Men don’t understand women and shoes. Shoes are almost always an issue. They’re an issue because we love them and we want lots of beautiful shoes. Or equally, they’re an issue because we can’t find comfortable shoes, shoes that don’t ruin our posture, give us back pain, or destroy our gait, our knees, hips, and most recently in my case, my heels. I’ve had this pain before, this piercing pain through my heel. Several years ago, after months of the pain coming and going, I finally talked to a physiotherapist. Within a very short time (weeks, if not days), I was pain-free. But recently the pain returned. On interrogation, my physio decided it was a result of a walk I took with Charlie and her mum. We walked, jogged a little (“race you, Charlie!”), and I was in very inappropriate, unsupportive shoes. It was only after this, that the pain started again.
No big deal you might say. More physiotherapy, and the pain will go. Yes, exactly. But my physio banned me from wearing the same shoes for any length of time. This will be a little problematic, as we are planning a prolonged sojourn in areas of the world that will require lots of walking. And yes, I will wear sensible walking shoes when climbing the Cinque Terre again, or hiking about Roman ruins or Crusader castles. But if I’m out for an evening stroll and a nice meal in a trattoria, I don’t want to wear walking shoes/sneakers. I mean, think about where I’m going to be. Ugly shoes in Italy? Non e possibile!
So my carefully controlled packing regime, the one that was going to limit me to three (or maximum four) pairs of shoes, is now under question. I cannot go shopping like a normal person for light, flat shoes. They’ll kill my feet, and my knees. And I know I will not be able to buy shoes in Italy. As my father used to say, I have a good grip on the world. My not-s0-petite piedi are tricky to fit here, let alone in Italy. I’m not defeatist, as I was accused of being by an (of course) petite-pied friend. I know from experience. And so, any footwear purchases will have to occur before I leave home.
So I went on a relatively successful shopping expedition and I now have some comfortable, appropriate, but not particularly stylish pair of shoes. Two, in fact. But it will be hot. Hot, hot, hot. So I’ll need sandals. Maybe even jandals (for sheer comfort for hot, swollen feet). But what if we go out somewhere fancy? And then what about the end of the trip, when the weather in our destinations will be cold? What will I wear there? Suddenly I’m facing a shoe blow-out. And I’m getting no sympathy from the husband.
Perhaps appropriately, my luggage tag is in the shape of a bright, red stiletto shoe.
I am always shocked by the number of pair of shoes I need when I travel—but I hike AND go out to fancy places to eat! I swear I always end up with a half-dozen, especially if the weather is warm. And then I make sure I wear every single pair.
Growing up I often could not find my size, and when I could, the cute shoes suddenly looked like boats. Then I moved to DC, land of bigger women, and the problem seemed to disappear.
I bought a pair of Naot sandals for Italy that reduced my feet to bloody stumps. I had to buy a pair of Adidas in the middle of Florence. They looked terrible, and yet I still can’t bear to throw them out.
LikeLike
Dearest IB. If I pack half-a-dozen shoes, I won’t feel so bad now.
LikeLike
You might also want to pack a list of well-researched physiotherapists in the places you’ll be visiting, just in case.
LikeLike
Good point.
LikeLike
Maybe just pack some ibuprofen? 🙂
Also, can I come? I want to go to Italy.
And finally, the obvious solution is to pack your extra shoes in your husband’s luggage…and spend much of your time shopping for shoes in Italy!
LikeLike
Sadly, that’s the point. I’m about 95% sure I won’t be able to find shoes in Italy that will fit.
LikeLike
I have ridiculously shaped feet and so don’t have the same shoe fetish as a lot of women (I reserve that for boots. Mmm, boots…) I only ever travel with two-three pairs of shoes: Converse trainers for daily wear, pair of black ballet pumps for evening and hiking boots if the holiday so demands.
LikeLike
That was pretty much my plan (with a pair of sandals thrown in). But it was a pair of black ballet slippers that ruined my heel. So now not sure what I’ll wear for evening.
LikeLike
Darling, you have my heartfelt sympathy. Your write up was a wonderful read. Thank you.
LikeLike
I wear European 41. Shoes…sigh…they are a problem. I forgot to pack shoes for this little weekend in the country, only my pretty birkenstocks (which I know is usually an oxymoron) on my feet. So when I went hiking with the kids, I wore Mike’s hiking boots…because we wear the same size.
Heel pain: what is your vitamin D level? My heel pain was directly related to low D levels.
LikeLike
I feel your pain (sometimes literally). I have extremely wide feet, so I find it very difficult to find comfortable, well-fitting shoes. And when I do, I will often buy a pair in every colour. 😉
I have never heard of the term “jandals” — as the article you linked to noted, everyone here refers to them as “flipflops” although I did call them “thongs” when I was a kid (long before the underwear gained notoriety). I have a couple of pairs of Columbia sport sandals which are kind of like more expensive & more cushiony/comfortable flipflops. Not especially pretty, but very comfortable for walking in. I did a 5 km walk in them, no problem. ; ) Have a great trip!
LikeLike
Mali, you need those shoes someone was showcasing on Dragon’s Den: the heel is removable and interchangeable, so you can go from dressy to casual with the same shoe.
LikeLike
I have quit really caring about stylish shoes and only wear comfortable ones. I hate when my feet hurt — and they do in most shoes. All I wear these days are Merrill clogs or Stonefly boots in cooler weather and TEVA flipflops (I still call them “thongs” in my head) in warm weather. I once had a shoe saleswoman chastise me for buying comfortable shoes to wear to a wedding.
Good luck in your shoe search.
LikeLike
i always get harassed for the number of shoes I bring on a trip. But, I like you, want a couple pairs of comfortable shoes, and then a couple pairs of nice shoes. And they add up in taking up space. I am glad you were able to find some comfortable ones. And I think this is an area where husbands just cannot understand.
LikeLike