Head to Toe with Heidi: comfort vs. style

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Another Shoe to Share (My Sub for the Ares Platform Heel)

Let me just start this out by saying that I love J Crew shoes (um, except for the more masculine styles which just aren't me). They are oh so pretty. I love their colorways. They are so yummy-looking when I scroll through the website or flip through the catalog. And then cold, hard reality hits. The flats really just aren't as supportive as I'd like. I honestly think some of my Target flats have more support and cushioning. And they tend to run narrow - especially up front in the toe box where, thanks to bunion genes running amok in the womenfolk of my family, my foot runs wide. (I am the only girl who hasn't had bunion surgery - my sister had it in college - ow!!)

And then there is the heel issue. I love the look of heels. I completely agree that most girl people, myself included, do look better when wearing heels. I just don't feel as mobile or as speedy. So I wear flats or a lower heel - which, admittedly is hard to find in a cute, not dowdy, shoe. I really try to stick to 3" max, and yes, I like a thicker heel if I'm planning to walk much. Maybe for my mid-life crisis when I turn 40 in a year and a half, I'll actually learn how to walk in heels and start wearing them as a default. (yeah right...)

So while I admire the J Crew shoes from afar, they just don't work for me in 99% of cases. Joley flats and Danielle flat sandals being the exception - both of which I have and love, but definitely realize are not cushioned or supportive for all day walking.

So, as with my Sofft sandals from yesterday's post, once again, I found myself with a near-dupe of a J Crew sandal - in this case, the Ares Platform Heel (#25485, $215), pictured below.

My version, purchased from Loehmanns for about $40, but still available from Piperlime - and now on sale for $29.99. Granted, they definitely aren't as edgy as the JC version, but they are wearable for me. Maybe it helps that I have longer legs, I don't know. White Mountain Medusa:

And the IRL on my toesies.

I don't think I've worn them in an outfit pic, but I'm sure that I'll get a pic of them soon enough. Especially now that I'm hopefully back in the blogging saddle again.

How much do I love these shoes? Tons. Way comfy, even for a heel. Totally stay on my foot. Great neutral go-with-everything color. Last time I wore them was with a white shirt & white jeans and they were fab. Love them with regular jeans. And I think they'll work with some of my summer dresses, too.