Footwear for the Chic American ... in Paris
March 29, 2016 7:27 PM Subscribe
Going to Paris next month and plan on walking and standing a lot. Not planning on wearing tennis shoes and giving away immediately that I'm an American tourist. Help!
I don't have any particular foot issues other than poor arches. I want some shoes that are stylish and preferably in the camel, tan or light brown family. And, most importantly, I want to be able to wear them all day long over cobblestone, standing on concrete, etc.
I don't have any particular foot issues other than poor arches. I want some shoes that are stylish and preferably in the camel, tan or light brown family. And, most importantly, I want to be able to wear them all day long over cobblestone, standing on concrete, etc.
Ballet flats.
posted by cendawanita at 7:41 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by cendawanita at 7:41 PM on March 29, 2016
I recently got a pair of Naot shoes to deal with a little bit of a foot issue I have and they're super comfortable without looking too orthopedicish.
posted by shesbookish at 7:49 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by shesbookish at 7:49 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Some non-athletic looking casual shoes would work (perfectly acceptable, even in Paris) although you may want to use inserts to improve comfort level: Seevees.
When I wanted ONE pair of comfortable, stylish shoes to see me through a 2 week business trip in Austria and Germany, I got these Paul Green booties on sale at Nordstrom and I loooooove them: Delgado.
posted by netsirk at 7:55 PM on March 29, 2016
When I wanted ONE pair of comfortable, stylish shoes to see me through a 2 week business trip in Austria and Germany, I got these Paul Green booties on sale at Nordstrom and I loooooove them: Delgado.
posted by netsirk at 7:55 PM on March 29, 2016
You might want to take a look at The Sartorialist. A surprising number of fashion types wear sneakers.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:59 PM on March 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 7:59 PM on March 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
I wore Chuck Taylors and Clarks heels all over France.
posted by padraigin at 8:02 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by padraigin at 8:02 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have high arches and I'm really picky with my footwear, I've found that Taos shoes are pretty good for arch support.
posted by modesty.blaise at 8:21 PM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by modesty.blaise at 8:21 PM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
seconding ideefixe--when I was last in Paris I really regretted not bringing a pair of fashionable tennis shoes (mine are these).
in the more formal regime, I think flat ankle boots or loafers would be good for walking (as long as they are a pair that you have already broken in). imo everlane has some good choices for both. you might also find this recent thread helpful.
posted by bergamot and vetiver at 8:37 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
in the more formal regime, I think flat ankle boots or loafers would be good for walking (as long as they are a pair that you have already broken in). imo everlane has some good choices for both. you might also find this recent thread helpful.
posted by bergamot and vetiver at 8:37 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you have budget to shop when you're over there, Comme des Chaussures Is a very enjoyable store where you can get European comfort shoe brands that are hard to find in the US.
posted by matildaben at 8:38 PM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by matildaben at 8:38 PM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
Do not get ballet flats, they have no sole and your feet will hate you.
My recommendation: Naturaliser or Clarks with thick soles. I'm currently wearing shoes that are almost a wedge heel, but because they're this rubbery material, are almost like tennis shoes in how comfortable they are. And I walk a LOT. That or ankle boots.
posted by Tamanna at 8:57 PM on March 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
My recommendation: Naturaliser or Clarks with thick soles. I'm currently wearing shoes that are almost a wedge heel, but because they're this rubbery material, are almost like tennis shoes in how comfortable they are. And I walk a LOT. That or ankle boots.
posted by Tamanna at 8:57 PM on March 29, 2016 [5 favorites]
I will also note that while the last time I was in Paris was 2012, I have had very sassy French teens visit me since, and the guiding principle with athletic shoes seems to be, if they're clearly fashion forward, go for it: ie, if they're fun colored, stylish, not the stereotypical white New Balance walking shoe of the grandmas on vacation set: go for it. You'll see this if you do a little street-style Google of any city you're visiting, often with athletic shoes styled with more formal tailored clothing, in fact. My visiting 20 year old French student last summer thought my coral Merrell Pace Gloves were super-chouette.
posted by padraigin at 9:09 PM on March 29, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by padraigin at 9:09 PM on March 29, 2016 [9 favorites]
Try the barkingdogshoes.com blog
for inspiration. :)
posted by phreckles at 9:48 PM on March 29, 2016
for inspiration. :)
posted by phreckles at 9:48 PM on March 29, 2016
I am VERY picky about my shoes, specially travelling shoes as I have always been prone to feet pain after a few hours of walking. I have tried A LOT of different "comfort" brands. These Skechers are one of the most comfortable and best looking (for the type of shoe) I have ever found for travelling/walking pain free. Do yourself a favor and go try some on. Or look at the website, there are like a dozen different colors, some look cute some look more casual. I have have them in a blue canvas style that looks great with almost any color clothes. Just looking at the new styles makes me want to get some new ones.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 9:57 PM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by CrazyLemonade at 9:57 PM on March 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
You might prefer the Natural color which is also cheaper from Amazon.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:15 PM on March 29, 2016
posted by CrazyLemonade at 10:15 PM on March 29, 2016
It depends on what you're wearing. Many, many French young and older women, right this minute, are wearing very cool looking "baskets" i.e. sneakers. Don't rule them out. Break in your shoes before you go. Agree that ballet flats don't have enough cushioning for the many cobblestone streets.
posted by Elsie at 11:33 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Elsie at 11:33 PM on March 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
Things might have changed by now, but when I was in Paris everyone -- even people's dogs, it seemed -- was wearing Bensimon sneakers.
posted by Miss T.Horn at 12:21 AM on March 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Miss T.Horn at 12:21 AM on March 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
White Stan Smiths will be very Pheobe Philo. I also second Chucks Taylors.
posted by like_neon at 1:18 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by like_neon at 1:18 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Get some Supergas in a cute color, you should be fine.
posted by praemunire at 1:46 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 1:46 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Bonjour, I live in Paris.
Wear whatever you want and especially whatever you KNOW is good for your feet.
Seriously people wear everything here.
Signed, Parisian who wears everything from brown leather heels to purple Merrell running shoes to hot pink sneakers. The running shoes and sneakers are the best on cobblestone.
posted by fraula at 2:13 AM on March 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Wear whatever you want and especially whatever you KNOW is good for your feet.
Seriously people wear everything here.
Signed, Parisian who wears everything from brown leather heels to purple Merrell running shoes to hot pink sneakers. The running shoes and sneakers are the best on cobblestone.
posted by fraula at 2:13 AM on March 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
I think as long as you're not wearing overly dirty sneakers you should be fine. Also avoid shining white New Balances. (I am personally lusting after some black Nikes for about a year)
posted by like_neon at 2:25 AM on March 30, 2016
posted by like_neon at 2:25 AM on March 30, 2016
The idea that Americans are "given away" by their tennis shoes is a decades old stereotype that died decades ago. Unfortunately people continue to believe it and repeat it. Ballet flats are often the recommended "solution" to this perpetuated lie. Walking for hours on end wearing ballet flats around the filthy streets of Paris (no knock on Paris, I love it) is ridiculous. Europeans wear sneaker too.
Wear what you like. Wear something comfortable to walk a lot in. I really like Keens.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:12 AM on March 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Wear what you like. Wear something comfortable to walk a lot in. I really like Keens.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:12 AM on March 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Ok so this perspective only focuses on young women, because I am a young woman myself and notice what people around me wear.
A lot of young women whatever their nationalities wear Nikes or some other sneaker. I don't think that would distinguish you in particular.
I can usually tell apart an American tourist from an European tourist not because of the tennis shoe, but because the young women tend to wear pearl earrings (!!! it's like some national uniform) and lilly putlizer/ jcrew-looking clothing -- i.e. clothing in bright colours, somewhat preppy.
posted by moiraine at 3:31 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
A lot of young women whatever their nationalities wear Nikes or some other sneaker. I don't think that would distinguish you in particular.
I can usually tell apart an American tourist from an European tourist not because of the tennis shoe, but because the young women tend to wear pearl earrings (!!! it's like some national uniform) and lilly putlizer/ jcrew-looking clothing -- i.e. clothing in bright colours, somewhat preppy.
posted by moiraine at 3:31 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I did Europe with Borns and I was very happy.
These days, I'd wear very nice kicks. Walking shoes with proper support. I might get a couple of pairs, really spiffy and stylish, but walking shoes.
I can't wear them (too flat) but Converse or if you have a high arch, Keds. There are fashion Reeboks and Nikes, and that's what I'd wear.
Paris is wonderful, and walkable and fabulous in all respects, but don't sacrifice comfort for fashion and make your feet sad.
Bon Voyage!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:25 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
These days, I'd wear very nice kicks. Walking shoes with proper support. I might get a couple of pairs, really spiffy and stylish, but walking shoes.
I can't wear them (too flat) but Converse or if you have a high arch, Keds. There are fashion Reeboks and Nikes, and that's what I'd wear.
Paris is wonderful, and walkable and fabulous in all respects, but don't sacrifice comfort for fashion and make your feet sad.
Bon Voyage!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:25 AM on March 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
As for the shoes tagging you as a USian, bring crap shoes you were going to throw out anyway and on day one buy new. That's what my wife does.
posted by BWA at 6:39 AM on March 30, 2016
posted by BWA at 6:39 AM on March 30, 2016
Ballet flats are often the recommended "solution" to this perpetuated lie.
I genuinely did not know this! I walked around Paris in flats, hence my recommendation.
posted by cendawanita at 9:23 AM on March 30, 2016
I genuinely did not know this! I walked around Paris in flats, hence my recommendation.
posted by cendawanita at 9:23 AM on March 30, 2016
I went to Paris for a couple of weeks three years ago and brought one pair oiled black and one pair oiled brown Danskos. They were comfortable and looked good, and had the added benefit of starting a couple of conversations because people assumed I was Scandinavian.
posted by wizardpants at 5:54 AM on March 31, 2016
posted by wizardpants at 5:54 AM on March 31, 2016
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posted by mollymayhem at 7:36 PM on March 29, 2016