stick
with the PT's recommendation and wear this thing as much as possible
this summer, in the hopes that by the Fall I will be strong enough to
start running again (I miss running soooo much, darnit!!.... )
The trouble is that the heel insert falls out with any shoe that is
strappy or doesn't cover the back of the heels. Forget sandals, sigh.
This greatly limits my options this summer. Yesterday I wore comfy
cushiony Lizsports which are cute, but my feet were sweating in the 80
degree heat. I am *not* a sneaker person either - will only wear
sneaks when I'm exercising. The heel insert also seems to work fine
with a mid-heel pump.
- must have some sort of a back to the shoe
- must have some arch support (keds or docksiders are out)
- preferably something that gives me a little height (I could use all
the help I can get in that area, and frankly I have little desire to
hem all my dress pants and then let them out again in a few months)
- must be stylish
- something that won't make my feet sweat in the heat - open toes
would be sooo nice
- I'm taking recommendations for casual, work, and going out wear
Thanks in advance
jen

[shinypenny]

Post by Stevie
Top posting here
Interesting information since I have exactly the same problem but in reverse
order......
anyway I had a couple of orthotics done by PT's... and then I had a pair
done by a podiatrist. What a HUGE difference! The podiatrist (a woman)
understood exactly why I needed TWO--one for heels and one for regular
shoes. She also can do one for slings but it's harder and more expensive.
Considering that I use my orthotics daily, I am going to get them
refurbished after I return from vacation...

I did ask my PT if they made a version that was a full insole, just
graduated at the heel. I should think such an insole could be worn
without slipping out the back. She promised to look into it for me.

My other thought was to buy a bunch of the insoles and superglue them
into my sandals and other open-backed shoes. Might look a little
klugy, but I bet this would work.

jen

[Robyn]

Post by shinypenny

Post by Stevie
Top posting here
Interesting information since I have exactly the same problem but in reverse
order......
anyway I had a couple of orthotics done by PT's... and then I had a pair
done by a podiatrist. What a HUGE difference! The podiatrist (a woman)
understood exactly why I needed TWO--one for heels and one for regular
shoes. She also can do one for slings but it's harder and more expensive.
Considering that I use my orthotics daily, I am going to get them
refurbished after I return from vacation...

I did ask my PT if they made a version that was a full insole, just
graduated at the heel. I should think such an insole could be worn
without slipping out the back. She promised to look into it for me.
My other thought was to buy a bunch of the insoles and superglue them
into my sandals and other open-backed shoes. Might look a little
klugy, but I bet this would work.
jen

i have had various orthotics over the years (flat feet and poor posture)
made by "Foot Levelers", custom-fitted by a chiropracter.

there was one particular model that was a thin leather insole with a
velcro button on the underside of the heel. it came with several sets
of self-adhesive velcro buttons to affix to the sole of the shoe,
thereby attaching the orthotic to the inside heel of
the shoe (if that makes any sense). anyway, they worked fine with
sandals that had a strap around the heel. i didn't have any mules
back then, and i would imagine they wouldn't work at all with any sort
of backless shoe.

hmmm, seems they have a website: www.footlevelers.com


not affiliated.

[TdN]

Yi! I feel your pain.

Well, not actually, but I broke a toe one summer and had to get an
entire new wardrobe of summer shoes that weren't
thongs/strappy/high-heeled. Clarks of England featured prominently,
so you can imagine my despair.

Here are some thoughts from Zappo's:

A) An open-toed clog with some back to it. Not the most attractive
shoe I've ever seen, but it might work for your orthotic...

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1447147/c/15690.html

B) Woven leather from Reiker. Don't know how this would work with
your orthotic:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1046195/c/19.html

C) Donald J. Pliner does something interesting with the "fisherman's
shoe":

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1259447/c/13501.html

D) I'm not sure that I "get" this one, but it is a sandal with a back
to it:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1368847/c/14105.html

E) Naturalizer--not an inspired design, but something that might work
for casual with pants:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1624410/c/652.html

E') Same thing with open toe:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1624458/c/20.html

F) Can you wear a heel? Because this is pretty damned cool:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1833718/c/18016.html

As for pumps, the Munro American work pretty well with orthotics,
aren't too expensive, and are very simple in design.

Good luck!

T.

[shinypenny]

Post by TdN
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/1833718/c/18016.html

This one blows my mind... hee hee!

Thanks,

jen

[Nadya]

jen -

I know you said no sandals, but here's an idea. I was shopping at
Nordstrom with a friend who also wears orthotics. She was lamenting
that she can't wear sandals. The salesman said that he can sometimes
fit orthotics under the lining of very basic walking sandals - the type
they typically carry in the height of summer. You might give it a try.

My friend did by these Nike/Cole Haan mules that do work with her
orthotics - she's been thrilled to have an alternative to completely
closed shoes.

http://tinyurl.com/2hk68

Good luck with your recovery!

Nadya

[shinypenny]

Post by Nadya
jen -
I know you said no sandals, but here's an idea. I was shopping at
Nordstrom with a friend who also wears orthotics. She was lamenting
that she can't wear sandals. The salesman said that he can sometimes
fit orthotics under the lining of very basic walking sandals - the type
they typically carry in the height of summer. You might give it a try.

I actually considered doing this with my favorite pair of sandals. I
figured it would be easy enough to make a slit in the bottom of the
sandal, and push the insert into the slit. Unfortunately, I suspect
that after a few weeks of wear, the leather will rip out completely
from the strain.

If I could find an orthotic that was in a matching dark brown (instead
of light brown), I may go ahead and superglue it into the bottom.

Post by Nadya
My friend did by these Nike/Cole Haan mules that do work with her
orthotics - she's been thrilled to have an alternative to completely
closed shoes.
http://tinyurl.com/2hk68

These are adorable, and kinda sorta along the lines of my Lizsports
(same basic lines but in a black leather with khaki trim). The lip at
the back of the shoe is just enough to hold the insert in. This style
looks great with shorts and capris, but I don't like how they look
with longer pants, especially wider or flared pants, which I have a
lot of.

jen

[Missbeckett]

Post by shinypenny
Please help me out - I need ideas and recommendations for stylish
summer shoes that will accomodate my orthotic heel insert.

Have you thought about a D'orsay pump? The heel and toe are still closed, but
you get a bit of a breeze through the arch :).

You'll have to forgive me if I misunderstood the nature of your heel insert -
but these are some ideas? (you may have to cut and paste these links)

A true D'orsay:
http://store.nordstrom.com/product/product.asp?StyleID=2815899&Category=&S
earch=True

Crazy D'Orsay with sling and fabulous low pyramid heel:
http://www.officeholdings.co.uk/perl/go.pl/womens-style.html?webcode=33&st
yle_uid=957&color_uid=2141

Vintagey and cool with contrast piping:
http://www.officeholdings.co.uk/perl/go.pl/womens-style.html?webcode=33&st
yle_uid=1257&color_uid=2871

Hope these will work!
-Beckett



http://store.nordstrom.com/product/product.asp?StyleID=2815899&Category=&S
earch=True
--
"Ah, yes - but just because I'm frivolous doesn't mean I lack intellect. After
all, anyone can get the *meat* of it all, the secret of life is in the *sauce*.
1-26-03

[shinypenny]

Post by Missbeckett

Post by shinypenny
Please help me out - I need ideas and recommendations for stylish
summer shoes that will accomodate my orthotic heel insert.

Have you thought about a D'orsay pump? The heel and toe are still closed, but
you get a bit of a breeze through the arch :).
You'll have to forgive me if I misunderstood the nature of your heel insert -
but these are some ideas? (you may have to cut and paste these links)
http://store.nordstrom.com/product/product.asp?StyleID=2815899&Category=&S
earch=True
http://www.officeholdings.co.uk/perl/go.pl/womens-style.html?webcode=33&st
yle_uid=957&color_uid=2141
http://www.officeholdings.co.uk/perl/go.pl/womens-style.html?webcode=33&st
yle_uid=1257&color_uid=2871
Hope these will work!
-Beckett

A woman after my own heart!! These might work and I'd like them,
too... I think I'll go shoe-shopping tomorrow and look for something
along these lines for going out this summer.

jen

[Silvasurfa]

Post by shinypenny
- must have some sort of a back to the shoe
- must have some arch support (keds or docksiders are out)
- preferably something that gives me a little height (I could use all
the help I can get in that area, and frankly I have little desire to
hem all my dress pants and then let them out again in a few months)
- must be stylish
- something that won't make my feet sweat in the heat - open toes
would be sooo nice
- I'm taking recommendations for casual, work, and going out wear
Thanks in advance
jen

If you could get your hands on some of the homyped specialist range...
but I've never heard of them outside Australia and they seem to be
sold only through pharmacies. A lot of them are old lady shoes, but
some look good, and the quality is good too.
http://www.homyped.com.au/page2.htm
The website just seems to be a scanned in version of the catalogue
they distribute in local newspapers etc so I suspect the prices quoted
are in Aussie dollars.

Some of their dressier shoes even appear to have removable footbeds...
would that make them suitable for orthotics?
http://www.homyped.com.au/page4.htm

[Maladicta1]

Post by Silvasurfa
Some of their dressier shoes even appear to have removable footbeds...
would that make them suitable for orthotics?
http://www.homyped.com.au/page4.htm

Naturalizer and Old Maine Trotters are comparable.

[shinypenny]

Post by Silvasurfa
If you could get your hands on some of the homyped specialist range...
but I've never heard of them outside Australia and they seem to be
sold only through pharmacies. A lot of them are old lady shoes, but
some look good, and the quality is good too.
http://www.homyped.com.au/page2.htm
The website just seems to be a scanned in version of the catalogue
they distribute in local newspapers etc so I suspect the prices quoted
are in Aussie dollars.
Some of their dressier shoes even appear to have removable footbeds...
would that make them suitable for orthotics?
http://www.homyped.com.au/page4.htm

Actually some of these are kinda cute (I can't believe I'm saying that
about orthopedic shoes, LOL) and might work. Will have to do some
googling to see if they're available in the states.

jen

[TdN]

Post by shinypenny
Please help me out - I need ideas and recommendations for stylish
summer shoes that will accomodate my orthotic heel insert.

Having just discovered that you live in the Boston area from another
post, let me recommend Edwin Case Comfort Shoes in Brookline. Despite
the scary name, they actually have some hip things (amidst a sea of
"grandma" shoes).

They saved my sanity during the Summer of the Broken Toe.

:)

T.

[shinypenny]

Post by TdN

Post by shinypenny
Please help me out - I need ideas and recommendations for stylish
summer shoes that will accomodate my orthotic heel insert.

Having just discovered that you live in the Boston area from another
post, let me recommend Edwin Case Comfort Shoes in Brookline. Despite
the scary name, they actually have some hip things (amidst a sea of
"grandma" shoes).
They saved my sanity during the Summer of the Broken Toe.
:)
T.

Will do!

I just got off the phone with my mom (who saw the How does your mother
dress thread and wanted me to pass along that you all seem like a
wonderful bunch of people!). She gently tried to convince me that
maybe it is time for me to realize that sometimes you have to go for
comfort and not fashion. :-(


jen

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