Business (very) Casual Winter Shoes for Terrible Feet

October 29, 2019 2:23 PM

Looking for flat, work appropriate black boots or booties that will be comfortable for my terrible feet.

I have terrible feet - bunion on one foot, achy big toe on the other after bunion surgery, and occasional plantar fasciitis flare-ups. My workplace is fairly relaxed business casual and I basically wear a variety of cotton pattern dresses with black leggings every single day. In the spring, I finally found a pair of flats that don't look too terrible and feel comfortable (see here) and wear them literally every day but with winter coming I would like something more in the boot or bootie family that is similarly comfortable and not super ugly. Last winter I wore these Arcopedico boots but they're just not working this year - the slight heel is putting pressure on my big toe that's really uncomfortable. I've tried several others but can't find anything without a heel or without too hard or narrow of a toe box. Additional layer of complexity that filters out the usual suggestions - I don't wear leather or suede or any material made from animals. Any ideas?

posted by sunshine37 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (12 answers total)

Doc Martens? I have terrible bunions and a pair of Docs that work really well.
posted by mygothlaundry at 2:36 PM on October 29, 2019

I always recommend KEEN for their wide, flat shoes that fit my hobbit feet well. Unfortunately, there aren't many options without leather. If (environmentally conscious) leather were ok, I'd recommend these Chelsea boots. There are a few other options that you may like, so I'll link to their whole line of boots.

Could you buy a pair of boots like this, and then keep your flats at work to slip on for during the day?
posted by hydra77 at 2:41 PM on October 29, 2019 [2 favorites]

Sketchers is a whole thing. If they are what you find comfortable, I doubt Docs will fill the winter need for you. Sketchers does make boots; I don't know if the Ugg-like Joy ones are vegan but some of them are definitely 100% man made materials.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:45 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

I also have bad feet and wear these BOC boots as soon as sandal season ends (sorry about link, I'm on my phone): https://www.bocshoes.com/Product/BOC/Womens/Virginia/Black/Color
posted by SeedStitch at 2:45 PM on October 29, 2019

I just noticed that the Sketchers website lest you add a "vegan" filter.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 3:50 PM on October 29, 2019

You could try Lems. They're super casual but very comfortable for bunions because of the wide toe box. No heels.
posted by cat potato at 4:28 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

Maybe try FitFlop. My sister-in-law with bad feet swears by them. I have one pair that I don't see on the site now, but it's sort of like the Superloafer. Very comfortable, wears ridiculously well, and no hard heel counter so it's like wearing slippers. They have awesome sales and I got my pair for like $30. The only thing I didn't like was sizing and width was pretty inconsistent. I think I ordered 4 pair and returned 3.
posted by cabingirl at 5:49 PM on October 29, 2019

I’d just stock up on the show you’ve already found comfortable and wear it indoors year round. Then you just have to focus on finding a boot that is weather appropriate and comfortable for outdoor wear without worrying about style or office-appropriateness. If you find something you can also wear at work, bonus.

I’ll suggest Crocs, Bogs, Xeroshoes (in fact, for finding a boot without a heel “zero drop” may be a helpful search).

Also, if you’re a women’s size 8 or smaller, try kids’ boots - you may find more options without heels.
posted by Kriesa at 6:22 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]

How about these? They look a little casual but are vegan and look comfy.
posted by mefireader at 8:21 PM on October 29, 2019

Footsmart specializes in shoes for people with problematic feet. You might look there and explore the brands they offer, like Drew, separately. If you're having plantar fasciitis problems then arch support would be a good thing--most Footsmart shoes will accommodate orthotics, either custom made or off the shelf.
posted by Sublimity at 3:38 AM on October 30, 2019

I second the Lems. I wear the black boulder boots which are vegan and not quite office-y but I get away with it. And, I get a ton of compliments on them! They are certainly not waterproof though, so I would spray with something if you live in a wet area.
posted by neematoad at 5:17 AM on October 30, 2019

I have bunions and very high arches, which makes it really tough for me to find comfortable shoes. In the summer, I absolutely LIVE in Chaco sandals; they're the most comfortable shoes I own, hands down.

Chacos also makes boots; maybe one of these would work for you?
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 10:30 AM on October 30, 2019